Good morning to you all

Rain…rain…rain….lovely rain….after a very hot and dry start to the season we are definitely in the growing season….and everything is a wonderful green and growing profusely….which means that when it isn’t raining, we can hear the sounds of tractors and mowers, weed whackers and generators….(I know the generators shouldn’t be a summer sound….but Eskom has made it an everyday sound these days..) please remember that we do have a generator at the Club, so all the local and international sport is still on all our TV’s in the Scimitar…these is plenty of cold beer and ice awaiting your arrival at the North…..if you are driving past and see all the local robots are off but see that the two small floodlights outside the main entrance are on….We are open and ready to welcome you and your mates, who could already be inside….We have already got phase one of the emergency lighting installed and will commence with phase 2 shortly, which will include the other bars, hall, passage and patio…

In short I would like to summarise what the most important people (our Members) have been doing in the last while

Soccer –

The soccer boys have been very committed in the quest to be the best amateur soccer side in the Gauteng region….and despite some hiccoughs, they ended up coming fourth in the super league….a superb result from our young side….there are two results of which I am most proud of them for…and that was the beating of Randburg (a side that we have battled to do for many a season) and then of course, the double against the boys from down the road…..I am sure that the coaches will say there many more highlights, but these were my stand out moments of the season and made me particularly chuffed….to the all coaches and teams thank you for being here week after week…it has been a trying season (squeezed into two because of COVID)….hopefully we will be able to resume normal operations very soon….vets league is in full flow at the moment, so if there are any players looking for a mid week game, please chat to the committee for more details….

Rugby –

A most frustrating season for our rugger-buggers…. after lots of back room work in attaining new kit and sponsors for the new season…the provincial and national administrators called time on Rugby and postponed all matches until 2022…extremely disappointing for Lourens and his committee…while Coach Herman and his charges were left high and dry following their hard work on the practice fields and only one match in the season completed…. All the best for the new year boys…

Hockey –

A severely disrupted COVID season was completed well into October for both the ladies and gents sections….our Ladies performed most admirably, with the Ya-ya’s winning the Premier, whilst the Fossils annexed the reserve leagued title….. the Men will have to pull up their socks to match up to the accolades of their female counterparts…I know that I will get a lot of flak if I don’t mention that the men did provide plenty of “spirit” in the beer garden while actively following both the girls matches and after their respective games too…. Hockey fives is back in action on the Astro….pop along on the weekend to watch this action packed and high speed version of the sport….

Baseball –

Also a year of fits and starts for our baseballers….featuring plenty of postponements and cancellations following the Pandemic affecting sides participating…the junior Baseballers are hoping to have more success in the next few months…and I see that there are always plenty of matches being hosted over the weekends, while practices also appear to be well attended….well done guys….

Athletics –

Athletics has been one of the sports on offer that has still been able to continue operating, with less restriction being placed on road running than was the norm on team sports…. our Club runs on Wednesday evenings, Tuesday, Friday and weekend mornings, with time trials on a Tuesday evening, have all been well attended. I have noticed that the athletes are supporting the new coffee shop at the Club, and together with the cyclists have made this a popular meeting spot after the completion of their exercise….

Cricket –

Cricket have had to share their fields with senior soccer due to COVID over runs, with the red ball league and event fixtures being moved around to accommodate everyone….and our cricketers were able to host their first full set of matches at the North over the weekend….with positive results for the Premier side…..who played against Boksburg….which ended up with a resounding win for the North….our Len Killeen was Boksburg batting destroyer in chief with figures 3 for 21….which assisted in the opposition being skittled for 98 in just over 24 overs….. Our batsmen finished off the chase in 20 overs….Vaughn Humphries contributing a solid 50….. we passed their total for the loss of three wickets…. Leaving us with a full set of points for the start of the season….keep it up boys….our junior boys are also practicing like crazy and also playing their matches over the weekend….we are allowed spectators again, so please pop along and enjoy the fun, excitement and pleasure with the all the boys….

Social –

This is the sub section that is most affected by the “Lockdown Legislation”….but are fairly resilient, as when the bars are re-opened, their fixtures and gatherings can commence immediately….subject to the necessary COVID protocols naturally….they are gearing up for their annual fund raiser, which is set for December 5th….at the Police Golf course in Northmead….please put your names on the list provided in the Main Bar….it is on a “first-come, first served” basis…..and the slots will fill up quickly…. Please hurry and get your four-ball booked now!!

General –

We now have fibre wifi at the club and although we have had some teething problems, all should be up and running as normal within the next couple of days..
Just a quick reminder of the events that are expected over the next few weeks:-

November 11 – Ladies Night in the Hall
November 24 – Baseball Golf Day, Benoni Country Club
November 27 – Gin Fest
November 28 – Toy Run (provisionally booked – awaiting confirmation)
December 3 – Night Market
December 5 – Athletic Prize giving (to be confirmed)
December 5 – Social Golf Day, prize giving commencing at 13h00 in the Hall

We are in the process of starting a new Friday night attraction to start on November 19…..I am hoping to have 5 food trucks available for a variety of foods for all the delectable palates at the North….more details of the “Friday Night Food Fiesta” will be contained in my newsletter next week….We will also offer music on these evenings, to add to the fun of Friday nights…which will include our Joker draw and raffle as normal….

The Joker draw is up and running again and after six weeks, the Jackpot has climbed at R13600…. come and join us…remembering that all Scimitar bar slips issued between 16h00 and 19h00 for over R100, qualify for an extra joker draw ticket….

There is also Springbok rugby also over the weekend….discounts being offered on all alcohol purchased at the bar for the duration of the game….Saturday afternoon we play Scotland 15h00…..hope you are able to support the Boks with us….

I would like to thank everyone for their support over the last few months…. your presence has made everything feel almost back to normal…..and a special thank you to my staff, who continue to surprise me with their ability to take everything in their stride and handle whatever obstacles with ease and aplomb….

A massive thank you Glenda, Shepherd, Themba and your teams….. I am very proud of you!!

That’s it for this week….chat soon….Rod