Ooskus Gimnasium Hoër (formerly Hoërskool Grens) has tightened security for the 2025 Sportfees to curb underage drinking at derby days — a move that could set a precedent for other schools.
Hosted from March 6-8, the festival traditionally coincides with the official start of winter schools’ sports and attracts more than 20 schools from across the Border region, competing in rugby, netball, hockey and other sports.
In 2023, underage drinking outside the school at the conclusion of the festival marred its success and since then, the school has taken a concerted effort to increase surveillance and security within the sports grounds and in the surrounding community — a first for a local school.
Security at the festival this year was noticeably tighter and included increased police visibility, frequent bag checks, and strict monitoring of the two main entry points which played a key role in maintaining order. School officials also worked closely with law enforcement and private security companies to ensure a well-co-ordinated approach.
Ooskus Gimnasium principal Phil Barnard said the school was pleased with the outcome of this year’s event and the co-operation of stakeholders.
“There were many plans in place to make sure that everything ran smoothly. We had a private company patrolling the area. We also had the final games start earlier so that we could finish the games in the daylight.
In 2023, the Daily Dispatch and GO!&Express reported on the festival being marred by chaos caused by large groups of underage pupils drinking outside the school, engaging in unruly behaviour and littering the surrounding areas. The incident sparked widespread criticism and calls for stricter measures to prevent a repeat in future events. The changes to this year’s festival received positive feedback from the public on social media.
Suren Packery, a Baysville resident, who lives near the school, noted the significant improvement from previous years.
“As a resident, I took the time to post complimenting Ooskus on a well organised sports day. Historically this event created a bit of chaos in Baysville due to the volume of cars, unauthorised parking, pupils outside the school engaging in drinking, and the subsequent litter. This year, however, it appears the SGB, principal, organising committee and teachers managed to mitigate all these anti-social behaviours.
“Parking was marked and blocked off prior, there was plenty of signage and teachers directing traffic and very little kids were out of the school and those that were, were well behaved. I am sure that they worked tirelessly and diligently to alleviate the challenges and there are great lessons for other schools and events to take from them [Ooskum Gimnasium],” Packery said.
The festival itself was a celebration of school spirit and sporting excellence, with teams from across the province competing in a variety of matches.
Police officers and traffic authorities maintained a steady presence in the area throughout the festival, ensuring compliance with regulations and preventing any public disturbances.
Organisers encouraged parents to collect their children after matches, further curbing any opportunity for unsupervised gatherings.
With this year’s success setting a new standard, the school is confident that future festivals will continue to prioritise safety while celebrating the best in school sports and challenging the growing culture of underage drinking in the city. 
