Cara Waud, the dynamic captain of Epworth School’s First X1 Hockey team, the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional champs of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge is eager to get onto the astro at the Grand Finals that takes place at St Mary’s DSG, in Durban on July 20 and 21.
The seventeen-year old live-wire, who is currently doing her matric, plays centre back for the school team, and has made a provincial KZN hockey team every year since Grade 8 in 2015, and currently plays in the U18A division.
A keen sportswoman, Cara also canoes and does cross-country, and has been awarded school colours for both hockey and canoeing. “My parents have really encouraged me to play sport. My dad is a really good paddler and has taught me a lot both on and off the water regarding canoeing. My mum used to play hockey competitively and she considered herself pretty decent at it, but I would take her on any day!” she laughs.
“I started playing hockey in primary school at Chelsea Preparatory in Durban and soon joined club the Riverside Hockey Club in Durban North,” she says. “I love playing the game, and it is mostly about the actual players, as you share great moments together both on and off the field.”
“I am looking forward to playing in the Grand Finals of the SPAR Challenge, as I think it is a prestigious tournament,” she says. “I am really impressed with SPAR’s commitment to developing schoolgirl’s hockey, we really learn so much about the game, and at the same time we have so much fun.”
Cara says that the best bit of advice she has received from her coach has been “Work together as a team, have fun and the results will follow.”
Citing her best subject at school as accounting, Cara hopes to do a BAcc at Stellenbosch, with the aim to be a Chartered Accountant one day. But life is not only about the academics and sports, she says: “I also really enjoy anything that involves being outside. Coming from Durban anything to do at the beach keeps me satisfied but I also enjoy spending time in the Berg and hiking.”
The go-getter, who lives by the words “regret the things you do than the things you don’t do” says that one of her life role models is Jamie Harburn, a former Epworth schoolgirl who completed her matric a few years back. “She made a huge impact on my life because she always was kind and generous in everything she did, you could always look to her for support. She was like an older sister who lead her life with high morals and values. She taught me that life is so precious and live each day to the fullest!”
Epworth School joins nine other teams from KZN at the Grand finals including St Anne’s Diocesan College, Kokstad College, Durban Girls’ College, Crawford La Lucia , Ferrum High School, Wartburg Kirchdorf School, St Mary’s DSG, Felixton College and Amanzimtoti High School.
For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow on Instagram.
Interview With Cara Waud From Epworth School
