The scheduled Reddam House Somerset sports tour to Makhanda (Grahamstown) in the Eastern Cape is unlikely to go ahead this year.
Undeterred, the school’s head of sport Kyle Baxter and sports coach Cristian Vitali organised a successful virtual run or walk for learners.
This brought the whole school community together to cover the distance of 830 km, virtually.
Parents, staff and students were invited to participate in the event. Each day participants submitted the distance they had run or walked via a shared Google form. Baxter collated the distance covered and plotted the route on a map. Teacher Hannah Baxter shared her extensive knowledge of the Eastern Cape on the Google document, by including interesting facts about the towns through which they passed.
The school community arrived in Makhanda on the third day. At this point it was evident everyone was still rearing to go, so the challenge was extended.
The Reddam community continued to Cowan House school in KwaZulu-Natal, going via the small village of Mvezo, where Nelson Mandela was born. From the KZN Midlands, the challenge was to reach Bloemfontein and then head back to Somerset West.
Two days of this leg of the route were dedicated to an Inter-House Cross Country challenge, which was won by the Lowry and Simonsberg houses.
To keep everyone motivated and encouraged, Baxter and Vitali contacted some high-profile sports celebrities.
The school received videos of encouragement and shout-outs from the likes of international trail runner Ryan Sandes, Proteas cricketer David Miller, Reddam alumnus and SA water polo player and coach Sarah ‘Seri’ Harris,, Dolphins cricketer Senuran Muthusamy, Springbok rugby star Vincent Koch, international supermodel Kerry McGregor, Cheetahs rugby player Sintu Manjezi, former Proteas cricketer JP Duminy, SA women’s hockey player Shelley Russell, Proteas cricketer Jon-Jon Smuts, Stormers rugby player Chris van Zyl and former Springbok scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar.
These messages of encouragement can be viewed on the school’s Facebook page.
After 17 days on the road, the school community finally arrived back at Reddam House Somerset having completed a mammoth 3 145 km, welcomed by none other than Comrades legend Bruce Fordyce.
Virtual medals were awarded to participants at the end of the run or walk challenge to recognise everyone’s efforts.
Danielle Heyes was awarded a silver medal (45 km to 60 km covered) and John Bubb, Hope Bubb, Jed Edmond, Cale Barnfarther were awarded gold medals for the more than 60 km that they covered. Thirteen learners were awarded bronze medals for completing 25 km to 45 km in the challenge.
Janine Tessendorf, head of Reddam House Somerset, said: “I have come to realise that in a time of crisis you can either bury your head in the sand or confront the problem head-on and make the most of it.
“I believe the staff at Reddam House have done the latter brilliantly – from embracing online teaching to setting and invigilating online examinations, creating new report formats, and creating virtual sporting challenges. My staff have been incredible!”
