Kingfisher AquaSync
Artistic Swimming Club
About Us
Kingfisher AquaSync is Pretoria's only beginner, high performance and masters artistic swimming club. We are a registered non-profit organization aimed at promoting participation in and expansion of the sport.
Artistic swimming is great for improving strength, fitness, flexibility and team work as well as a being good compliment for a variety of other sports. Not to mention being a graceful and beautiful sport on its own.
Established in 2016, our club has grown rapidly during its 7 years and we hope it will continue to do so in 2023!
Our club is open to boys and girls aged 6 and over for both recreational and competitive participation. The club is coached by experienced artistic swimmers with a variety of competitive experience.
There is also a support system of additional part time coaches and associated members with experience in synchro, gymnastics, dance, swimming and physiotherapy.
All parents are required to get involved in the running of the club by joining the club's parent committee. So far our parents have made some truly invaluable contributions to the club's success and ensured that our swimmers have had some wonderful opportunities!
Upcoming Events
NTS Level 1 & 2 Artistic Swimming Competitions
March 2023
South African National Artistic Swimming Championships
April 2023
Kingfisher Club News
19th FINA World Artistic Swimming Championships 2022
Budapest, Hungary
Kingfisher AquaSync coaches Cathy Bester and Michelle Bester were both selected to represent South Africa at World Championships in Budapest! Cathy was selected as one of two artistic swimming national coaches and Michelle was selected as the team physiotherapist for the national swimming team.
Kingfisher Invitational 2021
Our annual Kingfisher Invitational had a new format in 2021. Instead of a conventionally scored competition, each entered routine received a valuable, constructive feedback report from a panel of international, Olympic-level judges, athletes and coaches. The aim of this was to provide athletes of any level, from participating clubs and countries, useful input with which to improve their routines for the upcoming competitive seasons.
Coaching Development
Kingfisher coaches are constantly improving their skills, including attending the FINA Coaching Clinic and The HOW of Motivation in Coaching by USA Olympic coach Andrea Fuentes.
1st FINA World Youth Artistic Swimming Championships 2019
Samorin, Slovakia
Kingfisher AquaSync is proud of our swimmer, Xera Vegter Maharajh, who represented South Africa as the national soloist and part of Team SA at this exciting competition!!
National Age Groups Hosts 2018
Pretoria, South Africa
Kingfisher AquaSync hosted a very successful NAG, the first time NAG has been hosted in Gauteng in almost a decade! The wonderful contribution of all our coaches, parents and athletes that went into making this event such a success was deeply appreciated.
Kingfisher Coaching Staff
Head Coach - Cathy Bester
Cathy has nearly a decade of competitive swimming and artistic swimming experience, representing NTS in both at a variety of National Level competitions, and was selected for the national team.
She has has also coached at district, provincial and national level. She was selected to represent NTS at SA Nationals 2022 as well as a national coach to represent South Africa at World Aquatics (formerly FINA) Senior World Championships 2022 in Budapest.
She has additional experience in gymnastics, ballet and pilates. A former member and coach of Hillcrest Synchro Club, she was coached by one of South Africa's top artistic swimmers and Commonwealth Games athletes. She is currently completing a PhD in Entomology at the University of Pretoria and working in corporate consulting.
Assistant Coach - Genevieve Freer
Genevieve has nearly a decade of artistic swimming experience, having competed at national level for 7 years in synchro. She is a former member of Hillcrest Synchro Club and was coached by one of South Africa's top artistic swimmers and Commonwealth games athlete. She also represented Northern Gauteng for 3 years in water polo, her team winning their age group. She has 9 years of swimming and hockey coaching experience. She attended an artistic swimming coaching course hosted by the Egyptian World Aquatics (formerly FINA) judging official. She has been selected as the Kingfisher and NTS judging representative and has judged at several club and provincial based competitions. She is currently teaching at Waterkloof Primary School in Pretoria, and recently authored a Grade R textbook on coding and robotics.
Assistant Coach - Michelle Bester
Michelle is an assistant coach at Kingfisher AquaSync and Chairperson of the provincial Artistic Swimming Board. She has competitive experience in swimming, synchronized swimming and lifesaving, representing NTS at the National level for 7 years. She is a former member of Hillcrest Synchro Club and was coached by one of South Africa's top artistic swimmers and Commonwealth Games athlete. Michelle is a practicing Sport Physiotherapist and a qualified pilates instructor. She has a special interest in sports injury prevention and has presented various talks on the topic at national and international conferences. She holds a Masters degree in Sport Physiotherapy from the University of Pretoria and is a published academic researcher. Michelle has represented South Africa as Team SA Physio at the World Aquatics (formerly FINA) World Champs in Budapest 2022.
GALLERY
Kingfisher Competition Results
South African National Age Group Artistic Swimming Championships, Durban, December 2022
Lou Bosscher (3rd - Novice Figures)
Juliette Pascoe (4th - Novice Figures)
Djeneba Coulibaly (7th - Novice Figures)
Catherine Pascoe (11th - Novice Figures)
Catherine Pascoe & Juliette Pascoe (1st - Novice Duet)
Lou Bosscher & Djeneba Coulibaly (2nd - Novice Duet)
Lou Bosscher & Djeneba Coulibaly (1st - Novice Overall)
Catherine Pascoe & Juliette Pascoe (2nd - Novice Overall)
Lily Capdepon (7th - 12&U Figures)
Lily Capdepon (4th - 12&U Solo)
Jil Haller (5th - Junior Free Solo)
Jil Haller & Ella Huang (CYG) ( - Junior Free Duet)
Jil Haller & Lou Bosscher (Exhibition Duet)
Chloe Dundas-Starr (2nd - Senior Free Solo)
Chloe Dundas-Starr (3rd - Senior Tech Solo)
Lou Bosscher, Djeneba Coulibaly, Catherine Pascoe, Juliette Pascoe (1st - Novice Free Team)
Kingfisher & Cygnus (2nd - Free Routine Combination)
FINA Senior World Championships, Budapest, 2022
Cathy Bester (SA National Coach - Senior Team)
Xera Vegter Maharajh (Free Solo, Tech Duet, Free Duet)
Laura Strugnell (Tech Solo, Mixed Duet)
South African Senior National Championships, Durban, April 2022
Xera Vegter Maharajh (1st - Senior Free Solo)
Xera Vegter Maharajh ( Senior Tech Solo)
Xera Vegter Maharajh ( Senior Figures)
Xera Vegter Maharajh & Skye McDonald (WCA) (1st - Free Duet)
Xera Vegter Maharajh & Skye McDonald (WCA) (1st - Tech Duet)
Xera Vegter Maharajh (Top Soloist Trophy)
Xera Vegter Maharajh & Skye McDonald (WCA) (Top Duet Pair Trophy)
South African National Age Group Artistic Swimming Championships, Cape Town, December 2021
Sofia Kourkoumelis ( - Novice Figures)
Sofia Stam ( - Novice Figures)
Lily Capdepon (12th - 12&U Figures)
Jil Haller (2nd - 13-15 Figures)
Athina Kyriazis (5th - 13-15 Figures)
Farryn Behenna (2nd - Senior Figures)
Sofia Kourkoumelis & Sofia Stam (2nd - Novice Duet)
Lily Capdepon (12th - 12&U Solo)
Jil Haller (2nd - 13-15 Solo)
Athina Kyriazis (7th - 13-15 Solo)
Jil Haller (1st - 13-18 Trio)
Farryn Behenna (3rd - Senior Free Solo)
Michelle Bester & Jil Haller (Senior Free Duet)
Michelle Bester (2nd - Senior Free Team)
Michelle Bester, Alexis Rauff, Jil Haller, Farryn Behenna (1st - Free Routine Combination)
Kingfisher Invitational, October 2021
Participation for feedback and sponsored prizes
Kingfisher AquaSync
Barracudas
NOGCC Swim Team
Virtual Kuus Kuohu Open, May 2021
Xera Vegter Maharajh (2nd - Junior Free Solo)
Xera Vegter Maharajh (2nd - Junior Tech Solo)
Jil Haller (5th - 13-15 Free Solo)
South African Senior National Championships, Port Elizabeth, April 2021
Xera Vegter Maharajh & Skye Mcdonald (3rd - Senior Free Duet)
Xera Vegter Maharajh & Skye Mcdonald (3rd - Senior Tech Duet)
South African Junior National Championships, Port Elizabeth, April 2021
Xera Vegter Maharajh & Skye Mcdonald (1st - Junior Free Duet)
Xera Vegter Maharajh & Skye Mcdonald (1st - Junior Tech Duet)
Xera Vegter Maharajh (1st - Junior Figures)
Xera Vegter Maharajh (1st - Junior Free Solo)
South African Youth National Championships, Port Elizabeth, April 2021
Jil Haller (3rd - Youth Figures)
Jil Haller (2nd - Youth Free Solo)
Sportex Artistic Swimming Virtual Championship, August 2020
Jil Haller
Xera Vegter Maharajh
UANA Artistic Swimming Virtual Challenge, July 2020
Xera Vegter Maharajh
Gauteng Level 1 Artistic Swimming Championships, Pretoria, March 2020
Lily Capdepon & Elisa Beceu (1st - Duet 12 & Under)
Athina Kyriazis (1st - Solo 12 & Under)
Pego Molefe (1st - Solo 13-18)
Kyle Fisher (2nd - Solo 13- 18)
Athina Kyriazis (1st - Figures 12 & Under)
Elisa Beceu (2nd - Figures 12 & Under)
Lily Capdepon (3rd - Figures 12 & Under)
South African National Age Group Artistic Swimming Championships, Port Elizabeth, December 2019
Xera Vegter Maharajh (2nd - Junior Figures)
Xera Vegter Maharajh (1st - 13 to 15 Figures)
Jil Haller (1st - 12 & Under Figures)
Xera Vegter Maharajh (1st - 13 to 15 Solo)
Xera Vegter Maharajh (2nd - Junior Tech Solo)
Jil Haller (1st - 12 & Under Solo)
Xera, Gabriella, Thais, Christine, Bridget, Jil, Gabriela (2nd - 13 - 15 Free Team)
Farryn, Alexis, Xera, Gabriella, Thais, Christine, Bridget, Jil, Gabriela (2nd - Open Combo)
South African Junior Nationals Championships, Durban, April 2019
Xera Vegter Maharajh (2nd - Junior Tech Solo)
South African Level 3 Artistic Swimming Championships, Cape Town, March 2019
Xera Vegter Maharajh (1st - 13 to 15 Figures)
Xera Vegter Maharajh (1st - 13 to 15 Solo)
Kingfisher Invitational 2019 & Gauteng Level 1 Artistic Swimming Championships, Pretoria, March 2019
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LEVEL 1
Athina Kyriazis (2nd - 12 & Under Figures)
Cara Fourie (3rd - 12 & Under Figures)
Cara Fourie (2nd - 12 & Under Solo)
Athina Kyriazis (3rd - 12 & Under Solo)
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LEVEL 2
Aurelia Pretorius (3rd - 10 & Under Figures)
Aurelia Pretorius (2nd - 10 & Under Solo)
Bonolo Moalusi (2nd - 12 & Under Figures)
Bonolo Moalusi (2nd - 12 & Under Solo)
Alexis Rauff (1st - 13 to 15 Figures)
Christine Siebert (3rd - 13 to 15 Figures)
Thias Beceu (1st - 13 to 15 Solo)
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LEVEL 3
Gabriela Blanco (1st - 13 to 15 Figures)
Gabriella Pretorius (2nd - 13 to 15 Figures)
Gabriela Castillo (1st - 13 to 15 Solo)
Gabriella Pretorius (2nd - 13 to 15 Solo)
Farryn Behenna (1st - 15 to 18 Free Solo)
Gabriela Castillo - Junior Trophy for Best Overall Score
South African National Age Group Artistic Swimming Championships, Pretoria, December 2018
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13 - 15 Age Group
Xera Vegter Maharajh (2nd - 13 to 15 Figures)
Xera Vegter Maharajh (1st - 13 to 15 Solo)
Bridget Adams, Alexis Rauff, Christine Siebert, Xera Vegter Maharajh (2nd - 13 to 15 Team)
South African Level 3 Artistic Swimming Championships, Port Elizabeth, April 2018
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13 - 15 Age Group
Xera Vegter Maharajh (1st - 13 to 15 Figures)
Xera Vegter Maharajh (1st - 13 to 15 Solo)
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Open Age Group
Farryn Behenna (3rd - Open Figures)
Farryn Behenna (2nd - Open Solo)
Gauteng & KZN Level 2 Artistic Swimming Championships, Johannesburg, March 2018
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12 & Under Age Group
Gabriella Pretorius (4th - 12 & Under Figures)
Jane Toich (6th - 12 & Under Figures)
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13 - 15 Age Group
Bridget Adams (3rd - 13 - 15 Figures)
Bridget Adams (2nd - 13 - 15 Solo)
Gauteng Level 1 Artistic Swimming Championships, Johannesburg, March 2018
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10 & Under Age Group
Aurelia Pretorius (2nd - 10 & Under Figures)
Aurelia Pretorius (2nd - 10 & Under Solo)
Zara Karp (3rd - 10 & Under Figures)
Zara Karp (3rd - 10 & Under Solo)
Aurelia Pretorius and Zara Karp (1st - 10 & Under Duet)
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12 & Under Age Group
Bonolo Moalusi (7th - 12 & Under Figures)
Anouk Lotter (8th - 12 & Under Figures)
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15 & Over Age Group
Elizabeth Ratselane (1st - 15 & Over Figures)
Elizabeth Ratselane (1st - 15 & Over Solo)
South African National Age Group Artistic Swimming Championships, Cape Town, December 2017
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12 & Under Novice Age Group
Gabriella Pretorius (1st - 12 & Under Novice Figures)
Jane Toich (2nd - 12 & Under Novice Figures)
Alexis Rauff, Gabriella Pretorius and Jane Toich (1st - 12 & Under Novice Trio)
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13 - 15 Novice Age Group
Isabella Pretorius (1st - 13 to 15 Novice Figures)
Emily de Kock (2nd - 13 to 15 Novice Figures)
Bridget Adams, Emily de Kock, Isabella Pretorius and Christine Siebert (1st - 13- 15 Novice Team)
Alexis Rauff and Christine Siebert (2nd - 13 to 15 Novice Duet)
Overall Club Winner: Novice Trophy
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13 - 15 Age Group
Xera Vegter Maharajh (1st - 13 to 15 Solo; 1st overall 13 to 15; 13 to 15 Solo Trophy)
2nd Kingfisher Invitational, De Jong Dive Centre, Pretoria, October 2017
Jane Toich (2nd - 10 & Under Novice Solo)
Bonolo Moalusi (3rd - 10 & Under Novice Solo)
Anouk Lotter (2nd - 12 & Under Novice Solo)
Emily de Kock (1st - 13 to 15 Novice Solo)
Bridget Adams (2nd - 13 to 15 Novice Solo)
Isabella Pretorius (3rd - 13 to 15 Novice Solo)
Xera Vegter Maharajh (1st - 13 to 15 Solo)
Pascaline Wibin (1st - 15 to 18 Solo)
Alexis Rauff and Christine Siebert (1st - Novice Duet)
Pascaline Wibin and Xera Vegter Maharajh (1st - 15 to 18 Duet)
Alexis Rauff, Gabriella Pretorius and Jane Toich (1st - 12 & Under Novice Trio)
Bridget Adams, Emily de Kock, Isabella Pretorius and Christine Siebert (1st - 13- 15 Novice Team)
Gauteng Level 1 Synchronised Swimming Championship, Johannesburg, April 2017
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10 & Under Age Group
Jane Toich (1st - 10 & Under Solo)
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12 & Under Age Group
Gabriella Pretorius (1st - 12 & Under Solo)
Alexis Rauff (2nd - 12 & Under Solo)
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13 - 15 Age Group
Emily de Kock (1st - 13 to 15 Solo)
Isabella Pretorius (2nd - 13 to 15 Solo)
Bridget Adams (3rd - 13 to 15 Solo)
Kingfisher AquaSync - Overall Club Winner
SA National Level 3 Synchronised Swimming Championship, Port Elizabeth, March 2017
Xera Vegter Maharajh (1st - 13 to 15 solo)
South African National Age Group Synchronised Swimming Championships, Durban, December 2016
Xera Vegter Maharajh (3rd - 12 & Under Solo, selected to 2017 SA 13 to 15 talent squad)
1st Kingfisher Invitational, De Jong Dive Centre, Pretoria, November 2016
Heike du Preez-Psotka and Jane Toich (1st - 9 & Under Duet)
Gabriella Pretorius (1st - 9 & Under Solo)
Bridget Adams (1st - 10- 12 Solo)
Emily de Kock (2nd - 10- 12 Solo)
Alexis Rauff (3rd - 10- 12 Solo)
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