The National All Girls’ Festival took place from Monday, 27 April to Thursday, 30 April, hosted by Rhenish Girls’ High School. Rustenburg was proudly represented, with eight teams competing alongside some of the top schools in the country.
The following teams participated: Cross Country (8 learners), Debating (4 learners), Hockey (15 learners), MasterChef (2 learners), Netball (10 learners), Squash (4 learners), Tennis (5 learners), and Football (16 learners). Each team was supported by a dedicated member of staff. In total, nine staff members, including those providing additional learner support, formed part of the touring group.
The festival offered far more than just competitive opportunities. While teams experienced both successes and challenges, it was the spirit of camaraderie, shared joy, and unity that truly defined the experience. It was a celebration of talent, resilience, and school pride.
Team Manager: Ms Retha Lekgothoane
Cross Country
TIC: Ms Jane Behne
Day 1: Our Cross Country runners enjoyed a scenic and challenging outing in the beautiful Banhoek Conservancy in Kylemore, just outside Stellenbosch. The 4.45 km route tested athletes across a variety of terrain, including gravel roads, single track, and bike paths, making for an exciting individual race.
Our junior runners put in strong performances, with Eva van der Westhuizen leading the team, finishing 15th in an impressive time of 21:12. She was followed by Katelyn Meiring in 25th place and Scarlett Mackness in 29th.
In the senior race, Sienna Malan crossed the line in 22nd place with a time of 22:04. Close behind her was Sofia Fiasconaro in 23rd, while Philippa du Toit rounded off the team’s results in 28th position.
Well done to all our runners for their determination and commitment on a demanding course.
Day 2 began with a scenic walk down to Blaauwklippen Wine Farm, setting the tone for another memorable day of competition.
Despite a setback with three team members unable to compete due to illness, the girls showed great resilience and sportsmanship. Joining forces with Wynberg Girls’, they competed as the Peninsula Team in a 4 km race through the vineyards.
While the junior team placed 7th overall, the experience highlighted the true spirit of the festival—collaboration, determination, and perseverance in the face of challenges. Eva van der Westhuizen led the team with an outstanding run, finishing first for the Peninsula team in a time of 18:25.
The senior team placed 6th out of ten, with Sienna Malan coming in first for the team in a time of 19:01
Day 3 brought an exciting change of format with a fast-paced 4 x 1 km relay. The standard was incredibly high, with specialist track and cross country runners from Affies, Bloemhof, and Paarl Girls setting a furious pace.
Adding to the excitement was the fun “Superpower” dress-up theme, which brought plenty of colour and energy to the event. Our learners fully embraced the spirit of the day, competing as The Incredibles.
It was a fantastic display of teamwork, enthusiasm, and school spirit, with the learners rising to the occasion both on and off the course.
Tennis
TIC: Mr James Hendricks
The RGHS 1st tennis team was represented by Rylie Hodgskiss, Emma Hilton, Jenna Edge and Evelyn Lindsay at the All Girls Festival. Rylie and Emma were the first doubles pair, and Jenna and Evelyn the second doubles pair. All the matches were played at the Rhenish Girls’ High School courts.
On Day 1, RGHS was drawn in a pool alongside Rhenish and Collegiate. After a delayed start due to overnight rain, the team faced the hosts, Rhenish, in the opening match. Rhenish, the eventual winners of the tournament, proved to be formidable opponents, and we ended up losing 6-0. However, the result was not a reflection of the quality of the tennis our team played. A special mention must go to Emma and Rylie, who were unlucky to lose a tightly contested doubles match 6-4.
The team showed great resilience, bouncing back against Collegiate to win all matches convincingly and securing second place in their pool. This meant that they would be fighting it out for the top 8 positions on Day 2.
The second day mirrored the first. RGHS opened against a very strong Oranje Meisieskool. Despite battling bravely, the team lost 6-0. Notable praise goes to Jenna, who pushed the Oranje number 3 seed to the limit in a titanic singles struggle.
True to form, the team once again rebounded in their second fixture, defeating Clarendon with a dominant 6-0 victory. This earned RGHS the opportunity to play for fifth position on the final day.
On the third day, RGHS faced a clinical Paarl Girls’ High team. While the team fought hard, the cumulative fatigue of the previous two days took its toll, resulting in a 6-0 loss. Emma delivered a standout performance, coming close to an upset against the Paarl number 2 seed.
The loss to Paarl meant that the team came sixth overall, which is an improvement on our result in 2025. The girls are to be congratulated for their sportsmanship and the exemplary way they carried themselves on the court. They represented RGHS with pride and can be incredibly proud of their performance.
Netball
Manager: Ms Chantal Lombard
Our Netball girls excelled tremendously well at this year’s All Girls Festival. With a new outlook on the way we approach the game, our U19 Netball Team proved their worth on the court amongst some of the Top Netball schools across the country.
Through all the excitement leading up to the festival, our team showed up and conquered a nail-biting win within their first round of matches vs Collegiate. On slippery courts with a couple of minor injuries, the determination to show true rusty pride was evident amongst all team members.
With much to see and additional entertainment all around, we faced Danville in our quarter-final round. Despite facing the talented, skilled players from KZN, our U19 girls racked up some fear on the court, scoring 28-23 in the final minute of the game. A highlight of the tournament was playing against Potch Girls, ranked 26th in SA, ending off with a whopping 37-17 victory.
The semi-finals took place on Day 3 vs Bloemhof. With flu and cold conditions taking over, our girls still managed to push through and earned their spot in the Top 10 with an 8th place overall. Loads of lessons were learnt, friends made, and ultimately an all-rounded experience for all showcasing the true meaning of what it means to Be Bold, Be brave, Be you.
This tour was a true reflection of the immense potential within this team. It provided an invaluable opportunity for the girls to gain meaningful game time, compete at a high level, and continue building stronger connections both on and off the field. Throughout the tour, the team showed resilience, determination, and moments of brilliance that highlighted just how much can be achieved together.
Most importantly, the experience brought valuable lessons and growth. Every match challenged us in different ways and gave the girls greater awareness of the areas that still require work, development, and consistency. These learnings will only strengthen the team moving forward.
Beyond the results, this tour was about growth, character, and laying the foundation for what this group is capable of becoming. There is so much to be proud of, and even more to look forward to as we continue progressing together.
Lucy Walker (Grade 12) was acknowledged for being part of the Top 10 All Stars of the Tournament in an impressive showcase. Well deserved, Lucy!
Hockey
Manager: Mr Darren Davies
All Girls 2026 was the first for hockey, after taking a new direction. With the tournament boasting an impressive 3 out of the Top 4 teams in South Africa according to rankings at the time, it was always going to be tough for our U19A Hockey Team.
The learners showed up and were determined to show that they belonged in the conversations with the best. The team were eventually knocked out by a Collegiate side who were ranked at number 4 in SA at the time. The girls bounced back from the defeat, beating both Bloemhof and Affies on their journey to 5th place in the tournament. Their results were outstanding, having played 6, won 4, lost 1 and drawn 1. The team achieved their goal of joining the conversation of the elite and left as a talking point of the tournament.
The teams’ other results were made up of a 5-0 win over Danville, a 4-0 win over Park Town and a 2-2 draw with Bloemhof. We are unbelievably proud of our hockey team and the level at which they played.
Squash
TIC: Ms Kuhle Mkosana
The squash tournament held in Stellenbosch was an exciting and memorable experience for the team. I attended the tournament with Leila King, Genevieve Belle Lang, and Lucy Rose Hilton. Unfortunately, Lucy fell ill on Day 1, which placed the team in a difficult position. However, we quickly contacted Emily van Coeverden de Groot, who joined us shortly thereafter. Her willingness to step in at short notice was invaluable, and she performed exceptionally well throughout the tournament.
Despite this early setback, the girls showed resilience and teamwork. They had a fantastic time and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Their ability to adapt under pressure ensured that we were able to continue competing; without this quick plan, we would have faced disqualification.
Day 1: The tournament began on a challenging note. Due to unforeseen circumstances and our late arrival at the venue, the team started under pressure. We played our first match against Clarendon and, although the girls played with determination, we lost 16–0.
Day 2: The team returned with renewed energy and confidence. We secured a strong 16–0 victory against Pretoria Girls High, followed by another convincing 16–0 win against Danville. Later that day, we faced Eunice, one of the top teams in the country. The girls were understandably nervous, as this match would determine whether we advanced to play for 1st or 2nd place. After a motivating team talk, they delivered an outstanding performance. Although we narrowly lost 11–6, it was a highly competitive and commendable effort.
Day 3: The team qualified to compete for 3rd and 4th place. In a closely contested match, we finished 4th overall, missing 3rd place by just 2 points.
Conclusion:
Overall, the tournament was a great success. The girls demonstrated resilience, adaptability, and strong team spirit throughout. Despite the challenges they faced, particularly the illness of a teammate and the absence of a coach on site, they supported one another and rose to the occasion. Emily’s contribution was especially noteworthy, and the entire team should be proud of their performance and sportsmanship.
Football
TIC: Mr Jasper Saayman
Football at the National All Girls’ Festival proved to be a highly competitive and rewarding experience for the learners of Rustenburg Girls’ High School. On the first day, the team faced strong opposition in matches against Rhenish Girls’ High School, Parktown Girls’ High School, and Wynberg Girls’ High School. Despite the challenging level of play, the learners demonstrated resilience, determination, and commendable teamwork throughout their matches. Although they ultimately finished fourth in the tournament standings, their performance reflected great effort and a positive competitive spirit.
The second day saw a shift in format, with teams divided into smaller 5-a-side groups. The learners participated in multiple matches against a variety of teams from the other schools and performed exceptionally well, securing an impressive second place overall in the 5-a-side games. On the third day, the learners attended a series of mental, tactical, and technical sessions at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport. These sessions proved to be highly beneficial, offering valuable insights not only into football but also into broader aspects of discipline, mindset, and personal development applicable to everyday life.
Debating
TIC: Ms Saeeda Bassardien
The debating learners had a challenging and enriching experience this year at All Girls. They went head-to-head with schools like Bloemhof, Durban Girls, Danville and the champions, Clarendon Girls High School. Our two captains, Gia Davids and Eila De Villiers, lead the team with resilience, learning from both losses and wins. The rest of the team consisted of Rachel van der Vijver, Rachel Badham, and Nikita Mguqulwa.
The team ended up winning two debates against Bloemhof on the topic of Public Wages and Durban Girls on the topic of AI. They listened carefully to the provided feedback from the adjudicators and used the advice thoroughly to prepare them for the next debate. By the end of Day 2, 5 debates later, they had grown into being a much stronger and well-rounded team. Congratulations to Rachel van der Vijver, who was named the 10th best speaker overall.
Masterchef
TIC: Ms Kelly Erasmus
The MasterChef learners, Kate Basson and Qaylah Davids, had a memorable and enriching experience at the National All Girls Festival.
On Day 1, they attended an informative masterclass on food photography and styling presented by Ilse Van Der Merwe. This was followed by an outing to the ICA Chef School, where they participated in two engaging demonstrations led by the school’s pastry chef—one focusing on sugar work and the other on chocolate work. The learners then had the opportunity to apply their newly acquired skills by decorating a sable biscuit, which was packaged for them to take home.
Upon returning to Rhenish Girls’ High School, the day concluded with a final demonstration by Jaidan Reyneke on cake basics, in preparation for the competition.
On Day 2, the learners received their competition brief, which required them to create a two-tiered cake incorporating at least two of the four techniques covered during the demonstrations. Between competition sessions, they also attended a final demonstration by Louise from Blos Bakery on piping techniques, which had to be included in their final presentation.
Kate and Qaylah performed exceptionally well, producing a beautifully executed two-tiered vanilla sponge cake filled with lemon curd and Swiss meringue buttercream. They placed fourth out of fourteen competitors, only two points shy of third place. Although this was not the result they were hoping for, they demonstrated excellent teamwork throughout and received special mention for their piping skills and their ability to perform under pressure.
As a reward for their hard work, on the final day of the festival, the MasterChef learners were treated to a visit to Lanzerac Hotel & Spa, where they enjoyed its famous scones and tea. Overall, it was a truly wonderful and rewarding experience.
