Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving Club triumphs at SA champs

Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving Club has officially cemented its place as the top surf lifesaving club in South Africa, returning from the 2025 DHL Lifesaving South Africa National Championships in Gqeberha with three major national titles.

The championships, held from Saturday April 26 to Saturday May 3, saw Fish Hoek dominate across all age groups — winning the Nipper, Youth and Open, and Masters Surf categories.

The club accumulated nearly 2 500 points across all events, leaving competitors far behind.

In the Nipper division (under 9 to under-14), the team dominated the competition, scoring 889 points — more than double the next-best club.

The Youth and Open team claimed their title with 1,015 points, finishing 301 points ahead of their rivals. Meanwhile, the Masters squad (athletes aged 30 and over) also came out on top in their division with 605 points.

“After seven years and five National Championships, to come back and win by such a margin is testament to the relentless effort of our athletes, coaches and supporters,” said club captain Ethan Bucombe. “We’re excited to keep riding this wave into the next season.”

The results confirm Fish Hoek’s national leadership in surf lifesaving, but the rewards go well beyond medals for the families involved.

Diane Breuninger, whose daughter Kenzie, 12, competes as a Nipper, said being part of the club has been life-changing.

“She’s grown stronger, more confident, and more focused. But more than that, she’s learned resilience, teamwork and respect for the ocean,” said Breuninger. “It’s truly something special—something I’d recommend to any parent.”

The club’s Nipper programme is widely regarded as one of the strongest in the country, consistently producing qualified lifeguards — and in many cases, national and international athletes.

Nipper Officer Nikki Mocke credited the win to the team’s “months of hard work” and thanked volunteers and sponsors for their unwavering support.

“We’re so proud of what these young athletes have achieved. This success belongs to the whole Fish Hoek community.”

Fish Hoek’s triple victory is also a boost for Western Cape sport, according to Craig van Rooyen, director of Sport at Lifesaving South Africa.

“This kind of performance reflects the strength of our local surf lifesaving scene,” he said. “Fish Hoek’s dominance comes from years of structured development, coaching excellence and community engagement.”

Club chairperson Tommy Veldhuis called the victory “a proud moment” for both the club and the province.

“The determination, team spirit and hard work of everyone involved brought these titles home — where they belong," he said.