Ashton kicks off new term with success across hockey, soccer and MTB
Ashton International College Ballito has hit the new term running after another successful week of sport.
The college made a triumphant return to the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls' Hockey Challenge Grand Finals, held this past weekend at St Mary's DSG in Kloof.
The girls' 1st hockey team wrapped up a strong outdoor season by finishing third in the prestigious provincial festival.
This year's result surpasses Ashton's previous Grand Finals finishes of seventh in 2015 and 2016, and ninth in 2013. The school also made history as the highest-placed team from the Durban North Region since the competition began in 2011.
Head of Girls' Sport at Ashton and first team coach, Erdine Coetzee, believes that exposing the girls to top-tier competitions like the Belgotex Sport Easter Hockey Tournament, where they won the Shield Trophy in Cape Town, has paid off.
'It is a fantastic result that reflects their hard work, determination and growth,' she said. 'I am so proud of how far they have come, both individually and as a team.'
Proud captain Morgan Els noted how tough the elite schools' tournament was: 'It pushed us and reminded us why we play this game. Every moment, from the bruises to the breakthroughs, showed us how far we have come.'
'It is a fantastic result that reflects their hard work, determination and growth,' she said. 'I am so proud of how far they have come, both individually and as a team.
Proud captain Morgan Els noted how tough the elite schools' tournament was: 'It pushed us and reminded us why we play this game. Every moment, from the bruises to the breakthroughs, showed us how far we have come.'
Soccer
It's been a great start to soccer season for the North Coast school. Ashton's boys' teams swept Curro Hillcrest, while the girls winning two and drawing one of their four matches against the same Highways opposition.
Both girls' and boys' 1st and U16A teams won. The only sides not to win were the girls' U14A and U15A teams.
Mountain Bike Racing
The first event of the Cycle Lab Schools MTB Series at Waterfall College in Hillcrest on Sunday (July 27), saw Ashton's relay team place third, with Joshua Paul and Sophia Lombaard taking first place in their categories.
The mountain bike series maintains its position as the premier inter-schools MTB league in KZN, following an XCO short track format, with five races set out for the 2025 season.
The series is open to all public and private high schools from U13 to U19 age categories, with the full support and sanctioning by the Schools Cycling SA.
Leah Mitchell finished fifth, while Troy Cole ended 11th.
The next Cycle Lab event is on August 10 in Pietermaritzburg.
Ashton International College Ballito – Senior College Sports Results: July 21 – 27, 2025 Boys Soccer vs Curro Hillcrest TEAM RESULT OPP TEAM SCORE (Ashton – Opp) 14A Won Curro 4-0 15A Won Curro 6-1 16A Won Curro 9-1 1st Won Curro 2-0 Girls Soccer vs Curro Hillcrest TEAM RESULT TEAM SCORE (Ashton – Opp) 14A Drew Curro 0-0 15A Lost Curro 3-4 16A Won Curro 4-0 1st Won Curro 2-1 Girls Hockey SPAR KZN Schoolgirls' Hockey Challenge Grand Finals, St Mary's DSG, Kloof TEAM RESULT TEAM SCORE (Ashton – Opp) 1st Drew St Anne's 0-0 1st Drew Maris Stella 0-0 1st Won Felixton 2-0 1st Won Wartburg 12-0 1st (Semi-final) Lost St Mary's 0-3 1st (3rd/4th Playoff) Won Epworth 1-0
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