The Eastern Transvaal ASA was created in 1958 - and that year they won the Ellis Brown trophy!
Their women won seven of the eight championship events, as well as the medley relay, and placed second in the freestyle relay. Natalie Myburgh won the 110 and 220-yard freestyle events, while Lenie de Nijs won five titles. Joan Rocchi of Transvaal won the breaststroke race.
In the men's events, Easterns won four medals - two gold, a silver, and a bronze, plus a bronze in the freestyle relay. Ian Human won the backstroke event and Chris Gould the Individual Medley.
The overall points were 54 to Easterns, followed by Transvaal on 41.
The secret to their success was the presence of a Dutch swimmer, Lenie de Nijs. In 1957 a club from Holland visited South Africa. The de Robben Klub from Hilversum was coached by Jan Stender and included three world record holders - Mary Kok, Atie Voorbij, and Lenie de Nijs. They competed at the SA Championships in Bulawayo and set several new South African records. After the tour, Lenie de Nijs remained in the country, was was permitted to represent eastern Transvaal at nationals in 1958 - the first year that province was to compete for the Ellis Brown Aggregate Trophy. It was the only time Eastern Transvaal ever won the Ellis Brown Trophy.
Lenie did not swim at nationals again after 1958. In 1963 another group of Dutch stars, including Ada Kok, would tour the country and compete at nationals, but not representing any South African provinces.
