Two Welkom youngsters, Blade and Casey Tilley, have been riding motorbikes since they were seven and six years old,respectively, and have notched top honours all the way.
Blade (13) started riding 50cc at the age of seven. Since then he has won all his regional races and represented South Africa in July at the 2023 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship in Bucharest, Romania.
He was also chosen to represent the country in August at the 2023 FIM Motocross of African Nations event in Cape Town.
He dominated every class he rode in provincially and attained his Free State colours in the 50cc-class for four consecutive years, in the 65cc-class (2019, 2020 and 2021), and was also crowned as the South African champion in this class in 2021.
Last year he advanced to the 85cc-class and was chosen to represent the country in the FIM Motocross of African Nations event held in Uganda, but broke his arm in the first race and had to fly back to South Africa for an operation. This incident kept him out of the sport for more than two months.
At this stage, he is ranked third in South Africa in the 85cc-class, with still four rounds to go in the South African championship.
Protea colours have been bestowed on Blade.
Casey (12) started riding at six years old and was the 50cc Free State champion in 2022, and the 65cc Free State champion in 2023.
He represented South Africa in Uganda, taking a third on the podium, and is currently second in the Free State to his brother on the leaderboard. Casey received his Protea colours in 2022.
Blade and Casey might shine in their sport, but cousins Abigail Coetzee, Demi-Lee Coetzee and Vaegan Tilley are stars the show jumping arena.
Abigail (18) has been an equestrian for nine years and was chosen to represent the Free State at the South African National Equestrian Schools Association (Sanesa) nationals championship held in Kyalami this year.
She has been a member of the provincial team for many years and holds a gold medal in this sport.
Demi-Lee (13) began riding and jumping when she was four years old and is a member of the provincial Sanesa team.
Vaegan (16) started riding and jumping when she was seven years old, and has also been selected to be part of the Sanesa Free State team. She won a gold medal and was declared the national champion in her event.
This family of young sportmen and -women are fearless in their pursuit of excellence, and fiercely compete to attain top honours.
