All set for Ingwebu tug of war finals

Zimbabwe Southern Region Tug-of-War Association (Zitowa) secretary-general Jabulani Ngwenya said all the teams were ready for the battle which looks set to be the biggest tugging competition in the region which is being sponsored to the tune of $12 000 by Ingwebu Breweries.

“The winners of this year’s championships will walk home with $1 500, runners-up $1 000 while third and fourth placed teams will each be $600 richer. All the teams are ready to go and Tug of War enthusiasts are advised to be at both venues, Gifford High School for the preliminaries and the ZITF Grounds for the finals,” said Ngwenya.

He said the ZITF extravaganza will kick off at 2pm.

Before the tug-of-war finals roar into life, there will be finals for show jumping and the Coca-Cola ZITF Four-Minute-Mile.

The Four-Minute-Mile race will see 14 athletes from across the country taking to the track, among them Hwange’s Phathisa Ngwabi, who has set his eyes on winning the race, in his debut.

Ngwabi will have to shrug off the challenges of Kadoma’s Jacob Mugomeri, the first athlete to qualify for the ZITF race way back in February.

Two Zimbabwe Prisons Services athletes Kelvin Pangiso and Jonathan Chinyoka qualified during the last qualifying race at White City Stadium.

The qualifying time for the ZITF meet was four minutes 31 seconds and Pangiso clocked four minutes 27,53 seconds while Chinyoka finished in four minutes 27,67 seconds.

They join Kelvin Gundani of Ziscosteel, his clubmate Ngonidzashe Ncube, Rodney Gumbo of Shamva, ZPS duo of James Gwasira and Nomore Wiriki and Harare Tigers’ Moses Njodzi, Blessmore Chidziva, Trust Chidamaya of ZRP Fairbridge, Isaac Mpofu, Simbarashe Taderera and Ubert Dube.

Delta Beverages have maintained last year’s sponsorship package that will see the winner take home $500 while second and third placed athletes will go home $400 and $350 richer respectively.

Fourth placed athlete will get $300 and the prize money for fifth place is $250.

The giant beverages manufacturing company has also put aside $200, $150, $100, $50 and $25 for sixth to 10th placed athletes with the overall winner also assured of a medal. Seven athletes were added to the 15 that qualified so 22 athletes will take to the track and they will all get Delta Beverages branded kits.

ZITF Showjumping Friday results

Children’s 70CM Hit and Hurry

1.Vronsky – Casey Oosthuizen, 2.Dovenby Rani- Ashleigh Steyn, 3. Pink Lady- Emma Raaff

Childrens 90/90 cm Hit and Hurry

1.Scari Sheri- Tsepo Ngwenya, 2.Kwaruguza Tarik- Zoe Day, Junior/Adult 90 cm Hit and Hurry

1. Don Luigi- Daren Wilmans, 2. Don Christon- Charley Crockart, 3.Vesta Sham- Sam Du Preez,

100 cm Junior/ Adult Hit and Hurry

1. Eastern Prmier- Shannarae Ewart, 2. Channel Two- Judah Day, 3. Welmmick- Koo Mnkandla

Adult 110/120 cm Gambler Stakes

1. Ultra Rough- Paula Dakin, 2. Pro Safaris Dabar- Kerry Watson

Junior Riding Horse

1. Channel Two- Destinee Day, 3. In the Mix- Craig Johnston