Morning to all our readers……

I hope that Spring is treating you all well…..I have seen that there are blossoms are all over….and new leaves on the trees…the grass is starting to change colours from faded yellow….to include a sprinkling of green…the brilliant green around the cricket pitches has been massive contrast for the last little while….but this now starting to blend in a little easier on the eye now….and with cricket trials now done and dusted…it means that summer is definitely on the way…

Our soccer boys had their final matches of the year….the reserve side playing against a very powerful Luso outfit at Corinthians on Saturday….but by the half time break…we were leading 1-0….and things were looking good…we were playing some super football…and everyone was starting to believe in the impossible….but the experience of the opposition came through and they equalised and then went 2-1 ahead….but to our young guns credit….thy never gave up and almost equalised with a minute to go which would have led to an interesting extra time play off…..with the young legs in our line-up starting to take their toll on the more qualified yet tiring limbs of the opposition…..but the opportunity was lost and we had to be happy with a runners up medal…the second of the season as these young men had finished second in the league as well…..but on reflection, the team had been brilliant throughout the season and with 10 of the players boast an average age of only 19….all is set up for next year….these young men have gained some valuable experience in the senior leagues and will represent the future of our club…. Our most successful team in recent Cup history is definitely our 5^th side…..who were playing in their 5^th final in a row….and after winning the three of the previous four….high expectations had been generated that they could repeat the feat once again and make it four out of five…. And in a very pressurised game, the result at full time was all square….which meant an additional half hour… but our boys came good….scoring the winner and taking the cup home with a 2-1 win…..well done guys….we are extremely proud of you…

All the hockey girls had their last event of the year…with their annual “mash-up” tournament…where all the girls from different teams are mixed and matched and put into different sides for the day….from all the shrieks of laughter, it seems like a barrel of fun was enjoyed by all…a super day out….the boys also had their last matches of the season with the Crutch tournament in Boksburg on Sunday….and another day of fun and festivities was enjoyed by everyone…definitely a great day of hockey and laughter was enjoyed by all….and with Evolve being awarded the “Crutch” after the completion of the day, means that next year we are back at the North for this annual day…..I am looking forward to it already….

Friday saw a change in the weather which wasn’t good news for the organisers of the “Glimlag Fees” as we all know what our Members of the North do when the weather changes for the worse….they stay away in their droves….but they still made an effort to get to the Joker draw on Friday night…..and we had a super evening with Karaoke with Graham Havenga having his name pulled from the beeeeg  black box….as the candidate to find the Joker for this week…..but again his luck was the same as all the others preceding him…and he was able to find the ten of hearts, which was in the middle row on the extreme right…. Better luck next time Harv’s…. but his misfortune means that the Jackpot climbs again….and now it is sitting at R77031 for someone this week….so with almost a third of the board face up……we now have 36 cards still face down….and a heeeeuge jackpot available for the lucky person to locate the Joker… pop along this week and you could be our next big winner….

Last week we had our usual fare of Karaoke kings (and queens) keeping our patrons in the Scimitar and beer garden amused and entertained….it is always a lot of fun and the evening is always enjoyed by all…this week we see the return of Freedom Unfound…Ryno brings his crew from the North of Joburg to the proper North for us to enjoy….so please pop along and listen to this talented bunch of musicians….Alan will love to have them back to play his favourite “Lightning crashes” and a bunch of others that have the crowds dancing and jiving to the beat and singing along at the top of their voices…..just a quick reminder that it is Ryno’s birthday on Saturday….so I am sure offering him a tequila or two will be in order to assist with his celebrations…..

Last weekend we hosted the Afrikaans music festival (the Glimlag Fees) and with lots of food and craft stalls….a massive beer tent and a stage and sound system (that “skrikked vir niks”)…promised to be a wonderful weekend of music and celebration….unfortunately the weather did not play the game….with some rain on Friday and a decidedly fresh wind present for the rest of the weekend…..  the East Rand patrons did not come out in the numbers expected to make the show a success from a financial view point…..but the rest of the event was most professional….for which I thank Ettienne and Danie…we listened to some artistes that I haven’t heard of before…and it was most refreshing….there were some detractors (there always will be) but when viewed in context of the whole event, I believe it was a great success…we have learned some valuable lessons that we will apply in the future to ensure that everyone is accommodated more adequately…..the organisers have asked that it become an annual event…..we will see if we can make the necessary arrangements to satisfy everyone….

Next week we have the start of the Rugby World Cup…and we will have some specials to accompany the Springbok and all other games….so keep watching the social media platforms and the Scimitar newsletter which will advertise these promotions….go Bokke!!

If you have any queries or complaints about the Club, please do not hesitate to contact me on rod.scheepers@gmail.com that I can be made aware of them….

Take care…look after yourselves….have a super week…..Rod

Graham Havenga (Social) drew the Ten of Hearts – Joker Draw a turnover at R77 051.00 for Friday 13th September. Lucky for some so be present to win!!

Ryno “Freedon Unfound” will be entertaining us o Friday 13th September from 18h30

BNAC had a good day at the Fred Morrison, Germiston Callies Harriers 21km with their very own Lucky finishing 1st and Bright 3rd.  Great work Guys super proud of you.

Congratulations to Kirsty Roux on placing third at the Wildseries Mont-Aux-Sorces challenge! Beste de Lange was 4th in Central Gauteng and 42nd overall in the under 9 age group at the SA cross country champs. Jazz van Rensburg finished the half Ironman World Champs, in Nice, in a storming 5:07!

Super proud of these Benoni Northern’s Footballers, 2nd in Reserve Super League and Cup Finalists, lost to a quality & experienced Luso team 2-1 in yesterday’’s Cup Final. The future looks promising with a majority of squad being so young. Ten players in squad with an average age of 19. Well done Lads…. . Enrique Juanas-Uriol (Coach)