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23 April 2019 | Story Ruan Bruwer
Wihan Victor
Wihan Victor, opening batsman of the Kovsie cricket team, was the fourth-highest run scorer at the National Club

The first cricket team of the University of the Free State (UFS) ended the National Club Championship in Pretoria in fifth position, officially making them the country’s fifth-best club-cricket team for the 2018/2019 season. 

They secured two wins – over the Madibaz and Impala – in five matches.

The Kovsies, without two of their stars, Marno van Greunen and Sean Whitehead – due to work and study commitments – ended the tournament on a high on Wednesday 17 April 2019. They thumped Impala, the Gauteng representative, by an emphatic nine wickets on the final day.

The winning margin against the Madibaz was six wickets.

The UFS, who did not qualify for last year’s champs, bowled Impala out for 144 in 33 overs. Wizzard Ncedane led a fine bowling display. The medium-pacer claimed 3 for 49. He was well-supported by Siphamandla Mavanda (2/8), Christo van Staden (2/9), and captain AJ van Wyk (2/33). 

Breezy half-centuries from Wihan Victor (53 off 52 balls, 8 fours) and Stephan van Vollenhoven (54 off 40 balls, 7 fours, 1 six) then powered the Knights representatives to victory with more than 30 overs to spare.

Victor, an opening batsman, ended as the UFS top run scorer. He scored 204 runs in five innings at an average of 51.

Only three other batsmen at the tournament scored more runs.

Wizard was the pick of the bowlers. He claimed eight wickets for 132 runs in four innings at an average of 16,5 and a strike rate of 24,5. His eight scalps were the joint second most at the tournament.



News Archive

Monkey research attracts international attention
2016-07-11

Description: Monkey research attracts international attention  Tags: Monkey research attracts international attention

Prof Trudy Turner from the University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Prof Paul Grobler
from the Department of Genetics at the
University of the Free State, together with one
of the students researching monkey genes.
Photo: Siobhan Canavan

For this year’s Summer School programme, Prof Paul Grobler, from the University of the Free State Department of Genetics focuses on research about the conflict between monkeys and humans in areas where monkeys are regarded as problem animals.

Global expert part of research

This year, Prof Grobler is hosting a group of students and lecturers from the United States of America (USA). The group includes Prof Trudy Turner from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), a global expert on vervet monkeys. She has been working with the Department of Genetics at the UFS for the past fifteen years, and has also been appointed as an Affiliated Professor in the department.

“The Summer School programme is an opportunity for the American Primatology students to gain practical experience in Africa,” says Prof Grobler.

International interest in Summer School

This year’s Summer School programme involves four lecturers and nine students. The lecturers are from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Boston University, and Central Washington University.

“We use the genetic information to determine
how monkeys historically infiltrated the
different areas in South Africa.”

This year’s focus is on the genetic structure of the monkeys in South Africa, and research that is being done on the differences and similarities in monkeys from different areas. “We use the genetic information to determine how monkeys historically infiltrated the different areas in South Africa,” says Prof Grobler.

Local nature reserve acting as host

The group will perform field work, including observing monkeys in the Soetdoring Nature Reserve, as well as laboratory work in the department, where they will be assisted by two laboratory technicians.

Two years ago, Prof Grobler and his department tested this idea on a smaller scale, and now they hope to make this a regular event. 

 

 

 

 

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