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THE 64-year-old Unicorn Hockey Club's effort to avoid extinction - a fate that has hit several other hockey clubs in the Athlone and Southern Suburbs areas - has reaped some rewards and recognition.

The first positive for the club is that Sharon Siljeur, a Unicorn stalwart and former top athlete, has been retained as the manager of the South African women?s side that will tackle India in a four-test series at Stellenbosch this week (July 25 - 29).

Club optimism has also escalated after the selection of three players Tamlynn Alexander, Nadia Jurius and Deidre Scholtz in the WP President's side that will be managed by Unicorn's Beatrice Schilder at the inter-provincial (third level) championship from July 30 - August 5 at Stellenbosch.

"The recognition afforded to our three players and manager is much-needed and inspiring.

"We want more women to join the club and it is necessary to encourage our current players to do their best," said Siljeur, who doubles-up as club chairperson when she is not running coaching clinics across the peninsula.

She has coached Scholtz, 18, now attending the University of the Western Cape, since her schooldays at Lourier Primary in Steenberg. Jurius, 24, is a former top WP and Lavender Hill High sprinter, while Alexander, 18, a Muizenberg High learner, has previously represented the WP under-18C team.

Schilder, a teacher at Westpoort Primary in Mitchell's Plain, has made a return to hockey after playing for the old St Raphael's club. The rookies cannot go wrong if they attempt to emulate Siljeur, whose sports CV is, indeed, difficult to beat.

Siljeur was the WP Schools' record holder in the 100m, 200m and longjump events, while attending Oaklands High in Lansdowne during the 1970s.

She also represented the old WP Hockey Board and the old Cape District Softball Union in the 1980s.

The versatile sportsperson from Grassy Park also managed the SA women's hockey sides against Argentina in Buenes Aires in 2004 and at the Africa Cup in Pretoria last year.

Another international experience for Siljeur was to run out with the SA masters side at the 1993 World Masters Championship in Hong Kong.

The Unicorn women's team turns out in the WP Fourth League and play their home matches at the Constantiaberg field in Bergvliet, after relocating from the Retreat sportsfield this year.

The club also fields two men's teams and three youth teams that play most of their matches at the Phillipi astroturf in Mitchell's Plain. Anyone keen to join the club may call Siljeur on 084 511 7625.

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