I have attended several of the major comps during 1999 and something that struck me forcibly at the South African Championships is how the standard of dancing from the Gauteng area has suddenly rocketed sky-high. We really have some very talented dancers who seem absolutely dedicated and determined to get to the top. Our trainers are certainly doing a great job.

Although the results of the SA's clearly indicate that the Western Cape dominated,  I'm sure, this is soon to change. What worried me most is, where couples should be at their best, looking their best (in the finals) many appeared to be bedraggled and war-worn. And I've never seen G Simpson & H Hammond look so lacklustre before, totally indifferent, apathetic is probably the right word.

This pedestrian look of lethargy by many of our couples in the final was propounded by the presence of Michael & Beata. It was truly a treat to see how fresh and energetic they danced in the final. Their sprightly, spirited Jive at the end bears testimony to this - world class at its best - a valuable lesson to our future champions… DEVELOP STAYING POWER, the ability and stamina to go the full distance plus two extra energetic rounds. Looking TIRED is a blatant insult to your judges, it says you're not fully prepared, yet you have the audacity to expect an opinion from them.

On my score card, the overseas judges had it dead right 95% of the time. A most enjoyable contest. Jay, I think we need more dance news from the Cape; there seems to be lots of positive things happening there.

JUNIOR STANDARD CHAMPIONSHIP (21 entries)
1st #196 R vd Merwe & T Howard WC
2nd #129 Z Oliphant & B Netnow GT
3rd #236 D Steyn & R Jaftha WC
4th #195  A Cloete & B Cloete  WC
5th #203  C Rushin & R Soules  WC
6th #246  A Julius & B Jegels  GT

YOUTH STANDARD CHAMPIONSHIP (23 entries)
1st #168 L Sijaji & P mabuse NW
2nd #190 C Soules & C Smallburg WC
3rd #202 W Hoskins & M Liedeman WC
4th #241  T Morgan & N Marlie  WC
5th #213  C September & M Klemans  WC
6th #135  K Ramoshebi & T Mokgethi  GT

ADULT STANDARD CHAMPIONSHIP (41 entries)
1st #173 A Krotz & K Corker WC
2nd #158 S Malakoene & P Phiri GT
3rd #191 C Messina & D Damonze WC
4th #217  A Cupido & J Lategan  WC
5th #200  J Zutphen & L Sameuls  WC
6th #269  F Niekerk & C Chisholm  WC

SENIOR STANDARD CHAMPIONSHIP (9 entries)
1st #152 M v Rensburg & l v Rensburg GT
2nd #102 B Naidoo & R Naidoo KZN
3rd #126 M Carelse & S Friedman GT
4th #224  M Tregurtha & C Phillips  GT
5th #308  T Meakin & L Meakin  KZN
6th #177  L Govender & k Govender  KZN
7th #127  D Wingson & E Wingson

MASTERS STANDARD CHAMPIONSHIP (3 entries)
1st #298 L Bennet & P Bennet GT
2nd #176 A Knopp & G Knopp KZN
3rd #285 B Redman & D Klibbe GT

PROFESSIONAL STANDARD CHAMPIONSHIP (13 entries)
1st #198 C Johnson & L Smith WC
2nd #271 G Esterhuizen & A Olivier GT
3rd #231 D Nzimande & Z Lushaba
4th #156  J Tudhope & C Tudhope  GT
5th #252  A Mahomed & S Williams  GT
6th #261  G v Rooyen & M v Deventer  KZN
7th #174   Y Pick & M Simon  WC

JUVENILE LATIN CHAMPIONSHIP (8 entries)
1st #
2nd #169 T Hika & O Mabuse NW
3rd #307 N Masinge & B Dikobe
4th #256  B Magano & K Moche
5th #204  J Isaacs & S de Beer WC
6th #207  D Lindeboom & M Jacobs WC

JUNIOR LATIN CHAMPIONSHIP (20 entries)
1st #196 R vd Merwe & T Howard WC
2nd #170 G Messina & L Isaacs WC
3rd #195 A Cloete & B Cloete WC
4th #161  M Vilonel & C Mauen GT
5th #129  Z Oliphant & B Netnow GT
6th #130  R Gardener & T Callaghan GT
7th #236  D Steyn & R Jaftha WC

YOUTH LATIN CHAMPIONSHIP (25 entries)
1st #300 I Lebeko & N Hlathi NW
2nd #117 R Slabbert & G Boyes GT
3rd #162 M Moroder & H Bennet GT
4th #168  L Sijaji & P Mabuse NW
5th #299  T Tolo & B Kgobokoe NW
6th #160  R Vorster & M Parreirinha GT

ADULT/SENIOR LATIN CHAMPIONSHIP (41 entries)
1st #193 G Mandon & V Petersen WC
2nd #296 R Hoosain & J Roach GT
3rd #167 Q Jansen & M Mabuse NW
4th #116 G Simpson & H Hammond  GT
5th  #291 R Hammond & S Viana  GT
6th #139 K Khundu & A Matinke  NW

PROFESSIONAL LATIN CHAMPIONSHIP (10 entries)
1st #175 M Wentink & B Onefater GT
2nd #119 B Eilers & C Joubert GT
3rd #109 R van den Berg & S Stanford GT
4th #186  M Kgatla & M Martin  NW
5th #185  K Ntseane & N Hoosain  NW
6th #271  G Esterhuisen & A Oliver  GT
7th #251  GT

WINNERS AMATEUR 10-DANCE
#173  A Krotz & K Corker    WC

WINNERS PROFESSIONAL 10-DANCE
# 271  G Esterhuizen & A Olivier   GT