The Scimitar Archives - Benoni Northern Sports Club

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A Scimitar tribute to a Legend from the North

8th March 20248th March 2024
by Rod Scheepers

This last week was a sad one for me….we bade farewell to a Northerns legend and stalwart…..
Sala Robert Foster (affectionately known as Bob)

My story and history with Bob goes back a little further than just Benoni Northerns….it actually begins in 1970, when I met him as a scoutmaster for our troop, 9th Benoni…. you can imagine, being 11, Scouters were larger than life, they taught us many lessons on Friday nights and over weekends, when they gave of their personal time in order to do so….

Bob worked in Johannesburg (most of the fathers in our area worked locally), so he was a little different already… and he worked for a gold mining company…..immediately, myself and my mates were a little more than just a little impressed, he was different to all our fathers… not only did he have inside information about gold mines, he came from Rhodesia (which held it’s own aura of mystique)…and he seemed to have endless knowledge on how to make my life as a scout easier (apart from the intriguing stories relayed at the campfire or while we were readying for sleep on a camping weekend away)….we learned how to pitch and storm lash a tent, endless additional knots were taught and learned, planning of camps and their sites, different ways to cook and prepare food, how to cater for and guestimate quantities …I could continue to make lists of his advice….but I will leave the rest for your imagination to complete…. In practical situations, Bob taught me how to abseil down a cliff face(one of the most exhilarating, but initially scariest experiences of my scouting life….as I kicked out over the edge into the unknown 50 metres below, held up with only a rope that I had complete control of, but of course there were safety ropes and harnesses attached to me too that I had forgotten of and was terrified…but Bob was there to reassure and guide me through the process) and once that was complete, how to climb some treacherous cliffs and passes safely in the Magaliesberg where we were camping at the time… needless to say, I must have completed that ascent and descent 5 odd times that day…it was amazing and has never been forgotten….he taught us how to sleep warm on a hike in the middle of winter, that newspaper was great for warmth and insulation (better and lighter than blankets)…and you could use the newspaper as kindling for your fire if there was lots of rain around….how to cook a chicken overnight, under the ground while we were sleeping…. Again, a list that could go on forever…

One of Bob’s greatest attributes to me, as a teenager by then….was how approachable and practical he was….he was my friend….and I was fortunate enough to be able to maintain that relationship with him throughout his life…

As time inexorably moved on…I left the scouts and the next time I encountered Bob was on the hockey field….he played for a Boksburg side called Navab, but used to umpire more frequently than play….and it didn’t take long for Bob to leave Navab, to find his new home at the North….I went on a few memorable hockey tours with the East Rand Junior Board side where Bob managed the side and also doubled up as an umpire….

Bob then progressed from umpiring and playing and installed himself as permanent fixture in the Happy Hangovers side as their manager…..a position he held with pride and distinction…. In the mid 80’s I went to Cape Town on a holiday, with some legendary Northerns friends….Bogroll, Bushman and Klonkie and we ran into the Foster’s in their newly acquired Kombi…needless to say many a new Northerns hangout was found almost daily, where plenty of eating and drinking was enjoyed by us all….

I also served with Bob on various committee’s as he became in integral part of the Northerns setup….he served as our licencee at the club, ran the bar in the 80’s…. he was always a practical being, so he ended up doing all sorts of handy work at the club….drawing up of plans and getting approval for these at the Council….he fixed bar stools and assisted with a myriad of odd jobs at the Club….. By 1993 the powers that be, recognised Bob’s concerted efforts and rewarded him by being granted Life Membership of Benoni Northerns, an honour that Bob took in his stride and seem to urge him on to do more than he had done in the past…..Bob was the ideal example of the old saying….how do you get a job done? Give to the busiest person….In the mid 90’s Bob started the Northerns cycling sub section and the it seemed the natural progression to being the Social section chairman for a number of years…. When I returned to Benoni in 2009, my old friend Bogroll (yes the same one from the Cape Town holiday) convinced me to assist him in coaching under 8 cricket at the Club, one of that number being Bob’s grandson… so my interaction with Bob now included his family more than ever…. As time progressed Bob retired from work, but his efforts in assisting the club never faltered…..so much so, that he was awarded BNSC Clubman of the year in 2018…. A position that Bob was most proud of…..I remember us rekindling our friendship in a different manner when I joined as Manager….with Bob offering his services to erect shelves and do various tasks and drawings to make life for me at the North easier and more fulfilling…. Bob was always available for a chat and with his solid and sound advice, became a most useful cog in making Northerns the vibrant and cohesive Club it is today… Bob was always involved in the social activities, being an active Member of the “10 to 1er’s” and Chapel (which he used to frequent right up to 2 weeks ago)

Almost every day in my life, I am reminded of a story that his wife Erica shared with us on our Cape Town trip and this brings a smile to my face…. We were chatting one evening about the slowness of Cape Town traffic….and Erica (Bob’s wife) went on to say that the non-use of indicators by the locals, frustrated the heck out of Bob….she exclaimed…”one day, he is going to jump out of his car and run up to the offender of not using their indicator, reach inside and break off the relevant indicator stalk on the steering column and shout….’that’s as much use as it is to you’….and storm back to his car”…..as the driving in our country has deteriorated over time….this practice seems to have escalated into a pandemic….so I am sure that Bob’s frustration had not improved…..and each time I experience this practice, I could in my mind’s eye, Bob urging me to do what his wife had suggested….and I have a quite little chuckle….

Bob is going to leave a massive hole at the North…his calm demeanour and wealth of experience and advice will be sorely missed.
My thanks to the fellows at Chapel, who have created a wonderful remembrance corner for Bob, he will be chuffed with the gesture….

My heartfelt condolences to Erica and the family….thank you for all the time you allowed Bob to be shared with us (and me particularly in my younger years)….

In closing I share with you some of the lyrics of a song that has always made me think me of Bob….
(from Heal the World)

Heal the world
Make it a better place
For you and for me and the entire human race

For me that is what Bob tried and achieved more often than not during his whole life…

Sleep peacefully my friend, till we meet again….

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 18 Aug 2023

18th August 202318th August 2023
by Rod Scheepers

Hi there to all….

I’m a happy fellow, the weather has progressed from freezing to windy… which means August winds readying Nature for the rains of summer… and with that, we are entering the time of the year I enjoy most… summer!!!

To recap on our sports… Senior rugby along with Junior Hockey have completed their fixtures already and the others are fast coming to the end of their season too….

We have had mixed results from all our sports, with soccer in mid table, but with the remainder of their fixtures against the sides below them, should see an improved position by the end of their year… Rugby’s battles with Meyerton, meant that they could just not finish on top of their league, but on the hockey front our girls and boys have performed admirably in their respective leagues…
I am afraid I was a bit ahead of myself in announcing the start of the TAG rugby… with the TAG world Cup, there has been some inactivity and a lack of infrastructure to support our aspirations to start so early… Our local representative is now going for training in the Western Cape… so all beginnings have been put on hold until she returns… please keep an eye on our local social media platforms and this newsletter for more information on this sport…

The “off the wall” soccer is almost complete and the expected date of launch is the weekend of August 26th… again I will have more information on this in the next newsletter… please remember that the main club is running the bar at this new venue… so expect to see the usual familiar happy faces to serve you across the way…

Senior hockey is hosting the “One Cup” tournament this weekend, with matches on Saturday and Sunday at the Easterns and Benoni High Astroturf… we have some raiders arriving from other provinces, so expect to have bunches of crazy hockey players running around the club on the weekend….

Our night market makes its spring return on September 1, so please join us in welcoming them back… they will be in their usual position next to Home Ground…

Our new Members draw competition was launched successfully recently… and the first two draws have come and gone….but an elusive winner have not yet been found… the first week it was Phil Hill who’s name was drawn, while Caleb Rorich was the second weeks winning name… with there being no winners, this week the draw has climbed up to R6,000… you have to be present at the draw to claim your winnings, so join us here at the North, for a relaxing way to start your weekend…

There are still two legs of the Junior Rugby merry-go-round to be hosted at Northerns, these will be on August 26th and September 2nd… Please come and follow the fortunes of our young future springboks of the future… there is always massive excitement and enthusiasm with this sports… sometimes it is the antics of the spectators and parents who display more of these traits than their offspring!!

The senior soccer has progressed into their cup round… and in a twist of fate, our draw has meant that we will have another derby encounter…. We unfortunately have to travel to the club down the road… but that will not deter our local vociferous support in following their team on the 2 kilometre journey… let’s bring the win back boys, that we can progress to the semi-finals… The reserve side is playing Balderstone in Befordview… so all the best to them too…

Cricket have held their junior trials… practices should be starting shortly… with the East Rand Veterans league commencing shortly… our boys enjoyed a most successful start in the inaugural season last year… we can expect that these fellows will be giving their all to win it this year…

We still haven’t been able to get the Council to rubber stamp our various building proposals… so nothing, as yet, to report on these projects…

I am sure that everyone have seen how “Clean Projects” (a local Benoni NPO) is busy cleaning up at intersections and pavements… well this weekend they have chosen to clean up the area in and around our beloved North…they have asked for any assistance from any and everyone… so we are requesting that all members to come along and support this wonderful initiative… They have suggested that we bring a spade/fork/set of gloves or some sort of paint brush to assist them in making the area look wonderful again… we have seen the steady decline in the surrounds of Benoni over the last few years….and it will be amazing to see it being returned to its former glory…. If you do have some spare time this weekend, please support this satisfying project…
That’s all I have for this week… see you at the North soon

Cheers Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 7 Aug 2023

7th August 20237th August 2023
by Rod Scheepers

A very good day to everyone out there…..

After a bit of a hiatus, your favourite weekly letter of my ramblings about happenings at The North is back!!!

There is lots of news that has occurred since the last update, so I will fill you in with some of the important stuff at the North….Let me start with the Joker draw!!….this has recently been won with the Jackpot just over R18,000…but waning interest and reduced numbers have necessitated the executive committee to reassess their position on the this competition and they have decided to put this on the back burner for a while….all is not lost however, as they have decided to re-introduce the exclusive members draw again…..with the original rule… you have to be present at the draw to win it, so please come along on Fridays to see if you can be our first winner in this exclusive draw….the draw is open to all paid up Members in possession of a current membership card…. The draw will commence this week, with an opening Jackpot of R5,000…. the winnings each week will escalate by R500 if it is not won, up to a maximum of R20,000…. Join us this Friday for a drink and a bite to eat before the festivities commence… the draw will be at the same time as the old Joker competition and commence at 19h30…. Any winnings will be paid onto your Membership card, which can be used for drinks, food or any Membership payments.

We are proud to announce that we are “testing the water” with a new sport….”TAG” that will be played on the ‘B’ rugby field at present, with the time for play being on a Wednesday night at 19h00 starting this evening….it promises to be a fun sport and all the rules will be explained…for the first few weeks it will merely be a run around (and in this weather a good warmup)… the governing body of TAG is also getting involved and it is envisaged that leagues will commence in the not too distant future…the sport is open to both ladies and gentlemen….unfortunately, at present, this will only be for over 18’s…..but if there is sufficient interest, we will have juniors in various age groups as well….come along and try this new fun sport, that has proved extremely popular throughout the country….

We also have some excellent new proposals of buildings and additions of sports and shops in the offing…. To explain some of the highlights from the exciting prospects are “off the wall” soccer, which is being housed on three of the old tennis courts…. for all our observant Members, they will have seen the building and renovations happening across the fields on the southern side of the our grounds…so now you know what is happening…we are also adding on a new pub at this facility and we are in the process of breaking down walls and building others to accommodate this…. Baseball is also altering their clubhouse…by going up and adding another floor to their existing premises….and once approval is gained from the Council….there will also be more toilets and creating a much larger bar and lounge…..we’re all holding thumbs that the approval is achieved soon on this…the Baseballers are also fixing up their diamond, which has subsided over time…the work should be completed within the next fortnight….. there is also a retail sports store planned to be erected on our premises, which will be a super convenience for all our sportsmen and women…additionally, we have the possibility of Action Sports relocating to part of our unused grounds too…I think that this will be a marvellous “coup”….as the synergies between our sports would mean that we could “feed” off each other….also having this facility in the suburbs should be a major advantage with improved access and security…. I will keep everyone informed on this newsletter of the progress and opening dates of all the progress as we go along…….

Our winter sports are drawing to a close….the football boys have experienced an average season, but with a change in coach and a major reshuffle in the teams, the committee is happy with their progress, displays and results…the juniors have been extremely busy and every weekday they practicing and even having some night games….whilst Saturday and Sunday the leagues are played at Northerns….Hockey Juniors are almost at an end, with the seniors nearing the end of the season…. hocky masters are gearing up to go to their annual showpiece, which is being held in Pretoria this year…. All the best to all our players that will be going…. Baseball is nearing the end of their season, but Juniors will be starting soon, so their fields will soon be abuzz with activity very soon again….Rugby seniors are also coming to the end of their leagues, with the first side only battling with Meyerton in their league…..the rest of the opposition were swatted aside with ease….Junior rugby had it’s first tournament at Northerns 10 days ago, with another planned for this weekend…and their last early in September…these festivals are always fun, with enthusiasm and plenty of energy being displayed being the order of the day…. Please come down and support these little fellows, I am sure they will appreciate it….

Our summer sports are also now beginning to prepare for the upcoming summer and cricket hosted their junior trials this past weekend, followed by seniors next weekend….

Could everyone please diarise that the night race glow run, will be held at the North on October 25th…this is always a fantastic event…lots of lights and crazy costumes….and even more crazy people running around…. make sure you don’t miss it….

That’s all for this week….hope to see you all next week…. Cheers Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 10 Feb 2023

9th February 20239th February 2023
by Rod Scheepers

Hi there everyone….

Hope that you are all well…. A hectic last little while…crazy loadshedding… a water crisis….massive lightning strike… some great results, mixed with some not so happy on the sports front…. and with the joker being found last week, we have a new competition this week, with an added twist….

So let me begin with our sports results….

Our cricketers are enjoying a very successful start to 2023…with almost all their sides being unbeaten thus far…there has been a wonderful new development on the cricket front….all home games are being streamed…it has been marvellous to be able to catch up with our premier sides even if we aren’t in the Benoni area for the day….there is long link to all the matches, I have included this at the end of the letter….catch up there if you are able….

The Johnson Crane marathon was recently held in Benoni and most of our runners take past in this to gain their qualification to the Comrades early in the year….well done to all those who achieved their goals… special mentipon must be made of our own Bright Mikolongwe, who ended on the podium in the half marathon in third place….well done Bright…we are all most proud of you….

Our soccer boys started their pre-season with an away game against Alberton in the top 8 competition….our boys came home with a 4-2 loss….but the new management, were happy with the progress and form shown by our boys…our new coach Les Grobler is excited about the future…we are at home this weekend against Impala…please pop along an join us across the road at the C field on Saturday afternoon….next week should be a cracker with us popping down to the club down the road at Currin park….put that into your diary for a pre-season derby!!

Our juniors, in the form of cricket and baseball….have been having a blast in their respective leagues….if you enjoy their adrenalin and excitement, please get down to the North to experience some of their breath taking enthusiasm….

We had a massive storm a week or so ago, which caused absolute havoc, with us having a direct lightning strike at the Club….this resulted in damage to various of our electronic equipment….most of this has already been repaired or replaced….but it did take its toll on our resources for a while….

On the local water supply front, we have experienced poor water service on the traditional pipelines supplied from the Council…. We had already had the alternate back up of a Jojo tank and have filled this up from our borehole…enabling Members to shower, wash hands and keep the toilets flushing…. without it we could have had disastrous results….but thank you to the staff on the superhuman effort in overcoming the odds…and keep the water flowing at the Club….

Off the Wall soccer courts are coming along very nicely and we should be having the opening very soon…

Loadshedding has also become a really uncomfortable reality in 2023…we have also had various systems in place to try to keep life as normal as possible….but we are currently looking at more innovative and different alternative to overcome this crazy situation in which we find ourselves….

We had a lovely night market last Friday…but the little rain never seemed to worry anyone…and the evening was a great success…the next one will be on the 3rd of March…
Another date for your diary will be 11th March….the DJ rally will once again be ending at our Club…last year was a fantastic day….I am sure that this year will be another treat….

Our Joker draw has been won….it took a visitor from Cape Town, Sean Collins to show us where the Jester had been hiding….taking home over R21k to cover his weekend costs quire easily….
The Joker draw will continue this week…starting with a R10 000 jackpot….we are keeping all the rules as before with one addition….when your ticket is drawn, a pair of dice will presented for you to roll….if you are able to get a double six….you will be able to draw a second card…. So more opportunities for everyone to make themselves a winner… tickets will be on sale from about 16h00 on

Friday afternoon with the draw taking place at 19h30…. Remember that you have to be present to win it….so don’t run off home and expect to get a call that you have won…

That’s all for today….See you at the North soon….

Cheers
Rod

Here is the link for the cricket streaming:

https://www.youtube.com/@benoninorthernscricketclub2679

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 27 Jan 2023

27th January 202327th January 2023
by Rod Scheepers

A very warm 2023 welcome to you all

After an hiatus I am back, to bug you weekly with the News from the North.

At the outset, I would like to wish everyone a prosperous and fulfilling year ahead…. Already to me, it feels like the year has been going on forever, with our Government enforced load shedding, making every day seem to take longer than before…I am sure we are all hoping that we will be able to quickly overcome this massive hurdle that has been placed in our way for going forwards.

At the Club we have some exciting sports events that all our sub-sections will be hosting and participating in over the course of the year, interspersed with some live shows and other entertainment and also other exciting developments… You will be kept up to date with all the attractions that we will be creating and hosting…as well as recapping on the important sports results that we have achieved and played in recently…

On the sports front, Cricket and Baseball leagues and practices are currently happening, with some excellent results being achieved already, hopefully these will even improve as the season progresses…. Pre season practices in our winter sports (rugby and soccer) have already commenced and I also see that hockey are having some wonderful preseason tournaments that will hone your skills to be at their peak by the beginning of season (please contact the respective chairmen for more details on your sport of choice and you would like to participate in)

Our athletes are also hard at work, with their goal of Comrades being held a little earlier this year….plenty of our runners are participating in the Johnson Crane marathon this weekend in order to qualify for the big race….at the Club our time trials on a Tuesday are proving to be very popular and with our Club runs on a Wednesday evening, also on Tuesdays and Fridays in the morning, there is no excuse for all our runners not to be in top form… Our annual Marathon has been moved forward this year due to the earlier running of the Comrades… and will take place from the Club on the 5th of March…. All our members that day will be on the road marshalling or making sure that everything at the marathon runs smoothly…

Hockey and soccer registrations for juniors will be at the end of February/ beginning of March, whilst the rugby juniors will commence practices in May, registrations being held toward the end of April….

Moving away from sports….our joker draw is still running and after 24 weeks our jackpot has moved up to R20759….please come along and buy a ticket in the Hall from about 16h30 on Friday, the draw will take place at 19h30…..the beer and meat voucher raffle will be drawn at 19h25, just prior to the Joker…

This week we welcome music back at the club…Andrew Lawrence will be in the limelight this week….note the new time slot, from 16h00 to 20h00… pop down and join us…grab a bite to eat (there is a variety of choices on offer) and enjoy a cool refreshment in the beer garden or the Scimitar bar….

I am sure that everyone will have seen the activity at the Tennis club over the last little while….where has been building operation, laying of grass over the old surface, new side boards and nets being erected… Our “Off the Wall Soccer” set up is coming along very well….they are hoping to get everything finished soon, so that we can then offer this exciting brand of soccer….extremely quick and fast moving, this will definitely be a spectacle to behold…. I am sure that all the followers of “indoor type” soccer, will love the addition of this sport at the North….

Be on the lookout for next week newsletter….. with results, action pictures and a whole lot more…

Hope to you all soon at the North…

Till then, cheers…
Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 30 Sep 2022

30th September 202230th September 2022
by Rod Scheepers

Hello to everyone out there……

What a lovely week we have just had….. warm weather and plenty of celebration……

Here is a quick recap….Thursday the 22nd was the actual day of our anniversary and was a day for celebration….an endless happy hour with half price drinks proved to be most popular….I am sure that there were a fair share of sore heads the following day, to greet in the weekend….

Friday night saw a glittering gala dinner, celebrating the sports person of the year, both junior and senior, Clubman of the year….and ending off with Ted Jarvis relating some of memories…. the Clubman this year was awarded to Logan Green, for his marvellous edition of the jubilee magazine….

Junior Sportsperson of the Year:
Madison Landsman (right)
Nominee for Senior Sportsperson of the Year:
Rian vd Merwe (left)

Madison Landsman edged out her fellow competitors in the junior sports person of the year category….she has made huge inroads in cricket, culminating in national U19 ladies colours, a truly talented young lady…

Senior Sportsperson of the Year:
Shane McGregor

In the Senior category, there was fierce competition, but in the end Shane McGregor for his efforts in attaining a sub 7 hour Comrades, proved to be sufficient for the judges to judge him a worthy winner….. well done to all the winners, and best of luck to all the nominees… may you all continue to grow and excel in your sports and make our Northerns faithful proud!! The evening ended off with Ted running us through a quick resume of the Clubs history…from the humble beginnings, to growing into the massive and respected club it is today…. we have truly stood the test of time and will continue to do so…..a massive thank you to all the Members, past and present, for all the efforts in making this marvellous Club the we are all an integral part of….

Saturday saw another busy day at the North….a junior hockey tournament was sprung on us unexpectedly, which was handled in our stride…our Legends cricketers took on the Titans in a 50 over encounter, the result of which is a closely guarded secret, but both sides have said it was a super warm up for the forthcoming season for our boys….and a necessary build up for the tournament that the Titans are participating shortly…..our Rugby boys held a most successful 10’s tournament, well done to our committee and the organisers…..and then in our last football game of the season, there was a goal fest….with our boys ending up on the wrong side of the final result….we did put up a great effort throughout the season with an unbeaten extending to over 15 games….a really super season from our lads….well done to you all, players, coaches and the committee, we are very proud of you…go and have a well-deserved rest….before you start off your pre-season fitness programmes in anticipation of the new year that awaits….

Last Thursday we also held our Joker draw, but Sean Lees who was selected, drew the 7 of hearts….his misfortune means that our jackpot now edges up to R15033 for this week….please join us to try your luck at finding the Joker…

This Saturday we have the Glimlag Fees on at the North…..

Please note that the Club is NOT closed…but the organisers have asked that to limit access to the festival, that they close our parking lot…..so parking will be across the road…and Members will need to show their Club Membership cards to gain access to the Club…. There is going to be fencing around the Club, again to limit access to the festival… if our Members are wanting to join the Festival. They will receive a 66% discount, only paying R50 for a ticket….the proceeds of the ticket will go directly to the Smile Foundation….which has always been a very deserving charity…

Artists will be performing all day and the event should end at about 11pm….there are plenty of food and craft stalls available and also a massive children’s entertainment area available….and of course a massive beer tent!!

Thank you for all your support and understanding .

Sport will be back in full swing next week again.
See you all soon
Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 21 Sep 2022

21st September 202221st September 2022
by Rod Scheepers

Another warm welcome to all….

The week that we have been building up to has finally arrived….the magazine is out…..and there is to be a helluva party season about to begin…with the birthday bash on Thursday….gala dinner on Friday…..final football league match on Saturday….rugby hosting their 10’s festival….and pre-season cricket friendly between the Titans over 50 team and our very own Legends team….

So a quick recap…and then a preview of forthcoming events….

As mentioned, the Golden Jubilee magazine is out and on sale from any of the bars at the Club….the cost is R100 for this magnificent showpiece….edited by Logan Green, who has completed the Herculean task of pulling 50 years of history into a marvellous record that does justice to the Northerns brand that we are so proud of!! Thank you to Logan and to Ted who added many anecdotes and reports….and to all the other contributors of articles, pictures, photos and memories…it is a spectacular edition to be proud of!! Please buy your copy as there are limited numbers available

Thursday is our actual birthday and to celebrate we are having a mini “Friday” with a band and the Joker draw….there will also be wonderful specials available on the night…..did someone mention a “Happy Hour”? join us in the fun of celebrating our 50th birthday celebrations in style…. Joker draw tickets will be on sale as normal with the draw taking place at 19h30….

Friday will be a gala dinner and our Sports Person of the year will also be announced at this glittering event…after the break for COVID it is wonderful that all our Members are able to vie for this prestigious title again…. during the dark days of COVID it did not seem that we would ever reach some credence of normality….but here we are… please take note, that in honour of the night, the Club will be officially be closed…. Normal operations will resume on Saturday morning….

The end of the football season is on us….and the dream of winning the league was shattered with a 3-3 result with Impala Plats ending our possible chance of taking the league title….but that said….our boys have done us proud and we still sit in the top three of the log….with our last game of the against the league leaders, means that we can inch up and still end as runners up….we had a magnificent unbeaten run (which we are still in) that moved us up from the middle regions of the table to being right on top after some games….and this week will be the showpiece of our season…hopefully we will take the league winners on and teach them a thing or two!! Good luck guys….

The rugby boys decided after the success of their Junior tournament, that they would venture into another festival and are hosting Rugby 10’s on Saturday at the rugby fields….the action starts off early and there will be a beer tent and food stall available…..

Our Legends cricket side have also arranged a game against the Titans over 50’s side which should be a great test of character and skill…. action will be on the ‘C’ field on Saturday…

The Club has been very busy over the last little while….a massive thank you to all our loyal Members who have supported us in all our endeavours to bring fun, enjoyment and sport to the North….

Next Saturday there is a Music festival at the Club, when we host the “Glimlag Fees” on the 1st of October. Tickets are being offered at a 67% discount to our Members for the event…. all you need to do is show your Membership card to qualify… more detail in next week’s newsletter….

That’s all…. till next week

Cheers
Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 9 Sep 2022

8th September 20228th September 2022
by Rod Scheepers

A very warm welcome to everyone…..

After a series of two summers that collectively lasted a total of a week….I am back in jeans and jersey to ward off the fresh wind that has been whipped up from the berg…but with flashes of green showing on the grass, trees bushes and flowers, spring has definitely arrived….albeit in fits and starts….

We have experienced a wonderful last few weeks at the Club….the derby day was a magnificent affair with both our sides ending on top and being able to bring home the bragging rights, whilst on the same day Junior Rugby hosted their home festival….and last weekend, we had a marvellous hockey day ending with the prize giving…our runners at the Comrades were magnificent.. collectively, the North has been cooking… hehehe, maybe that was the reason for the warmer weather!!

In the meanwhile, the Joker draw has still been lurking the background, with the Jester remaining elusive… after 7 weeks, the Jackpot has now edged its way up to R13819….in the selections of tickets drawn, almost all thus far have been Members and I believe this trend will continue…. with the evenings warming up now, pop in and enjoy a cold one with your mates and try your luck at the draw…tickets are still only R5 for a chance to win….

Our soccer boys have been having a wonderful run….and since the derby day we have been on top in our last two encounters as well….so at present in the league, we are second to Luso, with a couple of points separating the rest….our fellows have a simple task…win the rest of our games and keep the pressure on the top side…. They may falter and that would leave the last game of the year….a home encounter against Luso on the 24th….which will be an amazing ending to our anniversary celebrations….this week we travel to the Italian Club in Bedfordview, to take on Olympia…keep up the good work…they will really appreciate our support…please join them on the weekend….

The Rugby Club had their show piece affair recently… hosting their Junior Festival Tournament… it was really a super day…. plenty of thrills and spills…major support from the family and friends of all the players….. everything ran so smoothly…so congratulations to the Committee on a job well done…we are already looking forward to next year!!

Hockey had their annual prize giving and fun day on Saturday… judging from all the smiles in the beer garden after the match up games, it can be guaranteed that fun was enjoyed by all…. congratulations to all the prize winners…may you continue to grow and blossom in your sport….

The Comrades brought its fair share of drama…. pride and happiness achieved, alongside all the emotions on the other side of the scale….as a Club we had a prestigious day…. silver medals, almost 120 finishers, 2 new green numbers, a double green and even a triple green…… Well done to all those who participated, assisted and made this day possible….. we are all extremely proud of all of you…

We are nearing the gala anniversary dinner which will be at the Club on September 23rd…. there will be a “Call back the past celebration” for everyone on the 22nd…. We will be having an alcohol promotion… buy one get one free evening, so there should be plenty to get excited with that….and then rugby will also be hosting their 10 a side tournament on the 24th on the rugby fields…. And with our last home soccer fixture for the year scheduled at home on the same Saturday… this promises to be a great weekend of fun and celebration…make sure to mark the dates in your diary…

See you all soon at the North
Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 19 Aug 2022

19th August 202219th August 2022
by Rod Scheepers

And here we are….finally the beeeeg day is only two days away….

Super Saturday is going to be a massive day here at the North…. With both sides of our hallowed fields being full of top notch sport….Junior rugby on the JBH side all day and the Derby and reunion on the Main Club side in the afternoon till late…. More information below….

Athletics

Our Athletics section are taking it easy at the moment, with Comrades only 10 days away…but they will adding to the festivities…with a brekkie on Sunday in a send-off to the all the runners that will be participating in one of the greatest human challenges in the world…the Comrades Marathon…Good luck to everyone taking part, whether you are participation, assisting with a table or on the road or a family member supporting on the big day…good luck…

Baseball

Baseball are busy with their season and on the social front, they have commenced with their renovations…which promise to be amazing…. The plans are most ambitious, but it is a wish-list and they have a plan of how the pieces of the puzzle will fall into place…All the best to you with your plans….

Hockey

The hockey guys are nearing the end of their seasons…but the competitiveness remains….there is still a fight left for those not wanting to end up holding the wooden spoon….whilst on the other side of the leagues table, the top spot is also being hotly contested….hope that everyone gets the results that they desire…

Rugby

This Saturday is a culmination of years of work for the Rugger boys….since them joining us at the North, this section have been wanting to create and develop a junior section…and host their Junior tournament…which they will do this weekend….my personal thanks to Lourens and his hard working committee for attaining your goal…finally we will showcase the talent we possess and our prowess at hosting a wonderful tournament…. Good luck to all our youngsters and to the committee for a great day…..please join us across the road on the rugby fields for a wonderful day…..we start off early by around 8 and finish off when the sun goes down….

Football

On the football front…our first side have been playing some amazing ball…and with a win in our catch up game against Bedfordview last weekend, we are now punching with the top sides and leaders in the league…..this weekend we host our noisy neighbours (from down the road)…the derby will definitely add to the flavour of the day, the losers of the clash facing an uphill battle to fight their way back into contention…the winners will have a slightly easier run in, but is there ever an “easy run in”? I am sure both sides will be at their best…and with Bens having the advantage of winning the first meeting, the North have everything to prove…. Give it horns boys…

To make sure that our boys are given everything to assist and support on the day…the footballers have made this an official reunion of the all the old boys to celebrate our 50th anniversary….so there will be a very partisan crown to cheer on our boys….another invitation to you all to pop in and come along to support….it should be an amazing day of celebration….

Joker Draw

Our Joker draw remains climbing…this week Nick Murray had his chance….but his choice landed up being the nine of clubs….and that pushes up our jackpot to R12117….only 4 weeks gone….but the interest is gaining momentum…..if you feel lucky this week, come along to join us…if you don’t feel lucky, come along anyway….always good fun on a Friday at the North…

Upcoming events

Here is a quick run-down of activities at the North in the next couple of weeks:-

August 20th Football derby day, fun activities and food stalls available…. Junior Rugby tournament…with a beer tent
August 21st Comrade breakfast and send off
August 27th “Big Day Out” music festival (tickets through the Green. Live on Facebook)
August 28th Comrades Marathon
September 2nd First night Market of summer
September 3rd Hockey tournament

See you all soon….

Have a great week
Cheers
Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 11 Aug 2022

11th August 202211th August 2022
by Rod Scheepers

Wow…..at the North we are having an amazing return from COVID!!

The stage is set for the next few months to get back into the groove and put the last two years behind us…. It is marvellous to have all our sports back in full swing and with their governing bodies allowing spectators again, means that there is always some sort of activity at the North….we are also experiencing a resurgence of events being hosted at our beloved grounds…..and with all the anniversary events coming up, there is plenty to do and watch over the next while…I will list the dates a little further down, to remind everyone to diarise their favourites….

Firstly let us have a look at football….our Juniors have been super busy, some sides faring a little better than others, but marvellous the see and to feel the excitement and see all the enthusiasm gendered by the little players is really something to experience…this spirit has been contagious and moved up to our top sides and they are now also enjoying a golden run….after having beaten the top sides in the last few weeks and some results also going our way….mean that we are within three points of being on the crest of the Super League….we travel to Befordview this week, to play a “catch up” game…and with a favourable result, we will go into the “derby match” next weekend….near the top of the league standings… as a special day, the “derby” will be a football extravaganza and a super reunion, with past players that have represented the North being invited to see how Football and the Club has grown since they pulled on a jersey competitively…. It should be a fantastic day of celebration and I am sure there will be plenty of reminiscing and many friendships will be re-ignited on the day…Join us for what promises to be a memorable “jol”!!

Our rugby boys have endured a tough season, being moved up a couple of leagues, into the top Valke league….but many lessons have been learned and we were unfortunate during more than one only one match to only lose by a couple of points…so well done to our boys on showing plenty of commitment…we are very proud of you… our Rugby juniors have been hard at work and have been practicing really well and are now rewarded next weekend with the hosting of their home tournament….busy day, with the derby on the Main Club side…the junior Rugby tournament will be on our rugby fields on the JBH side of the grounds…

Cricket as also getting into swing, with Junior trials commencing this weekend…and senior trials being held next weekend (yes!! You read correctly!!) As if we don’t have enough on the 20th….we also have the senior trials….please get ready for all our sports getting together to show off their talents….

Hockey is busy winding down…after a stop-start last two years, their leagues are now slowing down and the league winners and wooden spoonists being resolved in the next week or two…Juniors have also experienced some changes in the practicing and playing format…there have also been lessons learned with these changes….and our Junior committee have proposed that we start fearing ourselves up for next year already…and will have a “meet-and-greet” for all the players to get together with the committee, coaches and players for next year….the date set for this day of exploration has been set for…yes, you guessed it….the 20th!! It will continue again the following Saturday 27th, but the energy of the 20th now includes hockey….

Our athletes had their Comrades get together on Wednesday the 17th….and are now ready for Sunday the 28th which is their day of reckoning….good luck to you all, I am sure you will achieve your goals…..

Our new Joker draw now has three cards turned over….and the current Jackpot stands at R11715….join is this Friday for a relaxing evening….enjoy a refreshment with a friend…or meet some new ones….hope to see you there….

Just a quick run down on dates to diarise….

August 13th Junior Cricket trials
August 20th Football derby day, fun activities and food stalls available…. Junior Rugby tournament…with a beer tent Senior Cricket trials Junior Hockey “meet-and-greet”
August 27th “Big Day Out” music festival (tickets through the Green. Live on Facebook)
August 28th Comrades Marathon
September 3rd Hockey tournament
September 23rd 50th anniversary dinner
October 1st Glimlag Fees (Smile Foundation) music festival (tickets through TicketPro) – there will be substantial discounts for Northerns members

I hope that you will be able to join us at some of these fantastic events….
The North will be “cooking”!!
Have a great week
Cheers
Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 27 May 2022

27th May 202227th May 2022
by Rod Scheepers

Warm greetings to all of you out there….

The trees and grass are changing colour and the rain seems to have finally abated…the mornings are quite a bit cooler…and in the late afternoon it is time to don that warm jersey or jacket to ward off the freshness in the air…which means that summer is officially over….we are in the throes of autumn and winter is right here on our doorstep… but that said, I think we had more days of cool winter days in the last six months, than I can ever remember….hopefully summer and winter have reached an agreement and we will have some stinking hot days in the next three months!!

After some waterlogged fields experiences in April, our soccer, rugby, baseball and hockey players are now getting through their season without any major weather disruptions…

Soccer will this weekend be at the North again… after a couple of solid performances, both sides are now on a double roll, overcoming Edenvale and Sporting at home…. we would like this performance to be continued this weekend as we host Olympia…this has been one of our bogie sides in the past, so let us come and support our boys into a winning position this weekend……

The rugby men are back in action and are playing our old foe, Brakpan this weekend, also at home…good luck chaps, this is a massive match for us….it is many a year that we are playing in the old Derby….let us make this weekend a successful…. please come down to support them if Rugger is your game….

Baseball are up and running with their leagues again on Sunday…so all the best to them for all their encounters….

All the hockey players will be in action again this weekend….good luck to all of our sides in their matches…I see that there are quite a few of our sides that are showing off their new kit….I have included some pictures of the Fossils in their new kit….

Our Joker draw hunt continues….we are now through 32 weeks and still no winner…..Les Archibald, showed us that the luck of the draw is still in place around the main bar counter, as he had his name drawn last Friday…and although he was unable to find the Joker he indicated the hiding place of the ten of Clubs ….this week we are ready to pay the lucky person who reveals the joker the very tidy sum of R28734…. your R5 ticket could be reason to having almost R29k in your bank account by early next week…. Remember also that if you have a bar slip of over R100, please hand it in at the joker sales desk and receive an additional ticket for the draw….so come down of Friday night, have a beer with some mates….listen to the music of the very popular Ryno and Freedom Unfound, he has promised some exciting stuff, with a surprise guest appearance and they has been hard at work practicing some new material….

The year 2022 is our 50th anniversary…and the committee is hard at work getting a commemorative year book together…..they are currently selling off advertising for this amazing magazine, that will be a collectors item, please contact the office if you would like to advertise in this unique edition…the magazine will be filled with plenty of articles, photographs and memories from the last 50 years…Logan Green is our liaison person, if there are any contributions or further information you may require in this regard.

Please join us for another great weekend of fun and laughter at the North….
See you there
Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 16 Mar 2022

20th March 202220th March 2022
by Rod Scheepers

Good morning to all out there……

WOW!!! What a weekend!!! If you didn’t get to the North on the weekend, you missed out on an absolutely epic adventure and smashing time!!!

It all started on Friday night….with a marvellous night market, which was particularly well supported….and then we also had Coyote rocking everybody’s socks off, with great music….having plenty of heels tapping and feet stomping…they continue to show us why they are always so popular…..the joker remains in hiding for another week…even Eskom couldn’t dampen any of the spirit with their untimely load shedding later on in the evening….and while the next morning started early for runners and coffee shop, the cleaners had to work hard at clearing up what the darkness had hidden the night before….with the cricket committee busy removing covers in expectation of the ground staff readying to mark pitches….everyone on tenterhooks in expectation of the DJ rally… I will return to all the details shortly after the headlines and a foretaste of the weekend happenings…..

We were able to confuse the weather Gods again, having another successful rain free evening for the night Market which proved to be a great hit with all the patrons….as for the Joker draw, Meryl Navarria was again in the frame by having her name drawn….but unluckily her selection turned out to be the three of hearts…..which made everyone else draw a sigh of relief that they were still in with a chance for next week…and with the Jackpot swelling to R22022 for Friday 18th…. we can expect to see plenty of our old friends back to try their luck….. you are welcome to join us, pop in and try your luck…..we have another band of old favourites to entertain us at the Club this week….the Zimmer Twinz and Eileen making a welcome return….after a health scare last year, Peter has regained full use of his wrist and they will be strumming their tunes for us from about 18h45 this week….

Saturday was such a busy day….there was school hockey, with children scurrying between Benoni High and the Astro to get to their next match….the Junior cricketers had super weather in which to play their matches….even our Football boys had a home match to satisfy their soccer starved spectators….and they did not disappoint…both sides bringing home 3 points….a great result for the Club…well done chaps….the senior cricketers had to keep playing their matches, despite hearing the roar of the veteran cycles and the applause and cheering of the crowd watching the event…..

The Dj rally was a massive success….with pre 1938 bikes coming in from about 13h45….through till about 16h00….there was a hive of activity on the fields…competitors finishing, spectators listening to the stories…and having a cool one to cool the parched throats…one of the competitors motor cycle broke down just short of WIllowmoore park….and he decided that he was going to push it all the way to the North in order to complete his first DJ!!! And that summed up the spirit of the day for me….a wonderful band of amazing individuals….with a passion for veteran motor cycles…..and yes the Binder boys did finish and some people were even lucky enough to get some autographs and pictures with the elusive two!! We had some great support from our Members and the Benoni Community….with a super crowd on the Ted Jarvis field to welcome all the weary motor cyclists….

A massive thank you to everyone who helped us on the day….we had willing Members braaing, selling wors rolls, helping behind the bars….and generally making the day a fantastic success…. We enjoyed the best weekend of turnover since I have joined….so the biggest thank you goes to each and everyone who made a purchase from the bars…..for contributing to this superb weekend…. I have had a chat to the organisers of the DJ and they said…. ”see you next year”….I personally, can’t wait!!!

Sunday was another busy day of cricket, hockey 5’s….while the Junior Baseball held their finals to wrap up our fantastic weekend…
Despite my positive thoughts regarding the relaxation of the “State of Disaster”…..the Command Council do not share my feelings….and have extended the regulation for another month…they have even already predicted that we are in for another wave toward the end of April….. If you had been at the Club this weekend, I would have said that my opinion was shared by every single person present…. but we still do need to be careful…. If we look at the world statistics, there are still quite a number of countries that have really startling figures on infections…. So please take care out there and stay safe….

I was honoured last night to be invited to the Junior Baseball prize giving….and to be honest…. I was blown away!! A massive well done to Shaun and Clifford and their committee…..the amount of spirit and enthusiasm shown by the players and parents was exhilarating and contagious…. Congratultions to all the players and coaches on the fantastic turnout and for all the commitment shown…. our Baseball Club is in the best position I have seen t in many years…. long may it continue!!

Please don’t forget that our Athletics section are hosting the “Spayathon” on Monday 21st March….the event will start at 08h00 and the entrance fee will be sponsored to TAG for using on keeping our doggie population “in check”…this has been a hugely popular fun event in the past….enter, and join us in continuing this trend.

Please join us for another great weekend of fun and laughter….
See you there
Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 10 Mar 2022

10th March 202210th March 2022
by Rod Scheepers

A very good morning to you all….

I am looking forward to an amazing weekend….we had to postpone the night market last Friday, as quite a number of exhibitors pulled out due to the pending weather forecast…and of course once we agreed to postpone….the rain never arrived….so this Friday we are having a Night Market at the club…please join us for a great evening of fun…there will also be the joker draw…which is now up to R21422….we have gone through 20 weeks now….so the chances are improving to find the elusive Jester….33 cards to search from….and remember that Members have a double chance at winning…..if the Member does not find the Joker….but matches the card on display (this week it is the 5 of diamonds)…they will receive 10% (R2142-20) of the jackpot onto their Membership card…. a wonderful double incentive for Members to buy their chance into win a tidy little sum on the Jackpot draw…..we have a bonus added to our Friday night…Coyote (Billy and Martin) will make a welcome return to performing at the North again… please pop in…get something to eat…look at the wares on show…buy some joker draw tickets….listen to the music…enjoy a refreshment or two…(if your receipt is more than R100, present that ticket to the sales desk of the joker tickets, to get an additional ticket for the draw)…listen to some music and have a super evening at the North….

On Saturday we have a really special day….we are hosting being the finishing post for the DJ Veteran Motor Cycle race from Durban to Joburg….this will be the 109th presentation of this event…..it promises to be a fantastic day out…with one massive drawcard…..we have a father and his two sons competing in the event…..and now to disclose their surname, may make many a heart flutter….. Binder!!!….YES!! Brad and Darryn and their father Trevor, will be finishing at the Club on Saturday on their Veteran Motor Cycles….and will be hanging around to meet and greet people…. The finishing line will be on the hockey field and then proceeding to a bike park or display area….where you can look t these beautiful machines….there will be an outside pub behind the flagpoles….so that you can “wet your whistle” while you watch the contestants complete the race…. We expect the first contestants to be at the finishing line starting at about 13h00…..if you want to watch them on the road…..they are coming from Carnival City / Mall and then down Rangeview (Snake) road….until the Tom Jones turnoff and then proceeding through town (Bunyan / Great North) and eventually turning at the SuperSpar (Webb Street intersection) and up to the Club, past the Covenant Church, Benoni High and the Swimming pool….right into Brodigan, right into the Club….down the Oak avenue past the tennis Club and then onto the hockey field….. I personally can’t wait…I think this is going to lots of fun….

Please diarise the “TAG fun run/walk”…set for March 21st….from the Club…as this is a fund-raiser, the donation for the entrance fee will made to TAG…in the past this has been a very well attended and successful day…the pandemic has caused this event to be postponed for two years….so I’m sure there will be plenty of people who would live to join us in this great initiative… please check on our and Athletics FaceBook pages for more information…. hopefully we will see you all there…

We have held Junior registrations over the last two weekends….and the Soccer committee are very happy with their response….while hockey were a little more guarded as to the success…I am sure that this will be another successful year for our juniors again…

The 50th Anniversary celebration committee met last week and I am very excited about the proposals of events, functions and activities that are being planned….our actual date of founding, was in late September….so expect some massive parties at that time….it will be epic…there are some super branded beer glasses, that you may purchase at R30 each from the bar…and I see that there are coasters and stickers celebrating the occasion too….please ask at the bar for more details….

COVID seems to have taken a bit of a back seat with the strife in Eastern Europe…but please still remain vigilant….it is still lurking… don’t let down you guard….

Our sports are still definitely on the go too…. cricket is ending their season by the end of the month…junior baseball is finishing up soon too and will be holding their prize giving shortly…. Our soccer boys are holding practices and started their league last week with a draw to Kempton…our management were quite satisfied with the result…as the opposition Castle League side did not have a match on Saturday…which resulted in their first team being selected from an extremely strong squad….this week we host Bedfordview…with the match being held on the “C” field…. as cricket are still busy with their fixtures on the main fields….good luck guys, give your best, enjoy the match and above all have fun… Rugby are hard at practice…in expectation of a great season after only playing in one official match in the last two years….rugby junior registration should be done in April, with practices and matches beginning in June…On the Athletics front, with the Comrades being a little later this month…there is a bit more time for our athletes to get their big mileage in, to build up the fitness and mental capacity to take on the huge ultra-distance of90km challenge of Comrades…the time trials, for the quick fellows, are going well on Tuesdays at the dam… there have been some really great times posted already….hockey fixtures are going to be starting on the weekend of March 27 (a great day!!)…so start expecting to see a lot more “hockey-bokkies” on Saturday in the pubs….whilst the boys also will be seen making the “lapa’s” in the beer garden their home on Sunday….it has been super to see the Bridge Players back again….I hope that they have enjoyed their return to the club…being able to interact with people…rather than seeing them on-line!!!..

Hopefully you have all noticed that despite all the rain creating additional growth to the grasses and bushes…and that our fields are looking amazing…Brian and his team have taken responsibility for the cutting and maintaining of our fields in the last three weeks…. The rain has meant that everything is green…and the efforts of the ground staff need to be applauded, as the edges are trimmed and large areas that haven’t seen cutting in a very long time now, are tidy!!…. Well done guys, I am very proud if you all….
Have a super weekend….join us and it will be better..

Cheers Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 22 Jan 2022

23rd February 202224th February 2022
by Rod Scheepers

Good morning and happy “two’s day” to you all…..

A unique day that will never be repeated in our lifetime…..or ever in fact….that it is readable from the front to back (and vice versa) and upside down too…..okay, okay, only on an antiquated calculator screen!!…I thought that was pretty natty too….

We have been having good news on the Corona front, with the relaxation of the regulations, the cancelling of the curfew being a great positive…and while for some reason the State of Disaster hasn’t been abolished yet, I am sure that this will not be renewed in the foreseeable future…That is fantastic news for all our sports….as it appears that the playing of our sports and with the addition of spectators, it will not be restrictive as we have experienced over the past two years…

As we near the end of summer, we are moving inexorably to our busiest time of the year….not my favourite weather time….but busy in that all of our winter sports are going to start being played….soccer has already got up and brushed themselves off and have been busy with the Top 8 competition….and will embark on their League fixtures at the beginning of March….all the best to them…..rugby has also gained momentum, after playing only one league match in the last two COVID shut down years….and are readying themselves for another busy season….hockey 5’s are currently being played, which will make way for traditional field hockey shortly…I am sure that all the hockey people are champing at the bit to get back on the fields… Baseball also are starting their practices so that they are ready for the winter season….Our road running kings are also prepping themselves up for their goal…which has been moved a little later in the year, Comrades has been moved to August….so their whole schedule has moved along….even our own marathon is being hosted in early July to still be one of the last qualifiers for the big race….Interestingly, I have also seen that the social section is in practice to ready themselves up for a busy winter of armchair critics lying ahead….I have made the necessary arrangements for more stock of their favourite brew to be ordered…..we have also had some positive news, that our bridge section will be starting to use the hall for their weekly matches from the first week in March….I am sure that they are only too happy to be breaking the shackles of the internet and now meeting face to face once again….a huge welcome back to everyone…..it will be marvellous to see you all and to have you back here at your home away from home…

Our winter junior sports will also be starting up shortly, with junior soccer registration being held at the Club, this Saturday 26 February between 08h00 and 14h00 in the Ladies bar. Next Saturday, 5 March, the process will be repeated….we are hoping for a massive response, as the last two years have been frustrating….with sports being played behind “closed doors” with the ruling bodies not allowing spectators…..Junior Hockey are also having their registrations soon, these will be held in the beer garden next Saturday, 5 March, from 08h00 to about 12h00……Junior rugby has not scheduled a date for their start up, but with matches and tournaments expected to start in May, I am sure that the process will begin in April 2022. Please keep an eye on our Facebook page, website, or watch this space for more information.We are currently still busy with our cricket season, the rain being the biggest problem with trying to complete the league commitments… and as if the rain isn’t enough of an obstacle for our league and practice schedules, our grounds staff have also had to assume responsibility of cutting and also maintaining our fields as well…. a massive thank you to Brian and his staff, for manfully taking on the additional task with ease and conducting them with aplomb. The fields are looking fantastic, better to me than they have in many a year….Softball and Junior Baseball are enjoying a busy season too….and have hosted a few weekends of baseball at our grounds…well done to Shaun and his team for all the effort put in to make a success of these weekend fixtures….

Over the last two months, we have been a couple of postponements of our night market, but despite these we have already hosted two this year, where we confused the weather gods by moving the dates to the second Friday of the month…

Music has also returned to the North on Friday nights…last weekend we had the popular husband and wife team, Plus2….they got everyone they could onto the dance floor with some great numbers to jive to….while the break has ensured that they worked on some classic numbers and they definitely had us tapping our feet for the whole evening….this week I organised a “newbie”….I met and listened to him when I was down in Mozambique over the New Year….and he knocked my socks off….playing some old classics with his inimitable style….and included some ready good new music….he calls himself Born2Fire and I recommend that you come through see him…hopefully we will see you there..

Our joker draw is still running and the joker remains elusive….with the jackpot now standing at R20114… 19weeks of activity means that the chances of the Jester being found are improving each week….please come along and join us in our normal Friday fun evenings…. It is wonderful having the junior cricketers along at practice and the shouts of “Howzat” or the clip of the leather on willow is always lovely to listen to….

Last week we hosted a new school that didn’t have adequate grounds to host their athletics….they brought it across to the North….my gracious thanks to Sonia from our junior Athletics for the hard graft in the measurements and marking of the track….it is a welcome addition for the junior athletes that they can practice around a track now….
We are hosting a wine tasting evening on Thursday 24 February in the Ladies Bar…. this promises to be a great evening, with the wines on offer coming from the Ken Forrester stable (is that the right word? Probably not…. maybe vineyard is better) but please join us for the evening…..the cost involved is to cover the snacks provided….all the wines are sponsored….so come along for a great evening of tasting and some invaluable information about how those little grapes progress from the vine to the bottle to our table….
The Night market will continue next Friday 4 March…..keep the date open…it promises another super evening….
Easterns hockey are holding a fun day held at the Astro on 12 March…which promises to be a great day…the bar will be the Coach and manned by our staff…. Please diarise this….
Do not forget that this is our anniversary year…we are celebrating our 50th year of existence….I can remember like yesterday playing cricket on the main field in 1975…I still battle to say it was 47 years ago……we have some really great beer glasses on sale…please ask at the Scimitar for more details….there are limited stocks….so please get them while they are available….there will be some exciting events planned to celebrate…please keep an eye on our social media platforms for more information….
Cheers for now…. have a great week and see you soon at the North….

Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 14 Jan 2022

14th January 202214th January 2022
by Rod Scheepers

A special greeting from the management and staff at the North to all our readers…..

Best wishes for 2022 to you all, may this year be most prosperous and your best ever….
Finally, with the government’s scrapping of the curfew, we can move around more freely and this peace of mind I hope is able to promote a more positive vibe and a bit of normality returning to our country….

I watched this week all the joy of kids at school… some returning to a higher grade, some entering junior school for the first time, some taking the major leap into high school… other young adults started their final year of school… all of these encompass exciting prospects for them, new challenges and adjusted goals….all with the hope of being a better and smarter individual by the end of the year….judging from the number of parents and loved ones at the first day of school, each one will experience major success…. I sincerely hope that every single one use these kids example and treat this year as a new challenge, setting new goals with the object of being a better person by the end of this year….It feels like the last two years have been spent “running in the spot” and we need to move forwards…I sincerely hope we are able to do this.

With the start of the new year, it is wonderful to see the hive of activity at the North…staff working with a passion at the tasks allocated to them… our Members too are back, practicing to hone their skills in anticipation of the target that they have set themselves….

Athletics

Our Athletes have already had their first Wednesday Club run… time trials started on Tuesday… morning runs during the week and weekend… the dates have provisionally set for our Marathon this year… more exciting times await…

Football

The Soccer boys have also kicked off training, with the Top 8 competition already set for February…. Practices are conducted Tuesdays and Thursdays in anticipation, the coaches are wanting to have a bumper year!!

Rugby

The rugger buggers have also commenced their training too….also on Tuesdays and Thursdays….they are wanting to have a fantastic and successful year, after being in hibernation for the last two because of the restrictions.

Baseball and Softball

Baseball juniors and Softball have also begun their training sessions and will be starting their competitive matches soon too…

Cricket

Cricket have also resumed…practices started this week and matches will already be played this weekend… join us to hear the click of leather on willow…hopefully the weather plays the game and all games are not disrupted….

Our grounds are looking superb, after all the rain in December we have experienced some rapid growth, but thanks to Brian and Lungi, our main fields are in immaculate condition… the council also returned to work this week and are trying frantically to get all the fields across the road back into tip top condition too…

Joker Draw

This week sees the resumption of the Joker draw on Friday…just to remind everyone the Jackpot has climbed to R17004 and we are 12 weeks down the road on this draw…. We also see the resumption in music this week and I am pleased to announce that the 5 piece favourite, Omega will be lighting up our lives with their version of some really great hits from the past….

Events

There are also some exciting events planned for the near future….

The night market resumes on February 4
As mentioned the Football Top 8 competition commences in February….with both first and reserves sides in action….
The Friday night Food Fiesta will continue from February 11
There is a wine tasting evening planned for February 24

These are the current February events planned, but we are awaiting the confirmation with dates of some other functions, I will let you know as soon as they are confirmed.
2022 is an exciting year in the life of Benoni Northern Sports Club…and our Golden festival committee are busy planning and organising some exceptional fun things throughout the year… again, I will be letting you know once we have specific dates and times….keep an eye on our Facebook pages if you want to be the first to know of any changes and announcements….

That’s all for this week….take Care and stay safe…

Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 19 Nov 2021

19th November 202119th November 2021
by Rod Scheepers

A sunny good day to everyone out there….

My favourite time of the year is definitely producing my sort of weather….some sweltering heat, splattered with thunder showers….which means swimming and cold beer weather are on the menu on an ongoing basis….I’m sure I heard a few “hear-hear’s” from the Members… We should be on the annual slow down (or is it quicken up) before the holiday season….but with all the to-do about the pandemic, it still doesn’t feel like a normal year for me….that said, the ToyRun will not be held in the normal form again this year….with the limit of numbers of people able to attend, the organising committee have decided to only have a drive through again, so no entertainment, limited stalls, half of the mass arrival….it is a little disappointing , but in the light of the pandemic and the restraint placed on activities, I fully understand the dilemma faced by Peter and his team….

On the positive side….the idea to have a Friday Food Tuck Fiesta is starting this week….the trucks will be parked on the avenue of Oaks lining the road to the Tennis Club….please join us from about 16h00…there will be a variety of cuisine available…..we will have chairs and tables available near the jungle gym….some more available in the beer garden….and if there is rain affecting the evening…we will have these tables and chairs in the hall and on the patio under the tent…..we will also have music entertainment every Friday again…this week we kick off with karaoke….so all the aspirant and budding Idols participants can come along and test their talent at the North…. There is still our usual fare of Joker draw and weekly raffle available too….and the junior cricketers will also be practicing on Friday afternoon, so we can expect a very jolly and happy bunch to celebrate the start of the weekend with us. Load shedding will not affect operations as we have a generator, which will fire into life when Eskom fail us

Next Saturday we are also playing host to the Green and their Gin and Beer Fest…this will be held across the road, on the corner of Hanekam and Brodigan Streets….and promises to be another amazing day out…..please follow the links on our Facebook page and other social media platforms for ticket purchases and more information…. Remember the date November 27, 2021….
With soccer and rugby now being in recess, the only active winter sports are junior baseball and Hockey 5’s….the fives is in full swing on the weekend…please contact Shaun Tayler for more details…the junior baseballers are practicing and playing over the weekends….I have seen quite a lot of activity during the week from the schools too….it is lovely seeing that the kids are not all locked up and are able to get out and play some sport in the open air again….

Athletics –

Athletics have again been active with their time trials and Club runs…..and as we approach the end of the year, there are all sorts of fun functions and runs planned…and then the annual prize giving to look forward to as well….contact the athletics office for more details, if you are wanting participate or join….

Cricket –

Unfortunately our cricketers were taught a comprehensive lesson by Bedfordview on Sunday….losing by 95 runs…Bedfordview won the toss and elected to bat, scoring 255/8 in their allotted overs….their number 8, Leander Lubbe notching up an impressive 57 in 28 balls adding to our misery…..in our reply, we stuttered along with 5 guys getting into the 20’s….but no mainstay, meaning that we were rolled over 160 with just over 4 overs remaining….this week we travel to Kempton Park to play Avion Park…let us hope that we overturn last weeks result and bring home all the points….

Social –

Please don’t forget the social sections golf day on December 5th….to be held at the Police Golf Course in Hospital Road….an early start (05h30) followed by the prize giving at the Club at 13h00

Joker draw –

Still elusive…after 7 weeks we now have R14316 in the jackpot, waiting for someone to choose his hiding place… pop along this week…it could be your chance to be drawn….

Upcoming events

A quick breakdown of the events planned over the next little while

November 24 – Baseball Golf Day, Benoni Country Club
November 27 – Gin and beer Fest
December 3 – Night Market
December 4 – Athletic Prize giving (to be confirmed)
December 5 – Social Golf Day, prize giving commencing at 13h00 in the Hall

That’s it for this week…hopefully I’ll catch you at the Club before my next newsletter…..

Take care and stay safe
Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 11 Nov 2021

11th November 202111th November 2021
by Rod Scheepers

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

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 30 Sep 2021

29th September 202129th September 2021
by Rod Scheepers

A fabulous morning to you all

We are finally in the midst of spring feeling…as last weekends weather and temperatures were amazing and warm, filled with plenty of sunshine….but with some thunderstorms having already made their presence known, we must be aware that the warmer weather may not always play along with our plans….the dust has at least settled a little and the world is beginning to turn a beautiful green and having a fresh feel and smell…

Joker Draw

Ah well…..after almost 40 weeks of trying to find someone to lure the Joker out of hiding….we found a willing treasure hunter…..Trevor Joss, now a social member, had his name extracted from the beeeg black box on Thursday night and confidently strode up and pointed out his selection…..I did check if he was sure that he didn’t want to alter his selection…..but he was pretty adamant and insistent that his choice was final….and the Joker made his appearance from his hiding place!! Amid much screaming, whooping, laughter and cheering, he jumped and sprinted around the pub “high-fiving” anyone who was willing to share in his happiness….. this joy was caused through the winning of R49111 on the night….a most sizeable amount to fill some of the holes in pockets, that have been caused through the tough conditions over the last couple of years…..well done Trevor, I hope that SAB had enough stock for the celebrations…..

That means the joker draw will start up again this week….beginning with an opening jackpot of R10000…..so come along this week and try your luck and see if we can find the Jester in the new pack….remember that as a Member, you still have two chances at the cherry…..there is a card standing above the joker cabinet each week….if a Member’s choice matches that card on display….they will receive 10% of the Jackpot onto their membership card….this card changes each week, so keep your eye out for the current selection!!

Legends Night Market

With all the changes in the Lockdown, we are finally able to host our night market….this Friday we welcome back all the exhibitors, foodies, live music and stall holders….they will be open from 17h00 to 22h00….it is the first time that our coffee shop, Home Ground, will form part of the festivities….so if you haven’t had a chance to whet you appetite on their fare, this will be your chance….

Soccer

Our soccer boys had some disappointment last Saturday, as their opposition (Impala Plats) could not field a side due to the long weekend and work commitments….but the super league side were able to play their “catch up” match against Impala last night…and came out victors over Impala 3-2….a most satisfying result, well done….we are now lying in 3rd spot in the league….due to the curfew, we cannot complete both sides matches on one night, so the reserves will be playing tonight, also against Impala… This weekend we travel to the table toppers, Robertsham….hopefully we can eke out a positive result and consolidate our position in the league. We have had some great feedback from the soccer officials, that we can have spectators with some strict COVID protocols relating to social distancing, hand washing and mask wearing….but that is at least some good news for our spectators….with the derby coming up on the 2nd last weekend of October (also our 2nd last match of the season)… we are expecting a bumper crowd in support for our teams…keep it in your diary!!

Hockey

Hockey is slowing down at the moment with the last two weeks of matches being completed by the 10th of October….the league leaders will be trying to extend or maintain their position, while the pretenders to the crown will be scrambling to claim their rightful place….expect some fierce competition and plenty of analysis and post mortems in the beer garden after the conclusion of play….

Cricket

This weekend Cricket are hosting a fun festival…. all sorts of cricket matches and other fun for all to participate in are planned….there will be food and snacks available while the Coach will also be on site for light refreshments…. Please come along and have a look….it promises to be super time for all.

That is all for this week….hope you are all well…come in and say “hello”….we miss not seeing you all….

Keep well…stay safe and take care…

Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 23 Sep 2021

23rd September 202123rd September 2021
by Rod Scheepers

A great good day to all

From our far more relaxed headquarters at the North…..the sun is out, the world is bathed in a new coat of green as spring starts to take hold of the world, although that nagging a blustery wind has made its presence felt, there is a more positive feel about with the improved weather conditions….

Sport

With the move by the government to level two of lockdown and the easing of regulations, there have been some bold and positive moves made by the Football authorities, allowing spectators to officially watch their matches again, which is a sentiment which will hopefully be mirrored by all the other national sporting bodies in the not, too distant future.

Of course, I am moving into my favourite time of the year…..for those whom have taken any time to read my ramblings over the last few years….will know that winter and I are not the best of friends….and as the years have flashed by, I prefer the warmer to the cooler times….so roll on summer!!

Heritage Day Braai

At the club, things are starting to move along, we are at our happiest when there is sport being played and events being offered…..we were planning to have a day market on Heritage day, but the support from exhibitors for this event was not as solid as for our night market, so the market was unfortunately put on hold for another day…the Club will still be open and will have braai fires available to for Members and their guests to pop in and fulfil their “braai day” at the North….

Next Friday, the 1st, is the first Friday of the month and on our normal fare of Nights markets will resume….please pop along and join us in what is always a festive evening….

Joker Draw

As Heritage day is a Public Holiday on Friday, our practice of moving the Joker draw to a Thursday will continue….the Jackpot is up at R49311 and with only 14 cards left, the chances of someone finding the Joker are greatly improved…. additionally, as a Member, you still get two bites of the proverbial cherry…. If a Member’s name is drawn and they do not find the Joker in the pack…. and the card that they select happens to match the card on display above the cabinet…. 10% of the Jackpot available will be paid as a bonus onto their Club card immediately for them to use at any time….a huge incentive for our Members to enjoy our Joker draw evenings at the Club with us… The draw still takes place at 19h30, last ticket sales at 19h20….. if you arrive early enough, you can also take some tickets in our beer raffle, where you stand a chance to win a case of beer or the Matts Meat Market voucher…remember this week it is Thursday, but from next week we are back to Fridays with the draws….

Benoni Northerns Cricket Bash

Another fun day (or should I say weekend) is planned soon, as cricket will have a fun festival over the weekend of 2nd/3rd October….more on this next week….but keep an eye on our other social media platforms for news on this exciting event…

Soccer is back

Our soccer players will be back in action at the North this weekend….so please join us in officially welcoming them back with a bumper crowd to spur them on….the boys were having a really good run, which suffered a little hiccough about three weeks ago….but I have been assured that this has been put behind them and we will be striving to end the season with a bang of positive results….The first team kicks off at 15h30, with the reserves preceding them at 13h45….

Hockey continues

Ladies and mens hockey will also continue this weekend and although the long weekend has altered some of the schedules, there will still be plenty of talent on show….all these hockey warriors also usually pop into the beer garden after the conclusion of their match to add to the festivities of the day….
Our runners are all still practicing hard for the various different events on their calendar…Tuesday and Friday mornings, Wednesday evenings, and weekend Club runs are on offer at the Club with a time trial at the dam on a Tuesday….please join them if you would like to join up.

Coffee shop

The coffee shop is up and running…I see it is well supported by the running community early in the morning…. please pop in soon….it is open before most get to work 07h00 starting time….so no excuses…

Pizza kitchen is open

The popular pizza kitchen is also open for your convenience….order a pizza and have a beer or two while you wait for your order….

A quick edition for today, to keep everyone up to speed with what is happening at the North….I hope to see you at the Club soon….

Have fun, take care and stay safe…
Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 13 Sep 2021

13th September 202113th September 2021
by Rod Scheepers

Hi there to everyone…..

I took a quiet sabbatical from the newsletter during the pandemic, we had enough bad news to deal with….but with things starting to return to normal, I thought I would subject you to my weekly sprinkling of news and thoughts.

Over the last two weeks, I have found that the North is feeling some sense of normality….it was wonderful to see the junior soccer players and hear their shouts of joy and glee as they scored a goal, or dismay as things possibly didn’t go their way….the young cricketers were also around as their trials were held…..there was a junior hockey tournament up at the Astro….our main soccer fields had all of our sides playing at home for a change… the hockey players made their presence felt after the conclusion of their matches….the music was blaring forth from the Karaoke speakers….all the bars were busy with people requiring refreshments…it was marvellous to see….it started to feel almost normal and more like home again…

Uncle Cyril announced relaxed regulations during our family meeting last night and the extended trading hours are most welcome at the Club…..to give everyone a quick rundown of our news and to keep you all up to speed with what is happening at the Club….here goes….

CLUB

The Joker draw still has not been won and now stands at R48 208…we are 38 weeks into this draw and currently have 15 cards left….each week the chances of a member taking home some cash increases, as every paid up member has two chances to win….if they draw the joker, obviously they will take home the jackpot, but if they don’t find it and their selection matches the playing card displayed above the cabinet…they will receive 10% of the jackpot immediately transferred onto their membership card to spend at their leisure at the bar!! ….. that alone is reason enough for Members to join us on a Friday….please come down this week, we have missed you all….

The craft / cocktail bar is open on Saturdays and Sundays for some fine fare to enjoy, whilst on Fridays their cocktail selection will be available from the mobile bar….the Scimitar bar will be open every day from 3-8 and on Fridays it will be open from 12pm-8pm…..Saturdays and Sundays see the operating times alter to 10am-8pm……our main bar will only open on Friday nights and Saturday as demand requires….

Everyone will have notice the well-appointed grey container near the flag poles that houses our coffee shop that is now open….a most welcome addition….please support this awesome venture…it is open from pretty early every day apart from Mondays…and they offer delicious cappuccino and different hot (and cold) drink choices and amazing home-made sweet treats to make your mornings more fun….our pizza kitchen is still open and making their delicious tasty wares…their hours being very similar to the Scimitar bar…..so while you wait for your order to be made up, have a beer or two to pass the time….

The public holiday that is coming up, we are planning to have a braai day, in conjunction with a day market….keep an eye on our social media for more details…I will also divulge the more info through this medium as well….I think this will be a fantastic day to get out and join us…

With the COVID reduction of our trading hours…we have decided to move our music and karaoke offerings to a Saturday afternoon on home soccer days from 16h00 until further notice…so come along and have singalong fun with us….

COVID protocols and regulations are still enforced…please wear a mask when entering, ordering at the bar or using the restrooms and please keep it with you at all times…wash your hands regularly and maintain the relevant social distancing….

SPORT

Our soccer leagues and teams are really busy with the premier league still in action for another 7 or so weeks…the next three Saturdays we have home matches…and although there are no spectators allowed, please come along and enjoy some light refreshments, while you “aren’t watching”….

Hockey also has a good few weeks still to complete their season, so we are chock’n’block with the Ladies from their leagues on Saturdays and Men on Sundays. All Rugby leagues and matches were called off for this year, so sadly these will only resume in the new year.

Baseball is continuing and the junior leagues will begin in early October…as mentioned earlier we had junior cricket trails recently, followed by the senior trials… so the click of leather on willow will resume soon as practices get into full swing….

The runners have started their time trials and of course have their club runs too….keep an eye out for all our sports people who are continuing in their quest of fitness and improvement.

That’s it for this week… Stay safe and COVID free…. See you soon….

Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 28 Apr 2021

30th April 202130th April 2021
by Rod Scheepers

A very good day to you all

We are being treated by Mother Nature at the moment a kaleidoscope of colours…..there is still some green hue around on the grasses and in the trees….bit the vivid autumn colours are prevalent…. Aged yellow, fading to orange, ravishing reds, burnished brown…and the dull beige (“vaal”) of the dry vegetation…..It is a brilliant time of the year for colour, but the temperatures are dropping….dry skin and chapped lips are the norm….bring back summer…I miss it already….

On a positive note….the kids are on school holidays….so the Club has been a little quiet since Friday….with everyone travelling to their holiday destinations…whether it be at the sea, in the mountains, in the bush…or just the favourite spot that we are able to relax and unwind after a really difficult last twelve months…

On Friday we had the return of someone from the legal eagle corner….as Brad Knight had his name chosen from the beeeg black box…..and he confidently pointed out his selection….which when turned, revealed the six of diamonds…everyone in the bar breathed a sigh of relief and it meant that everyone was alive to possibly be a winner for another week…the jackpot has moved up to marginally below the R34k level and settled in at R33991…. We are approaching the half way stage this draw and have had 22 cards revealed already…which means it is more difficult for the joker to remain in hiding…. Please come down the to the Club this week and try your luck at choosing the Joker…perhaps you are the lucky one to be in front of the Joker cabinet at 19h30 on Friday….

With it being a long weekend…. hockey had a general bye, whilst Soccer and Baseball and Soccer had fixtures in their league…. I saw that the baseball boys were busy at Northerns with centralised fixtures…I have not had any feedback on our results…hopefully I will get these for reporting back next week.

Our soccer club welcomed Randburg to the North on Saturday afternoon…..and unfortunately we did not have achieve the set of results we wanted….the reserves started off with a 1-0 loss that was possibly a fair reflection of the game…as we had chances that we were unable to convert….but the young side is gathering valuable lessons which will stand them in good stead… our injury list has been growing every week and both the reserves and first side have been affected by this problem…. That said, we are still second in the league, four points behind Robertsham….with Luso breathing down our necks a point adrift….. in the late game, the first side found themselves 3-0, before they showed some fight to claw back two goals ….but that was not enough to get a share of the points on the day….injuries and unavailability have been the thorn in the side of this team…. And we have been playing with players out of position to make up numbers…. the loss means we slide back to 5th on the league table….one point behind last week victors and two points behind Luso….hopefully this week will improve….and we need to work hard at training and remain positive, as this week we move down the road to play Old Bens…..reserves kick off at 13h45, whilst the first side kick proceedings off at 15h30… please follow the fortunes of our sides at the Club down the road on the weekend….

This week we have a full house pf our side competing in soccer, hockey and baseball….and with rugby soon to be returning to the playing park, we can look forward to chock’n’block festivities weekly at the North….. we should have a good turnout of players and locals alike this weekend…if you are at a loose end, join us at the Club…. we would love to welcome you…

I leave you with an honest request…..this horrid disease that has changed our whole lifestyle in the last year….is silently there…waiting to pounce…. Please do not be complacent….wash or sanitise your hands regularly….wear your mask and maintain adequate social distance of people… if you have any changes in your health…raised temperature or fever, sore throat, tiredness, loss of taste of smell, cough….and the new one, a runny tummy…please be responsible and self -isolate and / get yourself checked up by a trained medical physician….

Take care and stay safe….
Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 22 Apr 2021

21st April 202123rd April 2021
by Rod Scheepers

A fine and fresh good day to you all, from a bright and breezy Northerns.

Mother Nature obviously heard my comments about the weather last week and came back to show me who’s the boss (remember the TV show)….and autumn has arrived on our doorstep….that said, the weather during the day is still lovely, just as that sun starts to dip toward the horizon in late afternoon that there is a bit of a scramble for the jerseys and jackets.

At our special general meeting held last week…there was overwhelming support for the proposals that were presented….for those that have been in a hole for the last while and have not heard about the meeting or the reason thereof, I will quickly explain…..In the recent past, we have been approached by three different business entities, as to the possibility of them housing their operations at the North….I will start with the first of those being the Cricket Shop, a retail sporting goods retailer, that have five current stores, in three major sporting fields namely the Wanderers, SenWes in Potch, and SuperSport Park in Centurion…whilst having a retail store in the Brooklyn Mall….their other store is at the Alberton Cricket, which is where their humble beginnings originated….they have a footprint in almost all of the sports that we offer here…..another is Home Ground which is a coffee shop and boutique bakery which will be offering gourmet coffees and sweet treats…some of our early morning members and weekend fitness movers have requested such an offering for a while now….The final one is the Benoni Actions Sports Arena….they are currently in an area that is not conducive to an after hours sport and are willing to relocate their operations to Benoni Northerns… with all of these businesses, the owners are prepared to build their own premises which will house their operations….At the meeting, there was over a 95% support vote that we continue with these negotiations…. As a club, the way forward now is to get approval from the Council who are the owners of the property… hopefully this will not hold up the process, in order that building operations can commence….

Despite the cooler climes, we have still had masses of happenings at the North….and our winter sports are busy with their leagues and matches… only our rugby fellows are still not in their competitive matches as yet, but are till on the training grounds getting fit and honing their skills in anticipation of the forthcoming leagues….
Baseball also began their league programme last weekend with centralised fixtures at Boksburg. At the time of writing, I have received no results, so I am unable to broadcast their progress as yet….

The hockey has had mixed results…. with our ladies forming majority of the Premier league, we have teams in the second to fifth spots in the 10 team league…. In the reserve league, we only have one side which is currently 3rd out of 7…..but with only 2 matches played thus far, it is really difficult to assess our relative success….in the mens premier leagues we have all our sides in the lower half of the league, but after two rounds some of our sides have only played one match which skews the results somewhat…..in the reserve league some sides have also only played one match….so it may be easier to assess after one full round of fixtures….what I can say is that it is wonderful to have the hockey and other sports people back at the club…..2020 was a crazy quiet and silly COVID year and we missed all of our sports people with their antics and shenanigans….

Our athletes are still a really busy bunch….morning runs….time trials….club runs….and then their weekend outings where they are all putting in lots of mileage….and supporting the Club and pub as the true athletes they are….

The Soccer boys were away at Olympia (which happens to always be our bogey side) last weekend…..and the reserves shrugged off their loss against Robertsham, with a solid 2-0 win…. we remain in second spot, but after only 6 matches it is clear who the top two sides are, with some space already appearing from the chasing pack…. The first side unfortunately suffered a temporary setback….after some players let us down at the last minute…despite conceding a silly goal, we still were able to dominate the game without being able to score….we were even unable to convert a penalty in our favour…. Followed by a minute of madness as our goalkeeper was sent off for a silly offence…..so the bogey side mantle remains….after 6 matches we are now in third place, one point behind Alberton and two behind Robertsham…. This week we host Randburg, who are usually a quality unit….and this promises to be a super match up between our Clubs….as usual, proceedings start at 13h45 with the reserve match, followed at 15h30 by the First teams….please remember to come to the Club to support….but we are still not able to watch according the Local Association COVID protocols….

We are still looking for someone to find the Joker….as Mike Williams, who’s name was drawn for a third time in recent history, was still is unable to the have the x-ray vision required to find this elusive card… This week the Jackpot has been raised to R33246….. please join us this week….for a mere R5 you could be drawn from the beeeeeg black box….and find yourself in front of the Joker cabinet to make your selection….

Have a super rest of the week…. See you over the weekend….

Take care and stay safe….. Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 16 Apr 2021

16th April 202116th April 2021
by Rod Scheepers

Good day to everyone

We appear to still be in the grip of summer in the last few days….we played hockey just after midday on Sunday and it felt like we were back in summer….as you all well know by now, I love summer weather, so I am an extremely happy fellow at present….long may it continue…

As I requested last week, we had an epic and bumper weekend at the North, with the weather to match….and starting off on Friday, the Night Market was a great success….with plenty of visitors and lots of new faces at our Joker draw which was great to see…my wife had the good fortune of being the one drawn to see if she could find the Joker…..but luck was definitely not on her side….as she drew the Ace of Hearts….which happened to be the back-up Members card….if she was a Member of the Club she would have instantly had 10% of the jackpot proceeds on her membership card (which was over R3000 on Friday night)…so no luck for her…but she has vowed to now become a social member!!.. this means that with the Joker still in hiding as the Jackpot rises up to R32323 for this week….interest is now starting to build up again and the numbers on Friday nights are beginning to grow….so please come through this week and try your luck…tickets still only cost R5 and are sold in the hall until about 19h20….with the draw taking place at 19h30….

The night market was very popular again and on the few occasions that I walked through, there were always people browsing and milling around….thanks for all the support…the next market will be on May 7, with the same operating times 17h00 to 22h00….the night market will then have a short winter break and reappear on the first Friday of September….

Saturday saw the official return of team sports to the North…with senior and junior soccer and senior hockey also making a welcome return….and although there was a late moving of hockey fixtures, as the Astro was declared unplayable, it was noted that on their return to the North, the Hockey Ladies appeared to enjoy the new cocktails on offer in the Craft bar, whilst their fines and antics were most amusing…. the Men were back in top form on Sunday, looking as fresh as fresh as daisies from their massive break because of COVID….

The soccer boys made their return to the North on Saturday…..and they must have been most chuffed to see that there were lots of people who had turned up to not watch (we are still not allowed spectators for soccer matches)….. and the reserves (who admittedly were a few key players short on the day with injury) seemed to freeze a little and did not play to their true potential….going down three two to the league leaders Robertsham….we remain in second place on the log….three points behind the side who beat them on Saturday….the first side had no such problems, playing quality football….and despite playing majority of the second stanza with only 10 players (one of our boys being sent off for two yellow card offences) we were able to achieve a feat that hasn’t been done too often in recent history….beating the mighty Robertsham…..scoring a brace of goals and keeping a clean sheet in return….very well done to the lads…. A super result…. keep on going…. we are now top of the league table, swopping league positions with Robertsham…..this week we are off to the Italian Club in Bedfordview to take on Olympia…. All the best chaps…

There was a final round of action for Junior cricket, with a mini tournament being played over the weekend on the B field…..that is now the end of the season for the cricketers until spring.

Our rugby players have had the go-ahead to play league matches again soon, so are hard at work at practices. We have not as yet had exact dates for the resumption of Juniors…but the moment we are told, I will let you know…also keep an eye on our social media platforms for up to the minute news….

Have a fantastic rest of the week…and I hope to see you all soon at the Club….if you are free on Friday afternoon, join me in the Scimitar….an old musician friend of ours is going to have a bit of an unplugged session…literally!!

*STOP PRESS*I do not have the final results of the Special General Meeting which was held last night….but it looked as if the Members were happy with the items that were proposed, namely the sports shop, a coffee shop and the action sports arena….I will have the final results of the voting next week…

Take care and stay safe…
Cheers Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 7 April 2021

11th April 202111th April 2021
by Rod Scheepers

A very good morning to you all…..

Easter has come and gone….slipped passed far too quickly….but what it has done is sprinkled the air with some ice flakes….to show us that summer is starting to disappear into the distance….and the cooler climes are fast approaching….instead of cutting lawns, we are now sweeping leaves…. Instead of pulling on whites and spikes, we now don track suits and studs….our running colleagues are now starting to take torches with when they run….and jerseys and closed shoes are becoming the norm.

A quick run down of what has happened at the Club over the last little while….

Our cricketers capped off a very quick season with a comprehensive win over their proverbial arch rivals Kempton in the T20 league that we hosted….after us posting a quite respectable 151 in our batting innings….Kempton were sitting in a favourable position after 9 overs needing only 60 runs and still having 6 wickets in the bank…..but our bowlers came to the party and “blitzed” their way through the rest of the batting….for us to win by 39 runs….a massive round of applause for Dylan, Nic, Kurt and the boys….the celebrations definitely continued late into that night….and while we say goodbye to the cricketers, I wish to offer congratulations to Kurt on his marriage… may married life bring you years of joy and happiness….

The soccer boys have also shown flair in their matches just before Easter….with the matches for both of our sides at Impala going in our favour…although all reports say that neither side was at its best….it is hugely encouraging to see that we can still pull it off…the reserves kept a clean sheet whilst securing a two goal advantage, but the first side score sounded more like a game of tennis the match ending up in our favour 6-4!…we are ging to need to be at our best this weekend, as we host Robertsham, both of their teams topping the log at the moment…with our sides in second place….these should both be marvellous games, in this top of the table clash….please still remember that in strict terms of the law, there are no spectators allowed….I am sure that there will be plenty of “parties” in the beer garden of people “not watching”….Junior soccer also makes a welcome return to our fields and there will be little (and some not so little anymore, as our kids have grown so tall over lockdown) bodies scurrying around, emblazoned in their beloved Northerns kit….. welcome back, it marvellous to see you all….

Hockey makes a welcome return to the astro’s of the East….with Benoni High now being added to the list of available grounds….Ladies hockey starts on Saturday with men starting their run around on Sunday…so please expect an influx of hockey players in and around the club house over the weekend….please tap them on the shoulder if they happen to be facing the soccer fields and remind them that we still aren’t allowed to spectate yet…. 😊

The joker draw is still happening with another week or so passing since my last letter….and the “pot” has pushed up over R30k…..settling at R30391 for this week….we are now 19 weeks into the current draw….please come along to try your luck at finding the Joker…

Another bit of good news if you are planning to come down to the North on Friday…is that our night market makes a welcome return….this is always a fun evening and this week will include a putt-putt course adding to the almost 50 stalls that are available…please do pop along….for those that haven’t been to the Club for a while, you will also be able to visit our Craft bar, which also offers a variety of cocktails….this is housed in the old Ladies Bar and would welcome your presence….

Rugby practices have already started… so if any of our Members know of players who would like to join us, please get hold of the office for the contact details of the relevant people for dates and times of practices…

A reminder to Members that the Executive Committee has some exciting news to share with you at a Special General Meeting on Wednesday 14th April….please join us at the Club at 19h00 to find out what could be happening….

Join us this weekend….lets make it an epic one at the North…

Please stay safe and take care, cheers
Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 25 Mar 2021

24th March 202124th March 2021
by Rod Scheepers

Good day to all from a cool and overcast day at the North…..

Seems like Cape Town and us have swapped weather, they are sunny and boiling, whilst here we have an 80% chance of rain and there is a fresh breeze lurking just to remind us that winter is only a heartbeat way….and with the next three weeks being four day working weeks, we will all have a little more time to spend relaxing…. hopefully in the warmth of summer rather than in fresh autumn weather….

We are fully back in the swing of things here at the Club….and may I asl that it remains this way for an extended period….It is now almost a year since this COVID craziness became a reality….and if it disappears I am sure that I am one of the majority who will rejoice…..it is wonderful to be able to interact with people again….hear the shrieks of delight from the children on the sports fields and also experience the commitment and tenacity of the adults as they enjoy their running and antics on the fields at Northerns and the roads in our area….all these sports has meant that our club house and bars are filled with patrons…. Thank you for the support….

On an interesting and historical note…..two of the legends at our home at Albert Bekker Park have been honoured with a very comprehensive report compiled in the local press this week….the Benoni City Times have featured Ted Jarvis and Manny Ferreirinho as heroes of the North…..the links to these articles are included in the newsletter…..let it be said that each and every one of us are indebted to the commitment and passion that these two gentlemen have displayed over the last 45+ years….without their efforts the Club would not be the Champion that it is today…..

TED AND MANNY……BENONI NORTHERNS SALUTES YOU!!!

A quick run down of the sports that have occurred and what is happening over the next week or so…..

We had the St Patricks day celebration run/walk pub crawl last week, which was a resounding success, despite the weather not entirely playing the game with us….everyone I spoke to said that they had an amazing experience….. most of our Members did not realise that there was a bar at the Baseball or at our Rugby fields…so now when they see there is a Rugby match on…or they see that Baseball is being played, they can pop across to watch, knowing that will be access to a quick frostie or two….thanks to all for joining us and to all the organisers for a super event that will definitely be welcomed back with open arms…

Our Soccer boys had the resumption of their leagues last week…with the second and first sides taking on Alberton…the second side was a ding-dong affair….real end to end stuff…..with both youthful sides giving it their all, plenty of quality goals, both goal keepers pulling off astounding saves….Northerns were first to score followed by an Alberton equaliser…..once again Northern took the lead and Alberton almost immediately regaining the parity…..when our boys scored to take the lead again with almost half of the second stanza remaining…Alberton threw everything at our goal….but our defence was resolute and held firm to emerge as 3-2 winners on the night…. Great stuff…as we carry the two results from last year…we now have 3 out of 3 and 9 points at this stage of proceedings….the first side was a more organised and structured affair, and the very disciplined Alberton took the lead to go into the break 1-0 up….this was a match of two halves…with Alberton dominating the first half…and Northerns coming out with guns blazing in the second half…to equalise shortly after the break after change in the home team formation…. Our coaches have said they were satisfied with the result between these two very evenly matched sides and are happy with 2 wins and a draw after three matches in the current league….this week we are away to Impala….hopefully the first team can get onto winning ways again….and the reserves can keep their momentum going….best of luck to them all….junior soccer have started practices, so expect an influx of excited footballers from just after Easter…..

The joker draw this week also had no winner as Mike Williams drew the Ace of Clubs and pushed the jackpot up to R27451….we move into the second third of the draw as there are 36 cards now still face down, with 17 already uncovered….join us this week, try your luck at finding the Joker….last ticket sales are at 19h20…with the draw taking place at 19h30…

Cricket T20 finals are on this weekend (Sunday) with our Team 1 in the semi-finals at 09h00….followed by the finals at 14h00….join us in “not watching” the Final from the beer garden and Deck…. Junior cricket will still be played on Saturday as usual…..

Fixtures Sunday 28 March 2021

Semi-finals

Time	Venue	Teams
9am	BN A	WCQ1 The North 1 vs WCQ2 Bedfordview CC
9am	BN B	WCQ3 Kempton Blue vs WCQ4 Old Bens
9am	BED A	WPQ1 SK11 vs WPQ2 Avion
9am	BED B	WPQ3 Tembisa 1 vs WPQ4 Tembisa 2

Finals

Time	Venue	Teams
2pm	BN A	The North 1 / Bedfordview vs Kempton Blue / Old Bens
2pm	BED A	SK11 / Avion vs Tembisa 1 / Tembisa 2

https://t20.bncricket.co.za/games/

Rugby and Baseball are getting busy with their practices….and with hockey are expecting resumption of all their respective leagues just after the Easter weekend….if there any prospective future stars of these three codes please contact the office for us to forward contact persons for any of our sports….Junior hockey will commence soon on Saturdays, whilst junior baseball now wraps up their season…. We expect the junior rugby to only commence in a couple of month’s….keep an eye on our Facebook page for all developments….or this newsletter for the most up to date news….

Please stay safe and take care Rod

Benoni City Times celebrates Benoni Nothern Legends

The year was 1975, meet Ted Jarvis

Benoni resident Ted Jarvis (76) is well known within the community due to the work he has put in at Benoni Northerns Sports Club.

He attended Parktown Boys’ High in Johannesburg and relocated to Benoni in 1975.

Founder of Northerns football proud of his legacy

Manny Ferreirinho (73) is well-known in Benoni for starting the first football section at Benoni Northerns sports club.At the time he was just a cricket player for the St Patricks cricket club and committee member.

The Scimitar 16 Mar 2021

17th March 202117th March 2021
by Rod Scheepers

A warm and hearty hello to everyone out there…

“Beware the Ides of March” it was said to Julius Caesar more than 2050 years ago…..and most of us were reminded at school of this fact by William Shakespeare in his setwork book about the ruler….but for us this year the “dreaded date” have brought relatively good news…. The lockdown has been extended for a month…. with no major changes on the horizon and Ides of March definitely didn’t present any major obstacles for us…..

It is wonderful to see the North starting to get back to normal….people coming in and out of the front gates….the sounds of excited laughter on the cricket fields…..screams of “howzat!” and the click of leather on willow…. I love hearing the chirps and shouts of “pass the ball” or “shoot! Shoot!”….followed by the groans of disappointment at the miss….or the shrieks of delight at the successful conversion….I personally stay very close to the Club…..and I am overjoyed to be granted the privilege to be able to listen to these sounds from my yard….sometimes early in the morning….other times after dark…..but it still fills me with great joy to once again be able to hear these sounds, that the last year has stolen from us all…. long may it continue…

To everyone that has taken the time out to come and join us at the Club for sporting ventures or to sneak in a quick one or two….possibly even a more extended stay….I thank you….it has been marvellous to see you all and spend some time with you…. To those that are still considering it….please come along….it will be fantastic to have you join us….

As I have mentioned….soccer is in full swing with vets and ladies football being played on Monday, Wednesday and Friday….follow our Facebook page to get up to the minute reports on upcoming fixtures….In addition, our first and second sides are raring to go and have played friendlies over the last two weekends in expectation of the resumption of the league that was so cruelly postponed by COVID in March 2020…..we have a hugely talented and exciting young side that will do us extremely proud over the season, which is resuming this Thursday and will be played at the North “C” field against Alberton…. the reserve side playing at 18h30….followed by the first side at 20h00….I can’t say come and watch….as in terms of the ruling body of soccer, there are strictly no spectators allowed…..but if you have watched the innovative hockey parents….you will know exactly how to sort that out….please do not get out of your cars, as there will be officials from the Local Authority, who will happily fine the Club for being in contravention of the COVID Protocols that they issue…..

Cricket is also still in full swing with our very enthusiastic committee organising a T20 competition between the top local sides hosted at the North….. being played on Sundays on our A, B and C fields….it has been marvellous to watch (oops did I say that??? I was in the beer garden and?….) there is a pile of talent on show, but we aren’t allowed to really watch….this weekend are all the knock out games, so there should be some exciting stuff to hear about (hee-hee)

Rugby and baseball are also set to start….with practices about to commence….please keep an eye on our Facebook page for developments on events, practices and training….

The athletic sub section have been really busy…. whilst we were in both full lockdown and now under the new relaxed regulations have been most innovative….so please make sure that you join us this Wednesday…. It is St Patricks day…. with a bit of a twist, as the Club run has given way for a “beer run”….. for a modest entry fee….you can run miles or walk whatever distance you believe appropriate, between the four pubs that we have available at the North on the night…Baseball, Rugby, the Coach and the Main Club which will be refreshment stops along the way….where you can “whet your whistle” and have some fun…. Please wear something green to enter into the spirit of the day and show your support for the function….festivities will commence at 17h45….and entries will be limited in terms of the COVID numbers allowed for outside activities….all contestants are requested to be aware of the COVID protocols that need to be adhered to and will be applied….more details are contained on our Facebook page…

Hockey is also gearing up to commence just after the Easter weekend….so please dust off your boots and sticks and I will see you on the Astro….

Our Joker draw is still in full swing….we are already up to week 17 already and this week the jackpot has risen to R26724…..pop along on Friday to try your luck….this week it could be your chance to be drawn and try your luck at finding the Joker….

It will also be a god time to visit the new craft bar that is on offer….. have a pink gin and tonic on tap….. or try one of the super cocktails on offer or test one of the variety of craft beer available…..it is quite refreshing place to visit…

That is all for this week…..thank you all for the efforts that everyone of you have put in….joining us in the pubs and on the fields….it meant that I definitely did not have to pay heed to the warning of “beware the Ides of March”

Take care and stay safe….Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 4 Mar 2021

4th March 20214th March 2021
by Rod Scheepers

Good day to all on cold and chilly autumn evening..…

The leaves are changing colour… the days are shortening…. autumn is arriving at speed….this morning was a jersey and thoughts of wearing long pants day….so that is great news for the winter sport players and lovers….. AND…..

On Sunday night we received a bit more positive news, as the President announced that we have now moved to level one of the lockdown regulations….which of course means that we have less of a curfew….our operating hours for the bars are relaxed…whilst there are still no spectators allowed….we are able to practice and play our winter sports….in addition our summer sport, cricket, which is going to have an extended season of T20 excitement…. So we can finally look forward to some team sports again at the North….although we will have to look the “other way” whilst standing in the beer garden to ensure that we do not actually “watch” any sport in compliance with the regulations….

We will also still have our running and hockey 5 which are the two sports that have been able to support us over the last few months, for which we have been most appreciative… but with the addition our “family” of players and supporters of sports now allowed….hopefully we will be able to see a lot more of our friends in the pub in the future…

I am quickly going to deal with some sad news we have had….we had a wake last week for one popular friend and member and another wake later this week for another sports campaigner and legend…. Last week bade fond farewells to Ralph Cook…our pizza man, who stepped into the role of pizza chef with enthusiasm….I am sure that almost all our Members have enjoyed one of Ralph’s scrumptious pizza’s…..your presence will be sorely missed Ralph….and this week we bid farewell to one of our hockey legends, Graham Bolton….who was already here in the 70’s representing the North at Hockey with distinction, 1st side, 2nd side, 3rd side, Bears and Mammoths….there will be plenty of team mates and friends that will fondly remember Bolts, whether it was on the field, in the pub, playing darts or discussing the merits of many current affairs….sincere condolences and deepest sympathy on behalf of the entire cub to their families and loved ones of these two amazing humans….they will be sorely missed….

Now onto some good news… the joker draw is still running and we have still not found anyone able to extract the joker from his hiding place….the current jackpot stands at R24893….and we are into week fifteen of this tenth draw….Members must also please not forget that they have two bites of the “cherry”….. if they are unable to find the joker, but do find the card displayed above the joker cabinet (this week it is the eight of spades) they will receive 10% of the Jackpot onto their Membership cards immediately….so don’t forget to join us this week at the joker draw….ticket sales are in the Hall and close at about 19h15 with the draw taking place at 19h30….

This week we have some more news….as our Night market makes a welcome return….with the relaxation of regulations, we will have the market this Friday from 17h00 to about 21h00…singer, new stalls, come along….

A new addition from this week is that young men that have been serving cocktails to us over the last year or two…are in a new home!!! They will be now located in the Ladies bar, with a new improved variety of available cocktails…and in addition we will be offering Craft beers that will also be served from this bar….the menu selection offered by this bar will be altered over time as more lines become available and others that aren’t as popular will be replaced…. Please join us in supporting this new venture and show your support for the new innovations available…

On Sunday we welcome back the evergreen band Omega….who have come along to offer us a live gig in return for meals and drinks….in the current economic climate it has been impossible to pay for musicians….but Omega have some along to support us….a gesture that is greatly appreciated…..thank you Bruce and his crew of merry making musicians making up Omega….

That is about all for this week….please remember that subs are due…the new membership cards are already out and the new pricing will kick in as the suppliers start to compensate for the shutdown and new “sin-taxes”….I promise that I will limit our increases to the minimum possible….but there will always be that inevitable increase in selling prices…initial thoughts from suppliers are in the region of 8% to 10%…..so please so not complain when it does come through….and say you were not aware….

Take care and stay safe Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 3 Feb 2021

3rd February 20213rd February 2021
by Rod Scheepers

A fine good day to everyone from a very up-beat me today….

As I am sure you have all heard, Uncle Cyril has lifted the restrictions that pertain to the curfew times and most importantly, the resumption of alcohol sales….Whoopee!!!

This means that we are back in business and are able to offer the superb service to our Members that they are accustomed to…. this does not mean that the dreaded COVID has disappeared….we will still need to adhere to the strict protocols of hand sanitising, social distancing and the wearing of masks….but we have our life-blood of the Club available again. We will still ask that all patrons wear masks when ordering at the Bar….and we will ensure that our staff also wear their masks, to indicate our mutual respect that we will do our best to contain the spread of this disease….

We are cleaning and sanitising all areas and surfaces on a regular basis…in an attempt to ensure that we are being responsible in the attempt to minimise the risk…..

The hours of operation are published on our social media platforms, but these will be subject to change, based on regulations and/or operational issues….the opening of the Scimitar bar, does not mean that the Club is once again the flourishing enterprise it was before the onset of this disaster, but that we are able to firstly offer a service to our Members and secondly to generate the much needed income to pay our expenses and more importantly to be able to pay our loyal staff…..this has been the most difficult and trying period in the Clubs history at being able to “keep the doors open”….and I would request the Members to bear cognisance of the Committee’s decision to only open one bar and beer garden to try to minimise operational expenses. The rest of the areas of the Club will remain open and clean, so the Main Bar, hall, deck, ladies bar and tented area and Members are welcome to use these areas to sit and socialise in, in order for people to spread out to maintain adequate social distancing protocols…..

We are still in crisis management mode and will continue to be offering curtailed operations until normal trading circumstances return….in the interim, please continue supporting us in our endeavours at producing and income, whether it be by just visiting the bar on a regular basis, paying your subs, or with any fund raising efforts that are initiated….thank you to all the Members that have supported my call last week to pay their subs, it is greatly appreciated….keep your Subs rolling in….

We are also immediately starting the Joker draw off on Friday….and it will continue where it finished off just before Christmas….so this week there will be a Jackpot available of R21144….the same terms and conditions as always will apply….ticket sales will commence this Friday afternoon in the Hall and will close at about 19h20….with the draw taking place at 19h30…..we will also be offering our ever popular beer raffle….so keep a lookout for Jamela selling these tickets, which will be drawn five minutes before the Joker draw at 19h25…remember that for the Joker draw you have to be present to participate, whilst with the beer raffle, we will contact you if you are a winner….(remember to leave your contact number on the raffle sheet in case you know you won’t be present at the draw…)

Hockey 5’s and the cricket academy are the only team sports on offer at the Club at present, but there is still the “no spectator” policy in force….. I am pretty certain the spectators and players alike will take the opportunity to maintain their bodies and soul with some cool refreshments from the pub. Our runners will be having their club run on Wednesday…..albeit also with staggered starting times to ensure the protocols of large gatherings being adhered to…..hopefully we will see them all tonight to revitalise their tired legs….

A short little note this week, to just let everyone know that “WE ARE BACK’

Hope to see you all soon.
Warm regards, stay safe
Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 28 Jan 2021

28th January 202128th January 2021
by Rod Scheepers

A very good day to everyone out there……

Well well well…..we find ourselves in a New Year, but in the most strange circumstances that I have experienced at this, normally joyful, time of the year…. At the outset, may I take this opportunity to wish everyone who is taking the time out to read this message, a very happy new year….I trust that this year will present wonderful opportunities and experiences to each one of you.

At this time of the year, we would have already hosted our cricket 6-a-side tournament and all staff would be furiously cutting grass and trimming edges, cleaning bars and washing glasses in anticipation of the new sporting year beginning and the carry over of our joker draw…..but at present the Club is strangely quiet….there is no laughter or joy, no clinking of glasses or sounds of wood on willow, no pre- season training for soccer and rugby….as we experience another “lockdown”….

And as we face the prospect of the “second wave”…I think that the reality of the situation is hitting home with all of us….as suddenly we have friends and family that have been or are being affected by this dreaded COVID….could I please ask that each and every one of you be extra careful….wear your mask, sanitise and maintain social distancing…..and to please keep those in mind who have been affected, either directly or indirectly, in your prayers..

There are a few little stars in the dark sky of doom and gloom of level three lock-down restrictions…

As some you may have noticed, there has been some frantic activity at one of the unused tennis courts near the cricket nets….and with that “Young Guns” cricket academy has been introduced to the North…… They have altered the one tennis court into some pretty impressive net facilities…..so welcome to the Young Guns….I trust that our association will be a long and mutually beneficial one….under the current restrictions, the academy have to follow full COVID protocols but are able to coach individuals at this facility…
Hockey 5’s has made a return to the Astro….playing circumstances are still very difficult, with registers, check-ins and full COVID protocols being maintained…additionally no spectators are allowed, so the parents and friends have made grandstands of the pavements on the side of the fields, in order for them to watch their loved ones on the fields….
Rugby, soccer, bridge and baseball are still under a “no play” rule….so there is unfortunately no prospect of any sport under these banners at the North in the foreseeable future…..Bridge are competitively playing on some on-line platforms, but I have heard that although it is very enjoyable…it is not the same as a face-to-face competition….

And while we are under the level three conditions, means that our bars are officially closed…..and that means that the Joker draw is also not being held….which of course is not good news for the club, as there are still expenses that need to be fulfilled monthly…electricity, insurance, waster disposal and of course the lifeblood of our staff…..wages….

Our President, Doctor Witstock initiated a staff challenge last year that was wonderfully supported by our Members, that funded a food voucher of R500 every fortnight for all staff…..the last payment on the challenge was made in January….so a new effort will now need to be started again in order for us to continue this initiative….

We are also needing to come up with other innovative ideas to fund our staff costs….and details of these initiatives will be published on our Facebook page, our website or using this newsletter….

Please could I please make a call on all Members to settle their Main Club subs…. this is one of the simplest methods for Members to show their support….and will produce the much needed funds that the Club will require in order to “balance the budget” in these difficult and trying times…. Our subs were significantly down last year when compared to the previous years….if we could reverse this trend this year….it will be greatly appreciated….

Hopefully we will be able to have a more positive outlook when our country’s President announces the next set of regulations….please hold thumbs….that we can move forwards in our quest to beat this dreaded disease….

Take care and stay safe…..
Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 18 Dec 2020

18th December 202018th December 2020
by Rod Scheepers

Hi there to everyone…..

As this dreadful year draws to an end, I feel as if we were never allowed or given the opportunity to really get us into the swing of things and fulfilling the full potential that 2020 should have enjoyed….I believe that all the sportsmen have a horrible empty feeling inside at not being able to have had their “fix” this year…..businessmen look back at frustrating year of feeling “hand-cuffed” in most regards without being charged or guilty of any crime…. In general we all look back at a “year lost”… and as I write this, there are rumours rife that we face some serious challenges in the coming weeks, as the Minister of Health advises that we have a “second wave” upon us….and that this time it appears that our youth are more susceptible to COVID…all we can ask is that everyone be responsible and take care to stay safe…..

At the Club we have faced extraordinary challenges over the last nine months…and albeit we have not come out unscathed on the other side….we have at least emerged on the other side….we are all a lot wiser, not necessarily better off but we have our health….please still be aware to still take as many precautions that you are able, ensuring that you keep as healthy as possible.

At the Club we are definitely not hoping for a resurgent second wave in the new year, in fact I am hoping for exactly the opposite….and looking forward to the relaxing of regulations that would allow our sports people back on the fields….to participate in the pastime and hobby they live for and enjoy….

Dependent on the regulations that are still to be announced, we will make sure that we are within the boundaries of the law and all the COVID protocols….. please keep an eye on our social media, Facebook and website….we will keep you abreast of all happenings at the Club over the next month….I will send another message as an additional mode of communication if necessary, to let everyone know the how’s, when’s and where’s of how and when the Club will be operation….
The only real changes that we are to experience for the Festive break, is that we need to wear a face mask on entry and keep it handy at all times…..with the curfew not moving to 23h00….we will call last round at 21h30 and will close the Club at 22h00, to ensure that all Members and Staff have adequate time to get out and home by the start of curfew…..please do not try to convince the staff to work outside these parameters, or fail to wear you mask, sanitise or not to maintain an adequate social distance protocol….if there are any inspectors around…we have the possibility of having our licence revoked….which will be tantamount to financial suicide for us….please work with us in these trying times to ensure the continued success of the North….

At present, we are planning to open the Scimitar bar every day between 10h00 and 22h00…..and only closing for the public holidays of Christmas day (25th) Day of Goodwill (26th) and New Years day (1st)….otherwise it will be business as usual….

We had a fantastic weekend over the 4th to 6th of December ….and even though the weather did not exactly play the game with us, with a little rain….we had a super Night market on the Friday night…thank you to everyone for the support….this resulted in heightened interest at the Joker draw….and lo and behold….in a replay of two weeks previously…the first name drawn out of the beeeeg black box not arriving at the cabinet…resulting in a second ticket being selected…. in a complete turn up for the books…. Eric Hutchinson had his name called out on both these occasions…..the first week he missed the joker and the bonus card…and unfortunately for him, his luck did not improve at all in his second attempt, as his guess produced the ten of Clubs …..all the Northerns faithful are all very chuffed at Eric’s misfortune that the Joker is still alive for them….and with a pot of R19850 this week, we were expecting a good turnout of punters for their opportunity to “have a go” at finding the Joker…. And at the last.. very last draw of 2020, Cheryl Bartle had her name pulled from the mysterious beeeg black box….and while she pondered for a lot longer than Eric….she suffered the same fate as he and didn’t draw the Joker or the bonus card….but settled with the nine of hearts and R500 loaded onto her membership card….the Joker draw will only resume in the new year, the date of the new draw being January 8, 2021 with a prize of R21144 available…….so please come along to celebrate the first draw of the year….

The Saturday of previous weekend, we hosted the Athletics prize giving where all the achievers and stars of the year were honoured….well done to all the prize and trophy winners….we are very proud of you all….whilst Sunday appeared to be the day of celebration….with everyone having a marvellous day out…thank you to all for the support….I can do with those sort of party weekends all the time..

This Sunday the Social section closed off the year with a wonderful golf day which was played at the Police Mashee course in Northmead…. With a really early start, 05h30 for most (a lot later for others, who overslept/turned off their phone/had a hangover) it was a laugh a minute….and I must say that even though one of our fourball did not make it through to the 18th, due to a mysterious “lurgi” that he suffered at the start of our 15th …(no names mentioned, as we are afraid of being “maced”)…..we all experienced massively overworked tummy muscles at all the chirps, some dreadful and hilarious golf shots and their outcomes and other antics of the day….I am sure that most if not all of the players on the day experienced the same fate, sunburnt, too much beer and sore jaw muscles from giggling the day away…. The winners on the day were Struan King and his happy crew of hackers, who were able to overcome the odds of mis-directed flying golf balls, constant calls of “fore” and successfully evading the “Silver Dream Machine” who supplied a never-ending flow of beverages for the morning….thank you to all who participated in this fantastic annual event….special mention must be made of Mark Hardman and Lockey Brown for controlling the masses and ensuring that starters orders were adhered to and keeping all the parched throats lubricated….Hector King for marshalling a rowdy crowd with his MC’ing skills at the prize giving….Adele Steyn and Glenda for setting up all the prizes and venue for all the weary bones to relax after the gruelling day….

In closing, on behalf of the Executive committee and Staff at the North….may we wish you a fantastic festive season….filled with love, happiness and goodwill….for all our Christian Members, a very merry Christmas, let our hearts be filled with the true joy and reason for the celebrations…. and for everyone a prosperous new year…. 2021 has a simple act to follow, we are expecting a bumper year to follow this really crappy one….

If you are travelling, please have a safe journey and a pleasant and enjoyable holiday….but if you’re staying at home, I will see you at the North…..

Take care and stay safe…..
Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 25 Nov 2020

25th November 202025th November 2020
by Rod Scheepers

Good day to everyone….

It has been marvellous to be at the Club over the last few weeks and see that sporting action is starting to return after an hiatus that was just far too long….I think that the last time there was no sport on these fields, I was still a kid and the fields were not covered in grass, but mielies…..but now with the return….we have cricket players on the field with the click of leather against willow…..some frantic energy on the astro with hockey 5’s….some vets and ladies soccer on Wednesdays and Fridays…..and Baseball practices have also begun…. whilst our runners are getting out there to get themselves fit on what seems to be almost every day of the week….

I would like to personally thank each and every Member for their continued support over this really tough and unique year…..that we have been able to “weather the storm” to now has been an amazing feat…but with from the assistance of our regulars coming to have a “tipple’ and some unique and audacious fund raising efforts and events to assist with fund raising…it has really made me even more proud of the ethos and dedication of the Northerns faithful….I really do get a lump in my throat, when I see how committed our Members are to ensuring that our staff are well catered for…. Once again…thank you from the bottom of our hearts from myself the executive committee and all the staff….

This weekend would normally be a crazy weekend of work and fun….masses of bikers converging on the North from all over Gauteng and even some neighbouring provinces….as the annual Toy Run would be held….gathering toys for the needy and having a fun day in the sun….well this year is a little different….as has been the rest of 2020 too…. There will be a toy run….but it is to be held over two days and will merely be a drop off….no party…no music….no stalls….

But at the North this weekend… to coincide with the Toy Run, we have decided to try to make the trip for the bikers worth-while…. And offer some music from the deck and have refreshments available from the caravan….so if you are in the area…please pop in….we will be abiding by strict COVID protocols and limiting access and numbers that are able to attend….but please come along and enjoy the time with us….we are sure it will be most memorable….

Our Joker draw has been gently “bubbling” along….we still do not have a winner yet….but we have had a higher percentage of Members to Guests being drawn from the beeeeg black box….and while the ability of the lucky ticket holder has not improved…we have now been going for 7 weeks and the Jackpot has already swelled to R16969….which will be available for someone this Friday, if they can find the Joker….remember that Members have two opportunities to win at the Joker draw…if they don’t win by drawing the Joker….they will have a second chance, if they are able to match the card displayed above the joker cabinet….and will have 10% of the jackpot immediately credited to their membership card….to be enjoyed whenever they are at the Club….so don’t forget to join us on Friday…tickets are sold every day in the Scimitar or on Fridays from about 16h00….with the last sales being at about 19h20…..the draw will be held at 19h30…..we have also commenced with the popular raffle again….this draw is 5 minutes before the Joker draw….so hope to see you all this Friday…

As I mentioned earlier…..sport appears to be reaching a point of normality….
Our Cricketers have started a a friendly league amongst the club sides….and of course competition is stiff to prove who is the best….whilst our Juniors had their trials and their first scheduled day to be back at practice was rained out….hopefully this week the weather gods will play along….most of our soccer is on hold until the new year, but our two vets sides and ladies side play every Wednesday (men) and Fridays (ladies)….our ladies played in their postponed cup final….and only lost by the odd goal in 5 to a very strong and experienced Latins team…but according to reliable sources, the future looks very bright for this young and enterprising side….hockey 5’s continues on Saturday and Sunday on the Astro and it doesn’t look as though the break had any adverse effect on the players, as te games are of high standards and are fiercely competitive….the baseballers are enjoying their run back on the diamonds and are practicing for their return to competitive sport in the new year…. Please take note that in terms of the COVID protocols, none of the matches or practices may have any spectators….it is a crying shame, but the ruling is final and we have to live with it and “toe the line”….

Hopefully I will see you over the weekend…either at the joker draw or celebrating the dropping off of toys….come and introduce yourself if I don’t know you….I would love to meet you….

Regards….take care and stay safe….
Rod

The Scimitar

Happy Halloween

27th October 20204th July 2023
by Rod Scheepers

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 23 Oct 2020

23rd October 202024th October 2020
by Rod Scheepers

Hi there to you all

I hope that you are all well and getting used to the marvellous summer conditions we are experiencing at the moment….we never seem to be happy….either too cold or to hot….but for me, I am chuffed with the weather…as I have walked down life’s path, I have found my intolerance of cold weather has increased….and would far rather be sitting in a heat wave at the pool with a beer in my hand….than sitting all wrapped up with layer upon layer of clothing…..

I was able to get away to Natal to see my son last weekend…..so it was wonderful to dip my tootsies in the ocean….and also spend quite a bit of time in and at the pool in the sun….the prospect of the traffic congestion and poor driving tactics, was outweighed by the satisfaction of spending time with family and loved ones…..but coming back to reality on Monday was quite crazy as we cooked through Ladysmith with a sweltering temperature of 36C….

As I mentioned…back to reality…so here is my report back on the happenings of the North…. The new format of the Joker seems to have caught to attention of the Members, as they begin to realise the benefits in the Joker twist….. in that you are able to get a “second” chance as a Member…if you don’t choose the joker, but match the card on display above the Joker cabinet as a Member….you will receive 10% of the Joker jackpot immediately on your Membership card….a lovely little added advantage of being a Member of this great institution of ours….

Back to the history of our new draw…the first week had Hector King’s name drawn from the beeeg black box….and Hector was only able to show us where the Queen of Clubs was….but as a non-member, he was not able to be considered for matching the card on display….and with that, the Jackpot moved up by over R750…..and settled on R10784…..one card gone….and the nine of hearts was the new Members bonus card for the next week….as I was away….my most competent stand-in was the Chairman of the social section Mark Hardman…and his ability to choose a new name form the entrants, was a success as he drew Sharon van Wyk from Athletics….who didn’t wait too long to make her selection….and then waited for the card to be turned over….fortunately for all of us….she drew the king of spades, which didn’t correspond to the bonus card….but being a member, she still had a R500 voucher loaded onto her card to be used at her discretion in the future….so this week we have R11624 for someone to chance their luck and come up trumps with the Joker….remember as a Member, if we aren’t able to find the joker, you have that second opportunity…and if you happen to draw the three of clubs this week….you will win 10% of the joker jackpot to be put onto your membership card immediately….. (please keep your beady eye out for the bonus card, it is on display above the Joker cabinet….and there is a new card every week….) Please also remember that the Joker draw tickets are on sale daily from Mondays in the Scimitar….buy your R5 tickets and put them in the beeeg black box at your leisure…..the only pre-requisite that is still a necessity, is that you are present at the draw on Friday nights at 19h30

And another little bit of good news….there is a band playing again at the Club this weekend….we have come up with an arrangement with one of the Club favourites, the five piece band Omega….they will be playing up a storm on the Patio area (under the tent) on Saturday afternoon starting at 15h00….please note the change in date and time….I wanted to make sure that we weren’t caught out off-sides by a curfew, or early closing times…so the decision to make it on Saturday is hopefully the correct one….I am sure that this will be a successful start….and we are able to pursue this line of thinking until this COVID disaster is a thing of the past….please join us for a fun afternoon….

Some of our sports are beginning to get their act into gear…..with hockey now participating in practices and hockey 5’s being a reality…. Soccer is about to embark on a shortened Summer league season…..our athletes are out there, pounding the streets on a regular basis….I have heard that the news on baseball is positive and about to start off….whilst rugby and cricket are lagging behind a little, but perhaps these will be in the fold shortly…

Hope to see you all on Friday at the Joker draw and/or on Saturday under the tent as we jive to the sounds of Omega….

Take care, keep safe and have a great time….
Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 9 Oct 2020

9th October 20209th October 2020
by Rod Scheepers

A very good day to everyone out there….

Wow!! What a week it has been….firstly we found a winner for our Joker Jackpot….then we were captivated by the massively competitive London Marathon, which enjoyed some great support at the North and was shown on the big screen….and then we had our Main Club executive thinking out the box and proposing some far reaching innovations to our Joker draw….I will deal with each of these events separately to offer an overview of our week…..

I have had the pleasure of knowing the gentleman whose name was drawn for the Joker draw….having played sport with and against Bruce “Buffel” Nortje from a young age…..and have known him as talented and fiercely competitive…. One of my lasting memories of Bruce will be the lonely Good Friday that we sat together at a very quiet North, contemplating why we weren’t on a hockey tour with the rest of our mates….Bruce being home unexpectedly with some Army leave…and I have been granted the weekend off, after thinking that I was to work the entire Easter….when we looked at each other and said….Let us get in the car and drive to Strathvaal and join the Hangovers on their tour there….which we promptly did….to enjoy an epic and memorable tour!! I will refuse to elaborate further and will take the “fifth”….and exempt myself from having to implicate anybody in the resultant shenanigans…..

That now being revealed…when Bruce had his name drawn from the beeeeg black box, he quietly made his way to the Joker cabinet in the Main Bar, looked ar me and asked, “Where is it”….followed by my standard answer “in the box somewhere”….so amidst the cheers, jeers and shouts of encouragement from the crowd….he calmly pointed to the second card in the third row down….pinned by a yellow drawing pin….and stood back to await Glenda’s reveal of which card he had drawn….and as the Joker card was turned…I watched Bruce’s face reflect shock and joy in the same instant…..and I think the fact that he had won never really hit him until the next morning….when he sent me the details of his bank account….and he possibly only really realised the full extent of his good fortune, when the amount of R66876 reflected in his bank account on Tuesday morning…..well done Buffel….I am really chuffed that the draw was won by a Club member….and that he is one of my mates, is an absolute bonus….enjoy using the winnings Buffel….mine is Hansa….but I am sure you know that already, I did mention it often enough on Friday…..#shygrin#…

Now onto the London Marathon….the Athletics Club had asked that we show this clash of the Titans as there has been a frenzy of interest with some (if not all) of the quickest marathon runners on the planet competing…..and with the Kenyan Kipchoge being unbeaten since 2013…it was going to be up to the pretenders to his crown to beat him at his own game…..the Marathon was altered to a multi-lap format due to the COVID pandemic….and there being a limited field and with no spectators…it was definitely going to present some challenges for all the competitors….and with the day dawning in true English style, overcast and wet…it was going to take some grim determination from all to produce the quick time that was promised….I watched with interest as it appeared that Kipchoge was not at his best and there was a group of runners led by Kitata and Kipchumba that were definitely pushing him to his limits….it was revealed after the race that the kingpin Kipchoge had suffered from cramps and an ear infection, resulting in him finishing in eighth position in one of his slowest times in many a year….the leading group had separated from Kipchoge by the last lap and the pace started to quicken significantly, building the pressure and suddenly the pack began to diminish….from five…to four…down to three and finally two mentioned earlier….and the sprint kick from Kitata was enough for him to be crowned as the 2020 London Marathon Champion….not the quickest time which was promised and expected….but a truly memorable and enthralling race…there were also plenty of smiles of appreciation of our followers at the Club too, as they realise the conditions under which marathon runners compete….thanks to all those who came through to watch at the Club….it was really a fantastic day out…..

Finally, I get to the new Joker draw….the COVID disaster has affected everybody in some way or another….and the Benoni Northern Sports Club has been no exception….the pandemic has caused us to dip into our reserves to ensure that Club has remained financially sound and has also been able to the ensure that our employees have not been stranded during the crisis……with the Joker draw now being won, the Executive Committee has had to think laterally to come up with ways to continue to keep the Joker draw as an incentive and drawcard to the Club and its Members….so the draw this week will start again this Friday October 9….with a Jackpot of R10000….and everyone will gasp and say, why the lower amount? The Exec has thought that is better to err on the conservative side of the scale, rather than the opposite and have to try to perform financial gymnastics if the plan goes awry….that said, there are some creative improvements that are being implemented in this draw…

We are reverting back to the popular price of R5 a ticket again
The person who’s name is drawn from the beeeeg black box weekly, if they do NOT draw the Joker, will be granted a drinks voucher to the value of R250 (when the person happens to be a Member, the amount will double) and will be loaded onto their Membership card immediately on the night (please ensure that you have your card with you…)
The split of the winnings and the Club portion has been altered, from the current 60:40 basis….to a more generous 75:25 allocation…this will ensure that the available Jackpot will climb quicker in the future….
And now for another twist in the tail….each week, a card will be drawn from a separate pack and be on display above the Joker cabinet….if the person drawn is a Member and is not lucky enough to draw the Joker….but happens to match the card on display….they will be awarded 10% of the available Joker Jackpot for their good fortune….

All the altered terms and conditions relating to the new joker draw will be on display at the Club, please feel free to read through and familiarise and acquaint yourself with them….if there are any questions that you may have regarding the changes, please feel free to come and ask me….I will attempt to clear up any confusion or query….

On that positive note…I am going to sign off….

Have a super reminder of the week and an even better weekend….

Take care and stay safe….
Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 1 Oct 2020

1st October 20201st October 2020
by Rod Scheepers

Warm greetings from the North to you all

As we approach the end of the month of September, I am left with the thought that even Mother Nature has been confused in 2020….after a damp start to our official Spring month…we have not seen another drop of rain since and the earth is crying out for some relief….the sprinkling of green that appeared….has since faded and waned a little….but there is a promise by the weather forecasters that the start to the new month will bring some relief from the oppressive heat and lack of rain….this is one summer that even the cricketers are not complaining about the possibility of rain…..the sports people, of course, have plenty of reason not to be happy….in that their beloved sports have been withheld, pending the decisions of the COVID steering committee that has been appointed…..making them miss their weekly fix of exercise and camaraderie…. As the sands of time inexorably pass though the hour glass (hmmmmm, where have I heard that before), we are getting closer to the allowing of sports at an amateur level again…..

I still get a weird sensation on the weekends when I drive to and past the North….and there are not masses of cars around and people in matching clothing running frantically around the fields….the shrieks of laughter associated with the scheduled sport…. the happy smiling faces of competitors, whether they have won or lost their encounter… the constant gurgle of conversation around the beer garden…and the clinking of glasses with some spontaneous singing of songs and giggles of laughter….hopefully they will allow sport to return soon, that we can have our “home” back….

This has definitely been a very strange year and one that I definitely do not want repeated…..

Since we have been allowed back at the North, we have started the Joker draw again each Friday since resumption….and whilst Enrique couldn’t believe his luck at being drawn two weeks out of three…..his ability at finding the joker was no better than anyone else….so this week sees our draw up at R66876….this draw has now gone through 13 weeks and thus have 40 cards still available to choose from ….tickets are on sale until 19h15 on Fridays in the Hall…..with the draw taking place at 19h30….I would like to thank our loyal Friday regulars for their support…..but there is always more place for our friends to join us to celebrate the start of the weekend…..legislation has been altered regarding numbers that can be accommodated at the Club….so please join us on Friday and let us welcome the weekend in….

On Sunday we will be having the London Marathon on the big screen in the hall (and on most televisions in the bar areas too)…..this promises to be an epic challenge between some of the quickest runners in the world…and I am sure that it will be a memorable day….so come along and join us as we have a bring and braai to celebrate this fantastic event…..
I need to pass on my sincere appreciation to everyone who has participated in the Staff challenge….this has raised almost R80 thousand and is being distributed to our staff as grocery vouchers every two weeks and will continue into the new year….thank you so much to make the lives of these fantastic humans a little easier in these trying times….also, my thanks and gratitude to Brett Kree for the smart foot sanitiser now being used at the entrance of the Club….and to Squire for his generous cleaning donation too….

Please remember to keep checking our social media platforms for any changes in Club operating hours in line with new government legislation…

As we move into the easing of regulations….we still need to be aware that the virus has not disappeared as yet….and we still need to be responsible and effective at social distancing, sanitisation and the wearing of masks…. For the first year in many years, I did not experience a cold or flu this year, so the inconvenience of washing hands and the mask have held an advantage for me in this regard…

Hopefully I will get to see you all soon….

Take care and stay safe
Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 9 Sep 2020

10th September 202010th September 2020
by Rod Scheepers

Warm greetings from the North…..

As I said in my last set of ramblings that I will be in contact with you more regularly….and until we resume our primary objective of hosting sport at our facility where you will have to endure my thoughts and ideas every week…..I will send you an update fortnightly to keep in tune with what is happening at the Club….so here is your current slice…..
Since my last massage….quite a lot has happened….Let me begin….

With the arrival of Spring (in my youth, September 1 was the opening of the public swimming pools) and this year the advent of Spring was a little more of Jack Frost and his merry men making an arrival rather than me hauling out my swimming apparel to display my limited swimming skills…. The first couple of days of spring definitely made me wrap up warm and snugly to ward off the cold and rainy weather…but that said…the sprinkling of showers that we had….has altered all the grasslands in the area to display a distinct greenish hue…so much so, that Brian has got his team already onto their tasks of cutting and clearing in anticipation of the growing season….and all of us up and ready for the start of our summer….. one of the little things that has also arrived in addition to lockdown, appears to be a more intensive load shedding schedule…and we have made sure that our generator is up to the task and is ready for whatever Eishkom may throw at us…..that we can continue to enjoy ourselves….

I have also seen correspondence that two of our sports are being allowed back onto the fields…..Baseball have some procedures and protocols they need to put into place before they can begin, whilst Hockey is allowing all provincial and national players to resume training (no games or contact, but drills and exercise)….so hopefully this is the start of some activity on our sports front…..

We have had two joker draws since coming back….and although we haven’t had a winner yet….there appears to be a trend of all the old areas in the Club being selected….. week 1 of the Joker draw had Martin Iske having his name drawn from the beeeeeeg black box again (the area where he sits, has definitely had its fair share of names pulled from the box)… but that is where Martin’s good fortune ended…. he drew the three of spades, pushing the jackpot up by over R1000….. and week 2 saw the legal eagles corner having their chance….as visiting country member Carl Schroeder’s name emerged (after a false start where the first name out had already gone home)…..but his ability at guessing where the joker is eluded him and he had to settle with the jack of hearts…. This missed opportunity also allowed another roll over into the the “pot”, letting the total now to be R62658….another good reason to come up to the Club this Friday, good food, cold beer, lots of quality company and a chance of taking home over R60k…hopefully I will see you there….we had our first attempt at streaming the joker draw into the Scimitar…and with some valuable lessons learned….we will hopefully this week have a snag free attempt and have the full screen up and running….

Please remember that the Marge’s scrumptious meals from the Kitchen are available open over the weekends and on Wednesdays….while the Pizza kitchen is open from 10am daily…. During the week we open the pub at 1pm daily, with Fridays starting a little earlier at midday…..on weekends we open alittle earlier at 10am….. closing times will remain at 9pm daily…..please assist us with these earlier stopping times….we are adhering to the strict letter of the law, as the curfew kicks in at 10pm and we would like all our Members and patrons home before this…..

I would like to personally thank everyone who has contributed to the staff challenge….we are distributing these funds to the staff every second week…. And they have asked me to also convey their gratitude for the generosity….

Hopefully I will see you all soon….
Take care and stay safe
Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 27 Aug 2020

27th August 202027th August 2020
by Rod Scheepers

Hi there to you all…..

My view outside is not of the North, but that of my front garden…as it has not been critically necessary to go in all day, every day…with the changes, I have been going in to ensure that everything is ready and expectantly waiting for our Members to enjoy the benefits and services offered by our pubs… so I watch as spring begins to show its colours, with the promise of warmer weather and “greener” and more lush surroundings….

Whilst we still get everything up on track…I ask for your patience….our suppliers have also not yet got up to speed with the demands of their customers….and we have had inconsistent deliveries….either not fully supplied, late, or sometimes not even arriving at all…. we have been trying manfully to control the circumstances and keep supplying the quality service that we are renowned for….within the next two weeks I am sure that all little hiccoughs will be sorted out…so please just bear with us in the interim….

The committee have also decided to try to get everyone back to normal…..so it gives me great pleasure in announcing that……..

OUR JOKER DRAW IS BACK!! YAY!!!

We are running from this Friday (28 August 2020) and what has been decided is that we are going to be raising the price of tickets from this weekend up to R10 a ticket….I am sure that this will not scare anyone away….but please be aware, that a lot of thought has gone into this strategic move…our research has shown that everyone takes more than just one R5 ticket anyway, so it is not going to alter the chances of you winning….but it is going to allow for streamlined administration from an accounting point of view….Nothing else will alter….last ticket sales at 19h20….draw at 19h30….and after the completion of the draw….the jackpot for the next draw will be announced….. Please join us back this week….it is going to be a blast….Live music will not be started as yet….but we will hopefully have that back soon too….

If there are any queries that occur regarding the draw, or what is happening at the Club, please do not hesitate to contact me….. I will try to resolve any qualms you may have….

My staff and I are just too happy to be able to welcome you all back to the North and be able to get some normality in our lives…..

Our sport, is however a casualty…..whilst our Athletic section is not able to participate in organised or “formal” club runs….they have been able to come to the Club on a Wednesday and get together with some of their mates…and have a quick “social” run…..I was at the Club last night….and it was most heart-warming to see plenty of runners taking up this opportunity to have their weekly club “fix”…

Our other team sports fall under the jurisdiction of their controlling bodies….and whilst I have seen a little reprieve from the cricket boys, nothing has been forthcoming from their local association yet, SAFA still is not allowing any soccer at all and while Hockey, Rugby and Baseball are moving forwards to getting us back on the fields, there is nothing concrete that we can base any hope on….it is all a case of “wait and see”….

That is all from me for this week…. Please join us back at the North for something scrumptious to eat (the Pizza kitchen is available every day)…and Marge’s kitchen will be open of Wednesday evening and on the weekends for any rumbling tummies….. or a drink in the beer garden or the bars….hopefully I get to see you all soon…

Take care…..stay safe….
Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 21 Aug 2020

21st August 202021st August 2020
by Rod Scheepers

A warm good day to everyone…..

I have given everyone a long enough hiatus from my weekly dose of ramblings….. now I am back to tickle your conscience in case you have forgotten that the North is still in operation….and I will be troubling your email inbox more regularly now on again…..

This crisis has ensured that we trim what we could of our expenses to in order to maintain the continuity of the club on an ongoing basis… the combination of no sport being played at the North and the arrival of winter has slowed the growth of the grass on the fields….allowing us to keep control over the fields with a skeleton in situ staff in the interim.

I am sure that most of our Members have driven past the Club over the last few months….and for me it has been a sorry sight….an extremely quiet car park….. no one playing on the fields….no shrieks of joy from children…. no screams of delight or the sounds of laughter from the bars or the shouts of encouragement from the parents and spectators…….sadly for our loyal staff….it has been heart breaking….their livelihood has been pulled from under them, through no fault of their own…..

As a club we have maintained payments to all the staff during the Lockdown period….and with assistance from the Members we have created a little “kitty” for that “rainy day” that we knew would eventually arrive, with the Club Funds starting to “dry up”….. I would like to offer my gracious thanks to all those that gave so willingly….. It is greatly appreciated by the committee and this fund has been set aside exclusively for the use on the staff.

And now I arrive at the enjoyable part….something that I have wished I could say for almost 150 days…

WE ARE FINALLY OPEN!!!

Yes…..with the easing of regulations on the lock down, we are officially able to say our doors to the pub at the Club are open…..there are some new rules that will apply…the “buzz words” that have been created over the last few months…. be responsible…..wear a mask….wash your hands regularly… maintain adequate social distancing…. But with all of that means that we can join our mates for a pot….or a chat….sit in the sun in the beer garden…..watch the kids on the Jungle Gym…. And whilst our fields are officially closed to any organised sport, our children may gladly run around on the fields….while we keep a “ beady eye” over their antics from the comfort of our chairs sipping a cool drink….we are facing some challenges with deliveries and supplies….but hopefully we can sort these out pretty quickly….

The hours of operation will be advertised on all of our social media platforms, so please keep a look out for any important messages….regarding what and how our services will be amended to conform to the letter of the law….

This was just a short note to get us all back into the swing of things….hopefully I will see you all soon…..and things will return to what we remember as normal…..

In the meantime, keep well….but above all….stay safe….and hopefully I will see you all soon….

Regards
Rod

The Scimitar

2020 AGM

16th May 202016th August 2020
by Dylan Coates

Dear Club Member

Please note that the Benoni Northen Areas Sports Club annual statutory reports for the financial year ended 29 February 2020, which incorporates the clubs notice of annual general meeting (AGM) of members, to be held on Thursday 20th August 2020 at 19:00, will be available below.

Alternatively, an electronic copy of the report can be requested from the Club’s General Manager, Rod Scheepers, at rod.scheepers@hotmail.com, or collected at the club’s office from 09h00 to 12h00’s Monday to Friday.

The Executive Committee believes that the safest way to hold the AGM and to still allow members their right to vote and ask questions at the meeting, is through a combination of electronic participation – by addressing their questions to their respective sub club chairmen prior to the meeting, or voting by proxy, should the need arise.

Sub Club Chairman plus 5 additional Sub Club members, per Sub Club section, will be allowed to attend in person, to put any questions you may have, to the Executive Committee. Their names to be provided to the Club General Manager at least 48 hours prior to the AGM.

This is a result of the impact of Covid-19, the resultant health distancing imperatives, legal restrictions, the official advice on gatherings and movement and the health of members and stakeholders which is of paramount importance to the Club.

For further details in this regard, please refer to the notice of AGM available as set out below.

Yours faithfully

Benoni Northern Areas Sports Club

Laurence Brown

Chairman

AGM NOTICE

IN TERMS OF THE CONSTITUTION IT IS OUR INTENTION TO HOLD THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF BENONI NORTHERN AREAS SPORTS CLUB ON THURSDAY 20TH AUGUST 2020 AT 19H00 IN THE BENONI NORTHERN AREAS SPORTS CLUB HALL, WHILST ABIDING BY THE COVID19 REGULATIONS AS EXPLAINED ABOVE

AGM AGENDA

1. Attendance

2. Apologies

3. Welcome

4. Minutes of 2019 AGM

5. Matters Arising from Previous Minutes

6. Chairman’s Report

7. Treasurers Report

8. Election of Office Bearers for 2019/2020

(As per 20.2 of our constitution Rodney Farrell is standing down as a Committee Member).

9. Appointment of Auditors

10. Honorary Life Members

11. Renovations update Rugby/Cricket/Football

12. General

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

AGM-2020-Chairmans-Report

TREASURER’S REPORT

AGM 2020 Treasurers report

FINANCIALS

(not yet available)

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 1 Apr 2020

2nd April 20204th July 2023
by Rod Scheepers

Good day to everyone out there….. Usually my view is of the North from my window as I pen this message to you….today I am within three hundred metres of that window as the crow flies….but I am not at work….I am, as most of the rest of our responsible nation….at home, in isolation or under “house arrest”….as we all face this common enemy that we cannot see or hear….the dreaded COVID19….. Read more “The Scimitar 1 Apr 2020” →

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The Scimitar 19 Mar 2020

19th March 202012th May 2020
by Glenda Todd

Warm greetings from the North….

What a difference a week makes…..from a calm and relaxed world a mere week ago, to a frenzied nation in panic….never in the world would I have said that we would have experienced crowds worse than Christmas at our local stores in the middle of March… on Monday I stood gobsmacked at our local supermarket, as I saw people literally fighting over food stocks….what we definitely do need is a calm and measured approach from us as individuals, as a community, as city, metro and ultimately nation….

Read more “The Scimitar 19 Mar 2020” →

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The Scimitar 11 Mar 2020

12th March 202012th May 2020
by Glenda Todd

Good morning to everyone out there…

Life is all about ups and downs….and we have definitely had a roller coaster in the last few weeks….but this weekend was so marvellous and wonderful in both with our Club sports and mostly on the international front….whilst there was absolute heartbreak for our girls at the World Cup….as they lost in a rain shortened semi-final against the Aussies…losing by just five runs….and this after the first semi-final match had been abandoned a few hours before at the same venue….such is the life of a cricketer….and whilst it was devastating for the girls…I am sure that valuable lessons were learned…and as we have a pretty young side, with new stars emerging as on both the batting and bowling fronts, which will hold us in good stead for the future ….well done to the girls on topping their group in the pool stages and for reaching the semi’s….we are all extremely proud of you….and then in retribution, our boys went out and whacked the Aussie side comprehensively on the weekend to land up with a clean sweep….a heart warming result after a disappointing summer…the boys now jet off to India to look horns in some white ball antics against the hosts….I imagine this will be a different prospect to the red ball game….so good luck chaps…may you all play above your expectations….on the Super Rugby front two wins and loss for the weekend means that the glass is more full than normal….keep that up boys…

Read more “The Scimitar 11 Mar 2020” →

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The Scimitar 5 Mar 2020

5th March 202012th May 2020
by Glenda Todd

Come to “The North” and celebrate St Patrick’s day. Irish Lamb Stew & 440ml Guiness – R50.00 per head, Spot prizes, free Jello Shot and live music only in Irish style.

A very good morning to everyone…

Maybe the moving of the calendar dates into leap year country….has indicated positive moves on our sporting front….both at the North and internationally (but we will be specifically quiet on the Super Rugby front….as the Sharks were the only side to come out with their feathers unruffled after the weekend) but on the international cricket front…both our Men and Ladies sides played with pride and passion as they overcame Australia and Pakistan respectively… the Men came up with a new match winner in Heinrich Klaasen who batted maturely to hold our innings together, Lungi Ngidi kept the opposition under pressure with some super pace and guile…resulted in us winning comfortably by 74 runs….we await the second match in the ongoing saga…this time in Bloemfontein on Wednesday evening…..and our ladies have played some scintillating cricket to keep a clean sheet with a three wins in three result thus far….with the fourth being rained out….which has meant that our ladies are in unchartered territory….topping the league standings for the league standings in a World Cup….and now we will play the Aussie ladies in the semi’s on Thursday and will need to beat them for the first time ever to advance to the final….despite this fact, I am sure that all staunch and loyal supporters will be egging them on… the final will be shown on Sunday morning on the big screen in the Hall if we are able overcome the semi-final hurdle…I most definitely will be shouting at the top of my voice showing my support……go the Saffa’s….

Read more “The Scimitar 5 Mar 2020” →

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The Scimitar 26 Feb 2020

26th February 202012th May 2020
by Glenda Todd

BNSC’s mobile drinks Bar “The Coach” will be present at Northern Areas serving our Members and Visitors at sports games and events. Thanks as always to the forever reliable Wonderwall Murals.

A warm good day to you all….

There is definitely something going on with the weather….I was sitting outside on Sunday evening…and there was a bitingly cold wind that swept through Benoni…as though there had been snow in the Berg….but sanity had prevailed by yesterday and the temperature had returned to a warm and toasty day in the late 20’s…..I hope we don’t have to feel that pesky little wind again for a very long time….

Our national cricketers surprised us massively within two days….as we were humbled by a huge margin on Friday night….and after 75% of the match on Sunday it looked like we were in for another one….before the Aussies pushed the “self-destruct” button….playing silly shots and losing wickets far too quickly to lose by a narrow margin….if you were part of the SA bowling coaching staff, you would claim that they bowled disciplined lines and lengths, slowly throttling the opposition…I will believe them, but just this once….I fervently await the final showdown tonight in the three match series….

Read more “The Scimitar 26 Feb 2020” →

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The Scimitar 20 Feb 2020

20th February 202012th May 2020
by Glenda Todd

Good day to everyone

I can’t believe how quickly this year has already flown past and we are already approaching the end of February…Our National cricketers flattered to only deceive again…as they again won the first of the meetings with England and then allowed the opposition to get back into the series and finally we fell away completely in the last match….I must say that T20 is exciting stuff…as we witnessed over 760 runs collectively in 80 overs between the two sides only….and being separated by one single run after the first two internationals….but in the third, it appeared that our bowlers let us down as the English passed our total with some space to spare…this week, we welcome back the “sandpaper” crew and hopefully we have a better showing against them…time will tell…but I will not be holding my breath about the possibility of us beating them… maybe I should watch the behind the scenes footage rather…that may prove to be more exciting…

Read more “The Scimitar 20 Feb 2020” →

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The Scimitar 13 Feb 2020

13th February 202012th May 2020
by Glenda Todd

Well it is the week of February 14^th, the famous (or is it infamous) Valentine’s day….the time of the year that all men are reminded to be romantic and buy flowers, chocolates and shower their partners with love and affection….I decided to do a little research into the history of the day, and apart from having a distinctly Pagan start….it would surprise everyone that it actually has no romantic connection at all….that said, the commercial enterprises all climb on the band wagon at this time of the year….for us to purchase goodies and memoirs to satisfy most romantics at heart….and at the North we will celebrate the day with giving away something for free to the ladies joining us on Friday night….they will receive a free Strawberry Lips shooter…..to say thank you for being with us and we hope that you have an enjoyable evening….join us!!

Read more “The Scimitar 13 Feb 2020” →

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The Scimitar 6 Feb 2020

6th February 202012th May 2020
by Glenda Todd

Warm greetings to everyone…..

After receiving an absolute “klap” in the test series against the English…..Proteas cricketers decided to surprise us once again…and put on a show of note on Tuesday evening and handed the world champions a batting, bowling and fielding lesson….I must say that after 9 odd overs at the start of proceedings…I thought we were up to chase a total in excess of 300….but with some tight and disciplined bowling we took wickets in batches….and with only two of their other batsmen showing any form of resistance….it meant that we had to chase a total at a smidgen over five runs to the over….and while one of our openers giving the opposition a brief period of hope….thereafter it was one way traffic….a most satisfying display by the Proteas….considering they had four new caps in the side and with two of our previous mainstays of the side absent…it sent out waves of hope for the future to all the fans….let us keep up that good form fellows….roll on the two next matches on Friday and Sunday…. Read more “The Scimitar 6 Feb 2020” →

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The Scimitar 29 Jan 2020

29th January 202012th May 2020
by Glenda Todd

A very good day to you all….

I won’t even try to spend too much time analysing our teams at international sport over the weekend….our cricketers were at their poorest best…..while our BlitzBokke made sure the Kiwi’s decision to not play quarter finals in the sevens format, was fully exploited and then even went and lost to the other African team at the tournament to eventually lose out to Fiji in the run in for 9^th place….the only team that showed any sort of form, were our under 19 cricketers that in a week have shown a massive improvement….we fervently await the quarter final against Bangladesh to see if we can continue in our quest for the Junior World Cup….

Read more “The Scimitar 29 Jan 2020” →

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The Scimitar 23 Jan 2020

24th January 202012th May 2020
by Glenda Todd

A very good day to you all…..

As we start the new year we also have a new joker draw…..last Friday saw the jackpot being won by one our Baseball Member Brigette Weiderman….she chose wisely, two from the right and two rows from the bottom….she was pretty empathic in saying she wanted the one with the white drawing pin…..and there the joker showed his face for the first time in over eight months…..as expected, initially there was a hushed silence amongst the waiting crowd…..but then as the baseball crew recognised it was one of their number…..massive yelps of jubilation erupted and calls for beers, drinks, shooters were heard amongst the enthusiastic followers….and so we see the end of another draw……and another large winner….this time one of our Members….well done Brigette….I am sure that the reality only really set in once you saw the deposit go through the bank early this week…..it must have made your heart very happy….. Read more “The Scimitar 23 Jan 2020” →

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The Scimitar 16 Jan 2020

16th January 202012th May 2020
by Glenda Todd

A very good day to everyone

The new year has arrived at the North and with the schools back this week, I am sure that the routine will kick in and it will soon feel like that we never had any break….but with the new year always hold exiting prospects….our children have all moved up a grade at school and all the parents are asking “where has the time gone?”….the children look forward to the new challenges with verve and vigour….I wish we were able to maintain that early year positive outlook always….

Read more “The Scimitar 16 Jan 2020” →

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The Scimitar 8 Jan 2020

9th January 202012th May 2020
by Glenda Todd

A happy new year greeting to everyone!!

I trust that this year will fulfil all your dreams and that it is an epic year for all…..I’m sure that you have all have a wonderful festive season…in which you were able to spend quality time with loved ones and that all your batteries are recharged and ready to take on the new challenges that await.

Read more “The Scimitar 8 Jan 2020” →

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The Scimitar 12 Dec 2019

13th December 201913th December 2019
by Glenda Todd

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A bright and sunshine good day to you all….

After a solid week of overcast and rainy weather…and at times it was decidedly chilly ….it was an absolute pleasure to awake this morning to misty skies with the prospect of a bright sunny day today….and today a little earlier than is usually the case, by 8’o’clock we were greeted by the fiery ball in the sky that I am sure is the life blood of most Saffas….I for one, would battle to live in places that do not see the sun too often….I think a little piece of me dies every consecutive day that I wake up without my beloved sun….but the rain was urgently required and has definitely has made everything grow a little quicker…..and everything is now beautiful and green….that said…today I heard all the lawn mowers, bush wackers and edge trimmers busy with their sounds of summer….trying to remove or contain the healthy growth that has arrived…it definitely looks like summer rains and the natural growth that follows, have arrived in force….

With little or no sport played over the last there is nothing to report….but Richards Run through the great “pop up” pubs on the fairways, rough and greens of the Country will still go ahead….all the best to those who are entering…may it be a memorable and super event….

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Last Friday our entertainment were old favourites….as the Zimmer Twinz and their guest singer Eileen, really raised the bar, which was thoroughly enjoyed by our Friday night faithful…as new songs and melodies filled the air…well done on a super evening….this week we have Omega gracing the North with the final appearance for the year….so please be sure to include your dancing shoes when you come to the North….as we welcome the long weekend in style….

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Another Friday has passed without the Joker being found….Vince Marvel having the good fortune of being drawn for a second time in this the eighth draw…..and with the holidays on our doorstep…he was hoping this his Christmas presents wallet would be filled with a cash from the Joker draw….but as the 30^th card was turned over…..to his disappointment, the king of Spades made his appearance…amidst a roar of approval from the ecstatic crowd….that also means that with one less card available , the Jackpot increases…and creeps ever closer to the R110k level….settling after the draw this week at R109029…and as we approach the final Joker draw of 2019….make sure that you are here to try your luck….to fill your Christmas stocking….or to assist on the long month of January that always follows a wonderful festive season…..and for only R5, you could have over R100 thousand rand in your account early next week….come and join us as we see in the holidays in true Northerns style….with a great band….ice cold beer and drinks….wonderful pizza and other culinary delights…and of course share company with some our legendary Members….. I hope to see you all there….

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Our renovations are nearing completion and should be ready for business from the first week in January….the stacker door for the new committee room went in early this week…this is one room that has been sorely missed over the last six weeks….and will be put to extensive use when it is ready…. another addition that you will notice toward the end of the week is a Jungle Gym for our youngsters to keep busy and play while Mom and Dad whet their whistles in the Beer garden….we will monitor the success of this area and place additional items here in the future as need arises….we believe that this has been lacking for a while and are really happy that it has finally become a reality….

As this is my last message to you of 2019….I wish each and every one of you a Christmas and festive season that is filled with joy and happiness….and may the new year be your most prosperous ever….

This year for the first time in many years I will be spending Christmas far away from home, with my daughter and new grandson whim I cannot wait to meet….for all our Members and readers that are going to be away from home….may you have safe travels to and from your special destination….and may the weather be exactly what you are wishing for…

To any others that are staying…please remember that the Scimitar and beer garden will be open almost every day until January 6, when we officially reopen… the three days that we are closed are 25^th and 26^th of December and New Years Day 1^st of January…we will be open for all other days….with operating hours being 10h00 to 20h00 daily….

Don’t forget to let me know by email if you have anything you would like to bring to my attention….please send it to rod.scheepers@gmail.com…

To everyone…Cheers and Merry, merry Christmas

Rod

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 5 Dec 2019

5th December 201910th January 2020
by Glenda Todd

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A very good morning to you all….

As we approach the “happy” time of the year for most….kids are ecstatic that school has broken up…and now they can frolic in the pool or laze in the lounge….parents are waiting for the day that their break also begins…whether they are travelling or staying home…the expectation of “time off” is always a catalyst to get the adrenalin pumping….I really enjoy this time of the year….while some people are frantically trying to get everything done before the deadline day…. others are coasting their way through to the allotted time….whichever category you fall into, I hope that your December is one of the joyous and merry times that it is meant to be…..

With most of our year behind us, we only really have the final games of the year left for the tennis, baseball and cricket sections…and with the last few days approaching of Athletics “10 in 10” (where these mad people complete 10 kilometre runs for 10 days in a row)…I heard from one of the contestants that it has been really difficult to motivate after the first day or two….so there could be some serious drinking penalties for those who have written in and not completed the tasks at hand….

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BNAC’s Junior Section receiving sponsorship from Nike- South Africa. Thank you Nike for your support in our Development in the running of Track, Field and Cross Country Codes.

The final thrust for the year on the Athletics front is Richards Pub run….which has changed a little over the years….but has now settled itself at the Benoni Country Club…with all competitors running inside the grounds of the golf course and are not subjected to the madness on our roads….last year this was a lovely event….so please join the runners/walkers on Wednesday 11th….from 17h30……..I may just have to dust off my “takkies” and see if I can pace myself through this event….I may have to start a little earlier than everyone to ensure that I finish on time…..so hopefully I will see you there….it will be a blast..

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I was able to join the social section at their annual fund raiser…the golf day with a difference at the Police Mashee Course near the North…. Always a fun day with an American Scramble as the format of play…..it allows players like me to be able to participate and feel as though they are contributing (even though it was probably only a few putts)…and there was plenty of laughter and camaraderie on the course…not just in our four-ball….but I heard the laughter resounding around each of the sets of players that we passed along the way…….and despite playing for the best part of 5 hours on the day….I can’t remember who the winners were…personally I think we were all winners to have braved getting up at the crack of dawn to “jaag” a little white ball around the course brandishing a bag full of steel weapons with an odd shapes ….but I am certain that everyone had a great day as I did…..well done to Mark and his team on another wonderful and successful golf day….

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I am pleased to announce that our cricketers were able to break their losing streak on Sunday, coming home with a four wicket win in the local derby against Actonville Spurs (on a traditionally difficulty “Lords” track)…..and with Kurt winning the toss…he decided not to listen to WG and asked the opposition to bat…..but having Lance in top form, our opposition were in immediate trouble at 19/3….a position from which they were never able to fully recover…and lost wickets regularly to post a total of 136 after 41 overs….with our very fragile history on chasing in the last few weeks, it would be an uphill task….and we didn’t set the world alight in the run chase….with our top score coming from our number 7 Leonard who notched up a brisk 32 off only 24 balls….to get us passed the target for the loss of 6 wickets….I am sure that everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief to be able to come back to the club with a win under their belts….And with a bit of a break in the fixtures now….it means that all the players can have a breather and get adjusted and ready for the 2^nd half of the season in the new year…..

At the start to our weekend….we had Black and Blue as our entertainment…..and as always their performance was impeccable….some fantastic covers had the crowd baying for more as the evening ended too quickly…this week we welcome back some of our old campaigners…the Zimmer Twinz, who now appear to have become a Twio, as Eileen makes more appearances as a permanent rather than a guest…this welcome addition has allowed a greater range of music played….please come along and enjoy the evening with us…

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Our Joker draw was given a further week without the Joker as Richard MacKinnen had his first chance at doing the selection….and despite the beginners luck of being chosen out of the beeeg black box…..he was only able to choose the nine of Clubs from the face down cards…..another week of reprieve for those wishing it was their chance at finding the Joker…. with the Jackpot jumping up a little more this week we can expect more people coming to try their luck as we have R105645 up for grabs….please be here before 19h15 on Friday to buy your tickets and then stay for the 19h30 draw as we seek our another person to try their luck at finding the elusive joker….

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The wonderful rain has brought a little welcome relief from the oppressive heat that we were experiencing for the last few weeks… that does not auger well for our sports people over this weekend…let us be hopeful that the weather breaks in order to allow everyone to play their game…..

We have had a fairly busy time over the past few weeks…and that has allowed the building contractors some time to get stuck into the renovations…which are now coming along very nicely and I cannot believe how large the Ladies bar appears already…this is going to make a fantastic change to this area….it is no longer going to be a bar of two areas….and I think in winter that this could possibly be the bar of choice, with the welcome fire now having access all around it…I am really looking forward to the finished product…I can’t wait….in addition the committee room and storage areas are also nearing completion….I know that my staff are really happy about the improved access and capacity of the store rooms…and I know that there will be plenty of interest and bookings for the new and upgraded committee room that is starting to look really awesome…..

Please remember to let me know by email if you have any good or bad news to bring to my attention….please send it to rod.scheepers@gmail.com…

Have a super weekend Rod

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The Scimitar

The Scimitar 28 Nov 2019

29th November 201929th November 2019
by Glenda Todd

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Good day to you all from a hot and humid North

The ToyRun has come and gone….and another amazing day of fun and fellowship was definitely enjoyed by all….and as with all huge events….the day had its own fair share of surprises and hiccoughs….but all of these were dealt with in the normal professional manner by the people in charge…I saw piles of smiles amongst our Members who manfully (and womanfully) stuck to their task at hand of serving refreshments to thousands upon thousands of bikers, their families, friends and all the spectators that had just come along to experience the feel and spirit of the day…..one of the highlights for me as always was the mass ride past….which carries on for the best part of an hour….with some bikes purring past….others being wound up to the limit of their capabilities….in a cacophony of sound…buzzing, whirring, growling, screaming and whining were some of the sounds that I experienced…. bikes of all shapes and sizes..(with their owners which could be described in a similar fashion) arriving from all the corners of Gauteng (and some from further afield as I met friends and people from Mpumulanga and the Free State too) who said that they could not wait to join this epic journey…..at the end of the day it is all about the collection of toys for those less fortunate than ourselves…one committed young lady personally brought over a thousand toys in a phenomenal selfless act….and I witnessed mountains of toys being collected and it was such a heart warming and satisfying day….another of those that I was able to experience with new friends and colleagues…..my gracious thanks to the unsung heroes of the day…to Peter Beart and all the organisers from the ToyRun…..well done on another stupendous day….to our President, Doctor Craig Wittstock….who amazed me with the ease that he works tirelessly and everyone is always met with a smile and positive attitude…to my staff team, without whom I would be seriously hamstrung…thank you Shepherd and your team, you are really our Club’s greatest undervalued asset….to the Members who gave up their Sunday to be Bar people….a massive thank you (but I am sure that everyone of you enjoyed your day thoroughly)……to the artists and exhibitors for keeping all the crowds busy being entertained, amused and fed during the day…..my final thanks to Glenda….who counted and rechecked every single note and coin that was collected on the day…and was still able to (like Craig) keep smiling all day….another ToyRun is over…but I can’t wait for the next one….see you next year…..

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Cricket was our only major sport played at the North on Sunday….and I think they should have rather come along to the ToyRun…..in a dreadfully disappointing display they lost to United in a low scoring match, that I feel that we threw away rather than United winning…..I will quickly sum up the lowlights of the day…..after winning the toss and inserting United to bat we had them reeling on 65/6 before allowing their number 8 smash 85 off 82 (being dropped three times, the first time while he only had 5) which resulted in United scoring 166….which should really have been a doddle for us to chase…and with Vaughan and Riaan going along merrily on at 86/1, we appeared to be well on track…..before the wheels fell off completely and we limped out way to 160 all out…I will leave it at that…I have heard opinions from a myriad of different people…. but suffice it to say that coach Nic was livid at the poor display on the day where it was easier to win than to lose…this week the boys need to dust themselves off and cross the N12 to the other side of Benoni to face Spurs at Actonville…..which is always a most difficult opposition on their home turf….so good luck to the boys….we know it will be a tough day to come home with the spoils….but I have full confidence that we have the talent and attitude to overcome this little crisis that we have created….

Our Friday night had a new group to entertain us as Plus 2 arrived with a bang…and proved to be very popular with the patrons in the Scimitar…as they laughed, sang and danced the night away…this week we welcome back another fantastic group as Black and Blue are back…..we have only had compliments about this super bunch as they play covers from the 70’s and 80’s up to the present….their vocalist has an amazing voice and she is backed up by a crew of extremely talented musicians…. hopefully I will see you all there to experience the vibe….

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Friday nights Joker draw had another “newbie” in front of the cabinet as Clint Strydom had his name extracted from the beeeeg black box…..and tall Tim had to stoop through a few doorways as he was drinking in the Scimitar bar this week…. he smiled for the camera and then set his sights on the as he made his choice…and waited for Glenda to show us what card has been hiding for the last 27 weeks….and to Clint’s disappointment…it was not the Joker….but the eight of spades…..with his misfortune, Clint has allowed the “pot” to increase to R102915 for this week….so be sure to come along to try your luck this Friday….for only a R5 ticket you could be making your choice at the joker cabinet….

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The renovations are well underway…and I must say that I am getting very excited…as the “dividing” wall in the ladies bar has disappeared…it has already transformed the space and the area looks twice as big as it was before…..I must say that I was a little nostalgic…as the last window that was left in the main bar was removed…I still remember those windows from the original Clubhouse….and to see it disappear was a sad but happy occasion all at the same time….to think of all the memories that window could have shared is a little thought provoking (and may remind us of names like Goose, Doc, Jigger, Skin, Bringee, Joao, Gatoo, Spyker and Shambok to name a few)….but progress is inevitable, a fond farewell to the old window…and the new bar is going to add massive value to the Club and its Members….a little sneak peek at the proposed committee room also shows the commitment of the Club to the quiet sanctuary necessary to conduct the important tasks of deciding the future of our Club by the various elected committees…..we will also be turning our attention to the Hall in the New year as we want upgrade this area to be an inviting and exciting place to host functions and events….watch this space for more details…

Have a super week….I hope to see you all soon to enjoy a beer together….

Take care…Rod

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Come and join in with BNAC’s very own Richard’s Annual Pub Run at Benoni Country Club – Tuesday 10th December at 17h45. We look forward to seeing you on the course

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BNFC u-13s win league
The team took the league title with an impressive 60 points, only dropping six points during their time competing.
Left, back: Munashe Mukandi, Philile Myemane, Ndumiso Skhosana, Cebo Yekelo, Joshua Tabane, Chris Mhlanga and Siphesihle Bambisa. Left, front: Anesu Nkabinde, Jaymee Jones, Jethrow van Heerden, team manager Earle Jones, Ofentse Motshoari, coach Joseph Lukele, Lucky Nkosi, Thandolwethu Ncobo and Uviwe Sukazi.

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Benoni Northerns advance to the Gold Cup
This is a massive achievement for Benoni Northerns Rugby as they have never been selected to take part before. The players are excited (and tired) after their third training session in preparation for next year.

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 14 Nov 2019

14th November 201914th November 2019
by Glenda Todd

Morning from a wonderfully wet and green Benoni Northerns….

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Some most welcome rain has fallen over the last few days, giving a new look and feel to our surroundings…..all the plants that we have been diligently watering over the last three or so months….now look like completely different plants complete….it is amazing how the plants react to natures blessing, rain, which is of course filled with nitrates and nutrients….and suddenly there are new leaves…..shoots that have suddenly appeared..and of course the dreaded weeds have also already raised their heads…..I have a patch of ground that has been earmarked for a veggie patch…but now looks like a sown flower bed….which of course I know have been none of my doing….so the weekend has a new task entered on my “TO DO LIST” and weeding the veggie patch has been added…

In the interim, the William Webb Ellis trophy has done its rounds throughout South Africa with some of the selfish residents of some areas demanding more preferential treatment than others….while some were entertained to Faf’s extraordinary “speedo”…I honestly think that Faf is the new “super hero” of the Boks….and it really has very little to do with his playing prowess….but more to do with his multi colored costume rather that has caused quite a furore….. I think the pics that summed up the euphoria of the World Cup for me were two….and both of Faf……one shaking Prince Harry’s hand….the the other supping form the Golden Chalice…… and him wearing the South African flag cozzie…that I am sure will now be in massive demand….as girl friends, wives and partners clamor in a frenzy to emulate our superb little blonde fox terrier…..the hubbub around the World Cup has slowed down a little…but most conversations still include a smattering of RWC mentions and smiles…. I was viewing the CCTV footage of the Club on the RWC final day….and what a heart warming vision it was, to watch the crowd watching the final in the final 15 minutes as the Boks scored their two tries….I think it will make for some classic memories in the years to come…..

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The cricket boys had a busy weekend…with the playoffs for the T20 competition being held on Saturday….but we did not have our best of days as we went to down to the eventual winners Kempton Park in the morning semi final….so it was left to the boys to redeem themselves on Sunday in their Premier League match against Tembisa….and with quite a bit of rain around on Saturday…..the overhead and now damp underfoot conditions were going to be difficult….and it was back to winning ways as Kurt conveniently lost the toss and we were inserted to bat….and scoring at around 5 to the over landed up with 244/9 in our allotted overs….our star performer came in at number 7….Kundai Matigimu scored 60 at almost 100% strike rate, his knock being off 66 balls…there were some contributions by half our batters…..one in the 40’s, two in the 30’s and a couple of others that got into double figures but were unable to kick on and make it into a sizeable contribution….Tembisa started off pretty well….with one of their openers scoring 75……and reached 106/2….but then quickly lost their way….as Lance 4/29 and Leonard 3/22 maintained the pressure…..eventually squeezing the opposition out for 165 in the 43^rd over…..this week we meet a difficult opposition Alberton, at home….this should be a cracker of a match…so please come down to watch this clash….it should be a very tense day……

Saturday was the showcase of Benoni Northern’s talent…as we hosted the Sports Person of the Year (SPOTY) dinner….where special Members are rewarded with prestigious awards and where all our top achievers in the sub sections vie for the accolade as being selected as Benoni Northern’s top achiever and be presented with the coveted SPOTY trophy…first one up was Shawn Schwartz, who was awarded life Membership to the Club in recognition of his contributions more specifically to the baseball section…

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next was Mark Hardman who was named a Clubman of the Year….and despite the calls from the gallery that it was for maintaining Northern’s bars healthy “liquidity”…his award was actually in recognition of the massive contribution to the Club that Mark has made over the last 44 years that he has been a Member, in varying roles and responsibilities that he was sometimes elected into, sometimes volunteered….and many times accepted, as no-one else would put up their hand to get the job done …

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and then back to the sporting contest on the night….competition as always was extremely fierce in both the Junior and senior categories…and this year was no exception…..

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and from a very talented bunch of talented sports people the following emerged as the winners….in the junior category, Nicholas de Ascensao, who hails from a baseball background..and has represented Gauteng and South Africa in the U15 age group….the highlight whilst playing for SA, was to participate in his age group World Cup in Panama….

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in the senior category, the honors went to Jasper (Jazz) van Rensburg….who has excelled at 10km, duathlon and triathlon disciplines….and it is in the duathlon SA champs that Jazz really made his name known, as he swept to win not only the SA title but also the African Championship…..

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we are truly honored to have them as Northern’s Members and these two gentlemen are worthy winners of our prestigious title of Sports Person of the Year title…..well done to all the winners on the night….and of course to Glenda for the tireless effort she always puts in to make this evening the resounding success that it always is….

With our Fridays now starting to heat up in the search for the Jester, we had another newbie out the beeeeeg black box as Naomi Wagenaar had her ticket drawn, and after a quick glimpse, she made her selection in the middle of the top row….. She definitely held her breath as Glenda took her time in flipping over the card…..to show us all the Jack of Diamonds!! And with that we are at the half way stage….we have 26 cards face up and 27 face down…..whilst after this week those numbers will swap around….Half way means that more interest is being shown as the numbers start to climb….and we are just short of a magical six figure Jackpot……the value available this week for a winner this is R97740….so wear your lucky shoes and pants and pop in to see if you can be our next big winner….

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Last week we had the wonderful sounds of Eben to sit and enjoy…this week…Ryno will be back to blast his way back into the club…please join us as Alan sings and dances when Lighting Crashes….should be another epic evening at the North…..

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That is all from me for this week….and I leave you with one request…..I have seen that more and more dogs are being brought onto the premises….could I please request that all Members please do NOT bring their pets to the Club…..it is prohibited by the Ekurhuleni bye-laws and in addition we have feral cats that are resident at the Club…and could result in the animals getting Parvo Virus, which is really nasty for any dog to survive….one final time….you would not take your animals to the Wanderers or Ellis Park….please leave your animals at home….thank you..

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Have a great week … Rod

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The Scimitar

The Scimitar 7 Nov 2019

7th November 20197th November 2019
by Glenda Todd

A World Championship good morning to you all…..

I think the subject and thoughts that have been on the lips and minds of most South Africans since early last week, which was compounded and reached a crescendo on Saturday afternoon with ecstatic joy, as Cheslin Colbe waltzed his way past a bewildered captain Owen Farrell and 4 of his tiring team mates, sealing the fate of the English to be the also-rans against the Boks for the second time in a final…. was the Rugby World Cup final and all the possible outcomes….for all South Africans it was an optimistic (at best) chance of winning….after the demolition of the AB’s by the English, it seemed that it was going to be one way traffic, as the Boks had done nothing spectacular in the tournament thus far, or out of the ordinary to make the punters give the Boks anything but an outside chance of lifting the Webb Ellis trophy for a third time….but most of those people forgot about some of SA’s x-factors, the 12 year rule, the winners of the Southern Hemisphere Rugby Championship (tri-nations), the Free State being Currie Cup Champions for the year and the shrewd tactical genius of Rassie….

However, since the completion of the final, the subject has been expanded on, and is almost on the lips of everybody, whether they were rugby supporters or not, of the magnificent day in our history, not just sporting history, but to me a red letter day in the history of the rainbow nation….as a sport once again unites and unifies all South Africans into a positive mind set and mood…..we have had the theories, opinions and conversations of excited….no jubilant….Springbok supporters….there is no holding back of the vibrant feeling existing right at the moment…..I am sure that there are enough varying points of view, that we have all heard….but suffice it for me to say, that I was most impressed with our scrum and the scrummaging techniques that were employed and put the English completely on the back foot for most of the match….I was in our Hall with the big screen and the sound system “booming out” the National Anthems….and with the amount of “gees” that was displayed at this point was absolutely hair raising….goose flesh stuff…..and I immediately felt a rising of hope as we all belted out the Anthem at the top of our voices….standing proudly, with our hands on our hearts…as if it was us going into battle for the next 80 minutes ourselves…..and within only 2 and a half minutes of the start, that feeling started to gain root, the English were starting to look at each other with that “mayor of Hiroshima” look on their faces…..and it didn’t really get any better…the Springboks ground the English scrum into the ground….our fly-half kept on slotting the penalties that were being created from the destroyed opposition scrum….and with this superiority, the English roses, began to wilt….petal by petal…until the final 15 minutes when the Boks ran in their first ever tries in a World Cup final….and it was possibly fitting that they were run in by the vastly improved left wing Makazole Mapimmpi, who combined well with our outside centre, Lukhanyo Am, to produce a thrilling try in the left corner that had all of the supporters jumping with absolute joy….the other came from the most impressive right wing, Cheslin mentioned earlier….and if the scenes at the North were anything to go by….there were high fives and hugs….back slapping and screaming….smiles and sighs simultaneously…it was obvious that copious volumes of alcohol were going to be consumed as the celebrations carried on….and on….and on…..and on……

Will we ever come down from the current euphoric high…..only time will tell….but I as one, certainly hope not….

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If anyone wasn’t at the Glow Run last week…you missed out…whilst there were plenty of contenders in the 10 and 15k races….I like to think that the true spirit of this race is shown in the 5k version….I was able to find plenty of smiles and laughter…as people of all shapes and sizes participated….mother and fathers pushing prams, grannies and grandpa’s holding hands as they completed the event, young families and friends shouting with glee as they went along their way….and all the way along there was happy chatting, the exchanging of pleasantries, giggling and an fantastic atmosphere that brings me back year after year…..and I even get a medal for competing in another epic event…well done to the Athletics section on a superb race….I will be back next year, as I am sure a lot of satisfied competitors will be….

In the only Premier League sport played over the weekend, in which one of our representative sides participated….our cricketers were humbled by Bedfordview on Sunday….showing us that they are really serious about playing this year….having beaten Kempton last week and winning their other two matches, the boys from Bedfordview were on a high when asked to bat after losing the toss…and with a really solid 4^th wicket partnership of 126, they ended up being dismissed in the penultimate over for 243….with Stef taking 3/25 and Leonard 3/45 being our most successful bowlers…the Northerns reply started off well enough with the opening pair adding 46…..but unfortunately our highest score in our reply was Rian’s 32….we were never in the running as wickets fell to regularly and far too cheaply…eventually being dismissed for 191 to record a defeat by 52 runs…..quite a wake-up call for our boys….so we will need to get back to our basics….practice and look at our application if we are wanting to be the champions again this year….this week we take on Tembisa at Willowmoore Park…..with the first ball to be bowled at 10h00….

On Saturday we had the hockey players at the 5’s trying to bench during the matches for the RWC final….and after the final it was a even a little more difficult to get back and play…but Sunday saw a full set of fixtures…with some of the players suffering from Saturday’s over indulgence…but still being there and available for their matches…with more following this week as another full set of fixtures looms…..

This weekend we have our Sports Person of the Year awards….and this has always been a wonderful glittering event….where the achievers from each sub section will be celebrated, to eventually crown the winner at the end of the evening, in both the junior and senior categories….good luck to all the contenders…..

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Rugby has started their pre season practices…so if there are any prospective rugger buggers that are ready and willing to join us in our quest to win our way back to being one of the major forces in Valke rugby, please come along on Thursday evenings and assist us in this massive goal….

Our Joker draw had an old campaigner back at the spot in front of the Joker cabinet….as Arthur Jones had his name drawn from the beeeeg black box….and his selection was down in the bottom left corner….one space up and one space right….but to his dismay….when Glenda flipped his choice over it was the seven of hearts….and amidst the groan, Arthur maintained his smile and said…”next time”….so the pot grows to R94938 for this week…as we have another great start to the weekend with entertainment, joker draw, members draw and a raffle that always brings a winner to the Main bar to collect their prize…

Our entertainment, Cedz and Tryst were at their brilliant best and it must be remembered that they will see us as the opening act to the ToyRun in three weeks time….so we will see you then Cedz…

this Friday we welcome back Eben…..he is a spectacularly talented fellow….please pop down to come and witness the wizardry of this musician….

Hope you guys are still celebrating the World Cup win….hopefully I will see you in the pub as we enjoy a tipple or two…

See you soon Rod

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Moetlo Sefoka Junior Member from BNAC competed in the Central Gauteng Athletics Champs held in Ruimsig this past weekend. He obtained a Gold Medal for 1.50m in the High Jump – u11 age group. Well done Moetlo a rising champ in the cards.

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The Scimitar

The Scimitar 31 Oct 2019

31st October 20191st November 2019
by Glenda Todd

A warm good day to all our readers….

Well well well……my predictions have never been one of the things to be counted on…..but for once I would like to remind everyone of my some comments in my opening salvo to the newsletter of September 17, 2019…..to quote…

“….we do have a few factors that are pointing in our favour this year….one of course, is our own self imposed 12 year rule….we won in 1995….with our next success coming in 2007…..and as we approach 2019, we realise that the 12 year rule is lurking….additionally we have won the Rugby Championship (old Tri-nations) and this augers well….”

And as we approach Saturday, we have the same opponents as we did in 2007…..we were dogged and very workmanlike in our win over Wales in the semi final….definitely not pretty or enterprising rugby….but we were able come out on top of a very nail biting match….I am sure that the whole of South Africa breathed a collective sigh of relief on Sunday when the final whistle blew…..but now we face the might of England, who were most impressive against a shell shocked and shattered AB team….one of the jokes that did the rounds after that particular match….was that the Kiwis lost everything, scrums, mauls, line outs, the loose battles, tackles…….they even lost their own Haka…..I must say it was the poorest New Zealand I have seen in many a year….but to take nothing away from the English who were brilliant on the day…we are in for a cracker of a match….

Please don’t forget that we will be showing both the 3^rd place play off on Friday and the final on Saturday on the big screen (that we are showing in the Hall)….all our drinks specials will be running for the duration of the matches….so brandy, rum, beer quarts and shooters will be at additional discounted rates….and of course if the Springboks are world champions….perhaps the specials may run into some significant overtime…..which I am sure will be well received…..the spirit at the last match at the North was absolutely sensational….so I expect this weekend to be even more compelling and riveting….I will see you there…and as another little bit of titbit and assistance…there will be a jumping castle, water slide and Gladiator inflatable for the younger set to challenge their skills and keep them busy while the Mom’s and Dad’s have their time cut out watching the Boks….

Our cricketers had Sunday off last weekend…but are back in the swing this Sunday as the Premier side lock horns with Bedfordview away….first ball will be bowled at 10am…..

Our hockey 5’s is really proving to be a hit with everyone…..juniors playing on Saturdays… the seniors filling the Sunday slots and landing up in and around the beer garden after their strenuous exercise exploits ….this is really a fast paced and extraordinary game that really has to be watched to really understand its intricacies and complexities…..but it is piles of fun….so if you have some spare time come down to the Astro to watch over the weekend.

This weekend our Baseballers play host to their annual T-ball competition….so expect a throng of players and parents at the baseball club on Saturday….it should be a marvellous day….

Our summer soccer is also in full swing….with our Vets teams actively involved every Wednesday night and the Ladies side playing on Fridays….please keep an eye in the newsletter or our Facebook page for more details of these matches…

Last Friday the Athletics sub section had their annual golf day at the Country Club….and I was one of the fortunate few to be present…..when I came back to Benoni about 10 years ago….a good mate of mine from the past, Bogroll (many will remember this distinctive name) conned, coerced and forced me kicking and screaming to coach cricket at the North (which of course I did with pleasure and really enoyed)….our lot being the coaching a bunch of extremely talented young under 8 cricketers…I won’t bore you with all the details of the individuals involved….but one of them was Bogroll and Jenny’s son, Warwick….I have watched with interest this young man’s progress over the years….and at the golf day, it was my chance to force, con and coerce Warwick to be part of my four-ball….and what a privilege it turned out to be!! I really hope that you fulfil all your promise and talent in the future, Warwick, as you go to the States to further your studies and career…but back to the golf….despite all the talent shown by our playing partners, they were only able to pull Rodney and myself out of the depths of playing the longest day to not having our names mentioned in this non-prestigious position….congrats to all the winners on the day…and a huge well done to the organisers and players on a fantastic day….there was also a massive function after the golf, where one of our most recognisable members…Michael Velliotes, was going to lose his ginger beard….and with the assistance of some very generous benefactors….around R26000 was raised to see Mike clean shaven again after 5 years in hiding….thank you to Mike and his dad, who was included in the deal at the last minute for their great idea and concept of losing their fuzzy facial hair as a fund-raiser ….a really fun evening was had by all as the excitement welled at the prospect of being the actual person to complete the deed of making the ginger ninja transform back into a joyous and naughty little pixie….

Our entertainers last week were the ever gold 5 piece band called Omega…..that kept everyone on the dance floor for the night…they are always a popular favourite with the Northerns faithful…this week we welcome Cedz and Tryst back….so get yourselves ready for a great evening of solid rock music from this talented bunch of musicians….

Our Friday night last week was a little less well attended due to the Athletics golf day and the prospect of seeing a clean shaven Vellies again…..but there was still plenty of interest as we move closer to the half way mark….and this week we had another “first timer” at the cabinet, as Stephen Fellows had his name extracted from the beeeg black box…..and seemed fairly confident with his choice being in the top left corner (but one)…and as Glenda revealed the card, his disappointed was evident when he saw that it wasn’t the Joker!…but the King of Diamonds is now in the cabinet…the rest of the crowd were very happy that the Jackpot was still alive, ready and waiting for them next week…..24 cards are now face up…and the ‘pot” has risen to R92229 for this week….please join in with the fun this week…and try your luck at finding the Jester….you could be our next big winner!!

CLUB BAKKIE : SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT

Over the past few years, it has become more apparent that our Club requires a light delivery vehicle to enable the Club to operate more efficiently by completing important tasks in and around our Club. Some examples where this would be utilised are:

As the municipality is providing less and less service delivery assistance on our fields and surrounding areas, not to mention the almost non-existent maintenance to the infrastructure in and around the club of buildings, roads and parking maintenance, requires that more of this responsibility falls into the lap of the Club.
The municipal refuse removal, once provided as part of the all in service, and has been totally withdrawn, leaving the club with the duty of having to make plans to remove waste, rubble and garden refuse, from our Club.
Our major suppliers face their own logistical nightmares of providing the full supply and delivery system of the past and have become a little unreliable when it comes to delivering all their products requested timeously. This has resulted in last minute management techniques of having to continuously “beg, steal or borrow” vehicles or LDV’s to drive to places like major distribution hubs, to ensure uninterrupted supply of products to our Members.

With our large infrastructure of Members, we were wondering whether there were any Members, or their contacts, that could assist us in procuring of this LDV for Club usage…. This could take the form of a back to a back advertising agreement (whether it be prominent local signage, weekly adverts in our newsletter or eye catching signage on the side of the vehicle etc), a significant discounts, donations or even a gift.

If you are that person, or if you know of such a person, please contact Rod Scheepers, our Club GM, or send him the details of the contact whom could be of assistance, who will then get the process rolling.

Yours in Sport, Laurence Brown – Chairman – Benoni Northern Sports Club

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Stephen Fellows (Guest) drew the King of Diamonds. Joker Draw a turnover at R 92 229.00 for Friday 01st November.

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Saturday 02nd November @ 11h00 a.m.
For the KIDDIES weekend of (Friday – Sunday) – Waterslide and 8m long Gladiator Circuit available, so will be children friendly . We will see you all !!!

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Velly’ nice my mate! Winning bidder Clayton Wiesner and a clean shaven Michael Veliotes. Benoni Northerns Sports Club. This initiative garnered a healthy R26 000.00 for BNAC’s Development Runners.

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The Annual Glow Run was once again a tremendous success. Thanks to all that participated in this incredible event. We shall meet again next year

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The Scimitar

The Scimitar 23 Oct 2019

24th October 201924th October 2019
by Glenda Todd

Good morning to all……

The RWC advances into the next round, amidst a little bit of controversy…..and now the semi’s are upon us….and although pretty predictable, apart from the France / Wales game….which produced some really great rugger….the Saturday matches were pretty one sided….the AB’s and the English winning by significant margins to progress….but that sets up one of most interesting clashes that we will see at this World Cup thus far….. the winner of this match is going to very difficult to beat in the final….but that said…we still have the Boks in the other half of the draw….and although we stuttered through the first half….we eventually ran out easy 26-3 winners….doing something that no-one else has been able to do in this world cup, in beating the Japanese….the Irish, who were on the crest of the world rankings at the start of the World Cup….were unexpectedly humbled in their first showing…and Japan definitely gave us lots of food for thought in the first half, with us being so far behind on the possession stakes….but of course our scrum-half did ensure that our possession was effectively given away, every time that he touched the ball….but in the second half, the power of scrum eventually came through as we scored a magnificent 45 metre rolling maul (another procedure that I have not witnessed before)…which culminated in allowing our diminutive kicking scrum-half in to score himself a try….in the other quarter final in our section…there was only one side in the contest…with the Welsh appearing content to make their plane flight home that night….until some 55^th minute madness by a French lock….who was red-carded for some silly dangerous play…and slowly the tide turned….and as manfully the French played….it was like an inexorable wheel rolling down the hill that the Welsh were going to wear down the French resistance….eventually just doing enough to beat the French 20-18. And an amazing turn around…which no-one could have forecast even a half an hour before the end of the match….

This weekend we will be showing both of the matches live at the North….one on Saturday and the other on Sunday….please do not be late…as last week seats and places was limited fairly early….we will still have the liquor specials that we had last weekend….so beer, brandy and rum will be discounted for the duration of the match…..and for those who love to have a little shooter or two while watching sport….there will be a tequila and Jagermeister special…..buy a tray of 12 of these popular Mexican and German tit-bits for only R170…..a real example of the “more you drink….the more you save” slogan, which was extremely popular in my youth at the North…..so my thanks to Simba Sosatie who used to run around the Club in those days with his party hat….maybe this weekend, he will make his appearance again…..I can but hope…and hope that it augers well for the smooth progression of the Boks in their quest to becoming World Champions once again….

Our Premier cricket side made their first appearance at the North on Sunday, when they hosted Duduza….and with Kurt losing the toss (again!!), we were asked to bat…we scored steadily with almost everyone chipping in, Musa Twala and Leonard Killeen notching up half centuries in the process…. ending up on 297/7 after our 50 overs…..there was a bit of a break in the innings when a local swarm of bees decided to find a home in the water tap box at the edge of the pitch…forcing an early lunch to be taken, as our friend and bee keeper Peter Beart was called on to remove the buzzing visitors for us….and the match continued after lunch without further incident…..the opposition began a very solid chase and only after a half century opening stand did we eventually make any inroads….but after that their wickets fell at fairly regular intervals…to Duduza eventually landing up with 172 after slightly over 40 overs….handing us the win by 125 runs on the day…well done to the lads….a winning start to the season for us, with two out of two….but this weekend we have a bye allocated…so time for everyone to have a restful weekend off to get ready for battle the next weekend…..

This year we had our first season of junior rugby….and despite some trying conditions….these little fellows acquitted themselves admirably….we had 6 teams competing in the finals for this year….with two of those sides being crowned champions…..our under 8 team and the under 11a (red) side winning their respective finals….a special congratulations to the players and coaches..super stuff….of our other sides that competed on the day the under 9a side lost in the final to collect a silver medal, while the U9b side lost in the semi, but won the play-off for bronze….the other two sides, U10b and U11a (white) ended the season in fourth place…. my congratulations to all these young men and their coaching staff….well done on a great set of results….you have placed the bar very high in our first season at junior level… remember that we will now want you to strive to improve on this next year….also a hearty congratulations to Jaco and his team on a super season….well done….

Our Friday night search for our Jester continued…as we had another “first-timer” in front of the cabinet….Ethan had his name drawn….and to some jubilant cries of encouragement from his mates….he looked to the bottom right of the board for his selection….and once it was revealed, it showed us the six of clubs…..we are really getting to an interesting time of the draw……as we are now 23 cards into this particular draw…almost halfway….and we are currently at a Jackpot of R90237……starting to become a sizeable value to put into your pocket for a R5 investment…..and we have the ever popular 5 piece band Omega to get your month end weekend off to a mellow and relaxed start…

Last weekend our entertainment were the duo of Richard and Nakita….who also proved that they know really how to get the party going….keeping everyone singing and dancing in the patio under the tent into the wee hours…..thanks to them…I saw a few Members with pounding heads the next day…..but with a massive grin on their faces like the cat that has just had the cream….saying it was a helluva night….when are they coming back again….and be sure that we will them back soon and we will give everyone enough notice….

Please do not forget our Rowlin Glow Run on next Wednesday….this is always a most festive event….and one of those must attend festive occasions….so please be sure to get you running gear on….and find all your glow sticks, luminous clothing and crazy costumes and wigs….as everyone jumps in and enters into the festive feeling created on the night….to make their way around the course….and onto the finishing line for their own medal….to be proudly displayed…..

That is it for this week….hopefully I will get to see you for the RWC matches…or on Friday at draw time….or maybe just at the Glow Run next Wednesday…have a great week otherwise….take care

Regards Rod

CLUB BAKKIE : SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT

As the municipality is providing less and less service delivery assistance on our fields and surrounding areas, not to mention the almost non-existent maintenance to the infrastructure in and around the club of buildings, roads and parking maintenance, requires that more of this responsibility falls into the lap of the Club.
The municipal refuse removal, once provided as part of the all in service, and has been totally withdrawn, leaving the club with the duty of having to make plans to remove waste, rubble and garden refuse, from our Club.
Our major suppliers face their own logistical nightmares of providing the full supply and delivery system of the past and have become a little unreliable when it comes to delivering all their products requested timeously. This has resulted in last minute management techniques of having to continuously “beg, steal or borrow” vehicles or LDV’s to drive to places like major distribution hubs, to ensure uninterrupted supply of products to our Members.

Yours in Sport, Laurence Brown – Chairman – Benoni Northern Sports Club

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Ethan ( Football ) drew the Six of Spades. Joker Draw a turnover at
R90 237.00 for Friday 25th October. Be present to win!!

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“At The North” – R.W.C Specials – Duration of the Games:
All Beer Quarts – R 25.00 each
1 x Dble Brandy/Rum & Coke – R 30.00
2 x Dble Brandy/Rum & Coke – R 50.00
1 x Tray (12) Tequila/Jagermeister – R 170.00

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Reminder – Online Entries are open
https://www.entrytime.com/event-details/?EventId=6077

Please bring along the whole family for our fun filled event

Our Bridge Section will be entering a Team namely Bridie Bullen-Smith, Paul van der Wal, Bill Willis and Clyde Mallinson representing Benoni Northerns in the upcoming Nationals. This team recently won the Gauteng Clubs Team 4 Tournament. We wish you all the best of luck

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Awesome 10 wicket win by Benoni Northerns Women’s Cricket against a very much developing Wattville cricket Team. Well Done Ladies! Madison Landsman taking 4 wickets for 0 runs!!! And a quickfire 24 off 9 to finish the game!

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Week 2 saw a host of exciting tennis matches at Benoni Northerns – including the Premier Division match between Levey & Masakane!

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The Scimitar

The Scimitar 17 Oct 2019

17th October 201917th October 2019
by Glenda Todd

A special and warm good day to everyone….

So as the RWC 2019 enters the business section of the competition….and we have some interesting developments…..the first Asian side to ever compete in a RWC as Japan qualify for the knock outs….and that as the winner of their pool section….which means that the Boks and the Japs will renew their rivalry at World Cup level, four years after that fateful meeting where we lost 32-34 to them in 2015…Sunday will be our crunch day, where one of those two sides will proceed to the semis to meet the winners of the France / Wales clash…. and the other quarters see some epic clashes too…..as the AB’s unexpectedly play the Irish and the English meet the Aussies in a clash that I am sure will renew a few passionate battles….definitely a mouth watering set of games await us this weekend….I won’t even be bothering to enter a set of predictions….so as not place a curse on any of the sides….I will enter a set of predictions in the safe for Glenda to open after the weekend to see how far out I could possibly be…..

Please don’t forget that we will be showing all the RWC quarter finals live and that we are expanding the liquor specials for the quarters….please keep an eye on our social media platforms…..they will be advertised there….and for the beer drinkers….I will be making sure that you are catered for as well…..

Our weekend started in the quest for our hidden Jester in the cabinet….and this week the lucky name out the beeeeg black box was our caterer, Marge Mellis!!…after the formalities were completed of a happy snap for posterity, she made her selection…directly at her eye level….and after indicating three rows up on the extreme left….Glenda flipped the card over to reflect the six of spades….another rollover week…which means that our Jackpot in search of our Jester has risen to R87939…. definitely worth popping past the North on Friday to start your weekend in a very relaxed and festive atmosphere…..our musicians this week will be the Richard and Nikita, who proved to be very popular with the crowd in the tent last time….bring your dancing shoes and come along to party your way into the weekend….

Our Cricketers started with their first match of the season and had a very successful return….rolling over Kwa Thema for 100 in just under 30 overs…..and then took just over 15 overs to knock off the necessary total for the loss of a solitary wicket….well done to Kurt and the boys for a solid start to the season in their quest to retain the Premier League trophy….this week they are at home to CBCOB who have always proved to be a tough nut to crack….so good luck boys….first ball to be bowled at 10h00….

It is wonderful to see all our juniors scurrying around the Club in their white attire…. in their quest to become the new Jacques Kallis and Kagiso Rabada of the future.. after our poor showing in the sub-continent, all South Africans are wanting some new talent to appear miraculously on the horizon…as things are looking pretty bleak there….if I were in that side as a top order batter…I would suggest to the management, that the batting order get swapped around…as it appears that things get a little easier once the ball loses its shine and is a bit softer…as our batters at the lower end seem to have outscored the top order in at least three of the four innings’ we have played thus far…..

I have watched with interest that the interest in “T”ball is massive and looks like it is on the increase….I saw the car parks at baseball were filled to capacity on Tuesday afternoon…it is fantastic to see that sport is being so actively promoted by the schools in Ekurhuleni…well done to the organisers and to everyone actively promoting this sport….long may it continue…

Hockey 5’s also started up last weekend…and it looked like everyone had an absolute blast….I saw that the astro was filled and the venue looked extremely busy for the entire weekend…well done Shaun on a great start to the season….if anyone is interested in playing 5’s please contact Shaun Taylor…I am sure that there will always be available spots for all enthusiastic new players….

Please do not forget the Glow Run on Wednesday October 30, it is always a fantastic and festive evening and fun for the whole family…. glow sticks, weird costumes, a myriad of colours, crazy wigs…and the brilliant smiling faces as all the participants compete in their allotted 5, 10 or 15 kilometre races….with a medal and sense of achievement for everybody who completes the race…..make sure to keep the date in your diary for a fantastic evening with us….

Please take care this week…as we are expecting a heat wave over the weekend….everyone must please remember to apply loads of sun screen if you are outside…it looks like we are going to cook for a while….a really good suggestion? Come to the Club and enjoy a frosty or 6 in the cool sanctity of one of our bars and watch the cricket on our fields….or watch the RWC and enjoy the specials….

Hopefully I will see you over weekend….have fun…

Cheers Rod

PS….remember that if you have any anything that is bugging you, or you think you have an idea that you think may transform the Club….please don’t forget to send me an email on rod.scheepers@gmail.com containing your concerns or proposals……

CLUB BAKKIE : SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT

As the municipality is providing less and less service delivery assistance on our fields and surrounding areas, not to mention the almost non-existent maintenance to the infrastructure in and around the club of buildings, roads and parking maintenance, requires that more of this responsibility falls into the lap of the Club.
The municipal refuse removal, once provided as part of the all in service, and has been totally withdrawn, leaving the club with the duty of having to make plans to remove waste, rubble and garden refuse, from our Club.
Our major suppliers face their own logistical nightmares of providing the full supply and delivery system of the past and have become a little unreliable when it comes to delivering all their products requested timeously. This has resulted in last minute management techniques of having to continuously “beg, steal or borrow” vehicles or LDV’s to drive to places like major distribution hubs, to ensure uninterrupted supply of products to our Members.

Yours in Sport, Laurence Brown – Chairman – Benoni Northern Sports Club

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Marge Mellis (Kitchen) drew the Six of Spades. Joker Draw a turnover at R 87 939.00 for Friday 18th October. Be present to win!!

Beer Garden and Scimitar Bar open from 12h00. Order delicious Pizza or a Pub Lunch while enjoying your cold frosty.

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Plus all beer quarts @ R25.00 each duration of the games

BNAC’s Bright achieved 2nd place in the Jacaranda City Challenge Half Marathon in a time of 1h10. Well done we are proud of you!!

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Reminder – Online Entries are open
https://www.entrytime.com/event-details/?EventId=6077

Please bring along the whole family for our fun filled event

Kwa Thema vs Benoni Northerns Premier League Cricket Captains. Kwa Thema 100 all out in 29.5 overs. Benoni Northerns 102 for 1 in 15.4 overs.Very good discipline guy’s thank you and keep it up

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Eagles Super 5 Season kicked off yesterday without the junior sides of U13 and U17. There was great skill shown and we look forward to having a great season.

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Saturday 12th October Benoni Northerns had 6 teams involved in the finals. For the first year of Junior Rugby at Northerns the boys did great. The u8s won the u9c League after just fighting for a spot just to make the finals. U8s made history winning the 1st cup for Junior Rugby for Northerns and winning the 1st u9c League at the Valke Juniors.
U9a won their Semis but unfortunately losing in the final and gaining Silver. U9b lost their semis but won their game playing for 3rd place and walking away with Bronze.
U11 League had two teams in the finals. The white team lost in the Semis. The Red Team won their League. Winning the finals on the last play of the game. Could have gone any way but the boys showed their worth.
We are so proud of all the boys and all the teams.
Under 8- gold
Under 9b- bronze
Under 9 a- silver
Under 10b- fourth place
Under 11a white- fourth place
Under 11a red- gold

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The Scimitar

The Scimitar 9 Oct 2019

9th October 201910th October 2019
by Glenda Todd

A summery (and Manny….no not summary…..summery….a new Rod word) and fresh good morning to all….

The weather has been amazing the last little while and I hope that everyone has been able to get out and enjoy it….it is the weather to be exercising or soaking up the sun….or even just enjoying a braai with friends….this is what makes South Africa so amazing…. the wind has lost it “bite” in the last few days and I am loving it….

We are still in the throes of the final world cup play-off matches, with almost everyone left with only a solitary match to decide their fate….And albeit I have said that Japan have been the David of the tournament….it should not be forgotten that these men in fact won the same number of matches in the pools as the Boks and Scotland in their group in the 2015 RWC….and only missed out on points difference….getting a hiding from Scotland to seal their fate at not making the quarter finals….but with Japan are quite comfortable at the top of their table in 2019 RWC…they are just needing to play Scotland in their last pool match to decide whether they head their group or end up second….I believe their fate should be pretty well decided after that….if they win against the Scots, they play the Boks, if they lose…they play the All Blacks….pretty much a double edged sword for them…..but I don’t think the prospect of playing either of those sides actually concerns either the coaching staff or players….they are so used to punching above their fighting weight in any event…..but I really believe that a ranking of number 8 in the world, flatters them slightly…. but that is merely my opinion…. and I will be argued with and kicked in the butt that my predictions were so wrong…..I can honestly say that I have a 100 % prediction record…..my track record speaks for itself….I have been incorrect of every single one of my predictions in the past…..I am pretty confident that my hit record will not improve after the conclusion of this world tournament…..

Our cricketers had a bad few sessions in the first test…..but performed a lot better than I expected….albeit losing by a very large margin, they were in the game up until the end of the 4^th day….when it looked like the Indians imported a new pitch for the first session on the last day…..in which when we lost 7 wickets in that session and decided the fate of the Proteas…..that said….hopefully the young squad has learned something….otherwise I may be tempted to haul my whites and kit out of mothballs and officially announce my availability for selection on the touring squad of supporters….

Sunday was a really busy day at the North with all the local soccer Cup finals being hosted on the main fields in front of the Club house….. there were buckets of excitement and nervous energy available on the day….all the young players thinking they were the George Best’s and Diego Maradonna’s…(Oh hold on…I’m giving away my age)……maybe Messi and Ronaldo’s of the future….there were some moments of brilliance and some of absolute despair….as the fortunes of the day ebbed and flowed….some teams will even claim they were robbed!! Others will say that they received their just reward…..as for the rest? They will claim that they were the better side of the day or that they were beaten by the better side…out of our three sides in the finals…..only our under 9 side lost 3-2 after extra time in their match, despite playing some brilliant football…well done to the coaches Warren and Mark and all the players…. our U6 side were truly awesome and comfortably won 5-0, hearty congratulations to the coaches, Lionel, Ryan, Juan and all their glorious warriors on the super win…. and our last side on the finals were our U13’s…with coach Justin at the helm….and in a tense and nail biting match….we were able to prevail and run out 2-1 winners….I am sure it will be a day in the lives of all these young men that they will not forget in a while….well done to the Easterns LFA for a well organised and enjoyable day….

Our Friday night brought us another First timer night at the Joker draw….as Mike Webb had his name selected at Joker draw time…..and he was really excited at being drawn….but appeared quite calm and composed when confronted with the complexity and size of the Joker cabinet….and after having his winners photo taken….was quietly confident pointing out his selection….one card to the left of centre….but that proved that his luck was as good as the previous 20 candidates….as the nine of spades was flipped….and amidst the roars of approval and sighs of relief from the crowd….everyone realised that the Joker draw was still a possibility for them next week…..the Jackpot swells and climbs to R85857….32 cards left and it is beginning to get interesting…..make every effort to be here this Friday….another exciting night awaits….

Last week we had a Karaoke evening….and everyone present seemed to enjoy themselves….thanks to Shaz for another lovely night….this week we welcome back Coyote….Billy and Martin back at the North to entertain us…welcome back boys….

Our softball and baseball fields were also extremely busy last weekend….hosting a softball tournament and the start of the junior Baseball leagues….lovely to see the fields full and the parking areas overflowing….all the best to Shaun and his crew for a cracking season ahead….

Last weekend also was the official start of cricket…..as both Juniors and Seniors indicated their return to the fields….still one of my favourite sights at Northerns….watching the U8’s in the top field under lights on a Friday…..their excitement and enthusiasm can be felt as you drive into the Club….please keep up that same intensity for your entire career boys….

All from me for this week… have a super weekend…I hear that the possibility for rain is pretty good later in the week….and as much as it may upset the Cricketers….we need the rain….and hopefully doesn’t affect any of the matches over the weekend…

Have a super sporting week….I hope to see you all soon

Regards Rod

PS….if you have any suggestions or moans….please don’t forget to send an email to me on rod.scheepers@gmail.com about your concerns or proposals……

CLUB BAKKIE : SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT

As the municipality is providing less and less service delivery assistance on our fields and surrounding areas, not to mention the almost non-existent maintenance to the infrastructure in and around the club of buildings, roads and parking maintenance, requires that more of this responsibility falls into the lap of the Club.
The municipal refuse removal, once provided as part of the all in service, and has been totally withdrawn, leaving the club with the duty of having to make plans to remove waste, rubble and garden refuse, from our Club.
Our major suppliers face their own logistical nightmares of providing the full supply and delivery system of the past and have become a little unreliable when it comes to delivering all their products requested timeously. This has resulted in last minute management techniques of having to continuously “beg, steal or borrow” vehicles or LDV’s to drive to places like major distribution hubs, to ensure uninterrupted supply of products to our Members.

Yours in Sport, Lockey

Laurence Brown

Chairman – Benoni Northern Sports Club

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Mike Webb (Guest) drew the Nine of Spades. Joker Draw a turnover at R85 857.00 for Friday 11th October. Be present to win!!

Live Entertainment from 18h30 – Friday 11th October 2019

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Reminder – Online Entries are open
https://www.entrytime.com/event-details/?EventId=6077

Please bring along the whole family for our fun filled event

Congratulations to Mike Serfontein in being awarded the Best Batter – Major A and voted as Senior Baseball Sportsman of the Year 2019. Well done !!

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Start of the new season with the T20 Tournament. Benoni Northerns vs Actonville Premier League. Actonville 104 for 9 in 20 overs, Benoni Northerns 107 for 6 in 17 overs. Very good discipline and a pleasant game

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There was plenty of dissapointment when the U8 Impala match was cancelled, but true Benoni Northerns style we managed to orrganise a game. It was a good morning out on the cricket field for the boys, giving them the feel of fielding for 20 overs before the season officially starts next week.

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The Junior Football Cup Final Tournament was held last Sundayat Northern Areas. Great Day had by all Teams and a fantastic ending to a memorable 2019 Season.

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Benoni Northern’s u8 League 1 hosted their Annual friendly against Old Ben’s. An enjoyable game was had by both Teams. Well done boys.

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The Scimitar

The Scimitar 3 Oct 2019

3rd October 20194th October 2019
by Glenda Todd

A warm welcome and good morning to everyone

The Rugby World Cup is proving to be another interesting tournament….South Africa did what was necessary with the “second stringers” to account for our neighbours Namibia…in fairly convincing fashion…57-3…with too many headaches and concerns….and with only one serious injury thus far to our Bok group, we can hopefully keep it that way to keep our best possible team available at all times….but there was one major upset…. in the form of “David” once again doing their “Goliath” trick….this time “Goliath” took the guise of Ireland….and I think that the Boks and their supporters breathed a sigh of relief that it wasn’t us this time….I am not sure if Ireland underestimated their minnow opponents….or were a little complacent….but Japan have proved over the last few years that they are serious about rugby as a sport in their country and culture…..I remember in the ’95 RWC when Japan faced the All Blacks and were humbled to the largest loss ever in RWC history 145-3….so it took 20 years from them losing in that embarrassing manner, to recording arguably the largest upset in RWC history when they defeated the Boks in 2015….and to prove that this was no “fluke” in 2015…they have now shown that the might of Japan should not be underestimated…..and any this side will do so at their own peril in the future….well done Japan and all the best for the rest of the show piece….you have done a great job at hosting this amazing tournament….you have the vociferous support of your home crowds…and you have definitely stepped up your playing levels….a most encouraging sign for world rugby…the Boks play on Friday at 11h45 against Italy and on Tuesday against Canada at 12h15…..both of these matches will be shown “LIVE” at the North…so please come along to support….all other RWC matches (from 9.30ish in the morning) will be shown live….so please pop along….the bar will be open and we will continue to offer the brandy special for the duration of the matches….keep your eye out for other specials that may occur as we follow our progress through the RWC….

Another of our national sides is also in Asia at the moment….with the Proteas taking on the Indians in their own backyard…. with the cricket test series starting on Wednesday (which may already be in progress by the time you read this message)…I think the new Proteas in the squad are in for a massive surprise….I hope we are able to acquit ourselves well against this quality side in their own territory…..a massive learning curve awaits….we did perform admirably in the T20 series, ending up 1-1…after being fairly comprehensively beaten in the first match…having the second rained out….the third was a complete turn-around, this time India suffering a humiliating defeat….well done to the boys on this excellent result….may we take this positive intent through into the Test series….

Our weekend was a busy affair…with Club Cricket, another festive Friday to start off the weekend, Bok rugby and the RWC, the Apricot Tree Spring Festival…and then of course general weekend Club shenanigans….so let me begin with our Club sport…

Our Senior Soccer has officially ended….with the Vets and Ladies summer league starting under lights from Friday…and the Juniors finish off all their Cup Finals at the North on Sunday…with both senior and junior prize giving coming up…it is almost time to officially honour their achievers and stars of the season….and give them a while to enjoy their R&R…..have a blast guys…

Our senior rugby players are busy with 7’s and 10’s tournaments, while the Juniors are playing in their finals matches of the season…with 5 age group teams making these play offs for our Northerns Juniors…a most satisfying result for our first year at this most competitive level…well done to the Junior Chairman, Jaco and his team of ever ready assistants in keeping the Northerns flag flying high throughout the season…

Our hockey players are taking their well earned rest, with Hockey 5’s starting in Mid October to keep them all out of mischief in the summer break…

The Spring fest…hosted by the Apricot Tree school…was held at the Main baseball diamond and featured super food and art stalls and some fantastic artists….Reborne (who were my favourite) and Nick Rush amongst others….it really was a super day…although not as well supported as I would have liked…with the rest of Benoni “powerless” thanks to the third consecutive Saturday of light cuts….the Rugby was still able to be shown on the big screen on the stage… thanks to the generators that they had the insight of bringing on for the day….the students from the school performed on stage prior to the rugby….and in a heart wrenching performance these young people stole everyone’s hearts as they danced and performed for the audience…..finally bringing the house down with their version of the National Anthem…I don’t think there were too many dry eyes in the arena after this….our grateful thanks to the sterling efforts of the teachers, parents and helpers in assisting these you people in their challenges in life…all in all a great day for the school….hopefully they made some good money in celebration of their 10^th anniversary….

Our Joker draw this week had another “newbie” in front of the cabinet to do the selecting… as Mike Nagel was the fortunate Member to have his name drawn from the beeeeeg black box and his choice went to the left…. one below centre on the left and pulled the Queen of Clubs out of hiding….his misfortune means that the Jackpot grows up to R83502…which will be up for grabs this week….please come and try your luck….at only R5 a ticket….you could be our next big winner….

And after a really super evening of music last week from Blak n Blu…we are going back to our home grown Northerns talent this week….we are having Shaz and his Karaoke set up back at the North….everyone must get their vocal chords oiled and ready ourselves for us to have some real talent to emerge…

Our pizza kitchen has already been open for 2 months…and is consistently producing some fantastic aromas and tastes…I can personally vouch for some really scrumptious pizzas….please come down to the North and try them…..

That is all from my side of the desk for this week…Take care….Rod

Mike Nagel (Guest) drew the Queen of Clubs – Joker Draw a turnover at R83 502.00 for Friday 04th October. Be present to win!!

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The Scimitar

The Scimitar 19 Sep 2019

19th September 201919th September 2019
by Glenda Todd

Morning to all our readers……

The Rugby World Cup is upon us….and in a first for the rugby officiado’s, it has been allocated to a lesser known rugby “giant”….and all the participating teams are either already in the land of the rising sun…or are at their training camps to prepare themselves for the showdown that produces a world champion every four years….I can quite distinctly remember four years ago, the North was hosting a hockey reunion to welcome the Astro on our property…..and we took two hours off the frantic matters of hockey playing, catch ups and enjoying a quiet beer or two, to watch our opening match in the 2015 RWC…..and we watched in horror as the Boks were humbled by new little “giants” in world rugby….I remember the disbelief in everyone’s eyes as our heroes fell from the pedestal they had elevated themselves to…to remind us that we are not bigger than the game….and this was surely the biggest upset in World Cup history….admittedly it was a woeful performance by the Boks and may it never, and may I repeat NEVER, be repeated again…..I must be honest that I think that our Boks have come a long way since that fateful day in September 2015….but as we now face our biggest hurdle since the 2015 show piece….we do have a few factors that are pointing in our favour this year….one of course, is our own self imposed 12 year rule….we won in 1995….with our next success coming in 2007…..and as we approach 2019, we realise that the 12 year rule is lurking….additionally we have won the Rugby Championship (old Tri-nations) and this augers well….we have played some pretty good rugger this year and after beating the All Blacks in Kiwi last year….we proved that it was not a flash in the pan…playing out to a draw in the latest encounter…..in a match which appeared to be dogged by some indifferent refereeing decisions…but let me not complain….because somehow the name Bryce Lawrence keeps on cropping up in my mind…..so let me not get onto that subject…this letter may end up being four or five pages of negative drivel…..onwards and upwards…

Could everyone please note that the Club will be open for all the later matches in the 2019 RWC….(we unfortunately will not be open for the “early” matches around 06h00 SAST) but all the 09h00 and 11h30 matches will be catered for….we will also be running a special for the duration of the matches…..at R30 for a double brandy and coke…and if you bring a mate R50 for two of these specials….I have to go back to an old saying at the North in the 80’s…..

”at that price, the more you drink….the more you save”….so come along and save plenty for the duration of the games shown at the North, for the entire Rugby World Cup…hopefully we will see you there…..could the staff please take note that this special does NOT apply to neither Brent nor Kelvin!!

We had another roll over on the Joker draw last week, with Dean Johnson having his name drawn for the first time…..and his search and selection found the four of hearts…which results in the jump in the Jackpot to R79146……we are starting to attract a nice gathering of friends on a Friday night at the draw..come along this week to try your luck…..it may be your chance to shine….

Friday night saw the return of Freedom Unfound…and a super evening of foot stomping and hand clapping music was enjoyed by all….Ryno and his boys really put on a good show….well done to all…and thank you for celebrating Ryno’s birthday in style….This week we host the Zimmer Twinz and Eileen, who have also proved to be very popular with our Northerns faithful….so if you haven’t been along before…please come and start your weekend off on the right foot….

Our winter sports are winding down at the moment…and it felt quite empty without our usual fare of footballers on a Saturday….but the hockey prize giving definitely brought some pizzazz to the Club….with dress up….fancy hats….and hordes of over exuberant hockey players, “blink” after having one or two at and after their traditional matches that always precede the ceremony…..congratulations to all the achievers…my thanks to all the wonderful clowns and friends that make the game of hockey so festive for me….I will be back next year….but it looks like I will have to work a little harder next year for some recognition…. snigger snigger….nudge nudge wink wink….say no more!!

With the winter boys taking a back seat now…..the summer fellows were very quick to jump onto the band wagon…..and with the ‘vaal’ colours on the grounds turning with shades of green…the white clothes were immediately on show….and the sweet click of leather on the willow will be the prevalent sound over the next six months….good luck for the season boys…let’s get some rain that we can have the beautiful green fields that accompany the red ball game….

In a final word on the winter sports…I have heard that the Eastern Gauteng Colts soccer side that boast 10 representatives from the North in their ranks had a really good weekend in Florida, where they contested the Final against Cosmo City LFA team and were successful in their efforts…winning the tournament….a super effort from the Easterns Colts who were one of two age related Easterns sides to win the trophy on the day…

The Athletics section will be holding their Annual green number function next Wednesday…to honour the stalwarts who have complete 10 completed Comrades Marathons….and for some really resilient Members, who will be celebrating their “double-green”…which a phenomenal achievement on its own….may all the athletes go and join to acknowledge the tenacity and endurance of these amazing sports people….

With the RWC upon us…..my blood is green….GO BOKKE

Have a super week…hopefully I will see you all at the Rugby over the weekend…..and if at none of the others, definitely at the All Black game on Saturday at around midday…

Keep well Rod

Dean Johnson (Guest) drew the Four of Hearts – Joker Draw a turnover at R79 146.00 for Friday 20th September. Be present to win!!

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Beer Garden and Scimitar Bar open from 12h00 serving Pub Lunches and delicious Pizza

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Well done to all BNAC Podium finishers at the Significance Run held on 14th September

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25th – 28th September @ Northern Areas “A”, “B” and “C” Fields from 08h00 to 17h30 daily

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BNHC had a fantastic prize-giving this past Saturday and are so proud to be part of the best Sports Club on the East Rand. Well done to all our winners and here’s to a bigger and better 2020
Full list of winners below:
*Team of the Year: Evolve (trophy donated by Brandon Halkett)
*Spirit Trophy of the Year: Chirpettes
*Sportswoman of the Year: Aimee Dixon-Cronje, Chirpettes (trophy donated by Benoni Hockey Club)
*Sportsman of the Year: Cody Vorster, Men’s First Side & Evolve (trophy donated by Bob Tyler)
*Clubwoman of the Year: Kerryn King & Amber Willis, YaYa’s (trophy donated by Lyn Liebich)
*Clubman of the Year: Colin Merifield, Men’s First Side & Evolve (trophy donated by Standard Brass)
*Most Dedicated Player: Heather Turnbull, YaYa’s (Chairman’s Award)
*Most Valued Player: Dale Griffiths, Men’s First Side & Hangovers
*Captain of the Year: Derek Merifield, Evolve
*Most Promising Junior Boy: Matt Chaplain, Men’s First Side
*Most Enthusiastic Lady: Michel Van Biljon, Eagles (trophy donated by Image Boutique)
*Most Enthusiastic Man: Dudley Hickman, Kittens (trophy donated by His Image)
*Most Improved Player Lady: Kayleigh Morgan-Evens, YaYa’s (trophy donated by Gillette)
*Most Improved Player Man: Ozzie Teixeira, Mammoths (trophy donated by Alan Castleman)
*Most Promising Player Lady: Meeghan Cordier, Fossils (trophy donated by Vanessa Halkett)
*Most Promising Player Man: Damien Hugo, Colts (trophy donated by Trevor Hoole)
*u/21 Player of the Year Lady: Abbeygail Cordier, Fossils (trophy donated by Lorna Brown)
*u/21 Player of the Year Man: Kyle Du Preez, Men’s First Side (Memorial Trophy)
*Most Consistent School Girl: Michelle Slogrove, Harambee Stars (trophy donated by Barry Kelvie)

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The Scimitar

Rugby World Cup 2019 at Benoni Northerns Week 1

18th September 201918th September 2019
by Dylan Coates

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 11 Sep 2019

11th September 201911th September 2019
by Glenda Todd

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!!

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

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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.

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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!

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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)

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The Scimitar

The Scimitar 5 Sep 2019

5th September 20195th September 2019
by Glenda Todd

From a breezy North….I bid you all warm greetings….

If anyone took the time to get out to the “BIG DAY OUT” last Saturday…they will agree that Mango Groove definitely still have “IT”…..they have been a wonderful group since the late eighties…and are one of the few groups that sounds precisely the same live as they do on recordings….the backup singers were at their lyrical best….whilst Claire Johnstone has lost none of her pizzazz and flair…..and all the instrumentalist were absolutely brilliant….I think that everyone gave a collective groan when they announced that they were about to play their last song….I thoroughly enjoyed my big day out and hope that we able to repeat it really soon….

And that may be a little sooner than we all think….as this weekend we are hosting the Smile Festival….a tribute to Afrikaans artists and their work….and with merry goo rounds for the kids it promises to be a fantastic weekend of entertainment for all…please join us…

Our soccer boys finished off their season in style both sides scoring massive wins against Germiston….the second side recording their largest win of the season 8-1….cementing their second spot in the league……one position lower than last year….but a huge change around in personnel and a significant reduction in the average age of the players in the current season, means a satisfactory return for our reserve side….and a fitting end to the season for the young legs giving our side more speed and efficiency for the whole match….the first side managed to arrive with four players short and had to use the younger men that had already played a full match before….but despite the weary legs, the youngsters were able to score all the first side goals….with another goal glut as we ran out easy 6-1 winners in the super league encounter…and this impressive end, meant that landed up in position 7 in the final standings…looking back on the season…I think it could be fair to say that the amount of draws during the season….cost us in the long run…reserves has 7 draws….while the first side had 9 of the level up matches…it looks that our BMT has let us down over the season…if we had possibly scored an extra goal in half of those drawn matches would have had us climbing up the ladder and competing for league honours by both sides…..the reserve side is competing this weekend in the cup final against Luso at Olympia….good luck boys…play your best….that is all we can ask….

The hockey seasons also ended last weekend with the ladies and gents both finishing off their respective leagues…and then this weekend end off with their fun events…the ladies will have their mash-up at the Easterns Astro while the men finish off at St Doms with their Crutch tournament….should be a great weekend of fun to enjoy…..

All is quiet on the rugby front…with their fun for the future being the sevens season that should be starting fairly soon….keep your eye on the Scimitar for news on the relevant dates…..

The cricketers held their trials last weekend and it looked like a pretty good turnout…..soon we will be listening to the crack of leather on willow and we can sip drinks under an umbrella in the bright summer sunshine….

The joker draw had a return of Paul Walton to the selection position as Lockey had his chance to scramble a name from the beeeg black box last week…. Paul’s return to the limelight, did not indicate a change in his fortune….as he found where the queen of hearts showed her face for the first time at this draw…..so another climb in the jackpot means there are some more reasons to come and join us this week at the draw to try your luck….our prize money this week is up to R75068…come along this week to join us bringing in the weekend in a relaxed manner….

We are back with Karaoke this week…so all our aspirant pop stars may come and join us as we make some noise in the Scimitar on Friday night….

Really a short rendition this week as we start the change of seasons….hope to see you all at the “Smile Festival” this weekend…. see you all soon….Rod

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Paul Walton (Social) keeps on trying his luck but alas drew the Queen of Hearts – Joker Draw a turnover at R75 068.00 for Friday 06th September. Be present to win!!

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On Friday 06th September from 18h30

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Benoni Northerns Athletic Club’s Time Trial started last Tuesday! 17:45 Wilge Road, Farrarmere. You can run 4km/8km.

Eagles Super 5’s Hockey Registrations are now open get your teams in to avoid disappointment Contact Shaun Taylor – shauntaylor@absamail.co.za

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Congratulations to Benoni Northerns “Evolve” Team for winning the EGHA Mens Hockey “A” League

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The Scimitar

The Scimitar 29 Aug 2019

29th August 201930th August 2019
by Glenda Todd

A super good morning to all from the Ice box at the North….

Outside our office, my view is altering….daily…the oak avenue that fringes the road to the tennis club….now not only possesses stark and angular branches….but they are now filled with a green fuzz of spring leaf growth…which means that spring is “a-sprunging”….happiness for me…as I am sure you all realise by this time….that the cold winter weather is not my favourite time of the year… but now that Spring is on its way…I feel a little better already….

Let me start off by issuing a humble apology to Gavin (Shifty) Oosthuizen who has also made the over 40 Masters side to represent SA at the World Cup in Cape Town……I mentioned his two Club mates Dale Griffiths and Colin Merrifield in my message two weeks ago…on our return from the annual Masters outing in Johannesburg….my research into the matter was obviously found wonting….for which I sincerely apologise….I thought that my sources had the correct credentials….but on further investigation, it has emerged that my inside information guy turned out to be a well dressed rogue, who was only posing as a gentleman of superior knowledge and was a real imposter….so the North officially has three representatives in the National side at hockey….a first for our Hockey Club…..awesome news and very well done to each and every one of you…..

Friday night was a real party with our new duo of Nikkita and Richard keeping the faithful here into the wee hours….I did check on the late night footage….and it proved that the Hadida and Ferret are able to co-habit and even dance with each other!!!! Clips of this exclusive footage will be on sale at our offices…the proceeds being used to bolster the Rod and Glenda benevolent fund…..any contributions will be willingly accepted and are most welcome….this week we welcome back Omega and their five piece band to maintain the excellent quality of entertainment at the North…these guys have proved to be a hit each time they have performed at the North….so please come along to listen to these talented musicians….

Our Joker draw this week saw the return of Cheryl Bartie, as her ticket was again drawn from the beeeeg black box….but she was unable to match her good fortune at selecting the possible joker….and only succeeded in finding the ten of Clubs….so with another roll over… we move the jackpot up to R73 148….and with a great band playing…please come and try your luck at the joker draw and listen to some super tunes….a wonderful way to start your weekend…..

Our Soccer boys were on song on Saturday and with both sides being successful meant that for the first time in quite a while, we brought home 6 points to the Club…..well done boys….the footballing skills of our opposition does not justify their lowly position in the league table…..and albeit the scores do not reflect it, the opposition were in the match until the latter stages of each game….creating opportunities throughout the contest…..the reserves coming out 3-0 on top, whilst the first side also had a three goal cushion, showing a 6-3 result…..both of the sides had mid week games against Alberton away…..which is always a difficult opposition on an unpredictable pitch….usually very bumpy…..but the results were not available before this message was sent for publishing……if they were positive results, you will be sure to hear about it next week….otherwise I may just sweep it under the carpet very quickly and quietly…..this week we take on Germiston City away….in one of the last games of the season…..please go along to watch the matches…they will be most appreciative of all the support that they can muster….

The rugger buggers are now in a period of rest…before they start their 7’s season…. keep an eye on the Scimitar and our Facebook pages for more information on this exciting sport….

The hockey season is drawing to a close….and last weekend we finished off the Juniors season with their prize giving after playing their annual matches against the parents….I saw a lot of smiles from the kids and hobbling parents, sporting injuries (sore hamstrings, bad backs and dodgy knees being the most common excuses) but all parents were unanimous in their heaping of praise on the coaches and juniors that had another fantastic and most successful season….well done to all concerned…..

Senior hockey is also about to wrap up the season….so expect some great celebrations and happiness around the astro and club in the next few weekends….

This week we see the Mango Groove concert at the club…and this should be a day to remember….it is many years since I last saw MG….and that was most memorable…I’m sure it will be again…..I will be there.. I hope you will too….

Also next week we have another fantastic event as we host the Afrikaans Smile music festival (as Glenda says Glim-lag fees) with a real English accent…..this should also be a spectacular weekend of entertainment…. please diarise it….

Short and sweet (using a Leon Schuster movie title) for this week…. hope to see you all out and about at the North….

Enjoy you week….if you have any complaints or compliments about the North, please email me on rod.scheepers@gmail.com….

Have fun….Rod

Benoni! Are you ready for a BIG Day Out!
We have invited *Mango Groove* to join us in a celebration of all things East Rand! Bring your friends, bring your family and let’s make it a day to remember! There will be delightful drinks, awesome food and fantastic entertainment all day long! Kids under 14 are FREE, accompanied by an adult. No entry to 15-17 years olds: Alcohol will be served at this event and unfortunately the organisers cannot risk under age drinking at the event.
Benoni Beer & Gin Fest sold OUT so get your tickets early!
Online Tickets:
https://www.howler.co.za/bigdayout
– Limited early bird tickets available at R120 a ticket (plus R6 booking fee).
– Normal entry: R140 (plus R6 booking fee).
– At the door: R160

Cheryl Bartie (Social) drew the 10 of Clubs – Joker Draw a turnover at R73 148.00 for Friday 30th August. Be present to win!!

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Senior Mens and Womens Cricket trials 2019
Saturday, 31 August 2019
10h00 to 13h00 – Women and Colts
14h00 to 16h30 – Senior Men
Important information:
Registration on the website (www.bncricket.co.za) before trials. Bring your own cricket balls. Please ensure that you wear normal practice kit (black/white pants, white shirt) and no colored clothing will be permitted.

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Eagles Super 5’s Hockey Registrations are now open get your teams in to avoid disappointment Contact Shaun Taylor – shauntaylor@absamail.co.za

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The Scimitar

The Scimitar 22 Aug 2019

22nd August 201922nd August 2019
by Glenda Todd

Warm greetings from the North

Another stunning day has dawn on the Highveld in Gauteng…..and our Indian summer continues….Mother Nature did strike back for a little while and sent in some cool breezes to remind us that it is only August…..but the traditional August winds have not arrived as yet….and as my farmer mates from Newcastle would react…..they would look into the distance and look concerned and wise…and say….we need the winds for the September rain and that may mean poor crops…..so please let the wind blow….so that the rains may be wide and plentiful…..I have noticed that my car is really dirty and dustier than normal so I really want the wind to settle the dust and get everything to start growing again…..my trees at home have had their blossoms and there are now their brilliant green leaves are awaiting the rain to allow the fruit bearing procedure to work in earnest…..this is my first year in my new home, so I have a new crop of fruit and nuts awaiting me….I can’t wait….

Friday night was a most festive affair with Billy and Martin providing the entertainment….and the crowd enjoyed singing along and dancing both in the Scimitar and in the Beer Garden….and we had a really great evening….this week we have a new duo to grace the North….on this side of the great divide….as Nikita and Richard will be appearing in the Scimitar to entertain us this week….they come highly recommended…so please come and enjoy your start to the weekend at Northerns….

Just before I get into the Joker draw results for last week…..in compliance with the published terms and conditions of the Joker draw, could I ask that everyone ensures that the Joker draw tickets that are completed by the individual themselves, must please contain their own name or if it is a partnership, to contain one or two identifiable names…..or a unique nickname that the person is generally known by….. not a combined name that could relate to any group or team at the Club…..this will avoid any confusion at draw time….

At the Joker draw last week, after an initial false start….Martin Iske had his name pulled from the beeeeeg black box again….and his luck at being drawn again, did not improve his ability at finding the elusive Joker…and his choice on the right just above the centre line….proved to be the Ace of Hearts….amid roars of approval from the waiting and expectant crowd…..the Jackpot now climbs into the 70’s…..and settles at R71 144….so it is ready and waiting for you to come and collect your money this Friday….at only R5 a ticket you could win the Jackpot…please pop along to try your luck…we would love to have you with us…..

Saturday saw our Rugger buggers hosting the junior ladies 7’s tournament…..and according to their spokesmen…it was a roaring success…..loads of great rugby played…plenty of excitement….and even though the beer garden was not as frequently used…as all the players were school children…..Lourens and his crew kept the consumption levels up by trying to beat the previous weekend record for brandy sales…..and I think they came pretty close in achieving their target….well done on a super weekend of rugby guys….

The soccer boys had weekend matches away at Randburg…..against a traditionally strong opposition…that have been a quality side for many years…..and in a complete turnaround we were able to bring home four points….a rare feat by any of the Super League sides….. the second side were at their quality best and scored some fantastic goals and were able to return with three points and savoring a 4-1 win…..the first side were the better side throughout the encounter…having Randburg on the back foot with quality passing, possession and positioning….. but poor finishing allowed the opposition to keep a share of the spoils at the end of the day with 1-1 being the final result… this week the first side play Olympia in a cup match in mid-week….while the reserves have to replay the Sporting fixture in a travesty of justice ruled on by the disciplinary committee…also in a mid-week clash…..both sides are back at the North this weekend against Zwide and hopefully can use the crowd and local conditions to bag a full house of points….good luck to both sides….

Hockey was back in full force on the weekend and it was marvelous to see the beer garden full of sides on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning….as we run into the end of the season….things are starting to hot up as the teams vie for the top spot…whilst at the bottom, all the stragglers are making sure that they do not end up with the wooden spoon….

The caravan, which is our mobile bar and is to be known as “The Coach”, will soon be making its presence felt at the Astro where it will be deployed on the weekends to sooth the parched throats in the area….please be on the lookout for our new addition….

Also diarise our two big events in the next two week…..Mango Groove are appearing at the North next Saturday (31^st) in the “Big day out”…. and then the week after that on the 7^th and 8^th we will have the Smile Festival (Glimlag Fees) for a weekend of Afrikaans music, which is going to be a first for us at the North….and hopefully the start of a long relationship…the organisers are very excited about the event…and it looks like they will attract some bumper crowds….both of these should be epic….please join us…

I hope you all have a fantastic week….Take care…Rod

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Martin Iske (Social) drew the Ace of Hearts – Joker Draw a turnover at R71 144.00 for Friday 23rd August. Be present to win!!

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The Scimitar

The Scimitar 14 Aug 2019

14th August 201914th August 2019
by Glenda Todd

Warm greetings to everybody…..

This past weekend I was able to experience the highs and lows, exhilaration and despair of Masters Hockey…..a special place, where the mind says that you can do what you did in your twenties….whilst the body shouts back and replies….”that was more than thirty years ago!! Never!! Slow down!!” Every year at around this time…a flock of ageing party lovers and rockers….cunningly disguise themselves as Hockey players….and descend on a pre-determined city to paint the town red and convince everyone around that hockey is one of the best sports and past times to follow and play…whilst attempting to party the entire weekend away….interrupted during the day by the obligatory two games of hockey….to confirm that there was actually a sporting purpose for actually going on tour….and judging by the looks of the participants on early Sunday morning…it was a roaring success….and this is not like a woman’s pregnancy….we do not say shortly thereafter…..Never again…..we immediately shout and scream….”I can’t wait for the next one”……so using the first line of the John Denver Classic ….all my bags are packed I’m ready to go…and everyone can’t wait for the next one….

And in some exciting news, our provincial Premier men’s team, the Colts, showed a dramatic improvement over 2018, where they finished in last place in Durban…..the boys displaying improved commitment and tenacity in proudly pulling a bronze medal over their heads this year….so wonderful news for our province in the very competitive Colts league….and for two of a multitude of Benoni Northerns representatives in this team, two of our Members have been selected for the national over 40 Masters side that will be playing next year in Cape Town in the World Cup….some huge congratulations and laurels for Dale Griffiths and Colin Merrifield…..absolutely brilliant guys…. May it be a wonderful and memorable tour for you both….

We had a change of nights for the Joker draw nights to cater for the long weekend….so last Thursday was turned into an “honorary Friday” and meant another party night at the North…and this week we had another “newbie” to take their place at the Joker cabinet….as Gary Brown had his name up in lights and didn’t ponder for too long in front of the card display….before indicating his choice in the top right corner….and to the joyous scream of the crowd….the Ace of Spades was revealed….with Gary’s luck drained we have another roll over and now with the Jackpot up to R69389…..ready and waiting for you this week….please come along on Friday when we have another chance at finding our next big winner….R5 is all it takes for you take part….but the more tickets you take the greater your chance of being selected…..

Last week we had the Zimmer Twinz back….and although it was a smaller crowd than usual with all the Masters hockey players away on tour…it was still a great evening of entertainment…..and especially as there wasn’t any wind blowing….both Uku and Peter were able to maintain their stance and keep the wolves at bay…..well done guys…..this week we welcome back two old friends as Coyote make their appearance again at the North…Billy and Martin were some of the first musicians to appear at the North….so come along to see why they have been so popular over the years….

After having some amazing weather for the last little while…..wasn’t it just going to be Murphy’s law that the weather would turn nasty on Saturday for our Junior Rugby day…..a cold windy and overcast day dawned…..and proved to be a massive dampener on the day….everyone stayed in their cars watching the action….and despite there being some amazing rugby played….the crowds that were expected did not materialise…. a huge pity for the organisers as they had put in significant efforts to make the day a success… I do however have it on very good authority that Lourens and his committee of volunteers did still try to consume the entire stock of brandy that was meant to refresh 2000 visitors….and only manfully gave up the cause as lost eventually….late into the night…..but as a fillip….Valke have granted our Club the Girls 7’s festival this weekend to be run over Saturday and Sunday…..so there should be a festival of sport on the rugby fields (or cricket B field for those not in the know) please go along there to witness the strength of our local schools and club strength…..should be a festival of rugby to remember….and Lourens can try to complete his personal crusade to deplete the brandy stock…..

This Sunday we will also see a festival of Baseball, with games on all day at our grounds…..please pop down to join in and watch this feast of sport…..

Our Soccer boys will be travelling to Randburg after a short break…..we hope that they will utilise the rest period allowed, to come home with all the points as we start to reach the climax of the season….good luck chaps….

Hockey will return this weekend at the Astro with ladies playing on Saturday afternoon and the guys making their appearance on Sunday as usual….

I am afraid that is all from me for this week….I hope you all enjoyed the weekend off…and are all back in the swing of things with a 5 day week…..I am sure that hockey players could have done with a three day week to rest their weary bones….but no rest for the wicked….so noses to the grindstone and shoulders to the wheel….

Have a super week everyone…..if there is anything specific you would me to pay attention to…please do not hesitate to email me on rod.scheepers@gmail.com

Cheers….see you all soon…Rod

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Gary Brown (Social) drew the Ace of Spades – Joker Draw a turnover at R69 389.00 for Friday 16th August. Be present to win!!

At “The North” FRIDAY 16TH AUGUST : The Beer Garden and Scimitar Bar are open from 12h00 serving Pub Lunches and delicious Pizza.

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Meet the u18 South African Baseball Team traveling to South Korea for the World Cup at the end of August. Each and every player is exceptionally talented and will undoubtedly make us and South Africa proud

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Indians Baseball club will be hosting some great baseball this weekend.

Major A Chippewa vs Giants starts at 13h00, this game will be played on the Main Diamond at 13h00
2 top teams against each other.
Definitely not to be missed.

CNN will be at the fields interviewing our very own Rowan Ebersohn, he, along side other players from around the country will be playing in the Olympic Qualifiers in Italy
CNN will be following the SA team in Italy covering the games.

Major B Wichita vs Sioux, home club derby.
2 of the top sides in the league play off to determine league winners.
First pitch starts at 09h30 on the Main Diamond.

Major B, visitors Midgets vs Mets play at 13h00 on B Diamond

Our Senior Reserves team, Mochicans are in the Round Robin play off for the cup.
They play Titans at 10h00 on the B Diamond.

The SA18 team will too be showing what they all about as they step up to the plate against Mets.
Game starts at 10:00 on the F Diamond.

Baseball Sunday 18 August, is the day to come support our local teams.

Great Food and Refreshments will be on sale.

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The Scimitar

The Scimitar 7 Aug 2019

7th August 20198th August 2019
by Glenda Todd

A splendid morning greeting to everybody….

We are currently experiencing a fantastic Indian summer….and I think that my body is not sure what to do….when I peep out of the window in the morning the weather and view appear to be the same as last week….but the temperature differential must be all of 10 degrees during the day….from a vest, long sleeved shirt, body warmer, scarf or buff and a warm jacket….to a golf shirt and body warmer in the matter of a few days…and even shorts were on display after hockey on Sunday…long may it continue….but I am sure that Mother Nature will be back to show us who the real boss is soon….to just remind us that it is still winter and don’t put away the winter woollies just yet….the forecast doesn’t look too bad….with only a little inclement weather for Saturday but still not anything icy….so let us enjoy the fruits of warm winter for a little longer….

I had a great Saturday with our hockey committee hosting all the hockey juniors (and their excited parents and supporters) from the province for their annual festival….and what a day it was…excellent weather …a great turn out….some super hockey and piles of fun for participants and spectators alike…at this point I think we need to remember the efforts of all the coaches (and of course particularly ours)….these stalwarts give up their time and efforts to improve the game of hockey and provide a future for the sport….a massive thank you to these special people from the parents, committee and of course from myself on behalf of the North….your contribution is highly valued and appreciated… I also think that congratulations are in order to Shaun Taylor and his ever enthusiastic bunch of parents and volunteers, who sold plenty of tickets, produced masses of wors and bacon rolls, piles of hamburgers and buckets of cool drinks…they were always on hand to assist with directions to the nearest restroom, or clarification of field allocations…..I only saw one casualty on the day and that was not as a result of any of the sport being played….but rather to the endless supply of Hansa that Shepherd and his merry crew were able to supply to the crew of chefs….

This coming weekend is the turn of our older generation on the hockey fields as they take their annual trek…this year the travel time is reduced, as the tournament is in Johannesburg…..but it could be light years away as far as the participants are concerned….as they start to get into the “zone” for the weekend…I am sure that some of our readers will remember the festival that was held in Benoni two years ago….and this will prove to be another memorable weekend….good luck to our members of the North, who will be representing Eastern Gauteng and of course….best wishes to the EG sides for the weekend….we hope that your efforts on the field will match your exploits and antics off it….

Our Soccer boys had the weekend off as Boksburg have pulled out of the league….and this weekend we have the weekend off as the semi’s in the Cup are being played and we have a bye…through to the finals….

The senior rugger buggers had their last matches of the season….with the second side losing in the final by a solitary point…while the U21’s were undoubtedly our stars…over turning a half-time deficit 17-5 to run our eventual winners 26-17 which took a great amount of determination and will power….well done boys…..Merlin Cup Valke Champions for 2019….we are very proud of you….with the seniors season now a thing of the past…the Junior section is now firmly in the sights…as it is our opportunity to host the Junior Rugby Festival this weekend….as we are expect players from 12 different towns in the Valke region…so we can expect anything between 1500-2000 players excluding their travelling band of fans that each of the these special little players attract….so please come along to the North on Saturday (JB Hall side) to see an extravaganza of brilliant junior rugger….

Our pizza kitchen opening was officially opened last Wednesday….and I can personally vouch that the pizza’s are amazing….if you haven’t already tried them…please do so…they are definitely worthwhile….

Friday night brought another “newbie” to the Joker cabinet…as Barry had his name selected from the beeeeeg black box….and in a late shuffle of presenters….John Ansell (Club Treasurer and Athletics Chairman) stood in the limelight to turn over the card that was picked….and Barry pondered about his choice for a while after his photograph…and eventually settled for the middle of the board…and his card ended up with the two of spades being turned over…. Another roll over and this week the Jackpot is up to R68219…and this week…because of the public holiday on Friday…we have moved the Joker and band to the Thursday 8^th….so please note it in your diary…that we are having the Zimmer Twinz playing in the Scimitar on Thursday….and the Joker draw at 19h30..

A shorter version this week, hope I have covered all the bases…..have a super long weekend….take care and enjoy it…

If you have any matter that you like to bring to my attention….or if you have a suggestion…please do not hesitate to drop me an email on rod.scheepers@gmail.com

Rod

Barry Smith-Hardy (Football ) drew the Two of Spades – Joker Draw a turnover at R68 219.00 for Thursday 08th August.

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At “The North” THURSDAY 08TH AUGUST : The Beer Garden and Scimitar Bar are open from 12h00 serving Pub Lunches and delicious Pizza.

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Thanks for all the memories Taiwan. Baseball u12 Squad

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Junior Hockey Season done and dusted for the year . All the players made us so proud and ending it all by playing their last games on home turf. See you all next Year. Well done to all the Coaches for the time and effort they affirded in making this Season a memorable one

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The Scimitar

The Scimitar 1 Aug 2019

1st August 20191st August 2019
by Glenda Todd

Hi there everyone…..

Anyone who was at or near the North on Saturday was treated to the best of South Africa’s Scottish Pipe Bands….what a day it was….throngs of people milling around….highland dancers….bagpipes galore, with a rat-a-tat-tat of the snare drums…accompanied by the boom of the tenor and bass drums was present, in varying degrees of volume throughout the day…there were all sorts of treats and nibbles to satisfy the hungriest of tummies…and of course the beer tent was busy….not to mention our bars too….and here I must thank our staff for being absolute stalwarts on the day….the crowd seemed to arrive en masse from the start up (which coincided with the Springbok rugby) through to well after dark…and our staff were there to serve and assist any and all patrons…I received many compliments on our fields, facilities and especially our staff….so I was a really proud Member of Benoni Northerns at the excellent exposure we gained from the day….that we had stood up to the scrutiny and came out with flying colours, is an extremely prestigious accolade that we were able to earn….well done and very big to everyone that contributed to make the day and event the success that it was….

Earlier on Saturday….we saw the resurgence of the Boks in a match against the All Blacks….which on reflection the Boks were a trifle unlucky to only scramble a draw by scoring a converted try in the last action of the match….as minutes earlier the AB’s had converted a penalty, which after some intensive video analysis, reflected that the referee had in fact made the incorrect decision due to an earlier infringement….I don’t want to say that we should have continual TMO (third match official) reviews…..but I think that the TMO should have an inter-active interest in the match, giving the on field referee advice on some of the critical incorrect decisions made….I am sure that there will still be a whole debate on the matter….but I must be honest that the Boks impressed me with their first half performance and their tenacity at not giving up until the last minute…well done lads….this bodes well for the way forwards and the up-coming World Cup, where their opening match is against the self same All Blacks….I’m looking forward to that….

This weekend is our annual junior hockey festival at the North….so please expect to have almost a thousand little boys and girls running around with hockey sticks…being encouraged and spurred on by parents, siblings, grandparents and friends…I expect the Club to be a hive of activity from early on Saturday….so please be aware that congestion could be quite hectic up until about 14h00….so if you are wanting adequate parking, please be here early….I am sure it is going to be another bumper day of festival hockey….

Our Northerns rugby boys are on show this weekend…the Under 21’s and the second side in the finals of their respective leagues…..all the best boys….I hope that you are able to emulate the form that you have displayed over the entire season….Next Saturday the Juniors will be hosting their Annual Rugby day….where we host 12 towns with 10 – 15 rugby sides from each…so we can be expecting anything between 1500 to 2000 rugby players and all their support structures….so please be aware that the traffic could also be a little hectic on the 10^th….similar to the problems that are going to encounter this weekend….

With the pipe band competition, the Soccer guys were relegated to playing across the road to play Sporting….the reserves were having a really difficult match…where their opposition were eventually diminished to only 8 players after some serious ill-discipline….before their Coach invaded the pitch complaining to the referee….at which point the referee decided to abandon the fixture…Sporting were leading at the time 2-1….but there was an expected penalty about to be awarded, as the last dismissal of a player was the opposition goal keeper….before the abandonment…..It is a pity that this is going to have to go to disciplinary to land up with the eventual final result….the first side was seriously depleted of senior players and although the players tried manfully, the opposition was just too strong and we came out on the wrong side of a 4-1 loss….

Friday night proved to be a most festive affair… Black and Blue providing our musical entertainment….Andres and the trio of musicians, again proved why they are so popular and had the crowd singing along and baying for more at the end of the evening….this week we bring back Eben, who will supply his own version of many favourite tunes….

A previous winner of the Joker draw Rika Lourens, had her name pulled out of the beeeeeg black box at Joker draw time….but her luck this time was not as good as her previous attempt…as her selection proved to be the 5 of spades….another roll over…and the Jackpot increases to R66 869… we will have another name pulled out this week to see if we can create another big winner….make sure that you buy a ticket to ensure that it could be your name called this week….

That’s it for today….hope to see you soon…maybe at the Junior tournament on Saturday….or even in front of the Joker cabinet on Friday….

If you feel that we need to improve or change things at the Club…please feel free to email me on rod.scheepers@gmail.com

Take care Rod

Rika Lourens (Guest) drew the Five of Spades – Joker Draw a turnover at R66 869.00 for Friday 02nd August. Be present to win!!

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“Eben” playing on Friday from 18h30

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Baseball u12 World Cup – Australia, Czech Republic, Fiji, Italy, South Africa and USA will all continue to compete in the 7th-12th Place Round.

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Benoni Northern Junior Hockey Tournament to be held at Northern Areas on Saturday 03rd August 2019

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Welcome to our new ladies at our Eastern Gauteng Masters Hockey Capping Ceremony … . Looking forward to an awesome tournament with you ladies……Chantal Cordier

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Another 1st Team Milestone |
The club’s most famous ginger added his name to a prestigious club within the 1st team ranks. Michael Veliotes becomes only the 5th player to reach 200 caps and goes on to join Dale Griffiths, Colin Merifield, Peter Tucker and Chris Tucker as most played for 1st team hockey.

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Its been a long wait but finally the lights are up and the Seniors had the 1st run on the practice fields. Its not daylight but we have some of the best practice lights in the region. Thank you to all who made this possible. The Juniors that have come over, Benoni Northern’ s Main Club Committee supporting us, Senior and Junior Coaches giving up their free time to help, Football letting us use their fields and every single person who made this possible thank you because it would not have happened without you. Special thanks to our Rugby Chairman Lourens Smit who gave up a lot of his time to make this happen and his hard work is appreciated. Benoni Northern’s Rugby will just grow stronger and stronger.

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The 1st of many – Benoni Northern Junior Rugby Tournament to be held at Northern Areas on Saturday 10th August 2019.

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 25 Jul 2019

25th July 201925th July 2019
by Glenda Todd

Hello everyone…

We have had some real winter weather in the last week…I trust that everyone was well wrapped up against that bitingly cold wind that seems to arrive every time there is a cold front….

Our national netball ladies acquitted themselves quite admirably at the World Cup….I think we were extremely unfortunate to land up playing England in front of their partisan crowd….their girls definitely lifted their games against us….but we fared better than we have in many a year….at the North we have also already had some queries about Netball….I am sure that pretty soon we could have ourselves a new sub section….I am holding my thumbs….

With the onset of winter our crowds on Fridays have been a little disappointing…so I am really hoping for some warmer Friday nights that the Members of the North start coming out in their numbers again to experience the Friday fare that we offer….last Friday, Tryst were back in the Scimitar and again rocked everyone’s socks off….thanks to Cedz for a super evening…..the Joker draw produced another “newbie” as Ross Pawlett bounced up to take his place at the Cabinet and in the quest of finding the Joker…..his luck was no different to anyone else in the preceding weeks as he drew the 4 of spades…another roll over and the pot increases to R64466…with the month end up this month we are expecting really nice crowd to join us in the quest of finding the Joker…we also have the very popular Black and Blue providing our musical entertainment… please come along to see if you could be the next lucky person to be drawn to look for the Joker and win the Joker Jackpot….and enjoy the evening with us…

Our Soccer boys again had a double header and with two difficult sets of opposition, we knew that our squads would be hard pressed to come through injury free and with positive results too…playing against Linhill Celtic on Saturday and Luso on Tuesday evening meant that a difficult prospect awaited…the reserve side were cruising at 3-1 against a very competitive Linhill side…before conceding two late goals to have to settle for a share of the spoils on the day…whilst on Tuesday night…it was completely different as the reserves faced a most experienced Luso and had to come back from behind twice…and from the last kick of the match we were able to share the spoils this time 2-2….so no losses for the reserves…but also no win!! The first side were definitely the better of the two sides on Saturday against Linhill and despite having to come back from being behind on two occasions…were able to eke out a late winner and took the match 3-2…a great result for the boys….in the Tuesday evening fixture….Luso showed why they have been such a highly thought of outfit….leaving us facing a deficit of 2-0 at the break after some poor defending… but with all credit to the boys…after an obvious tongue lashing at half time from the coach…we came out guns blazing and took control of the match and were able to cancel their lead and walked away with a creditable 2-2 draw… so after a hectic last 10 days there will be no respite, as the boys are hosting Sporting this weekend…in a match that has been moved to the ‘C’ field to accommodate the pipe band gathering on the main fields on Saturday….

The rugger buggers were in their first semi final for quite a few years….and while the under 21’s maintained their excellent performance of the season…the first side appeared to be a little blinded by the lights and couldn’t produce the same unbeaten home performance…..that means that our second side and under 21’s will be contesting in the finals next weekend, while the firsts will have learned from the play-off experience…and this will hold them in good stead in the future… in Saturdays matches the under 21’s won by the proverbial mile…but the firsts found that Sasolburg were going to be a very different prospect in this particular match…..we were under the cosh for most of the match and with indiscipline causing us to play with 14 players for a portion of the match…it was always going to be an uphill struggle….at the end of the match Sasol ran out 20-12 winners…but a healthy congratulations to our side for playing some magnificent rugby throughout the season…allowing us to host a semi-final and for creating a fantastic vibe within the Rugby club…well done to all concerned.

On a more technical point…more laurels for the rugby committee…this week saw the big switch on of the lights on our Rugby fields….a massive well done to Lourens for his tireless efforts in this saga….he has remained resolute that he will get lights for his junior rugby players and on Monday night it all became a reality….I must say a huge thank you to a bull of a man….it has been a privilege and pleasure to work with you….and I am very proud and honoured to have you as part of my Club…thank you Lourens….

Our pizza kitchen has started with some prototypes…and by all accounts it is a massive success…with plenty of lip smacking and finger licking experiences….please come and taste their wares and join us in the official opening on Wednesday 31^st ….remember that you can still take part in the naming of the venue…see elsewhere in the Scimitar newsletter for more details….

That is all I have for today….I wish you well…stay warm

Regards

Rod

PS….if you have any suggestions or feel that we need to improve on anything or any aspect at the Club…please feel free to email me on rod.scheepers@gmail.com

Benoni Northerns Naming Competition!

Something exciting and new is happening at Northerns and we want your help! Beady eyed members may have noticed a wee bit of construction going on in the Beer Garden lately, and come 01 July 2019, we will have a new pizza and coffee cafe up and running to serve our members as well as a new mobile drinks bar in the form of the caravan to alleviate some of the bar traffic. We are running a competition to choose the names of both the pizza/ coffee cafe and the mobile drinks bar. The winners will each be awarded a R250 Benoni Northerns voucher! You can enter as many times as you like! Winning names will be chosen by the committee and will be contacted directly!

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Ross Pawlett (Hockey ) drew the Four of Spades – Joker Draw a turnover at R64 466.00 for Friday 26th July. Be present to win!!

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The Scimitar

The Scimitar 18 Jul 2019

19th July 201919th July 2019
by Glenda Todd

Warm greeting to all……
What a finish to the Cricket World Cup….and whilst we experienced some thrilling matches throughout the 6 week
spectacle…the best nail biter was kept to the very end….to have two teams tie in a World Cup final is absolutely crazy….after
really allowing England through the back door with the additional 4 runs of Ben Stokes’ bat in that frantic last over….from a
crazy rule that no-one really likes anyway…..and then not to be outdone…the “super over” that ICC had brought in to ensure
there would be a winner….also ends in a tie……so there really wasn’t a winner….but due to the number of boundaries scored
in the final….the Cup was awarded to England….which could have been a travesty of justice in the view of the Kiwi’s…as the
English lost more wickets and had that stroke of fortune of four additional runs….. but the rules were clear before the time…
and by the same stroke of luck that struck South Africa in 2003…..one run short made all the difference…..
And whilst our soccer [players could not advance any further in the AFCON competition, we have our girls playing Netball and
are acquitting themselves admirably…reaching their first World Cup semi final since 1995….I can see that there will be an
upsurge in the interests and level of participation in this sporting code in SA in the near future….so maybe there will be
enough interest for us to start a new sporting section at the North? Time will tell…
Friday saw the return of Ryno and Freedom Unfound….and what a performance they put up for us….they were at their usual
level best and the whole of the Scimitar were baying for more….personally, Ican’t wait for their next visit…. this week we
welcome back Tryst….with their great rocking music….so if you want to enjoy some great rock….join us this Friday….
The Joker draw this week had Paul Walton once again in front of the cabinet…and his luck at trying to find the Joker hasn’t
improved at all….as this time he turned over the seven of Diamonds….so the jackpot climbs again, leaving R62963 up for
grabs this week….come aling this week to try your luck…at only R5 a ticket….you can afford to take a few more tickets to
improve your chances at finding the Joker….
Our Soccer boys had a double header this week… last Saturday playing against Kempton….both sides had very depleted
squads with injury and unavailability…and we landed up with only 20 players available to man up for the two teams….the
reserves began their match a little sloppily….being down by the odd goal at the break of the half…..and in what could only be
construed as a “tongue lashing” the boys reacted positively and produced a great second stanza with all guns blazing, they
were able to bag the two goals to emerge as victors….the first team only had 9 players and had to fill in with players that had
already played a full match…..and played brilliant football for 75% of the match being 2-0 up at that stage….but as the
players began to tire….they conceded a “silly” goal….and then a disaster in what appears to be the norm against us of
late…the opposition were awarded a very dubious penalty…allowing them to draw level and producing our 7 th draw of the
season….and definitely not a true reflection on the match on the day…..
In a catch up game, we played Olympia…and the reserves were in devastating form…being three goals up in the first 5
minutes….a position that the opposition never recovered from…..with the match ending in a 6-0 rout for the reserves…..the
first side, although dominating proceedings on the night….just could not finish off an opposition that defended with
passion…and had to rely on the break-away for any sort of attack….and it was precisely one of these breaks that the
opposition made us pay…. scoring a great goal….and allowing them to take away the full three points….leaving us to rue all
of our missed opportunities…..this week we face Linhill Celtic at home with the reserves starting at 13h45 and the Super
League side kicking off at 15h30…
The rugby boys also had their last match before getting involved in the play offs this weekend…..And in the perfect setup for
this weekend….both the under 21’s and the 1 st ’s with an emphatic 57-17, were victorious over their Meyerton opposition….
this week is semi final play off day…the under 21’s clash with Nigel at 13h15…while the first team take on Sasolburg at
15h30….if you aren’t a soccer follower…maybe you would like to come down to support the rugger buggers….good luck to
both our sides….
The Rugby boys have also had some fantastic news this week as they were given the “go-ahead” for the flood lights of the
rugby fields…. this has thus been week there has been much activity…in the purchasing of lights and cables…hiring of trench
diggers…and the laying of the cable in expectation of the big “switch-on”…well done to Lourens and his team, who have
worked tirelessly in making their dream of lights a reality…well done guys…this will be a great asset to the Club this year and
for many years to come….ensuring the success of our Club by allowing more efficient use of our fields after dark too now…..
The first of our big events is edging ever closer….and next weekend we host the SA Pipe Band competition…this promises to
be a marvellous day and will be the first collaboration with Benoni High School…in hopefully the first of many….diarise the
date….July 27 at the Benoni Northerns…this will kick start a busy period at the Club….being followed up by the hosting of the
Gauteng Junior Hockey Tournament on August 3, where we showcase all the junior talent in the province at our fields…while
the next weekend will be a first for the North… we will welcome the Valke Junior Rugby players playing in our first Junior
Rugby festival….this promises to be a great day all the junior talents on display in a day of superb sporting fun…..
We are hoping to fire up the Pizza oven in the next week and have the first prototypes running off the production line in
expectation of our official opening on July 31…..I personally can’t wait…I am certain that this is going to be a major asset and
draw card at the club…. Don’t forget to participate in the naming game if you haven’t already done so…..
Please let me know if you have any complaints or compliments about the North….email me on rod.scheepers@gmail.com
Cheers Rod

Benoni Northerns Naming Competition!

Something exciting and new is happening at Northerns and we want your help! Beady eyed members may have noticed a wee bit of construction going on in the Beer Garden lately, and come 01 July 2019, we will have a new pizza and coffee cafe up and running to serve our members as well as a new mobile drinks bar in the form of the caravan to alleviate some of the bar traffic. We are running a competition to choose the names of both the pizza/ coffee cafe and the mobile drinks bar. Submit your entries by clicking the link! The winners will each be awarded a R250 Benoni Northerns voucher! You can enter as many times as you like! Winning names will be chosen by the committee and will be contacted directly!

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Paul Walton (Social) drew the Seven of Diamonds – Joker Draw a turnover at R62 963.00 for Friday 19th July. Be present to win!!

“Cedz Tryst” playing on Friday from 18h30

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BNAC Nelson Mandela Day Blanket Run 2019. To participate bring a blanket/s and or clothes you longer wear to be donated to various charities in Benoni. The plan is to run non-stop for 67 minutes on a set route. Route will be +- 2.5km. Teams will be made up of 5 people, to be made up as you arrive, please get there early. Runners are to complete as many laps as possible in 67 minutes. Winning team will comprise of total distance run between the 5 runners in 67 minutes. Great fun whilst supporting a good cause. Come and join.

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David Fink became the 1st Player to reach 100 goals for Benoni Northerns’ 1st team on Thursday last week, as the side enforced an emphatic 3-1 win against Beaulieu B. Congratulations to Dave on an incredible achievement in his hockey career.

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Perry Todd and David De Freitas at the finish of the Washie 100 Miler Ultra Marathon that took place on Friday, July 12, 2019 – Saturday, July 13, 2019. Less than 100 participants took on the challenge this year. David finished 6th in 18.27 and Perry finished 30th in 21.53. Hopefully more Northerns will join next year

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Steven Msimango made it to the podium at the Pirates Cool Ideas 10km on 14 July 2019. Our red and yellow ‘rose amongst the thorns’ taking part in this walking race league

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The Scimitar

The Scimitar 11 Jul 2019

11th July 201911th July 2019
by Glenda Todd

A good morning to all……

So we see the end of our efforts in the Cricket world Cup with a win against Australia of all teams…..and while all this was concluding on the muddy island…on the African continent, near the historical pyramids, the host nation (and one of the tournament favourites), were coming to grips with being dumped put of AFCON 2019 by Bafana…..I must be honest, that given our current form and past history, I was not holding out much hope for the national soccer stars….but they definitely proved me wrong…and I am sure there were plenty of people that woke up to a surprise on Sunday that we were in the Quarter Finals of AFCON 2019…..our next opponents are Nigeria (who are always a perennial African soccer giant….but are currently not riding on the crest of wave on the form front), but will always be difficult opponents….they do appear to be vulnerable….so we could have our first appearance in the semi finals of this event since 2000…… A quick summary for those with short, or possibly a very long, memory (in 1996 winners, 1998 silver medalists, 2000 bronze medalists) ….good luck to Bafana Bafana for the match on Wednesday night…by the time you read this you will probably know the result…hopefully we will have qualified for the semi’s…..(even if they haven’t…it was the first time since 2000 that we have qualified for the knockout stages….so well done to the boys for getting this far)

Onto our Friday evening at the North….we had a Karaoke evening and although we didn’t unearth any new talent….it looked like the crowd had a lot of fun, with some good, some average and some not so average performances…well done to all the contributors…..Earlier in the evening we had another “newbie” to the Joker cabinet, as Greg Dawson was the lucky fella to show us his skill at tracing the whereabouts of the Joker…..but his skill proved to be as good as all the other contestants….as he was able to select the Ace of Diamonds…..giving another roll over and bumping up the next Joker Jackpot value to R61364…..try your luck this week at the Joker draw and see if you can be our winner…We welcome back Ryno and Freedom Unfound this week…so Alan will get excited to know that Lighting Crashes will be on the playlist again this week for him….

Last weekend our Soccer boys went to the SAB play-offs….but found that life of higher league football is a lot tougher than in our super league…..with interesting decisions from the officials and questionable antics from the opposition…unfortunately we went down 4-2 in both of the matches….but according to players, coaches and administrative spokesmen…it was a worthwhile exercise and was a great learning experience for all concerned…..

Our first side also played in a Cup match played on Tuesday evening against the very strong and competitive Randburg side…..and with a seriously depleted squad after a rigorous weekend behind then, we competed in a wonderfully competitive match…and were able to emerge with 3-2 win…this is a fantastic result for our boys who now progress to the semi’s in the Cup…. and with Sporting giving our reserves a walkover…both of our sides have progressed to the semi’s….something that both sides together haven’t enjoyed too often in recent history….so well done to both sides….two more wins on the competition and you will be able to hold the Cup aloft….

Our Rugby players are back in action this weekend and are hosting Meyerton on Saturday….please go along to support them…and next week is their semi final…..so their final practice on the playing field to sharpen their skills for the final run in on the season……good luck boys…..hope it goes well….

Our hockey seasons are still in full swing…with Ladies and Gents leagues on Saturdays and Sundays respectively…expect a full beer garden with hockey players trying to drown their sorrows or celebrate their success….sometimes there is a very fine line in identifying the difference…. (but I am not going to bother even trying to analyse it…I have been playing hockey for almost forty years and haven’t really worried about it before…)

Our Pizza kitchen is nearing completion and the oven is now in the 14day curing progress…so we may see our first pizza’s rolling off the production line shortly….don’t forget to have your say in the naming process of our own “Pizza Hut”…there are on line entries and they can also be filled out an dropped into the box in the Main Bar….. details are contained elsewhere in the newsletter…. everyone must also have seen the “red devil” caravan which will be used as our Mobile bar in the future and will make its debut at the rugby this weekend…..and is also looking for a name….so have your say in this one….we have had some really interesting proposals thus far….it will be interesting to see what the committee finally decide on….

Additionally, we are gearing up for some events in the near future…here are those for the immediate future….so get ready for the SA Pipe Band competition on July 27…our Junior hockey festival on Saturday August 3…..and groove along with Mango Groove on August 31….please diarise these dates…I am sure they will be worthwhile and bags of fun…

A very short and quick message for this week… quite bit shorter than usual…keep warm…but the weathermen do forecast some warmer weather later in the week….yay….

Please let me know if you have any complaints or compliments about the North….email me on rod.scheepers@gmail.com

Cheers

Rod

Benoni Northerns Naming Competition!

Something exciting and new is happening at Northerns and we want your help! Beady eyed members may have noticed a wee bit of construction going on in the Beer Garden lately, and come 01 July 2019, we will have a new pizza and coffee cafe up and running to serve our members as well as a new mobile drinks bar in the form of the caravan to alleviate some of the bar traffic. We are running a competition to choose the names of both the pizza/ coffee cafe and the mobile drinks bar. Submit your entries by clicking the link! The winners will each be awarded a R250 Benoni Northerns voucher! You can enter as many times as you like! Winning names will be chosen by the committee and will be contacted directly!

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The Green LIVE is excited to announce; Benoni’s BIG Day Out with Mango Groove! *Tickets are available from Benoni Northerns office for R140*. Alternatively you can purchase online tickets from www.howler.co.za/bigdayout. (No 15-17 year olds allowed access due to alcohol being served). More info and support acts: https://www.facebook.com/events/1284070921756387/

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Greg Dawson (Athletics) drew the Ace of Diamonds – Joker Draw a turnover at R61 364.00 for Friday 12th July. Be present to win!!

“Freedom Unfound” playing on Friday from 18h30

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The start of the Benoni Northern Rugby Club’s Junior League games are around the corner. There is still time to register your children to join East Rand’s strongest Sports Club. U6 to U13 kick off on the 13 July and U14 to U18 kick off on the 24th August. – contact Jaco Havenga – havenga_j@yahoo.com

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 4 Jul 2019

4th July 20194th July 2019
by Glenda Todd

Well well well….Good morning from a freezing and frosty North…

The wind on the 1^st of the month indicated the start of official winter….from Sunday to Monday night must have had a differential of 10 or more degrees….from having a fairly relaxed and comfortable winter to two pairs of socks….and having all our winter woollies hauled out…beanies and balaclavas….gloves and mittens….scarves and buffs…..jackets and jerseys….I think every bit of warm clothing available clothing that we have available is now out…and worn all at the same time if possible….all sorts of combustible materials have been sought out….gas, paraffin, wood coal and anthracite were hastily procured as the winter chill extended her icy fingers around Gauteng….and I heard that another cold front is approaching the Cape…so we may have to batten down the hatches for a while, before we are able to venture our tootsies out to “test the water” again….so to both of our readers (my wife and Archie who is actually far away in Perth, so he won’t need to listen anyway)…keep warm!!

Our rugby players are still on a bit of a vacation (I think the reason on the fixtures was stated as SASSA week)…..so with the Craven and Varsity weeks busy, means that our players are afforded some time off…only next weekend do they continue with their matches…another opportunity to hone the skills and work on the tactics…before the last push toward the final matches of the league and then the prospect of play-offs….which are always a daunting prospect…as the underdog stands the chance of an upset in those matches…..

The soccer boys went on the road to the South and took on Robertsham…which is always a difficult prospect at their home enclave…..and the Reserves found out how hard the going is…as they had to overcome the tough opposition…and the officials too as we clawed back from one down at half time…to only concede what appeared to be a blatantly off-side goal with only 10 minutes remaining…to their credit, our boys got themselves off the canvas and rallied to score with only a few minutes to go and return home with a share of the spoils…..the first side were clearly the better side on the day and deservedly went into the break 1 goal to the good….this was a most physical encounter, with the officials appearing to allow the home side to get away with some really dangerous, rough and illegal tackles…despite a non-existent hand ball, Robertsham were awarded a penalty which they calmly slotted and everything was level again….. we were also awarded a spot kick for a horrible tackle on one of our strikers, which their goalkeeper was unfortunately able to save….and in proving that football is a cruel game….their forwards pounced on their only available opportunity shortly thereafter and emerged as 2-1 victors….this week our boys have a break in league activities…as we contest in the Super League play offs…….good luck to the boys….hopefully we will emerge as winners of this mini tournament, which will make us as semi finalists in September to qualify for entry into the prestigious and competitive Castle League….I, along with all of our Members, wish Jannie and his charges the best of luck in their quest to elevate the standard of soccer at the Club and in the region….

Our Joker draw had a “newbie” selected from the beeeg black box this week…as Jim Nielsen (who’s wife has been called a couple of times before) was the lucky fella this week to stand next to the Joker cabinet and have the big guess…but he was quite confident that his selection was solid as he pointed to the bottom right hand area….. yellow drawing pin!! He exclaimed…a good selection for the expectant crowd….but not Jim, as the nine of Diamonds was revealed…another carry over for the crowd this week…and almost R60000 up for grabs….after the money was counted, it revealed that the jackpot had escalated to R59798…. our band last week was the ever popular 5 piece band Omega…who kept the crowd well entertained with their cover of hits old and new…another super week….I am awaiting confirmation of the band for this week…as our original artist has asked to be excused due to an urgent fund raiser…. keep up with our Facebook page as any changes and new alterations will be advertised there first…..

We also celebrated the conclusion of our 100 club draw…and all 5 winners of the R5000 prize money must have been most chuffed….two of the winners only purchasing tickets on the night…whilst the other tickets were split between one hockey and two bridge members…well done to all the winners…who had their winnings transferred to their respective bank accounts on Monday….we have learned a few lessons from this draw, which we will put to good use in forthcoming draws that are similar…

One of our hockey stalwarts, Colin Merrifield…celebrated his 300^th match for the first side….congratulations Colin…that is an amazing achievement and you are only the second player with this achievement, after Dale Griffiths went past this milestone late last year……Colin began his hockey at the North when hewas just 6….33 years later, he is still pulling the beloved red, white and gold over his head on a regular basis….a tribute to our “mini-hockey” programme and proving that hockey players don’t get old….their balls just get a little “dimpled”….

The Cricket World Cup has been relegated to my last thoughts of the day…as we are simply an “also ran”…a similar title earned by our national Ladies soccer team in their World Cup….Bafana however have surprised and astounded me (and I am sure a few others too) by qualifying for the knock out stages of AFCON 2019….our opponents look like they will be Egypt (who are the hosts) so I think a really difficult match to plan for….particularly as I watched the Morocco match and think our coach was looking for a draw…as he “parked the bus” and defended heroically….(I don’t seem to remember a single shot at the opposition goal)….I truly hope that some different tactics will be employed in the next match… good luck to them…

I am sure that everyone has caught a glimpse of the advanced stage of the renovations for the Pizza shop…and the arrival of the Mobile bar caravan…. don’t forget the naming competition for both of these…details are contained elsewhere in this newsletter…both of these will officially be launched soon….

That’s all for this week… keep warm…. take care and hopefully I will catch up with you all soon..

Take Care…Rod

Benoni Northerns Naming Competition!

Something exciting and new is happening at Northerns and we want your help! Beady eyed members may have noticed a wee bit of construction going on in the Beer Garden lately, and come 01 July 2019, we will have a new pizza and coffee cafe up and running to serve our members as well as a new mobile drinks bar in the form of the caravan to alleviate some of the bar traffic. We are running a competition to choose the names of both the pizza/ coffee cafe and the mobile drinks bar. Submit your entries by clicking the link! The winners will each be awarded a R250 Benoni Northerns voucher! You can enter as many times as you like! Winning names will be chosen by the committee and will be contacted directly!

ENTER HERE

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Jim Neilsen (Social) drew the Nine of Diamonds – Joker Draw a turnover at R59 798.00 for Friday 05th July. Be present to win!!

Live Music every Friday from 18h30

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A massive congratulations to BNAC’s Jazz van Rensburg who was crowned South African Champion at the weekend’s Duathlon Championships in Cape Town! A massive achievement!

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We wish our Benoni Northerns 1st Football team the best of luck for this weekend’s SAFA Ekurhuleni Super League Playoffs 2018 / 2019. Our team was selected as this Year’s Eastern Local Football Association Representatives in the Playoffs. Should our Team make the final, our Club will be awarded SAB status and qualify for the most prestigious & competitive Castle League 2019/2020. A grand totalof 14 teams (mostly respective LFA winners) are taking part in the playoffs. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for this weekend’s Group Fixtures to be played at the Kwathema Stadium.

Date – Saturday 6th July 2019
Venue – Kwathema Stadium.
Opponents – Golden Boys FC. Kickoff Time – 11:00am.

Date – Sunday 7th July 2019
Venue – Kwathema Stadium. Opponents – Pule FC.
Kickoff Time – 11:00am.

Should we win our Group, we will play the Semis and Final on Saturday the 13 September at Tsakane Stadium.
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Colin Merifield became the 2nd Benoni Northerns’ Hockey player to achieve 300 caps for the 1st team last Sunday. Colin has been playing Hockey for Benoni Northerns since he was 6 years old and 33 years later is still putting on the red, white and gold jersey for the Benoni Northerns’ 1st team. He has been an outstanding asset with incredible commitment and determination and has scored 19 goals in his 19 years playing in the 1st team as a defender. We would like to congratulate Colin on achieving the phenomenal milestone

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The start of the Benoni Northern Rugby Club’s Junior League games are around the corner. There is still time to register your children to join East Rand’s strongest Sports Club. U6 to U13 kick off on the 13 July and U14 to U18 kick off on the 24th August. – contact Jaco Havenga – havenga_j@yahoo.com

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 26 Jun 2019

28th June 201928th June 2019
by Glenda Todd

Good morning to you all from the “ice box”

Another week of the Cricket World Cup has passed and South Africa have only succeeded in ensuring that they have progressed no further in the league and are now firmly placed near the base of the log….no more said…..

And with the soccer AFCON starting recently….I was hoping that possibly our soccer prima donnas may be able to pull a rabbit out of the hat and start with a win….I think the cricketers have influenced their mind set and the loss to the Ivory Coast has meant that we have a mountain to climb in order to get make it to the qualifying stages….let us hope that the Springboks have a better showing a little later in the year….but after the cricketers, ladies at the soccer world cup and the boys now at AFCON….allowing that if the Boks were able win a couple of matches…. they will be significantly better off than all the others put together at this stage….seriously disappointing for myself and our sport mad and proud nation….I hope that we are able to address the fundamental problems and institute the necessary corrective measures…..should I hold my breath?…I will leave it for each individual reading this esteemed manual to decide….

Our Runners held their “Aches and Pains” party last Saturday at the Club…and as one of the chosen few mentioned to me….things got a little blurry towards the end of the evening….and my staff were able to confirm that bribery and corruption were indeed part of the deal as no names were revealed as being the masters of the plan to undermine the sobriety of an entire crew of attendees at the function…..a reliable source of mine did however reveal that evening was a roaring success and was filled with laughter and heckling with all the achievers and finishers being applauded and lauded…..well done on the completion of the epic race to all our runners and their support base…

Our rugger buggers had an astounding weekend…their first win over their arch rivals Nigel after many years of trying…thereby, ensuring their place in the play-offs is ensured…and barring some really crazy results, we should face Nigel in the final…admittedly probably at their home, which has proved to be a fortress in recent history…..but let that not detract from our boys weekend of success….the U21’s has an absolute runaway victory…with what resembles a cricket score 102-0 …. whilst the second side battled against some quality play going down 12-40….the first team had a nail biting affair….play moving from one side to the other….each side turning defence into attack and vice versa….with our boys eventually running our 30-22 winners….impeccable reports have stated that rugby celebrations were combined with the runners at the aches and pains party and were still seen revelling until almost sunrise on Sunday morning….well done boys…that is an amazing result and you deserved to celebrate this auspicious occasion…now that our boys have a couple of weeks off before the last round of fixtures where we will host Meyerton….we will need to work on tactics to overcome Meyerton to ready us for our play offs….let’s give our best for the last four weeks of hectic activity…

Our soccer boys had a the disappointment of having their match postponed for the weekend…their opposition being involved in a play-off and requesting another convenient to be agreed on to complete the clash….this week we take a trip to the south of Egoli to face Robertsham… a really tough prospect for both of our teams….the opposition hold the top position in the league before the matches begin…..so good luck fellows…give of your best and cause an upset…let us literally set the cat amongst the pigeons….

With all of the electrical problems throughout our area last week…we landed up with some Club headaches and had no electricity for extended periods….but these appear to have now being resolved…and we were eventually able to have our Joker draw and the “vrot kol” continued to reign in the selection process…. after Aliaster’s ticket being chosen last week…it moved three places to the right this week and Martin Iske had his ticket in the frame last Friday….and appeared quite relaxed and prepared as he approached the “spotlight”…after having posed his way through the happy snaps…..he confidently pointed to the card in the bottom left hand corner…and as Glenda slowly turned it over to reveal the Ace of Clubs, he smiled and said “next time”….this means another roll over and the pot moves up to R57989…..with month end this week..we are expecting a bumper crowd to arrive and we have our entertainers as Omega…a most popular 5 piece band that will be serenading the night away for us….we will also be having a promotion on Moonshine (a new shooter with a classic bootlegger background)….join us for a great start to this month end weekend….

After the Joker draw we have another draw in the guise of our 100 club….there will be 5 prizes of R5000 each available…tickets are still available and you may purchase these until the draw which will commence at 20h00 sharp…..so join us in what promises to an evening of festivity and celebration….hopefully I will see you there…..

Local hockey will be contested again this weekend…with the ladies and men swopping around….men completing their fixtures on Saturday, while the girls will be completing their matches on Sunday….but with this “turn around” party, I am sure there will still be a common thread….huge laughter and plenty of shrieks of mirth on both days….lots of fun everyone…..

The Pizza take away operation has been postponed by a couple of weeks as the curing process for the oven takes a little longer than we originally expected……so the naming process and prizes have also been delayed…. please chat to Kerryn King (or any of the executive committee…or even refer to our social media platforms too) regarding how to enter this competition and any other events and competitions that may be “on-the-go” at any point in time…

Lourens has assured us that the Caravan is almost ready to launch into “active service”….so keep a lookout for the “dop-trok” (for sake of a better name at the moment)…

That is about it for this week….hope you are all keeping warm and are joining us at the North for a “tipple or two”…Hope fully I will see you soon…Warm regards Rod

Benoni Northerns Naming Competition!

We are running a competition to choose the names of both the pizza/ coffee cafe and the mobile drinks bar. Submit your entries by clicking the link! The winners will each be awarded a R250 Benoni Northerns voucher! You can enter as many times as you like! Winning names will be chosen by the committee and will be contacted directly!

ENTER HERE

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Martin Iske (Social) another Member that once again missed out on the Joker Card and drew the Ace of Clubs – Joker Draw a turnover at R57 989.00 for Friday 23th June in conjunction the the R100 Draw. Be present to win both !!

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DOUBLE WHAMMY AT “THE NORTH”

Friday 28th July * R100 Club Draw (drawn after the Joker Draw) – 5 x tickets will be drawn and the lucky participants will win R5 000.00 each. Hopefully you have purchased your ticket!!

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Congratulations to our very own Kian Schwartz, Corbin Greenslade and Alex Levkov on being selected for the National Baseball U18 side that will be competing at the U18 Baseball World Cup in Korea later this year. We are extremely proud of you boys

Easterns Cricket Awards

Awards won by Benoni Northerns Cricket Club:

Premier league winners
Premier reserve league winners
Women’s league winners
Saturday 3rd league winners
Saturday 4th league winners – Legends
Men’s franchise winners – Samurai
Women’s franchise winners – Samurai

Well done to individual award winners:

Aron Visser
Lance Humphrey
WP Myburgh
Sian Dippenaar
Caitlin Eaton
Simone van Dalen

Image may contain: 11 people, including Nicolaos Moragemos, Michael Williams and Dylan Coates, people smiling, people standing — Left-to-right: Aron Visser, Lance Humphrey, Nick ‘Coachie’ Moragemos, Mike Williams, WP Myburgh, Joline Smit, Simone van Dalen, Sian Dippenaar, Caitlin Eaton, Gareth Dane, Madison Landsman, Dylan Coates

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Well done Aron! Congratulations on your awards Multiply Titans Academy selection , Easterns Academy Top Batsman and Easterns Senior Provincial best Newcomer of the year 2018/2019. We are super proud of you. Keep working hard. Onwards and upwards.

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Congratulations Benoni Northerns cricket club for a fantastic season all round ladies and gents! Cleaned up the trophy collection!

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The Scimitar

The Scimitar 6 Jun 2019

6th June 20196th June 2019
by Glenda Todd

BNSC NEWSLETTER

Good morning to you all….

Well!!! Cricket World Cup 2019 is unique for me…after only one game, I lost a lot interest in the event….and after only 4 days…I lost complete interest in the outcome of this said trophy….that said….it has nothing to do with any of the other 9 sides…well done to England and Bangladesh…they were better than us in every single aspect of the matches concerned….our national team, once again, flattered to deceive….they exuded a quiet confidence prior to the first ball being bowled…and I was drawn into this web of confidence and expected a positive performance in the opening fixture….only to be deflated by the poor application and mind set by our national team….and then to be followed up by what appeared to be arrogance in putting the opposition to bat in the second match again…expecting to blow the minnows out with a supposed bunch of quick bowlers, who turned out to only be damp little squibs….the asking to opposition to bat, always reminds of the old WG Grace urban legend story…..where on winning the toss, he said he would always choose to bat first….if however, he had any doubt, he would glance at the pitch and then announce that he would bat….and if any further doubt ensued….he would consult with his vice captain….and despite whatever advice he would give, WG would over-ride it and choose to bat anyway…. I suppose that SA will win the next toss and decide to bat…and then the batsmen won’t know what to do anyway….let us see…I will not be wasting my time on watching too much of our matches…but there are some juicy prospects with the Windies looking like a very polished team and would be my side bet as possible World cup Champions….

Our Soccer boys had a reasonable day at home when they hosted Alberton….both of these sides were one point ahead of us on the league table….so it was going to be a very tight afternoon for both match…neither side wanting to give away any points to the opposition… the reserve match was definitely not our boys best…with their opponents coming through in waves, but their finishing let them down significantly…and with 10 minutes to go, we were surprisingly still on level terms and were awarded a penalty for an infringement, which was calmly converted to take the spoils for the day….definitely not a fair reflection of the possession and territory statistics….but a win that the coach and players are willingly accepting and moving forward….and with the top team, Robertsham also faltering, we find ourselves level at the top of the league on points….our goal difference pushing into second place….there is currently a three way tie at the top, Alberton now giving up their second spot to now be fourth, 2 points off the pace…..in the Super League match, our side acquitted themselves really well….controlling the match for long periods…only to be disappointed by some below average finishing..we went ahead early…only to concede what was considered a “soft” penalty…and land up with shared spoils…. we start the second round of league fixtures in sixth place 8 points off the pace, but only 3 points separating positions 4 to 7…and only one point separating the top 3…quite a congested top half of the league….let us see what the second round produces….we start with a return match against Musa United at home this weekend….good luck to the boys….lets have the full 6 points available brought home after the matches….

Our rugger buggers have had a tough little period of playing away from home…and have found things a lot tougher than being in front of our home crowd….last weekend in our match against VUT, we came out on the wrong side of the 24-28 scoreline….but we are still maintaining 2^nd place on the log despite the adverse game results of the last couple of weeks….this week we travel to Kempton Park…good luck chaps…let us get that much needed win to get our season back on track…..

After many hours of training and commitment….many miles of running….assistance from friends, family and loved ones…the day is approaching for the big “C”….Sunday will be D-Day for more than 20 000 runners to see if they can complete the world’s most famous ultra marathon, the Comrades….they will start the trek at 05h30 in Durban to end in Pietermaritzburg almost 90 kilometres away….with rewards for completion being the following…..Gold Medals (Ladies and Men – first 10 finishers) Wally Hayward Medals (men only – 11^th place to sub 6 hours) Silver Medals (men only 6.01 to under seven and a half hours) Isavel Roche Kelly Medals (Ladies only 11^th place to 7 and a half hours) Bill Rowan Medals (all runners 7:30.01 to nine hours) Robert Mtshali Medals (9:00.01 to ten hours) Bronze Medals (10:00.01 to eleven hours) and finally Vic Clapham Medals, which are copper (11:00.01 to twelve hours)…. good luck to all our Club Members and representatives…may your legs be swift and your head and heart strong….I know that there is a large back up crew that will be assisting all the runners…all the best to you all…. travel safe…and come back with your precious medals in your pocket and all your goals achieved……

I received a lot of compliments and positive feedback from our Members for the Friday night in relation to the entertainment…which was the band called Black and Blue….I must say that I enjoy this band thoroughly…they play a variety of music…and are most professional…next time they are here, please make sure that you make a turn….this week we are on the lookout for talent again…as Karaoke returns….let us see if we can unearth some new talent that we can enter into the Voice or SA has talent…please warm up and lubricate your vocal chords and join us on Friday from about 18h30 ish….

The Joker remains elusive after week 3 and with one of our running members Richard Pretorius being the lucky one selected this week, he decided to choose the last card available in the bottom right corner, showing us that the 2 of Diamonds has now been revealed….and despite there being a fairly small crowd, the pot has increased this week to R53870…..a significant sum of money in most individuals eyes….please come along this week to try your luck at finding the Joker for us….

If you believe that there is something you would like to bring to my attention, please do not hesitate to email me on rod.scheepers@gmail.com

Have a super week….keep warm and take care…

Cheers Rod

Benoni Northerns Naming Competition!

ENTER HERE

Richard Pretorius (Athletics) drew the Two of Diamonds – Joker Draw a turnover at R53 879.00 for Friday 07th June. Be present to win it!!

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To be drawn on Friday 28th June at 19h45 after the Joker Draw on the night

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Baseball news from last weekend:
Benoni Indians were at it again, having great games.
The 3 sides that played on Sunday we there to do some damage:
Major A: Chippewa beat Alex – 20-3
Major B: Wichita beat Badgers – 28-0
(Rookie: Clayton Lown was outstanding with the bat, as he hit his 1st home run. What an achievement as a Rookie player.
Welcome to the side, kakaaw…)
Sioux beat Midgets: 16-7. Keep up the tempo Guys, proud of you – Shaun Deyzel,

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The Scimitar

The Scimitar 30 May 2019

30th May 201931st May 2019
by Glenda Todd

BNSC NEWSLETTER

A bright and fresh good day to you all

They say the weather is about to change to a winter scenario…so brace yourselves for the chill about to hit the North…and with the Cricket World Cup about to be bowled, it seems a little ironic that our summer sport will be played while we are in the throes of winter….but I am sure that we will acquit ourselves admirably in the tournament…who knows…perhaps this is the year…..I have been a staunch supporter of the cricketers for the last 7 WC’s….this time I am going with the flow…I don’t expect us to win (as I have always had this very firmly in my head on each of the previous attempts)….but all I ask is that we do and give of our best….we know that all the cricketers selected have the ability…some may not be in the best of form…or in the best physical condition…but I am prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt and give them my 100% support….. all the best to the Proteas for the duration of the World Cup….keep an eye on our social media platforms for special opening times to coincide with the SA matches….and possibly some of the juicy encounters that will be played over the duration of the World Cup….

With Friday night weather not playing the game with us last Friday night…some rain and cooler weather arriving in the late afternoon…meant that we knew our attendance was going to be adversely affected for the Joker draw….that made all the people who did take the time to battle the elements a little happier that their chances were enhanced by the lower numbers….and this week the chance of choosing the card fell with the “legal-eagle” of our Executive at the Club, Alan Knight, who’s name was pulled from the beeeeg black box…and with 52 cards to choose from….Alan decided to go right next to last weeks card selection….and showed us that the six of hearts had given up its hiding place…so this week R52613 is up for grabs and there are 51 cards to select from….tickets on sale on Friday in the hall from around 17h00….with last sales at 19h20 and the draw taking place at 19h30…..

Our entertainment this week is an amazing band called Black and Blue and after two previous appearances have built up a solid support base already…this week we have their full compliment of members, so a four piece band awaits to perform for us…so please come along to listen to them….you will not be disappointed….

Our soccer boys hosted Germiston over the weekend…and this resulted in two excellent matches that were marvellous to watch….not necessarily resulting in receiving all the points we were wanting…..but soccer was definitely the winner…. the reserves, who had their ranks depleted by the winter blues of sicknesses and injuries….produced a workmanlike performance, being kept at bay by spirited opposition in the first half…but as soon as they leaked a goal or two, we took control and landed up winning easily 5-1….this week we play Alberton and if we win that game we will move into 2^nd place on the log…so a massive match for our youngsters….our first side, in one of the more exciting matches this year, could not display the same dominance over their opposition as the reserves did….and had to show tenacity and reliance to come back twice from being behind….ending up with a 2-2 draw…scoring the final goal to equalise happening with seconds remaining before the officials indicated the end of proceedings with the blowing of the final whistle….much to the relief of fans, spectators, players and coaching staff at the North….in their match this weekend, the first side will leapfrog their opposition into 5^th place if they are able to beat Alberton….please pop along to watch…it should be a feast of great football….

We saw the start of the Junior rugby practice this week….and from all reports…a great start to Junior rugger at the North….I saw that there were lots of enthusiastic players running around…with even more interested parents and families showing their support for their little charges….

This weekend we should have a crackerjack of a “Gin and Beer Fest” at the North on Saturday….with a massive variety to eat and drink and one of the headline artists being Matthew Mole, who is a multi talented musician…and I’m sure that he on his own will be a massive drawcard….so expect a huge crowd of people to support this event…

We will have Hockey at the Astro and Soccer on the Main field….so expect a buzzing Club house on Saturday….. and with mens hockey back here on Sunday….our staff may be run a little ragged…..but I can hear Shepherd say….”we are ready!!”

Our thanks to all who were present at the AGM and gave the committee their vote of confidence for the next year….an exciting year awaits us….with some new events…and with our newest addition being the pizza shop that will be completed soon….I’m certain we will see a lot of hungry bellies that will be filled by this attraction…..

The 100 Club draw has not been as welcomed and accepted by our Members as well as we had hoped….and we will be holding the draws on June 28 for the prizes….the complete proceeds of this draw were to be used for much needed liquidity required by the Club without placing the onus for this on all the Members by a way of a special levy….so the Executive committee will come up with some innovative ways to improve our liquidity….please grab yourself a ticket… the odds will be massively improved, as we are standing by our promise of there being 5 prizes of R5000 each…..so buy yourself a ticket and try to sell to someone else to also give them a great chance to win some money….

That is it for this week…..again a little less than usual….my journalists out in the field, were MIA this week…hopefully they will be back at their posts in the coming weeks…if there is something you would like to draw my attention to….please email me on rod.scheepers@gmail.com

Wrap up warmly……

Take care

Rod

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Alan Knight (Social) drew the Six of Hearts – Joker Draw a turnover at R52 613.00 for Friday 31st May. Be present to win it!!

Benoni Northerns CHOC’ers ready for Comrades Marathon 2019 – CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA – Benoni Northerns Athletics “The Cows’

Benoni Northerns – Indians Wichita Baseball Team, Major B League having a great start to their 2019 Season
Front, left to right: Jaques Groenewald, Dean De Beer, Michael Reichert, Chris Steyn, Warren Deyzel, Shaun Deyzel.
Back, left to right: Sheldon Van As, Anthony Cogill, Justin Kloppers, Tyrone Cogill, Alex Howden, Clayton Louw, Jason Keen.
Absent: Ross Churchill, Warren Bedser, Sivan Schafer

ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP 2019 FIXTURES

30-May Thursday 11:30 AM England The Oval, London

02-Jun Sunday 11:30 AM Bangladesh The Oval, London

05-Jun Wednesday 11:30 AM India Hampshire Bowl

10-Jun Monday 11:30 AM West Indies Hampshire Bowl

15-Jun Saturday 02:30 PM Afghanistan Wales Stadium Cardiff

19-Jun Wednesday 11:30 AM New Zealand Edgbaston, Birmingham

23-Jun Sunday 11:30 AM Pakistan Lords, London

28-Jun Friday 11:30 AM Sri Lanka Chester-le-Street, Durham

06-Jul Saturday 02:30 PM Australia Edgbaston, Birmingham

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 22 May 2019

22nd May 201923rd May 2019
by Glenda Todd

BNSC NEWSLETTER

A bright and fresh good day to you all

After having a little cold snap earlier in the year….we are now being blessed and are experiencing a bit of an Indian summer weather at the moment….shorts and tee’s seem to be the order of the day whilst you are outside and enjoying the sunshine….but you are still needing a bit of a light sweater to be donned when the sun makes its move from west back to the east…..that said, there are still two Eskimo’s at the North dressed up for the ravages of winter…as Glenda and I prepare to do battle with our “ice-box” office for the remainder of the cooler months….

With our previous joker draw now won and a thing of the past…the attendance and vibe at the Club was decidedly a different proposition in comparison to just one week ago….and all the Members voiced their opinion and happiness as to not having to stand in queues to wait for drinks…they were able to find seating easily…and there was no need for using your elbows in trying to move around at the North….but with the Joker cabinet looking very different proposition, having a new pack of 53 cards face down…the person drawn from the beeeeeg black box was facing a daunting prospect…..when the allotted time arrived, I had to scratch around in the box, which was considerably lighter than last week….and after rummaging around inside for a while, I came out with Dennis Walton’s name, who is one of our loyal Social members…..he immediately made his choice and went for a card in the middle of the board, only to reveal the six of diamonds…..and so we start the process all over again….one card gone, a new week into draw number 8….there are 52 cards left and R51 524 in the “pot” available for next week….tickets are still sold in the Hall on Friday afternoons /evening up until 19h20 with the draw at 19h30…..your chances of being drawn these days is significantly increased with the lesser crowd…but then the chances of finding the joker are lessened with so many cards still available…..but you will at least have had a chance….so Jason, now is your chance of having your name called….buy a few more tickets this week…and R51 and a half k is nothing to be sneezed at….and I am sure that most people will be most chuffed at that amount being transferred into their account by next Tuesday…..so come along and try your luck…..

Last week our entertainment was one of the bands that have been with us since we started offering music at the North…and Coyote produced the goods once again…thanks to Billy and Martin for another great evening….Our muso for this week is Richard Thompson, who graced our Club toward the end of last year and is a most accomplished musician….come through and listen to his undoubted talent in the Scimitar from about 18h30….

Our Soccer players were on top form last weekend and both sides demolished their opposition Zwide…..the reserves white washing the opposition 4-0, whilst the premier side had their scoring boots on running riot with a 7-1 scoreline….the reserves are only three points off the top spot whilst in fourth place in the league….the first side currently occupy the 5^th place only 5 points off the pace..so we have a fairly congested league table at the top…we definitely need our cream to rise to the top……so a solid start to the season for the Club….and with the brand of football being played by our boys….it augers well for the remainder of the season…..this week we are hosting Germiston at home….and albeit that they are languishing in the lower portion of the league….we would be silly to be complacent and under estimate their ability and relax…..so let us keep up our current great momentum and bring back all the points…..

The rugger buggers were back on song this weekend again…after a disappointing day the week before at Nigel….we bounced back with all the sides recording wins over the weekend…..well done all the ladies, who were also victorious this weekend, recording a solid 32-17 win against VUT…..in Meyerton, the U21’s had a runaway win 47-7…whilst the reserves had a bit of a nail biter….eventually running out 14-12 to the good…..whilst in a very high scoring match the firsts were got themselves back on the winning trail, eclipsing Meyerton 57-35…..so a great day and set of results from our teams….super stuff guys….this weekend we travel to Sasolburg…best of luck to all of our teams there….. all we can ever ask, is for you to play and give your best….

In a first for Benoni Northerns, we are also proud to announce that four of our lady rugby players have been selected to represent Valke at provincial level….Congratulations to Helena Yssel, Stompi Lowane, Rooies van Rooyen and Lettie Nkosi…..there are also some others that are on the fringes and have been earmarked as future stars, who will surely be playing at this level pretty soon…so please keep up the great work Ladies….we have really seen an upsurge in Ladies sport at national and provincial levels…and now that we are showing such intense interest at the North, it is fantastic that we are experiencing massive growth in this area….long may this continue…..

Our runners are starting the “slide” into the big one…I trust that you are all steering clear of the colds, flu and other bugs hanging around in the air and that preparation is all on track…..with less than three weeks to go, the excitement is building to Comrades 2019…..

The Club AGM will be held in the Hall on Thursday May 23, please make your presence felt by attending and having your say in the running of the Club….we will be kicking off at 19h15, join us in ensuring the future success of our Club…

That is it for this week…..a little shorter than normal….but if you believe that there are things that we are doing right or wrong that you would like to bring to my attention….please email me on rod.scheepers@gmail.com

Have a super week….hopefully I will bump into you around the North soon….

Cheers

Rod

A.G.M. POSTPONEMENT NOTICE

IN TERMS OF THE CONSTITUTION IT IS OUR INTENTION TO POSTPONE THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF BENONI NORTHERN AREAS SPORTS CLUB TO THURSDAY 23^rd MAY 2019 AT 19H15 IN BENONI NORTHERN AREAS CLUB HALL

Dennis Walton (Social) drew the Six of Diamonds – Joker Draw a turnover at R51 524.00 for Friday 24th May. Be present to win it!!

“Richard Thompson” will be entertaining us on Friday 24th.

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Walkers Time trial results for Tuesday 21 May 2019: Anne Reynolds – 33:19; Men 4km: Jazz van Rensburg – 14:48; Rob Hardy – 15:00; Dan Mokoena – 17:05; Joshua Pinkerton – 17:52. Men 8km: Bright Mikolongwe – 25:57; Stephen Caelers – 28:10; Justin Brown – 31:24; Shawn Wessels – 33:26; Mpho Pilusa – 33:26. Women 4km: Nina McGhee – 19:12; Jenny Ingram – 19:45; Sasha Reyneke – 20:04; Junior 4km: Samantha Reyneke – 19:23; Jordyn Reyneke – 20:06; Kaitlyn Mackay – 23:20

BNAC’s last Bedfordview run for Comrades 2019! Circle Bakery always has the goods.

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Another funfilled junior hockey tournament. Our u/7’s were superstars

Congratulations to the Benoni Northerns Rugby Ladies whom Valke have selected to be part of their Ladies Squad: Helena Yssel: Stompi Lowane; Rooies Van Rooyen; Lettie Nkosi; Also to our own that will join the Training Squad:
Maria Ntobo; Amanda Beytell; Zettie Janse Van Rensburg; Sous Van Den Berg (Team Manager); I am proud of each and every player and you all are awesome. Congratulations – Jaco Havenga

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8th May Benoni Northerns had a good round of results winning all their games. The guys played away at Meyerton and the girls played away againts Vut and also formed part of the Valke trails. The under 21s stays unbeaten this season winning all their games in the first leg of the Merlin league. The game was blown short due to a unfortunate big brawl that broke out but won the game 7-47. The second team had a close one but won 12-14 and only losing to Nigel in the first leg. The flagship first team put up a big score against Meyerton and was a team with alot of changes due to injuries but each player stepped up their game. The end result was 35- 57 . All the teams well on their way to play semi finals at the end with the great first round results. Last but definitely not least the senior ladies team won their game 32-17 . The game also formed part of the trails for Valke team and 9 of the players are in the training squad. Well done Benoni Northerns

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 16 May 2019

16th May 201917th May 2019
by Glenda Todd

BNSC NEWSLETTER

A fresh and fine good morning to everyone

Another week has passed and we have left all the four day weeks behind…..I must say as nice as it is…it throws planning, continuity and habits out completely….a day off is always a welcome break….but the work load at work which we have squeezed into a five day week for the last nine months….now have to be tweaked even further and now be completed in four days for four weeks in a row…this week feels a little crazy…as there appears to be a whole bunch more time available… but I am sure that I really won’t find any extra time to do all the tasks that I have been putting off….ah well….back to the textbooks on effective time management that I have obviously left unread for far too long….

I have been able to experience the energy and contagious excitement generated by our junior sports people…I was in the middle of the junior soccer across the road recently….and it is a joy to behold the enthusiasm displayed by these young superstars….I felt completely enthused after being part of this magic carpet ride for the morning….our hockey players show similar style and dedication in their task of practicing their skills and tactics on a regular basis, to put on show at their regular tournaments…. my gracious thanks to all the coaches who take the time out to teach these young humans the skills and behaviour necessary to ensure the success of our Club in the future….our junior Rugby players will soon be joining our winter sports festival and I am sure that committee has carefully appointed the appropriate curators to guide these young minds on the finer details and tricks necessary in the game of sport and of course, of life…..

After 46 weeks…we finally found someone who was able to uncover the hiding place of the Joker…..Adele Steyn was able to show us how it was done….the very first card on show….in the top left corner…..and she was able to walk away as our third largest Joker Draw winner…..the crowd, whilst showing their support for the popular winner….were all a little disappointed that the pot should maybe have grown a little bigger and kept their interest for another week and the fiesta could continue…..but that said we will maintain our start up jackpot at R50 000…..so we have a new set of cards up on display…..and the choice of all 53 are now face down…. join us this week to witness the start up of Joker draw 8….. ticket sales will continue until 19h20….with the draw taking place at 19h30…. this week our music accompaniment will be Coyote…..one of the bands that have remained loyal…and have been round with us since we started providing Friday night entertainment….so we welcome back Billy and Martin to the North to keep our feet tapping and hands clapping to super tunes…..come along to start your weekend in the relaxed and positive way of the North…..

Our rugby boys have been riding the crest of a wave but came down to earth this week…as we travelled to table topping Nigel…whilst the girls and U21’s recorded impressive wins….our second side slipped to their first loss of the season 22-29…..whilst some ill discipline cost the first side as they had to play a lot of the match with only 14 players…..but even so the league leaders did not run away with it…..with us being on the losing side 12-26….we remained competitive throughout the match, despite being a player short…leaving our boys with some food for thought on their behaviour…..this week we host Meyerton at the North…so hopefully we will return to winning ways with our top teams…good luck….

Our soccer teams hosted Randburg, which have always been a quality unit…and with opposition having all Castle and Vodacom league players available for selection, it was going to be a tough ask to come out with ay positive results….but the reserves definitely hauled out all the stops with a fantastic 4-3 win….despite still being behind 3-2 with less than 10 minutes to play….our young players showed lots of heart to first equalise and then score in the final throues to grab a last gasp victory…. despite having an average age of under 20, this side is showing a lot of character in attitude and skill…well done fellows…..the first side opposition was arguably one of the strongest we have played this season and we took an early lead…only to concede the equaliser just before the break…..midway through the second half we slipped behind, but showed tenacity and replied soon after to level the scores….for the rest of the match, we were all over the opposition….and it appeared that referee blew the game early (consensus claimed there was still 4 minutes left) and the partisan crowd definitely believed that with the extra time left, would have resulted in another goal and victory for the Northerns faithful…..this week we travel to take on Zwide…who have proved to be an unpredictable opposition….so we need to keep our wits about us…. those teams always seem to lift their game when they play better opposition…..so don’t be complacent boys…..do your best and bring back a full set of points…..

Our athletes took on their annual Riaan’s run…which is a 60 km training run, as a build up for the Comrades…by all accounts it appeared to be a good day…as they all sat down to lunch and a few early, a few mid and a lot more late afternoon refreshments….good luck to all of our runners as the countdown now begins in earnest….and as part of this, all kissing and hugging is banned for them as the germ and bugs season starts…as none of the runners want that to sap more of their energy before the big race….. take it easy and take care to all our Comrades hopefuls…..

We were expecting to have our AGM this week, but we are awaiting the final accounts so have postponed the event for a week, as per our constitution….so please diarise 23^rd of May as the new date for the AGM.

Please remember to send any compliments or complaints to my email rod.scheepers@gmail.com…

Hope to see you all soon – Have a super week…take care..Rod

A.G.M. POSTPONEMENT NOTICE

IN TERMS OF THE CONSTITUTION IT IS OUR INTENTION TO POSTPONE THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF BENONI NORTHERN AREAS SPORTS CLUB TO THURSDAY 23^rd MAY 2019 AT 19H15 IN BENONI NORTHERN AREAS CLUB HALL

JOKER DRAW WON!! Congrats to our very own Member Adele Steyn in drawing the long awaited card. JOKER DRAW to start afresh at R50 000.00 from Friday 17th May.

“Coyote” will be entertaining us on Friday 17th.

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BNAC’s Annual Riaan’s Run hosted at The North last Saturday always has great support.

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Football Results: Benoni Northerns Reserves 4 Randburg 3. Benoni Northerns 1sts 2 Randburg 2. Great games played by all

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Our U15 girls took to the field for there first league game. Looking stunning in our new kit. What a great start to the season with a 3-0 win against Tigers. It is going to be a good season with such passion and commitment that each and every player showed. They played like absolute stars. Proud Coach- Shaun Taylor

Over the weekend Benoni had some good results and some close losses. Ladies had their first win of their league against Heidelberg with a score of 41-7. U21s won their game by a big margin as well playing away against Nigel. Score for U21s was 66-10. 2nd team had a close game but recorded their first loss for the league losing 22-29 against Nigel. 1st team also recorded their first loss against table topping Nigel that was in front with points difference on the log before kick off. Unfortunately due to foul play from Benoni they lost a player early in the game with a red card and played with 14 men. Scores where locked at 0-0 until the dying minutes of the 1st half when Nigel scored a try under the uprights. Benoni was in the game until the end but again at the dying minutes of the 2nd half Nigel scored and took the game away.

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 8 May 2019

10th May 201910th May 2019
by Glenda Todd

BNSC NEWSLETTER

A fine good morning to all

A week has passed and already the throes of winter are upon us….just last week I was mentioning the wonderful array of colours that cascaded through the trees…but this has now been reduced to only browns and the stark and angular traces of the branches are now apparent….as most of the leaves have fluttered to their final resting place….I have watched the Council and Club employees sweeping and blowing these leaves into orderly piles, bagging and in some cases burning them (and despite all of our cries to refrain from this practice, our requests have fallen on deaf ears….and the practice continues!!)…..but all this means that our winter sports are in full swing…and after some great results….it has been a weekend of celebration….

Let me start with rugby…as the rugger buggers have really put their shoulders to the wheel….in both the administrative and playing capacities…and the massive news is that we have registered our Junior Club with the Valke and had our first player registration day on Monday night and have experienced a fantastic response….and expect an even better one next Monday when the second registration takes place…good luck on your journey at the North to the new youngsters…I trust that you will be most successful and very happy in your new home….on the senior front…we hosted our third round of matches in a row on the fields at the North….as the opposition grounds were not ready for them….and another relatively successful day was enjoyed by the Club…the ladies went down narrowly 17-14 to VUT with the opposition scoring in the last minutes of the match, to ensure that our Ladies would not take home the honours….the second side had a convincing 63-10 win…..whilst the first team match was pretty close in the first half….but our boys ran rampant in the second half and ran away with a 62-18 victory….well done to all of our players….this week will be the Litmus test as we travel to Nigel to take on the side that we have battled to beat in many a season…..good luck to all, lets give them horns this week and something to think about….

Soccer also returned to winning ways with both the reserves and first sides registering wins on the day….the second side had a hard fought 2-1 victory….after being down at half time, showed a lot of fight and determination in registering their win….the first side played a very average Boksburg side and ran out easy 8-2 winners….they were superior in all departments and scored some magnificent goals throughout the afternoon to put the opposition under pressure…congratulations to the boys…lovely to have both of our sides bringing home three points…..this week we host Randburg at home….our opposition has traditionally been one of the quality sides in this league….so please come along an support…..it should be a fantastic afternoon of entertainment….

Our hockey boys were not as successful….going down to the odd goal against UJ ‘B’….but all reports were that it was a superb game…bad luck boys….all we can ask is that you do your best….the hockey girls will be playing on Saturday and should bring some laughter and jolliness to the beer garden….but the hockey boys have a bye in order to shine their marbles with their partners on the occasion of Mothers Day….may I take this opportunity to honour all the Lady’s in our Club and those that we know, who are fortunate enough to be called Mom…..may your loved ones spoil you and make you feel especially wonderful this Sunday…..all the best from myself, the management and staff at the North….thank you for your contribution in making the North a great place to be…..

Our runners took to their last official run before the Comrades…and were off to Boksburg for the Colgate 32…and in the true Northerns style and spirit…they all wait just before the finish and all our runners end the race together in a massive bus…I have had a look at the video and it really is goose-bump stuff…it must have been amazing to be part of this finish..it shows the Northerns spirit and style that they do things with….this weekend will be Riaan’s run (named after one of the founders of the athletic Club) and all our runners complete a 60 km run in preparation for the big haul in just over a months time….good luck to everyone..I hope it will be a fantastic day out for all….

Last Friday night entertainment was a bit of a last minute hook up…as my arranged soloist had laryngitis….and I had to cajole and plead with Ryno to come out to the East Rand to help us out at a moment’s notice….thanks to Freedom Unfound for filling the gap at the eleventh hour….it is greatly appreciated and I owe you one or two for that….this week?? Well, well…..look what the wind blew in…the Zimmer Twinz and their new vocalist will be performing in the Scimitar from 6.30ish….a firm favourite with the crowd…..I’m sure that Uku will be there to assist Peter to check that the winds of change don’t blow on the night….be there to experience this great trio….

The Joker draw is now attracting some serious interest and there was quite a crowd on Friday to try their luck at looking for the elusive card that everyone wants…..well the beeeeeg black box was really full and it needed my two hands to swirl the tickets around a little more…..and the lucky ticket that was drawn turned out to be someone who has already has his name drawn twice before in this draw….Aliaster Hamilton….he knows the drill so he walked up and after flashing his teeth to Enrique for the obligatory pic…he pointed to his choice….there were a few groans in the crowd…as obviously Ali had pointed to their selection if they were drawn…..the card was slowly revealed….to show us the Jack of hearts…..ecstatic response from the crowd…the Joker was still hiding and we all have a chance, (well maybe not me!!) at winning it next week…..Jackpot increases to close on the R200k level……and with seven cards left and R198 062 available…I’m sure we will have a full house this week….we will also have a Long Tom beer bar in the Beer Garden to make sure you don’t have to wait too long for your favourite tipple….and there is also have a promotion running…look out for the promotional girls and their wares that they have available….come early to get your tickets….I’m sure it will be a standing room only evening….

Please send any kudos or complaints to rod.scheepers@gmail.com…your feelings and sentiments are greatly appreciated…

Hope you all have an amazing week…I’m always around….please pop in to see me… cheers Rod

Aliaster Hamilton (Social) drew the Jack of Hearts – Joker Draw a turnover at R198 062.00 for Friday 10th May. Be present to win it!! “Zimmer Twinz” will a little help from Elieen will be entertaining us.

At a planning meeting, attended by all Sub Club Chairmen plus invited additional Sub Club Committee Members, held in 2018, it was agreed that we hold a R100 a ticket fund-raising drive to raise funds for fields and building maintenance. This initiative is being driven by Mark Hardman and your Sub Club Chairmen were all issued with books of tickets in 2018. We are currently faced with a repair bill of R45,000 for the big ride-on mower and a lessor amount of R15,000 for the smaller, older one that we use. Without these two machines, we will be unable to keep the grounds in the superb condition that they are currently in. Needless to say, we are receiving less and less support from Ekurhuleni and we can only assume that this will reduce further. Some of the other sporting facilities in Ekurhuleni bear testimony to this. Your urgent support in this venture is therefore requested. Your sub club chairman has the tickets – please ask him/her for them as we are planning to hold the first of 5 draws in May this year. Your support is and will be appreciated. Kindest regards, Laurence (Lockey) Brown – Benoni Northern Sports Club Chairman

COLGATE ROAD RACE 2019: 15km, 32km, and 6km Fun Run 5 May 2019 Boksburg City Stadium.

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Senior Winter Baseball officially starts this weekend, DATE : 12 May 2019 VENUE: Benoni Indians Baseball fields. Fixtures Our Major A side has a bye; Major B Wichita vs Red Sox; Sioux vs Randburg Mets; Senior Reserves Mohicans vs Panthers. We wish all of our coaches, scorers, umpires and player’s a successful season.

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Well done to all our men and woman cricket players. Thank you to all our Coaches, managers, captains, staff and the committee for all your support and dedication.

Superleague Footballers had cracker games last Staurday: the results says it all :
Boksburg reserves 1 – Benoni Northerns 2; Boksburg 1sts 2 – Benoni Northerns 8. Well done Lads keep it up!!

BNFC u7 League 4 had a great game over the weekend and beat Sporting FC 2-1

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First junior hockey tournament of the season for most age groups. Well Done. Here is to a awesome season.

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Benoni Northerns Rugby had another round against Kempton over the weekend and the senior Ladies had a close game against VUT. First up was Benoni Northerns ladies against VUT. Vut scored in the last seconds of the game and won 14-17. Second game of the day was Benoni Northerns second team and the won 63- 10 . One way traffic all the way with Benoni scoring alot of long range tries. Last game of the day was Benoni Northerns first team against Kempton 1. First half the game was very close but the second Benoni showed their worth and ran up the points and won 62-18. This coming Saturday Benoni Northerns will play away against Nigel.

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 2 May 2019

3rd May 20193rd May 2019
by Glenda Todd

BNSC NEWSLETTER

A fresh good morning to everyone…

We have definitely reached the change of season….our office which is a sauna in the warmer periods….has slowly evolved into a deep freeze….and Glenda and I look like two Eskimo’s when we dress for work….but the scenery outside makes the approaching winter a little more bearable…I have lived with pin-oak trees as part of my life for well nigh on 60 years….as a kid having to sweep up leaves as nauseam, there always seemed to be an endless supply of dead leaves from the trees in our street, one of the chores I used to hate with a passion….but the amazing hue of colours that they possess, while these dead and dying leaves are still high above their dying final carpet, always amazed me…..from gorgeous greens, through faded yellows, burnished oranges, deep reds to finally become a drab and dead brown…opens a page in a chapter of natures beauty that is difficult to match….very soon the stark and awkwardness of the trees branches without leaves will soon be displayed…and the mercury in the thermometer will drop to its lower regions before we start to see the stirrings of spring again….

There were also a kaleidoscope of new and different colours at the North on Sunday…when the Robor Marathon was again hosted…..the sponsor erected a most impressive start gantry…with massive structures at the Club’s main entrance around our two palms (which also received a well needed a haircut at the same time…thank you to Perry and his team for their kind assistance)…..there was also more scaffolding erected at the finish line and for the prize giving stage….they were certainly most impressive…but were suitably matched by the organisational skills of our athletics team….headed up Julie (with Jan moving sideways diplomatically and only jumping in when it was specifically necessary) and her crew of able volunteers……at the end of the day…it was a resounding success….everything going off smoothly (apart from a Coke truck deciding that the hockey field was the new Monster Jam course)….runners, officials and spectators alike all agreed that it was a fantastic day….I have an email dedicated to any and all Club reviews received…and I can tell you that it sounded like a morse code message being received the whole day on Sunday…and a majority of the star ratings were 5’s….. so thank you to all….two days after the race and there are very few traces of a major marathon being held at our venue….congratulations to everyone….

Our soccer boys did not have the most successful of weekends….with the reserves having to settle with a 1-1 draw….whilst the first side came back on the wrong side of a seven goal thriller….which means that the reserves are currently lying in 5^th out of 14 and the firsts 6^th out the 14…..this week the boys are up in an East Rand derby…playing against Boksburg at the North….reserves kicking off at 13h45…while the firsts will follow them at 15h30…..

The rubgy boys kept up the momentum from the start to the season….and were able to have a clean sweep in the boys matches…while the girls suffered a disappointing loss in their first official match at the North…bad luck girls…all reports received are positive though…which does auger well for the future….the under 21’s had a convincing win, the second side a walk over….but in the firsts it was definitely a hard fought affair…..with a very mobile opposition, who threw everything into attack at every opportunity…..we were able to withstand masses of pressure in the last quarter to emerge as 36-29 winners…..a wonderful start to the season for our rugger buggers….I was part of the excited crowd watching the heart stopping last 15 minutes…the adrenalin was pumping at high speed…..very well done….a bunch of tired but very proud boys trudged off the field afterwards….this week we should have been on the road to travel to Kempton…but their grounds aren’t ready yet….so another home match for us….all the best boys….let’s keep the momentum going by starting on the front foot and moving forwards…..all spectators get along to support the chaps in the quest to keep this perfect start going…

The hockey girls and boys were a little lost with the limited parking and no games at the Astro on Sunday….but I did see a few of the sides persevering and landing up in the beer garden amongst all the runners and officials from the Marathon machine….. but this week, we are back in full swing…and expect a full house of hockey players present on the weekend….

Our Joker draw is starting to attract some serious attention…..and there was a pulsating crowd at the draw on Friday…with only 10 cards left and the prospect of close on R180k available for finding the Joker….ticket sales were clicking over at quite a rate….and when 19h30 arrived there was a sizeable crowd squeezing into the Main Bar…all craning their necks to get their chance to see what was happening and hoping that it was their chance to find the Joker…..and this week I had another newcomer to the Joker cabinet…. Alec Austen had his name emerge from the beeeeeg black box….and despite all the advice given by the expectant crowd…he was pretty confident that he had made an accurate selection…..and as the card was turned….ecstatic applause erupted…which meant that the Joker remained face down for another week….Alec had made his selection second down and second across from the top left corner….and the Queen of Diamonds made her appearance… more singing, shouting and applause continued until finally it died down enough for me to announce that this week with only 9 cards left to choose from…we have R188 735 available this week…..a big jump in the jackpot…. and we can expect a significant number of new people at the draw this week…so remember to get here early…it could be busy…we will have a satellite beer bar open to try to take some pressure off the main watering holes… come along and enjoy the start of the weekend with as at the North…and possibly go home with a significant windfall in your bank account….

On Friday our entertainment is provided by the very accomplished musician Eben playing in the Scimitar….please come along and listen to him… he will get your feet a tapping and you to sing along with some his popular cover classics….

Have a super week….hope to see you all soon… cheers Rod

rod.scheepers@gmail.com for any information you may like me to know about…whether they are good or bad vibes…Ta

Alec Austen (Athletics) drew the Queen of Diamonds – Joker Draw a turnover at R188 735.00 for Friday 03rd May

Eben will be entertaining us on Friday 03rd May from 18h30

At a planning meeting, attended by all Sub Club Chairmen plus invited additional Sub Club Committee Members, held in 2018, it was agreed that we hold a R100 a ticket fund-raising drive to raise funds for fields and building maintenance. This initiative is being driven by Mark Hardman and your Sub Club Chairmen were all issued with books of tickets in 2018. We are currently faced with a repair bill of R45,000 for the big ride-on mower and a lessor amount of R15,000 for the smaller, older one that we use. Without these two machines, we will be unable to keep the grounds in the superb condition that they are currently in. Needless to say, we are receiving less and less support from Ekurhuleni and we can only assume that this will reduce further. Some of the other sporting facilities in Ekurhuleni bear testimony to this. Your urgent support in this venture is therefore requested. Your sub club chairman has the tickets – please ask him/her for them as we are planning to hold the first of 5 draws in May this year. Your support is and will be appreciated. Kindest regards, Laurence (Lockey) Brown – Benoni Northern Sports Club Chairman

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you to our athletes, sponsors, spectators, helpers & members. We had a phenomenal race day!We would like to hear from our athletes. What did you feel was good about the Robor Scaffolding Marathon 2019? What did you feel was better than before? AND What do you feel was the best part of today?

If you completed the race and can’t find your results on www.raceresults.co.za – please send your query to Margaret@raceresults.co.za

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Wally Hayward Half Marathon done and dusted in time of 1:11:05 achieving position 5. “It is my dream to finish in top 5 of all the races I do” – Bright .

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Benoni Northerns Junior Cricket Awards. Well done to all our boys and girls. A BIG thank you to our special guest Malusi Siboto from the Lions for joining us on this special day. We would also like to thank our Junior Club Chairman, Jason Clark. Thank you Jason for all your hard work and dedication the past six years. Your time and efforts are truly appreciated.

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Saturday 27 April Benoni Northerns had 3 games . First up was the under 21s that smashed the opposition under 21s VUT 57-3 . VUT don’t have a second team so the ladies team played in their time slot against Boksburg but unfortunately lost 0-20 The first team had a hard game but won the game 36-29 . First team and under 21s won both first two games of the league and are looking good. Second team got the points so they also have two games in the bag and no loses.

Benoni Notherns are very proud to announce that junior rugby will be starting this year at the club and will be the exclusive junior club in Benoni. Registrations for juniors will be 6 and 13 May in the hall at the main club from 19:00 in the evening. Please bring copy of medical aid card,copy of ID for principal member of medical aid and unabridged birth certificate of player. Photos will be taken at club. Clubfees for the season per household: R350 for 1 player ; R650 for 2 players ; R900 for 3 players. 1 Brodigan street ,Northmead , Benoni Contact Jaco Havenga on havenga_ j@ yahoo.com

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 25 Apr 2019

25th April 201926th April 2019
by Glenda Todd

BNSC NEWSLETTER

A wet and wonderful good morning to you all

I am going to give away my age and mention that there was a group by the name of Gentle People in the 70’s who sang a song “Rain, Rain, Rain” and that aptly describes the Easter weekend for me… in my wisdom I decided that I would complete my epic house move on the Easter weekend…a decision that I now rue…as I was a drowned rat by the end of the weekend..but it seems like we have only caught a light edge of the major storms…with portions of Southern Natal being completely ravaged….my thoughts and prayers go out to all on the tragic loss of life and property that has been experienced….but to end off my weekend…I landed up with a flat wheel in the pouring rain on a busy road in rush hour traffic on Tuesday morning….so that pretty well summed up my weekend of fun…

Our sport at the Club was limited to the hockey from the St Dunstans festival…which was great to see and have some really good hockey…and surprisingly, a little average and below standards displayed at times too….but at the end of the day…the participants and spectators appeared to have a fantastic weekend of fun….

Other than the hockey and the festival and beer tent around the corner at the school…sport was limited to television and one other event that attracted a fair number of our Members…which was shrouded by a late route change to accommodate possible security concerns regarding possible disruptions to the race….that said, I don’t think that any of these circumstances would have changed our Members mass movement to the Cape for the OMTOM….which this year celebrated its 50^th running….and by all accounts that I have read and seen…it was a fantastic day…even with the rain, wind, route change and any of the other factors and circumstances that surrounded the race….and with plenty of our Members participating…all my local social media was filled with happy pictures of finishing and piles of celebratory drinks amber liquid and the consequent antics that always follow….well done to all of our runners down there….I was very chuffed to see the Northerns colours so proudly displayed….super event…

For the runners at home…there was also a weekend of frantic and fierce activity…in expectation of the Comarades in about six weeks time…and there were also plenty of smiles after the completion of their 90km of training over the weekend….I think there were tired legs for all of our runners…hopefully this will prepare you really well for the big one….

Our official Friday night…was moved to Thursday night to accommodate the long weekend….we had Ryno and his rearranged band entertaining us…and I enjoyed another great evening at the North….thank you to Freedom Unfound for keeping me thoroughly entertained throughout….

In the Main Bar at 7.30…tensions were climbing…ten cards left…over R170k in the pot…and with the crowd being a little smaller than usual because of the long weekend…the chances of being drawn were obviously improved…so there was a fair bit of excitement being generated by the time arrived for the name to be drawn from the beeeg black box….and for the second week in a row….a Joker first timer….Gino Pinto was announced as the name selected…and wended his way from outside….with most of the crowd shouting “redraw” they didn’t notice that Gino had snuck his way forward beneath the interests of the attentive eyes…. and was already standing next to Glenda and myself….I could see in his face that he definitely didn’t expect to be drawn…as standing now in front of the Joker cabinet, was a lot more of daunting task than it appeared to seeing it from the distance of the other side of the bar…..suddenly those 10 cards were not as few as they looked as first glance…and he eventually settled on a choice…tentatively pointing at his selection (just below centre and slightly to the left)…and he joined the waiting crowd….in holding his breath….Glenda definitely made the poor man sweat a little more as she seemed to delay the turning over of the card….eventually, after what seemed like a lifetime wait…the ten of clubs was revealed…amid instantaneous applause…cheering and jeering….and then the inevitable singing from the soccer boys of “cheerio, cheerio, cheerio” to the unlucky participant….so we now go into week 45 of the current draw….9 cards remain and R179 021 is available to the winner this week….

SO this could be your week…please come and celebrate the Robor Marathon weekend with us…we have Cedz and Tryst to rock us into the weekend…another of the bands that has joined the Northerns “please come again” list….they really play some magic music…..and with the joker jackpot close to R180k (if the weather plays the game) we should expect a bumper crowd….

As I said a little earlier..it is the Robor Marathon at the club this Sunday…so expect to see plenty of runners in the area of the Club with throngs of motor vehicles, marshalls, traffic police and spectators….if you are planning to drive around on the day…please remember to plan your trip and possibly expect some delays….

There is a return for all of our teams to sport this weekend…

Soccer – playing Sporting away

Rugby – playing VUT at home on Saturday afternoon on the rugby fields (JB Hall side)

Hockey – Ladies (Saturday) and Men (Sunday) are playing but no matches scheduled for the Astro at Northerns

Baseball – all playing in Boksburg in a huge tournament where a whole bunch of our Northerns talent will be on show over the weekend.. (this should really be worth a visit if you are a baseball fan)

Good luck to all our teams and Members playing…best of luck in your endeavours…

To all of our runners who’s running talent is to be firmly hidden away this Sunday….under the clothing disguises of Marshalls, officials, drivers, flag wavers and traffic controllers…all the best…have a great relaxing day…watching all the other masses of runners enjoying your race….(don’t drink too much!! I know I said it last year and it didn’t help either!!)

For a weekend of very little activity on the sporting front ….I was able to “babble” quite a bit (which is what one of my mates describes this weekly effort as)…but maybe he is correct….I talk too much…or is it write too much…..okay okay…I’ll stop now…

Have a great week….see you all soon… cheers Rod

rod.scheepers@gmail.com for any feedback…negative or positive…thank you

Gino Pinto (Guest) drew the Ten of Clubs- Joker Draw a turnover at R179 021.00 for Friday 26th April. Be present to win it!!

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Cedz Tryst will be entertaining us on Friday 26th April from 18h30

At a planning meeting, attended by all Sub Club Chairmen plus invited additional Sub Club Committee Members, held in 2018, it was agreed that we hold a R100 a ticket fund-raising drive to raise funds for fields and building maintenance. This initiative is being driven by Mark Hardman and your Sub Club Chairmen were all issued with books of tickets in 2018. We are currently faced with a repair bill of R45,000 for the big ride-on mower and a lessor amount of R15,000 for the smaller, older one that we use. Without these two machines, we will be unable to keep the grounds in the superb condition that they are currently in. Needless to say, we are receiving less and less support from Ekurhuleni and we can only assume that this will reduce further. Some of the other sporting facilities in Ekurhuleni bear testimony to this. Your urgent support in this venture is therefore requested. Your sub club chairman has the tickets – please ask him/her for them as we are planning to hold the first of 5 draws in May this year. Your support is and will be appreciated. Kindest regards, Laurence (Lockey) Brown – Benoni Northern Sports Club Chairman

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BNBC Senior Players that have proved there worth and have been selected to represent South Africa in the Continental African Championships and the African Olympic Qualifiers:Tyler Croft, Rowan Ebersohn and Damon King.
The BNBC Juniors have been selected to play for South Africa in Taiwan in July/August: Luke Emmett, Connor Steyn and Liam Pieterse.⚾️
Congratulations to all those selected, we will be behind you every step of the way. Remember, hit hard, run hard and turn left.
Yours in Baseball – Shaun Deyzel, Benoni Northerns Indians Ball Club

Take note of affected roads for the Robor Scaffolding Marathon routes this Sunday

If you are going to church or work on Sunday morning, take note of the roads that will be filled with runners.

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The Scimitar

The Scimitar 17 Apr 2019

19th April 201919th April 2019
by Glenda Todd

BNSC NEWSLETTER

Good morning to everyone

Up front….my apologies to everyone for the late submission from me and hence the late arrival of your favourite journal…filled with snippets of worthless information…much used cliches…and your usual helping of sarcastic wit, making it the first item to hit your computers trash with the speed of lightning….

Here goes…with the rain last week we had the hand in hand partner arrive shortly thereafter…the cooler weather…I have felt that this week…and I see all the runners and walkers that I pass in the gloomy pre-dawn attack….are all a little more warmly attired than last week…scarves, long sleeved vests and winter mittens are now a more regular occurrence than before…and I do not think it will be any warmer on those early mornings from now until the arrival of Spring….I now have seen our faithful leader Lockey and his companion Cedric each and every morning…but it is only once we pass each other and recognise each other by their voices that the hasty warm morning greetings follow…

Our runners have acquitted themselves with honour at both “om die dam” with a lot of runners completing their first ultra marathon….and then a huge round of applause and congratulations to all of our competitors at the Iron Man….I watched the video that Marc Daniel edited and produced…I got goose flesh watching the familiar faces from the North competing and completing this gruelling event….a massive rush for me….how wonderful the feeling must be for these incredible athletes….

Our Rugby players have started their third season at the North…and last weekend started off with a bang…their committee and back room boys had been very active and positive in their approach to the season…and it paid off huge dividends….with all three sides registering victories in the first league match of the season against Sasolburg…our U21’s…after conceding the first try of the day…ran out 27-18 winners….. the second side match followed and in similar fashion, allowed the opposition to score the first try of the game….but also worked a bit of magic and ran in with a convincing 17-7 result….the first side has not beaten their opposition in 8 years…..but our boys decided to completely turn the tables and it was really one way traffic as only one unconverted try was conceded….whilst racking up a half century of points….a fantastic day for our rugger buggers…. accolades must go to Lourens, Jaco and their committee and professional coaching staff…a wonderful day for Northerns rugby….long may it continue….

Our soccer boys had a day of mixed results….with the reserves going down 2-1 in a controversial loss, where there have been some objections raised about the standard of the refereeing…their coach is however happy that harsh lessons have been learned, which will hold them in good stead in the future….as an official complaint has been laid, I will not further comment and rather leave it to the authorities to settle and sort it out….The first side really kicked into gear this week and ran out with a solid 4-0 win…well done guys….no football fixtures this weekend due to the long weekend

The hockey season is in full swing for both the men and ladies leagues…it is wonderful to see so many players in the beer garden after the matches in true hockey player’s style enjoying recollecting the highs and lows of the matches over a beer with fellow mates and opposition alike… Our first and second sides both suffered losses this week….2^nd’s going down 6-1 to Crusaders…while the 1^st’s went down 2-1 to MCC…

There will be some great schools hockey on show at our Astro and at St Dunstans…as they host their Easter festival again this weekend…allied to the great hockey, rugby and netball will be played at the school too…whilst I am sure that the beer garden will hold its own special appeal to most of the spectators…join us there for a weekend of fun….

Friday night saw another new name emerge from the beeeeg black box….Mandy Cameron was selected this week….and her luck at being selected, unfortunately ended there…as her pick, when flipped over was the nine of diamonds….diamonds are supposed to be a girls best friend…..but not this time…so another card gone…we now only have 10 cards left….and Jackpot jumps up to R173 237…..we have the Easter weekend upon is….so due to this…we will have the joker draw a day early in an attempt to get everyone out on Thursday 18….a marvellous thought after a good party night at the North….we can sleep in…as Friday will only just have started when we wake ….great aspect….

Ryno and Freedom Unfound are back in the entertainment slot this week….I will guarantee that they won’t disappoint….Alan will fervently await their version of Lightning Crashes….and all of us will listen for Hotel California and some other great covers….

I saw that our one Toro mower returned to the fold this morning…after spending some time on the surgeon’s operating table…and will be back to full operation within a week…Brian said he needs some time to return all this missing parts and to just get everything back in perfect running order…really nice to have our mower team back to full strength again…

I wish everyone a peaceful and joyous long weekend….for those travelling, please drive carefully and look after yourselves…to those staying at home, have a blast wherever and whatever you find yourself doing….if you are at St Dunstans at all…I will probably see you there…

If there is anything that you believe needs my attention….please let me know by sending an mail to rod.scheepers@gmail.com ….That’s all for today…..hope you all have a awesome weekend and hopefully I will see you all soon at SDC…. Have a blast……Rod

Mandy Cameron (Guest) drew the Nine of Diamonds – Joker Draw a turnover at R173 237.00 for Thursday 18th April.

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At a planning meeting, attended by all Sub Club Chairmen plus invited additional Sub Club Committee Members, held in 2018, it was agreed that we hold a R100 a ticket fund-raising drive to raise funds for fields and building maintenance. This initiative is being driven by Mark Hardman and your Sub Club Chairmen were all issued with books of tickets in 2018. We are currently faced with a repair bill of R45,000 for the big ride-on mower and a lessor amount of R15,000 for the smaller, older one that we use. Without these two machines, we will be unable to keep the grounds in the superb condition that they are currently in. Needless to say, we are receiving less and less support from Ekurhuleni and we can only assume that this will reduce further. Some of the other sporting facilities in Ekurhuleni bear testimony to this. Your urgent support in this venture is therefore requested. Your sub club chairman has the tickets – please ask him/her for them as we are planning to hold the first of 5 draws in May this year. Your support is and will be appreciated. Kindest regards, Laurence (Lockey) Brown – Benoni Northern Sports Club Chairman

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Easterns T20 Battle of the Rose’s 2019 champions. Congratulations and well done Samurai – Benoni Northerns. Awesome final and a super over to clinch the win. hank you and well.done coach Nicolaos Moragemos and manager Twayne Stewart all your efforts with these gents. Congratulations to the ladies Samurai team as well for winning their title. Double win for Benoni Northern’s Samurai!

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Benoni Northerns Rugby had a very good start to the season against Sasolburg, having a clean sweep in winning all their games. Big thanks for the support on the day. See you on the 27th when they take on VUT at our home grounds.

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The Scimitar

The Scimitar 10 Apr 2019

10th April 201910th April 2019
by Glenda Todd

BNSC NEWSLETTER

Hi there everyone……A bumper rainy last few days…with an abundance of wet weather…meaning that all of our fields are wet underfoot and all the players on our grass fields will be happy…fewer bouts of grass burns and less stud pressure for the next little while…and the grass will remain green and lush for a little longer….and all the water will contribute to better longevity of our fields during the cooler months from the improved grass covering…..

On Friday we has some serious thunderstorms during the course of the day…and I was a little concerned that the wet weather may affect our attendances over the weekend….I needn’t have been concerned…as everyone came out in their numbers….Friday night for the draw…Saturday for the junior soccer and hockey…followed by senior soccer and ladies hockey in the afternoon….whilst on Sunday the senior men’s hockey returned to the North…and we also had some more junior soccer to enjoy too….

Friday saw the return of the Wilsons….a most popular father and son duo, who are a bit like the “Stars on 45” of the eighties with their constant flow of music….it always keeps the crowds entertained and dancing….and as the excitement started to build up to the Joker draw time….but first we had the Members draw…which this week stood at R4800…and we finally had a winner present with us….and it was none other than the last “big” winner of our Joker draw….(which at that time stood at over R330k)….Delyse Jones…..well done to you Delyse…there have not been too many nights that you and your husband Arthur have not been absent….so perseverance has definitely paid off in your case…..congratulations….. and then off we went into the Joker draw….every week I have a few of the loyal Members who remind me that their name hasn’t been called before (or not in a very long time)…and this week was no exception to the rule….as Dave MacVay was one of those who mentioned to me that his name has never been called…and as he and his good wife Michelle had become parents again during the week, he could now do with the cash more than ever…..and the beeeeeeeg black box produced another surprise name….. and Dave had his name selected….and he literally skipped and jumped in to take his place in front of the Joker cabinet….he was jumping up and down and so excited that he couldn’t wait for his picture to be taken….as he definitely knew where his selection was going to be….so after all the formalities were complete by the cameraman…Dave indicated his selection….and awaited his fate…..I slowly turned the card over and revealed it to the crowd…..raucous applause from the crowd meant that Dave had not found the Joker….but had uncovered the King of spades…and with eleven cards remaining….we have the Jackpot up to R166949…..so with the soccer boys leading in song of “cheerio, cheerio…” Dave went back to contemplate his selection and the crowd breathed a collective sigh of relief…as it means that their chances are still alive for next week….chances of finding the Joker are improving each week….but as the “pot” increases….so do the numbers of people attending….remember to improve your chances and spend a few extra rand when you purchase some more tickets…be there on Friday to win it…Friday we will again be trying to unearth some new singing talent at the North…as we hold a Karaoke evening…. bring your best singing voice and any talented friends along to enjoy an evening of fun and laughter….

Saturday saw our soccer boys back at the North…hosting Kempton Park, who over the last few years have proved to be most worthy opponents and has resulted a great tussle between these two East Rand sides….the reserve side, showed their class and talent and fits and starts…but this enough to completely outclass their opposition and demolish them with 4-0 drubbing…well done fellows….this has moved them into tied second place on the log….and this week will be facing the side that are a point behind them…this should be another quality match….the first side were made to show some character…after slipping behind to an early goal…but showed great resilience in coming from behind to end up victors by two goals to one….both of our sides revelled in being able to play in front of their home fans and wish to thank all the support…it is truly appreciated….this week we travel to Moffatt Park to play Linhil Celtic and this side has improved over the last few years….so expect another closely fought battle….

The hockey girls started their leagues last weekend…and the beer garden was full of hockey antics of fines, singing and headgear of varying types and shapes…particularly in the Moms (FTC’s) and their daughters (Ya-ya’s) having to share the spoils in this particular match…lovely to have you back girls….hope to see a lot more of you in the future….the men made their appearance at the North outside the Scimitar the next morning…and they also brought their own style and panache with also lots of sing-songs and party tricks that have become synonymous with the game of hockey…..our first mens side also made their appearance, with a late Saturday change of fixture…and we were able to host CBCOB from Boksburg at the Astro…and it proved to be a game of end to end action…Peter Wertz opening the scoring for us….only to surrender the lead to a well taken CBCOB goal…..and despite opportunities at both ends….and these proved to be the only goals in this match…ending in a 1-1 deadlock…well done to both sides for some really quality hockey….

Our athletes are all busy with their training for the Comrades…whilst the organisers of our Marathon are hard at work….and soon we will see all the road markings along the route being “freshened up” in anticipation of the hordes of runners that arrive to compete in our “Robor Marathon”….which this year will be run on April 28….so please keep this in your diary…as there will obviously be some road closures, detours and diversions in and around the Club on that day…

Rugby this week makes its return to the North on Saturday as we host Sasolburg in the first league matches for the season…..please pop along to come and support our sides as we want to start off on a positive note….

If there is anything that you believe needs my attention….please let me know by sending an mail to rod.scheepers@gmail.com ….That’s all I have for today…..hope you all have a super week and hopefully I will see you all soon…. Kind regards……Rod

Dave MacVay (Cricket) drew the King of Spades – Joker Draw a turnover at R166 949.00 for Friday 12th

At “The North – Friday 12th April 18h30. Come and join and show your talent

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IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL MEMBERS : R100 FUND RAISING RAFFLE

At a planning meeting, attended by all Sub Club Chairmen plus invited additional Sub Club Committee Members, held in 2018, it was agreed that we hold a R100 a ticket fund-raising drive to raise funds for fields and building maintenance. This initiative is being driven by Mark Hardman and your Sub Club Chairmen were all issued with books of tickets in 2018. We are currently faced with a repair bill of R45,000 for the big ride-on mower and a lessor amount of R15,000 for the smaller, older one that we use. Without these two machines, we will be unable to keep the grounds in the superb condition that they are currently in. Needless to say, we are receiving less and less support from Ekurhuleni and we can only assume that this will reduce further. Some of the other sporting facilities in Ekurhuleni bear testimony to this. Your urgent support in this venture is therefore requested. Your sub club chairman has the tickets – please ask him/her for them as we are planning to hold the first of 5 draws in May this year. Your support is and will be appreciated. Kindest regards, Laurence (Lockey) Brown – Benoni Northern Sports Club Chairman

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BNAC’s very own Bright Mikolongwe ran his first 32 kms at the “Alan Robb” this weekend in time of 1:50:09.achieving 1st position. We are all so proud of you !! Well done.

Irene Ultra Marathon – Handy Dumaver, Tyron Millar and Mpho Pilusa – 48km in under 5 hours. Great work Guys.

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BNFC 2019 Junior League had their 1st games of the Season last weekend. u8 and u6(2) Leagues proudly displaying their skills

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BNCC’s Samurai Ladies are performing well in the Battle of the Roses T20 Tournament with winning all their three games. They will be playing in the 2nd Round Robin this coming weekend’s final on Willowmoore Park’s Main Oval at 3pm on Sunday. Good luck ladies.

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First league game this Saturday!!! Under 21 13:15 kick off, Second team 14:40 kick off, First team 16:00. Come support the boys….

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 3 Apr 2019

3rd April 20193rd April 2019
by Glenda Todd

BNSC NEWSLETTER

A very good morning to you all

A grey and overcast morning greets me from the North…with the signs of Autumn fast approaching….as the leaves on the Pin Oaks begin to quickly alter their hues from brilliant green….to faded yellow…burnished oranges and deep red…finally ending with a crinkly brown dead leaf that bears no resemblance to its lively summer self….and whilst it makes me sad to see the ending of summer…..it marks one of the positives for all of the Members that play winter sports….we are about to kick off…rugby, baseball, hockey and soccer players now emerge from their summer siesta….and eagerly await their season to begin….

Friday was a great festive affair again…with a super band Black and Blue entertaining us…their second visit to the Club has produced more followers than before and they are proving to be most popular…whilst they were serenading us….people were buying their Joker draw tickets and a feeding frenzy is beginning as the Jackpot is over R150k now….and this week Jane Nielsen had a second chance for this draw…as her name was selected from the beeeeg black box….and it was now “old hat” for her….she calmly smiled for camera and had her photo taken….and then immediately pointed out the card of her choice (top row, last available card on the right)…..which, to her disappointment, turned out to be the ten of diamonds….amid tumultuous applause and singing “Cheerio” from the Soccer boys (who seem to have returned to their usual of table, after a bit of a sabbatical)….so the Jackpot lives on for another week….and we have only 12 cards left to choose from…..and the jackpot jumps another notch….this time settling at R161495…this week we welcome the father and son duo of the “Wilsons” who play non stop…and keep the feet tapping and on the dance floor…..

Our soccer boys visited the Italian Club in Bedfordview last weekend and with another set of matches where feeling was we should have come home with the full 6 points…but we only landed up bringing back 4…..the reserves had a cracker of a match with amazing goals from the young strikers and some impressive skills from everyone else resulted in us running out 5-1 easy victors in this match….our first side looked they had an early plane to catch and played some superb football in the first half to run into an quick 2-0 lead….however some sloppy defending, missing our chances and allowing some indifferent decisions to rattle us, we let the opposition in on a couple of occasions to level the scores and had to be satisfied with a share of the spoils and a point for the afternoons efforts….this week we take on Kempton in what promises to be a crackerjack of a match….reserves kick off at 13h45 with the super league starting at 15h30…

With the men’s hockey first side match being postponed, the mantle of the top side playing fell on the shoulders of our second side…..and with the opportunity to play as close to home as they ever have, the match was on the Easterns Astro at Northerns against Bedfordview….and for the second time in 24 hours, we shared point with our opponents from the Gilloolys interchange vicinity….with a 1-1 draw….fixtures for this week have not been finalised….and as the first team match is against CBC Boksburg, we are hoping that the match is to be moved to the East Rand….please keep an eye on our social media platforms, to see if we have been able to swing the vote for the match to be hosted locally…. this weekend also sees the start of the local Easterns leagues….so with the Ladies hitting off on Saturday afternoon and the Men up early on Sunday morning…it promises to be the start of another busy and successful season….Expect to see masses of hockey players, partying, fining, dancing and drinking in our beer garden from this weekend for another six or so months….

Congratulations to two of our young Baseballers, Luke Emmet and Conner Steyn, who have been included in the U12 national squad to go to Taiwan for the Baseball World Cup…well done young men… we are extremely proud of you and your achievements….

Another accolade that our Juniors have brought back to the North recently…the U17 Super League Soccer side, brought back the trophy from the BCC pre-season Tournament….super stuff fellows….let’s hope you continue in that vein for the rest of the year….

With the end of the school holidays…. expect an influx of youngsters at the Club….particularly on Saturday mornings with Hockey practice and Soccer matches…there is always much excitement generated by these future leaders at the North…

If there is anything you would like to bring to my attention….please send me a mail to rod.scheepers@gmail.com ….

That’s all have for today…..have a great week.

See you all soon… Rod

Jane Neilsen (Athletics) drew the Ten of Diamonds. Joker Draw a turnover at R161495.00 for Friday 05th April. Be present to win it!!

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Leon & Stuart Wilson will be entertaining us from 18h30 on Friday 05th April 2019.

Well done to two of our BNAC Junior members who participated in the South African Biathlon Championships in Port Elizabeth over the weekend

Congratulations to the following Benoni Northerns Indian Baseball Players: Luke Emmet and Connor Steyn on making the u12 South African squad to compete in the u12 Baseball World Cup Tournament in Taiwan. We wish them good luck

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Battle of the Roses is an Easterns Cricket Union Club Franchise T20 Tournament to be held at Willowmore Park: 6/7 and 13/14 April; 1st ball bowled at 09h00. This tournament is comprised of 8 Club Franchises; Rising Stars, BN Freight Bombers, Wildfire, Samurai, Calypso Brothers, Legends, Sluggers and Jets. Come and have some fun in the Sun whilst supporting your Team !!

About the www.BNFC.co.za website:

This website was created in order to provide a centralised platform for BNFC related administative issues and general information. On this website you shall be able to do the following:

Event dates – lookahead; Online registration renewal; Order customised football clothing and equipment; Rules, regulations and general information downloads; Contact list for coaches

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Referees from across the Continent attended last week’s Practical VAR Workshop which was held at Benoni Northern Sports Club

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Registrations and Pre-screening for Juniors will take place on Monday 6th May at Benoni Northerns Sports Club, 1 Brodigan Street, Rynfield . Unfortunately there will be no clinic held over the school holidays. Benoni Northerns are excited to welcome Junior Rugby.

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 27 Mar 2019

29th March 201929th March 2019
by Glenda Todd

BNSC NEWSLETTER

Morning to all

In a first for the Club, we have been hosting a CAF soccer workshop for referees regarding the Video assistance in matches in the future…towers of scaffolding, masses of cameras, hordes of officials, teams of players, a bevy of pressmen and a handful of technical boffins descended on the North….I was able to spend short periods watching the “circus” of learning and I must say that “professional” soccer is certainly a lot different from the amateur matches I used to play and compete in many years ago….sometimes I need to question whether the enjoyment that we used to participate for and in at that time, is still the same as these days……but it was lovely to host this important workshop…and we have had some really positive feedback about the quality of our fields and facilities…and the possibility of our hosting similar programmes in the future is very real…….so we look forward to having similar arrangements in the future…well done to Rodney and his team for bringing this to the Club and gaining us the exposure we have been able to enjoy….

Our cricketers unfortunately bowed out of representing the Titans at the Club Championships, after losing to a very powerful Tukkies unit last weekend….. bad luck to Nick, Kurt and all the fellows that represented us with such honour and pride this season…thanks for all the entertainment provided….hopefully next year will be our year….

Soccer was back at the North for the first time last weekend….and we were able to have a weekend of no losses to the ever powerful and competitive Robertsham club….the reserves played most impressively against the best opposition they have encountered this season….and then grabbed their opportunities and scored two superb goals whilst defending like Trojans to run out with a victory on the day….the first side controlled their match and had the upper hand for the majority of the time….but were unable to convert their possession and territorial advantage into a positive result…and had to be satisfied with a goalless draw….this week we move our sights onto Olympia at the Italian Club in Bedfordview…

The rugby boys had quieter weekend than normal….with only two matches, both against Springs….and whilst the under 21’s suffered a 10 point loss, the first side dominated and ran our easy 29-10 winners… this weekend the players have earned a well needed rest….so no matches up for them…..enjoy the break boys….

Some really good hockey is expected up on the Astro this Sunday…. our Second side taking on Bedforview A at 09h45…and I am sure that they would appreciate any support they are able to muster…..there are four matches from the Southern Gauteng league that have been allocated for the day…. any hockey lovers should be in their element being able to watch a really good standard of league hockey on show this weekend….

Our baseballers were off to nationals in PE this past week….so all was quiet on the Northerns front…I am sure that I will receive positive report backs which I will include next week…

The joker again has remained elusive….and this week another “first-timer” proved that beginners luck was going to play no part in revealing the joker…..Elizebe Pool selecting the six of clubs from the top row….. R155477 is the new jackpot figure for this week….. with only thirteen face down cards left to select from……things are getting interesting….please be sure to give yourself the opportunity to be our next big jackpot winner….at only R5 a ticket…we must all fancy our chances of making the correct selection…this week the entertainment is making their second appearance at the North… after a really super first showing a couple of months ago….Black and Blue make their return to show case their skills…. be sure to be here to experience their magic…

If I could please request all Members to push the sales of the 100 club tickets…..we have had some serious mechanical issues with both of our mowers…and these need to be repaired in order to keep our fields in the magnificent condition we been able to maintain….there are all sorts of expenses that crop up in a Club of our size…and we are constantly under pressure to find alternate ways to finance the expenses….so the 100 Club sales will be used to plug any holes in the “dyke” that may occur, instead of asking the little Dutch boy for his finger to assist….

And speaking of method of financing at our Club….I would just like to remind Members about the some rules and regulations regarding our liquor licence, which is the major lifeblood on an ongoing basis…there are two practices that need to be policed and vigilance maintained to ensure that our licence is not ever placed in jeopardy….the first is underage drinking, which will all remain a perennial problem….if we as Members suspect that someone is underage….please courteously enquire for proof of their age….we don’t always wait for a committee member or a member of staff to have to do the task…all assistance in this matter will be greatly appreciated…. the other is the monitoring of “cooler-boxes” brought onto our premises….in terms of our licence, no liquor may be brought onto our grounds, that have not been sold by the us as the licencee…..so again, if we see this happening, please approach the offenders and inform them of the laws….do not ever enter into a conflict situation…rather walk away then…and inform a member of staff….who will then make the necessary authority aware of the problem and it can then be addressed… my thanks for your co-operation and assistance in this sensitive issue….

If there is anything you would like to bring to my attention….please send me a mail to rod.scheepers@gmail….

That’s all for this week…..take care and have a great week.

See you all soon….cheers

Rod

Elizbe Pool (Guest) drew the Six of Clubs . Joker Draw a turnover at R155477.00 for Friday 29th March. Be present to win it!!

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Battle of the Roses is an Easterns Cricket Union Club Franchise T20 Tournament to be held at Willowmore Park: 6/7 and 13/14 April; 1st ball bowled at 09h00. This tournament is comprised of 8 Club Franchises; Rising Stars, BN Freight Bombers, Wildfire, Samurai, Calypso Brothers, Legends, Sluggers and Jets. Come and have some fun in the Sun whilst supporting your Team !!

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Benoni Northerns Legend’s Cricket Side, League Champions 2018/2019 – 02nd year running.

About the www.BNFC.co.za website:

This website was created in order to provide a centralised platform for BNFC related administative issues and general information. On this website you shall be able to do the following:

Event dates – lookahead; Online registration renewal; Order customised football clothing and equipment; Rules, regulations and general information downloads; Contact list for coaches;

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Image may contain: one or more people, people standing, grass, outdoor and nature Image may contain: 1 person, smiling, sitting and indoor

Referees participating in the @caf_online VAR Workshop currently taking place in Kempton Park, Gauteng, are proud to announce that their practical sessions will be held at the Benoni Northerns Sports grounds this week.

Into the swing of things with our U5 and U7 training on Saturday mornings. Kids and coaches keen to get the season started

Registrations and Pre-screening for Juniors will take place on Monday 6th May at Benoni Northerns Sports Club, 1 Brodigan Street, Rynfield . Unfortunately there will be no clinic held over the school holidays. Benoni Northerns are excited to welcome Junior Rugby.

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 19 Mar 2019

21st March 2019
by Glenda Todd

BNSC NEWSLETTER

A fine morning to you all…

It has been a week of highs and lows…and on reflection, I’m not sure that all the highs will make up for the low….so let me start off with the low and build from there….

It is with sadness that I inform you that our Baseball and cricket sub-sections lost one of their up and coming stars of the future last week….Jamie Ludick, who was only 18 years of age…passed away after hitting his head in a Baseball match at the North last week against the concrete wall on the edge of the field….and after not feeling well the following day and reporting into a hospital in Springs where he fell into a coma…was then air-lifted and transferred to the Joburg Gen, where he did not recover during an operation on Tuesday evening…It is a massive shock to family, friends, fellow players and administrators alike… Our sincere condolences and deepest sympathy to his family and loved ones on behalf of all of us her at the North…a memorial service will be held in his honour on Wednesday (20^th) at 10h00 in the Main Hall…with the unveiling of a plaque and his number at the Baseball Club shortly thereafter….

After a couple of weeks off on a Friday, I was back behind the mike at the draw this week and with the Joker draw now starting to climb to a sizeable value…we had a bumper turnout of people…and the beeeeg black box produced another “newbie”…. Norman Hunter had his moment to ponder the whereabouts of the Joker in front of the Joker cabinet…and despite all the jibes and chirping appeared quite calm and relaxed as he indicated his selection….which, when Glenda turned it over, proved to the two of clubs….so we have another roll over and the “pot” jumps over the 150k mark and settles at R151 538….we are now starting to talk some serious tin here…..definitely worth the effort to come through to the Club on Friday for a bit of a flutter….and with it being a long weekend and the school holidays….it will be a good excuse to take the kids out (there will be a jumping castle for them to expend some of their energy…) while Eben will be providing the entertainment for us….this talented muso has become a firm favourite with the Northerns faithful and I am sure that he will not disappoint….

Also remember that with Thursday being a holiday….we are making Wednesday into a “mini-weekend” and will have Karaoke in the Scimitar…could you all please oil your vocal chords…practice all your scales up and down at home….and showcase your talent at the North….I have it on good authority that Simon Cowell (of Idols fame) who is always on the lookout for new talent will definitely not be here at all…..and we will be starting from about 18h30…..

The cricketers were finally able to shake off some of the cobwebs that they have created over the last three weeks and were in a tenacious mood on Saturday when they met their arch rivals Kempton Park in the “do or die” play off to face Alberton in the finals on Sunday…. it was a little disappointing to see that the administrators decided to allow the show piece of their Club cricket in Easterns…relegated to the back field…as a Titans match is to played on the main oval…but be that as it may, Kurt won the toss and send Kempton in to bat…wickets fell at regular intervals with Kempton being reduced to 48/5 before their the talented Johan Fourie strode out to the middle and was the only player to show any resilience to the rampant Northerns attack….and accumulated and then smashed a bit too, finally scoring 72 off 97 balls…before thiry innings closed on 166 after 46.4 overs…the second highest score in their innings was Mr Extras who contributed 24 runs to the total…a miserable 11 wides were conceded and we were hoping that this bit of ill-discipline would not come to bite us….Phumelelo taking 4 for 28 in his 10 overs whilst Kundai took 3 /33 off 8,4 overs were our destroyers in chief in keeping the Kempton score down….our innings was cruising along quite nicely at 103/2…when the irrepressible Johan Fourie struck a double blow and suddenly we were 103/4 in the space of two balls….once the Kempton bowlers sensed that there was a vulnerability and a fragility that had crept into the Northerns batsmen minds..and then kept pressing and pressurising…and soon we were 113/6 and then 135/8….still needing 32 to win and now only 2 wickets remaining ….now with WP and Stef at the crease with a fairly sizeable task to complete…. but these two batted industriously and at times flamboyantly….to get within 9 of the target before Stef succumbed for 15 off 15 balls…and on strode our last hope…Phumlelo to try to assist WP to the target….the overs were also building up and when the last over started we were 161/9….. 6 runs remaining….the first ball proved to be a dot and meant the pressure was really on….second ball resulted a single as did the third….so 4 runs off three balls….I’m sure all the Northerns faithful chewed their nails down to the quick as the last three balls commenced….another single off the fourth and fifth meant that we needed to score two off the last ball of the match….WP was facing and I cannot imagine what was going through his mind….but he manfully stood up to the pressure and was able to secure a boundary off the final ball of the match…amidst much joy and celebration from his team mates and supporters alike…a magnificent victory…but now the job was only half done…as now we would have to face Alberton at the same venue the next day…Sunday…

Sunday dawned a beautiful day…and our boys had to put the euphoria of downing their old nemesis behind them and take on Alberton in the final…a side that had comprehensively beaten them a mere two weeks previously…and while Kurt once again won the toss he promptly asked the opposition to bat on a tricky surface….and the decision paid dividends almost immediately….with Alberton never really dominated the Northerns attack…..eventually being bundled out for 154 after just over 35 overs…. WP Myburgh this time showed his prowess with the ball…claiming 4 scalps at a cost of 32 in 7.4 overs….we had chased a similar total the day before…was it to be a similar result….but this time our top order came to the party to make it a little simpler for all…the lowest score in the top three being a brisk 36 off 33 by Vaughan….and by the time we lost our second wicket, we already had taken the heart out of the Alberton attack and were only 24 runs short of ultimate target….and we sailed past their total with the first ball of the 32^nd over….the mainstay of our innings was a patient 45 off 77 ball by Musa Twala…while Renier had weighed in an invaluable 48 off 53 to swing the scales in the favour of the North….absolutely amazing result…which means that we started the season with winning a trophy in Polokwane and ending it with another trophy…this time the ultimate that all Premier sides dream of at the home of Easterns Cricket…so well done to Nick, Kurt and all the boys….now the massive test awaits…. Club Champs in the next month or so…I will try to keep everyone up to speed on fixtures and timing….watch this space for further details….

Sunday saw the playing of all the baseball finals at the North…and again congratulations to Shaun and his team of ever willing volunteers…it was a fantastic day that was enjoyed by all…players and spectators alike….baseball is alive and well at the North…..that is super to see…

The rugby boys only had one match over the weekend, where their U21’s took on a Boksburg side that are in a league higher than us….and this time it was our opposition that had to sit up and take note of how well our boys have prepared and played….and we ran out deserved 60-26 winners…. a great achievement boys….we are truly proud of you..

On the Junior front…..our two summer sports. Baseball and Cricket, recently held their prize giving…to honour the achievements and all the talent that we possess at the Club…and both Chairmen report that they enjoyed exceptionally successful seasons….well done to the Coaches and administrators who give up their time and knowledge to allow our youth to experience and enjoy the sport we all love so dearly…. Our winter sports are kicking into gear and will soon be running at full speed….with the soccer fields being the proverbial “hive of activity” on week nights…with the hockey players taking over the Club and playing fields on a Saturday morning…it is most heart warming to see the enthusiasm and commitment from all the parties concerned….well done!!

Our athletes took the trek to the Magaliesberg to compete in the “om die Dam” event…and from all the photographs and report backs…it proved to be a great day…congratulations to all those who completed this tough race and were rewarded with medals and their ever important times….those who did decide to stay home were put through some gruelling hill work…but I also saw many determined smiles after the practice, which meant that some valuable lessons were learned..please don’t forget the fun run at Northerns on Thursday morning…all proceeds in aid of spaying of dogs..

The soccer boys had proved that their trip to Luso was not a profitable one…as both side lost by the odd goal…..with both coaches bemoaning the fact that their sides threw away quite a few precious opportunities to score and seal the win….finally allowing the opposition in (in both cases) in the latter stages of the match to steal the wins….this week is to be our first home game of the season…a really tough encounter against Robertsham….so please feel free to come and support the boys showing us their talent and skills…kick-off is at 13h45 and 15h30 for the reserves and first side respectively…

My apologies for over running my allotted space this week…but there proved to be quite a bit to share with you on only some of the activities at the North in the last week… if there is anything you believe is noteworthy or needs to be brought to my attention…please do not hesitate to send me an email to rod.scheepers@gmail.com

Have a great week….if you are going on holiday…please drive carefully…we will see you on the other side of the autumn break… take care…cheers

Rod

Norman Hunter (Guest) drew the Two of Clubs . Joker Draw a turnover at R151 538.00 for Friday 22nd March. Be present to win it!!

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At “The North” – Karaoke – Wednesday 20th March at 18h30. Come and join and show your talent

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“EBEN” entertaining us from 18h30 on Friday 22nd March

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BNCC Premier League Champions! Well done men! 5/9 Leagues won in Senior Cricket this Season. History made!

About the www.BNFC.co.za website:

This website was created in order to provide a centralised platform for BNFC related administative issues and general information. On this website you shall be able to do the following:

Event dates – lookahead; Online registration renewal; Order customised football clothing and equipment; Rules, regulations and general information downloads; Contact list for coaches;

Image may contain: text

Registrations and Pre-screening for Juniors will take place on Monday 6th May at Benoni Northerns Sports Club, 1 Brodigan Street, Rynfield . Unfortunately there will be no clinic held over the school holidays. Benoni Northerns are excited to welcome Junior Rugby

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 6 Mar 2019

7th March 20198th March 2019
by Glenda Todd

BNSC NEWSLETTER

Good morning from our industrious office at the North

The last week has been a little crazy here with year end and the implementation of the membership cards and putting the dual price lists into effect…..and as always there have been some hiccoughs…..but not enough for me to lose my hair completely (admittedly the barber at the “shavathon” on Saturday didn’t have too much work to do as he shaved my head) and we appear to have got through the weekend fairly well…with plenty of members in possession of their new cards….none of our Barmen were assaulted as a result of the higher pricing…we have had an influx of new membership applications….so I am fairly confident that the new system will be of a great advantage to us currently and in the future….

Could all Members please take note that within a week our “Lightening threat” siren will be in operation….we have had some fairly hectic and crazy electric storms in the recent past…and would like to protect anyone playing sport on our fields from the perils associated with this form of storm…..if you are in the region of the North and see anyone playing on our fields…please exercise your civic duty and chase them off in the interests of their own safety….we have seen a growing list of fatalities recently…we do not want to add to these shocking statistics….

For the first time, in many months I was unable to attend our Friday night festivities…but I had some very able and willing Members to report back on any shenanigans that occurred….our popular band, Coyote played their hearts out in the Scimitar bar….keeping the feet tapping, hands clapping and people dancing and singing along for the evening….a great evening of entertainment enjoyed by all….and although it is a tough act to follow, this week we will host the 5 piece band Omega….who always have the crowd on their feet…so please join us for some Friday Fun this week….

The Joker draw this week has a new contestant for this particular draw….but he has been up in this “hot-seat” before…and is also a very familiar face at the North….Ralph Cook was the lucky person to the drawn…and despite the Chairman’ antics, he settled down to make his selection…in the bottom left corner…and when turned, it wasn’t the joker, but the four of hearts….amid the noise that broke out…singing…chanting…clapping…laughing…Lockey trying to keep control and announce that the Jackpot had increased to R140567 and that there now were only 16 cards which are still face down…so please join us this week to see if you could be our newest winner of the Joker Jackpot…ticket sales begin at about 17h00 and continue through to 19h20….with the draw taking place at 19h30….

We had mixed results from our subsections over the weekend…so let me start with Baseball…who were surprised at the last minute late on Friday evening, to be told that they were hosting 14 Softball matches on Saturday…and a roaring success it was….with plenty of positive response to the quality of our playing fields which was overwhelming…so we can expect to be hosting more events of this type in the future…well done to Shaun and his team on a job well done….

Rugby participated in the Brakpan rugby day and had a really good day with three of our teams playing…. the Ladies side had their first run and ended the match with a 14-14 draw against Jaguars…a lovely start for the girls and a great stepping stone to start the season…the U21’s overpowered the Daveyton side in a complete mismatch 69-0….while the first side played Kempton and really impressed in the first half but allowed the opposition back in the second half to win 28-17… this week the teams head off to Nigel for the day….good luck to all of our teams….

Our soccer sides travelled to Alberton to play a new side in the league, Musa United….to be greeted that their fields were already being used by an U19 development match, so the reserves could not take the field at the allotted time…which resulted in a 2-0 walkover for our boys…not the ideal preparation for a difficult couple of weeks that awaits our lads….but be that as it may…the first side overcame the difficult and bumpy conditions to dominate the match but only landing up with a 1-0 win….that said, it is always good to start with both sides taking the three points…..this weekend we make the little trip down the road to Currin Park where we take on Old Bens in the traditional Benoni Derby…. so we will be looking for your presence in a show of massive support on the day…. enjoy the match boys…bring back the points for us….

Our Cricketers disappointed on the weekend….losing to Alberton by 5 wickets in what must be surely our poorest performance to date…. I am not going to elaborate on this performance as I believe that this was the exception rather than the rule…this week our fellows travel to Actonville to take on Spurs…whilst we are on top of the league….we still need a comprehensive victory to remain in that position…so to Kurt and his charges….forget last week and let us get this whole thing back on track…. give it horns….

I see that our athletes are all over the country completing Marathons and Iron Men contests in their quest to the completion of another Comrades finish in June…keep the wonderful spirit going guys…I see the car park is already filling up in the early mornings as well as being really busy at the Club run on a Wednesday evening…. nice to see the Members showing their commitment to the cause….well done guys…

That is it from me for this today….hope your week is a spectacular as well as memorable….enjoy it…. if you have any groan or applause you would like to announce…please do so to my email rod.scheepers@gmail.com

Cheers Rod

Ralph Cook (Social) drew the Four of Hearts. Joker Draw a turnover at R140 567.00 for Friday 08th March. Be present to win it!!

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“Omega” entertaining us from 18h30 – Friday 08th March

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Well done to Zwelakhe Mkorwana who placed 3rd in the Cape Gate Vaal Marathon 2019. Lucky we are so proud to have you as one of our newest members! Here is to an amazing season on the road!

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AND THEY HAVE DONE IT!!! BNCC Womens League – Champions 2018/2019 Season

The start of many funfilled weekends and memories with the Mini Hockey Season

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The Scimitar

The Scimitar 27 Feb 2019

27th February 201928th February 2019
by Glenda Todd

BNSC NEWSLETTER

Hi there to everyone…..

An exciting week awaits us…as we head towards our financial year end and the implementation of the new Membership cards….with the arrival of the new month…we will have new price lists…. one for Members and one for non-Members, guests and visitors…..our Membership cards will be issued once a Members subs are paid…and the purpose of the new cards has some great benefits to the Members, the Club and Management alike….for the Members it will ensure that you will be paying a competitive and discounted rate as a Member and enjoying promotions at various times….as a Club it will define our crossing of the Rubicon into the technology race, whilst additionally allowing the payments of subscriptions to be accounted for more efficiently…..and for the Management of Club it will ensure a more complete Membership list and an improved communication tool for the future…

If I could ask you to please allow a little leeway in the first few days of the implementation….we have tried to define of all the avenues of deviation with the necessary and applicable problem solving…but I am sure that despite all our efforts, there will be some teething problems that will occur…and it may just be you that will be inconvenienced while we attend to the problem…so I ask for your tolerance and patience if it does occur….

Our Soccer players had a friendly match against Benfica on Saturday….with the second side running out 4-2 winners….having an excellent first half, being 4-0 up at the break…but a poor second half allowed the opposition back into the contest…. The first side was the exact opposite of the reserve encounter….being 1-0 down at half-time….but the strikers produced a sterling effort in the second period….bagging 5 unanswered goals in the second stanza….to run out easy 5-1 winners….a lot of valuable lessons have been learned over the last four matches…and will serve as a solid foundation for the season which kicks off on Saturday….our teams travel to Musa United (a new side in the Super League) to test their skills….good luck boys…let us have the best possible start to the season by bringing home full points from our top teams to start us off on the right foot…

The Rugby boys had their outing at the Springs tournament, with the U21’s having a most successful day registering a 7-5 win….with Patrick Mack being named as player of the match in this fiercely fought encounter…the seconds had the disappointment of having their opposition not arriving for their match….so that meant that the spotlight fell onto the firsts…but they had a disappointing day…with Ellisras proving far too good for us on the day….running out comprehensive 36-5 winners…this weekend all out sides are off to Brakpan…I hope we will be implementing the lessons learned from the first two matches to good effect….

Friday saw a great rocking evening of music with Cedz and Tryst playing some awesome classics, with some brilliant guitar solos….which had the crowd baying for more….so of course that means that another appointment with these talented musicians is guaranteed……this week we have Billy and Martin who team up to play as Coyote at the North….it has been awhile since there last appearance…so please welcome them back with a great crowd to listen to them play….

Our selection of the Joker draw candidate this week landed up with one of the faithful…someone who at times has been added into the fixed asset register….Brad Knight….and despite complaining of a dreadful gout attack, was able to shuffle through from his “spot” in the corner of the Scimitar and took his place at the cabinet….only to reveal his choice as the King of Diamonds…..with another toll over, the Jackpot now climbs up to R136127…so join us this week as you could be the next person selected to show us where the Joker is….ticket sales start at 17h00, with last sales at 19h20 and the draw commencing at 19h30….tickets are only R5…but you can purchase many as you wish to improve your chances of being selected….

Our runners are gearing up and starting the slow build up process to the Comrades in June…and last weekend was the DisChem Marathon….I did hear few complaints that it was a Club hills practice session on Saturday….so that took its toll on the runners at the Marathon on Sunday….but quite a few of our participants have said that the Comrades is not a “walk in the park”…so the Contestants better start getting used to not everything being “too easy”….. all the best to our runners…may your legs and feet be swift and your mind and heart be strong….

The hockey 5’s came to an end last Sunday…and may I wish all the Winners a congratulations….I watched some of the matches in this exciting brand of hockey…and it really is “fast and furious”….I am sure that all the participants enjoyed their time out there…but now it is time to start preparing for the 11 players games…that should he hitting off in early April….so start getting yourselves fit and ready for another competitive season….

Our cricketers visit to Barnard Stadium was not one of those to be remembered….let me suffice to say that we lost by 5 wickets…. but still top the league…and if we win out remain two matches….will definitely still end the season as League Champions…..if we can do that there is not much else we could ask for…..this week we play Alberton (who are currently in 2^nd place at home with the first ball being bowled at 10h00 on Sunday morning.

Next Saturday marks the registration of both Junior Soccer and Junior Hockey players…so please bear in mind of you are at the Club on Saturday morning…to please be aware that there will be piles of excited kids running around…if you could exercise caution in the car park and surrounds….as I am sure that with all the joy and excitement overflowing…. there could be some errors of judgement exercise when these junior members walk into high traffic areas….

I wish you all well for this week as we approach the end of February already….if you believe that there is something happening to the Club that is possibly not to your liking….or if there is something that you particularly like….please email me at rod.scheepers@gmail.com…. Thank you

Cheers Rod

Brad Knight (Social) drew the King of Diamonds. Joker Draw a turnover at R136127.00 for Friday 01st March. Be present to win it!!

“Coyote” entertaining us from 18h30 – Friday 01st March

BOBBY TALJAARD – 29.07.1982 – 26.02.2019. We wish to express our heartfelt sympathy to Bobster’s family and friends and give tribute to a valued Friend and Sportsman on and off the field. Bobby will be sorely missed in the Benoni Northern Sports Club fraternity. R.I.P and may you have a safe journey. Xxx

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eloittes Marathon done, with the heat it was a challenging race but accomplished, BNAC’s Bright finished the Deloitte challenge half Marathon in a time of 1:13:37 Position 5. Well done !!

Senior Cricket Fixtures – 02nd – 03rd February
Saturday 02nd March
* 13h15: BNCC 1sts vs Boksburg away @ PG Park
* 13h15: Ladies vs Tsakane @ Home “C” Field
Sunday 03rd March
* 10h00: Premier vs Alberton @ Home “A” Field
* 10h00: Prem Res. vs CBC Old Boys away @ CBC

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Benoni Northerns Rugby U21’s had to grind the game out to be eventual winners with the score 7-5 againts Randfontein over the weekend. Randfontein scored first but didnt convert. Benoni scored soon after with try under the uprights with their wing Dylan Lindecke and conversion from Adam Meyer. Patrick Mack had the honour of being the man of the match after a hard game. In the other game Benoni firsts unfortunately lost against Ellisras 36-5. Ellisras was the better team on the day and had revenge for the defeat they suffered last year. Second team didnt get to play cause the opposition didnt pitch .

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The Scimitar

The Scimitar 19 Feb 2019

21st February 2019
by Glenda Todd

BNSC NEWSLETTER

Good morning to all

I start our newsletter with some concern and trepidation….we had an unfortunate experience in front of the Club early on Monday morning….. where there was a hit and run on a pedestrian crossing Brodigan Street….as a Club we have actively been involved with road safety issues regarding this street for many years, which have, although listened to and acknowledged by the authorities that be, have not resulted in any positive results in improving the safety aspects for Club Members and members of the public leaving and entering the Club, whether it be on foot or on wheels of one sort or another….we have been told that there could be a traffic circle with the associated calming measures at the entrance to reduce the passing vehicles and allow the traffic to flow more freely….but nothing more has happened on the matter….one of our major concerns is that it may take a fatality for the authorities to eventually take note and be prompted into action….could I please request that anyone that has the occasion to have to walk across Brodigan Street….to please be mindful of the fact the motorists do not pay heed to the “Zebra Crossing”….take extra care if you happen to have to cross this busy street….please exercise all your road safety lessons of looking right, left and right again….do it again to just check again and then proceed across swiftly….. enough bad news and life lessons for now, but please be vigilant and keep an eye out when you do see people crossing there…. thanking you…

With all the rain at the end of last week….we experienced a major shut down of all the cricket matches from the water logged grounds and wet pitches…despite all the super human efforts by the ground staff and the cricket fields committee…..Mother Nature had the final say and even our Premier side match had to be called off early on Sunday morning…. so shared points for the entire league…means that we are still on top of the league with 3 games remaining in the league, we are still on top…but this week will go a long way to sorting out any aspirations that the top teams may have….as we travel to Barnard Stadium to take on our arch rivals Kempton Park on their home turf….I am sure that our boys will appreciate all the support they can muster on Sunday….first ball will be bowled at 10h00…..please join us to witness a great contest….

On the entertainment front, Friday saw the return of the Zimmer Twinz with their amazing lady vocalist who’s voice bears a striking resemblance to Stevie Nicks (of Fleetwood Mac fame)….her spectaular voice has a phenomenal range and they were able to keep the Northerns faithful on the edge of their seats pretty well mesmerised…thanks for a great evening….we will definitely see you again soon…..this week we are catering for the rock faithful…as we have Cedz and Tryst….who will perform hits from the 70’s up to current….look forward to some great guitar solos from Cedz as he show cases his rare and unique talent for us….

Our Joker draw seems to have decided that the regular Soccer Members are to be rewarded currently….as we had a Soccer boy drawn from the beeeeg black box last week…… Chad Bergstrom is another who has always taken tickets in the draw and mentioned quietly in my ear fairly often, that he has never been selected before…..so when he heard his name, the look of surprise across his face was a picture to behold…..and the moment turned out too much for him and he was unable to find the joker…but did uncover the hiding place of the Queen of Spades which was one row from the top in the middle….so…now we are down to only 18 cards face down…..35 weeks into the competition and prize money this week of R131093…..please come along down this week and start your weekend with a relaxed refreshment with friends, whilst listening to some great music and then have a little flutter at only R5 a ticket and you could walk out over R130k richer….

With the rain playing havoc with the white flannelled game…it was left to our footballers to maintain our name on high at the North…. and they did not disappoint…the second side had a very convincing 5-1 victory over Alberton to start off proceedings…the Top 8 has proved to be most beneficial for our sides in the build up to the season as the youngsters in this side have grown accustomed to the more physical aspects, intensity and speed displayed in the league….credit must be given to the senior and experienced players who have imparted their knowledge to the “newbies” and made them more comfortable in the transition from junior to senior level…. the first side had a fantastic first half, with Coach Jannie’s playing system starting to yield dividends, with the players understanding what is required of them on both the physical and tactical demands required…..a most satisfactory 3-1 win a result of dedicated work from both the coaching and playing staff……well done to both sides….those are the sort of results we like with both our top two sides bring home all the points…well done…this week, we will be hosting Benfica in our last friendly of the season as the league kicks off in the first weekend in March….

For all the interested parties in Junior Football, please remember that the Junior Football registration commences this Saturday at 08h00….there is always lots of interest and support for Junior Soccer, so expect to see plenty of noisy and excited little players milling around the Club this Saturday, accompanied by their flustered parents as they attempt to control their offspring (which is usually an impossible task!!)

Rugby kicked off their year at a pre-season tournament….allowing our under 21’s, reserves and firsts to play their first matches of the year…with the U21’s playing a strong Brakpan team and came out with a 15-0 loss…but the coaches are really happy with the team and tactics which shows definite promise for the season…..the second team played Delmas, but the opposition dominated the match and ran out 15-5 winners….coaching staff felt our team didn’t capitalise on all of our opportunities…but if we are able to push through our team is also looking good for the year….the first side presented their skills in an encounter against Brakpan seconds and were able to register a victory of 19-5….always great to start the season with a win….so we are on our way…..reports back from management were that they are confident of a great season for this season…please join them as they travel to the Springs rugby day this weekend…..and remember that practices are on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Club starting from 18h00…..

Please don’t forget that Main Club subs fall due by the 28^th February…and with the new card system being tested and implemented over the next week….we are most excited as we open a new chapter in the Club’s history….

Still a busy week despite the rain putting a dampener on the cricket boys weekend….I’m looking forward to an amazing week, hope you are too…if you think there is anything (however trivial) that you believe needs to be addressed, please email me on rod.scheepers@gmail.com and let me know your concerns…..

Regards and cheers

Rod

Chad Bergstrom (Football/Baseball) drew the Queen of Spades. Joker Draw a turnover at R131093.00 for Friday 22nd February. Be present to win it!!

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“Cedz Tryst” entertaining us from 18h30 – Friday 22nd February

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Benoni Northerns Indians Baseball Star: Rowan Ebersohn’s excellent displays for the South African Senior National Team during last year’s seven-game home series against France, earned him some admirers in that country. Rowan was a standout figure for South Africa in their 5-2 series victory over France where he proved himself as the Most Valuable Player for the South African team. He hit the most home runs in the French Series and hit the most RBIs (runs batted in). Ebersohn (who was previously contracted to the Minnesota Twins) will play abroad again after being offered a six-month contract as an overseas player with French top-tier team – “The Rouen Huskies”.

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16 February Benoni Northens played their first warmup games of the season. First up was the under 21s againts Brakpan under 21s that players in a league higher than Benoni. Unfortunately Benoni lost 15-0 but we expect our under 21s will do great in the league. Our first team played against Brakpan 2 and won 19-5. Benoni opened the scores with a try early on and dominated the first half. Second half the rain came pourning down and was a more evenly matched second half. Our second team played in the main game of the day againts Delmas. Delmas dominated the game from early on and won 15- 5 in the end. Benoni was in the game but didnt capitalized on all the opportunities. We as the flagship rugby club of Benoni expect to have a great season with all our teams and need the support of our fans. Join us next week Saturday when we will take part at the springs rugby day.

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 13 Feb 2019

13th February 201913th February 2019
by Glenda Todd

BNSC NEWSLETTER

A very good day to everyone

It has been superb to watch the transformation of our fields over the last few weeks…..the rain has disrupted some of our events and sporting matches….but our grounds took a lot of pressure during the heat wave that we experienced late last year and early this year….and now Mother Nature has in her own way remedied the ills of the heat wave with some wonderful rain…to soak and cool down the earth…and of course provide the necessary nourishment to promote and foster growth….so the greens of summer are most prevalent again on our fields at the moment….and it has provided Brian and his team with plenty of work cutting and mowing the extraordinary growth we are experiencing at present…..even some damage caused an over enthusiastic operator and poorly aligned mower has not proved as disastrous as it originally appeared…and should be sorted out in a hurry now….

On Friday night, Freedom Unfound proved why they have become so popular with the Northerns faithful….as they played a succession of marvellous music for the duration of the evening…thanks to Ryno and his new Bassist and Rob on the drums for producing such an entertaining evening…we welcome back the Zimmer Twinz this week, who have grabbed at the opportunity to diversify in their last few appearances and have included a lady vocalist…which has increased the variety of music that they produce…hopefully this Friday will continue in this vein and include some new unchartered territory again…join us on Friday to find out…

Our Joker candidate this week was a “newbie” with Terry Alexiou having his name pulled from the beeeeeg black box…and after his initial shock at being selected appeared most relaxed and quickly selected jest to the left of “slap-bang” in the middle of the board…..to reveal the 5 of diamonds…. and this week, as per normal, there was a massive roar from the crowd….singing, clapping and jeering all instantaneously broke out….once again the Joker draw lives for another week…and now the jackpot is starting to gain momentum….R126362 is available for this Friday….a sizeable sum to have deposited into your bank account on Tuesday morning….and all that for a R5 wager…..tickets are on sale in the Hall from 16h30 to about 19h20….and the draw take place at 19h30 in the Main Bar….try your luck this week…you never know…it may just be your opportunity to find the Joker!!

Our Soccer players went to visit the super league winners from last year Luso in the Top 8 competition…and this is always a difficult encounter…..there are a few grounds that are really difficult to take any points away from the hosts…and this is one of them… our second side started off brightly enough, racing into a 2-0 lead and then seemed to counter punch from there….they absorbed loads of pressure from an extremely experienced Luso side….and rode their luck to out on top of a magnificent 3-2 win…well done boys….that is really a top notch effort…..our first side were not as fortunate, coming out on the wrong side of a three goal thriller….some pundits would call us unlucky…but coach Jannie came home with a lot positives…after blooding some new young talent….including 18 year old Dan Crawshaw….not the result we would have preferred….but with a long arduous season still ahead of us….we will build in the positives….this week both our sides are at home to Alberton the second side kicking off at 13h45 and the first side starting at 15h30….the matches will be played on the ‘C’ field across the road…please come along and support….

Our cricketers encounter with their nemesis CBCOB, proved to be another nail biter….Kurt, once again winning the toss and asking the position to open the batting…..and they were rollicking along quite nicely at 111/3 before the machine from the North started to tighten the screws and slow the scoring rate down… to eventually bowling them out off the last scheduled ball of their innings for 192….. Stef Jordaan being our star taking 4 for 34…and Leonard Killeen chipping in with a solid performance of 3 for 26….and we began our chase of 193….it didn’t start off too well…with our “in-form” batsman Vaughn, getting a first baller….but we slowly built our way up to 83/4 when Leonard and Kurt got together….and Kurt was in a most attacking frame of mind….bludgeoning 56 off 54 before being caught out with the score on 168…. a little wobble as we lost another couple of wickets by time the score reached 175….another 18 runs and the only the tail left…..but Lance had other ideas smashing 16 off 14 to take us home by 3 wickets…. if I know coach Nick, he may have had a few heart flutters during the chase from the time that Kurt lost his wicket to the end….. but all is well that ends well….and now we breathe a little easier after another win….we are still on top of the league….but Kempton have slipped into 2^nd place above CBCOB….but with the Alberton result was still outstanding at the time of writing, that 2^nd position may not be cast in stone yet….this week we take on Boksburg at the North…with the first ball being bowled at 10h00….should be another cracker….I will be down to support….I hope you do come down too…..

Our senior Rugby trials were held on Saturday afternoon and the coaches were happy with the talent on show….but if you do know of any new players please send them down to practices on Tuesday and Thursday nights, new players are always welcome….our first encounter for the season is a trip to Delmas…. good luck chaps….

Our runners are starting to get into their preparations in earnest in the quest of their goals….and will be travelling to all corners of SA over the next few months, as they build up the mileage to strengthen their bodies and legs…..good luck to you all…I seem to be on a different route to the early morning runners, but I see that the Club run on Wednesday are really well supported….

Our Bridge Members recently had their AGM to elect a new committee for the oncoming year…..Well done to all the Committee and office bearers elected…. Brydie Bullen-Smith has been elected as Chair-Person for the year to steer Brydie into 2019.

That’s it for this week….have a fantastic week…if you believe that is any matter that needs some attention please feel free to email me on rod.scheepers@gmail.com and tell me about it…..

Regards and cheers

Rod

Terry Alexiou (Guest) drew the 5 of Diamonds . Joker Draw a turnover at R126362.00 for Friday 15th February. Be present to win it!!

“Zimmer Twinz” entertaining us from 18h30 – Friday 15th February

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BNAC 2019 Club Runs:
· Tuesday 5 – 6am – Start /Finish at BNAC
· Tuesday 5:45pm – 4/8km Time Trial – Start/Finish on Wilge Road, Farramere
· Wednesday 5 – 6am – Start /Finish at BNAC
· Wednesday 5:45pm – Start /Finish at BNAC – Currently 10-12km, increased every month building to Comrades
· Friday 5 – 6am – Start /Finish at BNAC
· Saturday 6am Hills – Start/Finish at Bedfordview Virgin Active 18km, increase from mid Feb
We have 2 different paced schools running on Tuesday & Friday mornings & 4 different paced schools on Wednesday evenings.

Thank you Velly. Great Sunday fun run. Fixing the World’s problems

Starting the round of top 6 with an awesome win and showing!! The ladies showed their compassion with the Hoërskool Driehoek community by wearing purple and yellow ribbons during the game, for the pupils who tragically lost their lives and those who are still recovering.
Benoni Northerns’ Ladies flying the Benoni Cricket Flag HIGH!! 🚩🏏🚩🏏🚩🏏🚩

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Join Benoni Northens Rugby Club, “My Super Rugby Fantasy League” on @Superbru! You can find the pool here:

Superbru.com – Super Rugby Fantasy

or by downloading the Superbru app and searching for the pool with code: armybeam

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 06 Feb 2019

7th February 20197th February 2019
by Glenda Todd

BNSC NEWSLETTER

A special good day to you all

Exciting times are awaiting us as we advance the Club into the digital era….we will soon have a fully functional on-line registration system for all of our members, throughout the spectrum of sporting codes that we offer at the North….allied to that we will see the phasing out of our distinctive metal discs that used to be evidence of our Membership at this esteemed establishment…from the beginning of our new financial year (which happens to coincide with the start of the new month, March) we will be issuing a plastic, credit card look-a -like, membership card….which will in addition to stating the obvious of being a fully paid up member….entitle you to membership discounts at the bar, special offers and prices from our kitchen….and promotions that may be offered from time to time….in addition to all of this, you will be able to put money onto this card and then be able to complete your purchases at the Club by allowing the barman to scan your unique code at the Point of Sale system……these cards will be issued to all members as your subs are paid, and will be valid for the year of issue….for those technophobes who only carry their phones with them, you will be overjoyed to hear that a copy of this code will be sent to your email when the physical card is issued…and may be used in the same manner as the card…with the same results…. you will be able to check your “credit” at any point…which will be explained fully on issue….and I am sure that despite all the time, effort and hard work that has been put into this mammoth task, and all the guarantees by our suppliers that it will work effortlessly….there may be some teething problems that will occur…so I request your patience will we smooth out the hassles as and when they occur….

I am convinced that our Members believe that they will “melt” in the rain….since joining as Manager…I have not missed too many Friday nights at the North…but as soon as there appears to any likelihood of the water from the heavens….our Members seem to stay at home and do not venture their noses outside….so we had a quieter than normal crowd on Friday…but that gave those here a little better chance of being selected…that said….one of our two famous (or is it infamous) men who stands behind the camera and take the photos of the Joker Jackpot contestant every week….almost had to take a “selfie” this week…. our Football Chairman, Rodney Farrell, who had recently been complaining to me…that in the almost 5 years that the Joker draw has been at the North for….had not been called up even once….well just to show that everyone has an equal chance at being selected….it was Rodney’s chance to have his 5 minutes of fame this week….with over R118k available….and he eventually calmed himself enough, to review the available choices and selected one row up from centre…on the extreme right hand side…..the crowd eventually stilled and craned their necks to see what his choice was to be….the nine of hearts…..as normal a cacophony of applause, singing and whistling from the crowd broke out, as they realised the Joker was alive for another week…and with the Jackpot now starting to grew fairly quickly….it has now grown to R122345 and with only 20 cards still face down…..your chances improve each week of finding that elusive joker….so come along down this week and try your luck….you may just be the next winner of our Joker Jackpot…. last week we had all the aspiring Idols winners with an evening of Karaoke….while this week we have the return of Freedom Unfound….Alan Knight will be waiting for their rendition of Lightning Crashes to satisfy his craving for real Live music again…..so be sure to get into the Scimitar to rock along to this great band…

With cricket having a bit of break while they waited for the last matches to be squeezed in….and rugby only starting up with their warm up games next week….the attention focussed on the soccer boys in their first match of the season against Sporting…..and not our best results for the weekend….after the second side ruling the roost last year….this year is going to be a year of building as the players from last year move up to the first side for their opportunity…and there are a whole lot of new players being “blooded” for the future….quite a few players were given a chance to showcase their skills….and after being 2-0 up at half time allowed Sporting to hit back hard in the second half with a clinical display and we ended up on the wrong side of a 3-2 result…but for the first game of the season, a “not too bad” comment aptly summed up the day…. and with a new look 1^st side…Jannie had his work cut out to mould this unit into a purring machine…..but he has done an admirable job and the boys had a highly satisfactory report card to share the spoils and come away with a 1-1 draw….some detractors may say that there were a few opportunities missed that may have allowed us to bring home the win…all other signs were encouraging enough to have a super base to build the season from now…. this week we travel to Luso and a really tough encounter awaits us there…..so grit your teeth boys and give your all and bring back the spoils to brag about……

Our Baseballers had a massive day of action on Sunday with 16 matches being hosted on our grounds…and from the report back from the Chairman…the day was a huge success….well done to Shaun and his dedicated team of helpers….to be able to host a tournament of this size successfully was a major feather in your and the Club’s cap….. an awesome achievement…..

Our cricket boys are back on the fields this week and host CBC at the North on Sunday with the first ball being bowled at 10h00….they would love your support…so if you are looking to watch some great cricket…the North is the place to be…

Hockey 5’s has returned to the Club with a vengeance…and more of these action packed will be hosted at the Astro again on Sunday…with action hitting off early at 08h00…there are also a couple of catch up games postponed due to the lightening last Sunday….so expect a pretty full programme of hard, fast and furious hockey all day….

Speaking of Lightening….we are aware of this threat that is now starting to become an epidemic…we are currently looking at installing a siren to warn all participants at the Club of any threatening activity in the vicinity…..we will be getting a policy and procedure out to all Members as a matter of urgency over the next week to ensure the safety of all participants on our grounds in the future…

If there is anything you would like to bring to my attention that you think hasn’t been done in the past…please feel free to email me on rod.scheepers@gmail.com

Cheers…have a super week

Rod

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Rodney Farrelll (Football/Main Club Exec) drew the 9 of Spades. Joker Draw a turnover at R122345.00 for Friday 08th February.

“Freedom Unfound” entertaining us from 18h30 – Friday 08th February

BNAC 2019 Club Runs:
· Tuesday 5 – 6am – Start /Finish at BNAC
· Tuesday 5:45pm – 4/8km Time Trial – Start/Finish on Wilge Road, Farramere
· Wednesday 5 – 6am – Start /Finish at BNAC
· Wednesday 5:45pm – Start /Finish at BNAC – Currently 10-12km, increased every month building to Comrades
· Friday 5 – 6am – Start /Finish at BNAC
· Saturday 6am Hills – Start/Finish at Bedfordview Virgin Active 18km, increase from mid Feb
We have 2 different paced schools running on Tuesday & Friday mornings & 4 different paced schools on Wednesday evenings.

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BNBC had a busy weekend – Starting on Saturday with all the last minute field preparations. Early rain kept loads of people away, however the Legends that are always willing to help, that care about their club, came and assisted. Baseball played hosts to all of the calendars fixtures on both junior and senior level, hosting 16 games in total, one of the busiest Sundays that baseball has ever experienced. I’d like to put out a massive thank you to all of the members, and even non members that assisted in helping to prepare our fields and facilities in time for Sunday’s events. You are Legends. Thank you. Shaun Deyzel – BNBC Chairman

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Our first warm up games for BNRC u21, 2nd and 1st teams are confirmed. We will have our first warm up 16 February at Delmas rugby day following with rugby days at Springs 23 February, Brakpan 2 March and Nigel 9 March.

If you want to play rugby this year get to practice so we can get you fit. Practice on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s 18:00 for 18:30. See you there…..

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 29 Jan 2019

30th January 201930th January 2019
by Glenda Todd

BNSC NEWSLETTER

Good morning to you all

We have had some fresher mornings in the last little while and I find it a little surprising to experience this sort of weather so early in the year….I could expect fresh breezes like this towards the end of March at the change of the season….but not in January already…Mother Nature is really pushing my willpower and resilience to the limits….I have been starting my morning walks a little earlier, to attempt to crack the whip on the “battle of the bulge”….and there have already been a few mornings when I have poked my nose out of the door and given second thoughts to my exercise regime with the exercise winning thus far, but it has been close…. whilst on my walk I get to encounter our ever dedicated athletes on their morning run…one of the highlights of my walk….to hear the happy banter as they approach…and then get the chirps about “one day we will make you into a runner” cause me to chuckle at the suggestion …..but the laughter and happiness that these runners enjoy is something to behold…..so thank you Jan and your crew on supplying me with a morning smile…..

From all reports our contingent of runners that competed in the Johnson Crane marathon acquitted themselves admirably and enjoyed the cooler weather that was presented by Mother Nature for the day…. I heard of some devastatingly quick time in the shorter races for some of our runners, but these were not able to be confirmed officially at the time of writing…but this bodes well for the future….good luck to all our runners in their schedule to their quest of conquering the Comrades…there will still be a few hurdles to overcome before the big day…after Sunday it looks like our athletes have raised the bar significantly…marvellous stuff….

Our cricketers had another convincing win…to maintain their position at the summit of the league and now cannot be caught… we have 49 points, 6 ahead of CBC who are on 43…..both of these sides have completed their fixtures…with Alberton in third place on 38 points with a game in hand, which is against 4^th placed Kempton…who are on 29 points….and still have another outstanding result from last weekend…if Kempton win both those remaining fixtures with a bonus point they can still end up in third place… we will have to wait until the close of play this weekend to find out who our opposition will be for the playoffs…. back to our performance for the weekend…Kurt Francis lost the toss….but I think we landed up doing what we wanted to anyway…and soon had Bedfordview in trouble…..but the real destroyer landed up being Leonard Killeen…who bowled 5.5 over had two maidens and grabbed a “fifer” for nine runs….and amazing feat….this resulted in Bedforview being rolled for 118 in just short of 38 overs…..with the target set…our batsmen climbed into their task with a vengeance…Vaughn getting back amongst the runs with a solid 47 off 59…..while we lost some wickets in the chase for quick runs…but eventually passing the total required in the 20^th over….for the loss of three wickets…to record an impressive 7 wicket bonus point win….well done boys…enjoy this weekend off before you have to head off into the play offs….you deserve the break after a most impressive run in the new year….

Preseason rugby training is going well…please join us on Tuesdays and Thursdays…. we are offering 1^st and 2^nd’s, under 21 and ladies at senior level this year….a super improvement in depth over last year…and with us also having Junior rugby at the North for the first time…it is testament that the committee and players have been hard at work getting all their structures in place….a great tribute to Lourens and his committee…..congratulations on some wonderful work….

Senior soccer begin the start off their season this weekend with the Super 8 competition kicking off… we have a home fixture against Sporting on Saturday on the “C” field….the second side kicking off at 13h45…with the firsts following at 15h30….. please come along to witness the new talent that has joined us…together with the experienced players from last year it is an exciting prospect going forwards….

The interest in the Joker draw appears to be revitalised…with crowds starting to come through again Fridays…and this weekend with over R110 thousand available, we had no exception….the beeeeeg black box produced a new name… a football member, Dean Steyn was drawn out this week….and he looked a little bewildered at the prospect….as is with most of the winners selected…..we all buy a ticket…but never really expect to be drawn…..back to Dean…after a bit of contemplation he pointed to his selection…one line above centre on the extreme left….and this produced the hiding place of the two of spades….to another set of spontaneous applause and some loud singing and chanting from the football table accompanied the card turning over….much to Dean’s disappointment…..but the crowd again showed their appreciation that there was still a chance for them to participate next week…the Joker Jackpot now rises to R118520…. and we expect another great turnout for this week….we will also be having Karaoke to entertain us….so oil your vocal chords if you think you are the next idol in waiting…we will be starting from about 18h45 with the singing….19h00 for the club and raffle draws…19h20 the last Joker tickets are sold….while at 19h30 the draw for the Joker seeker will commence…after that Karaoke will continue trying to unearth the hidden talents at the North until late…. so please come down for a great way to celebrate the start of the weekend with us….

We are in the process of updating the North into a new era of technology….so keep an eye on this space…and keep the date of March 1 in your diary…for exciting new developments…

If you have any concerns and accolades at or about the Club…please email me on rod.scheepers@gmail.com

Cheers…take care

Rod

Dean Steyn (Football) drew the 2 of Spades. Joker Draw a turnover at R118 520.00 for Friday 01st February. Be present to win it!!

Come and show us your talent – Kareoke – 18h30 on Friday 01st February 2019

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BNAC 2019 Club Runs:
· Tuesday 5 – 6am – Start /Finish at BNAC
· Tuesday 5:45pm – 4/8km Time Trial – Start/Finish on Wilge Road, Farramere
· Wednesday 5 – 6am – Start /Finish at BNAC
· Wednesday 5:45pm – Start /Finish at BNAC – Currently 10-12km, increased every month building to Comrades
· Friday 5 – 6am – Start /Finish at BNAC
· Saturday 6am Hills – Start/Finish at Bedfordview Virgin Active 18km, increase from mid Feb
We have 2 different paced schools running on Tuesday & Friday mornings & 4 different paced schools on Wednesday evenings.

BNAC – Johnson Crane 2019.

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Our first warm up games for BNRC u21, 2nd and 1st teams are confirmed. We will have our first warm up 16 February at Delmas rugby day following with rugby days at Springs 23 February, Brakpan 2 March and Nigel 9 March.

If you want to play rugby this year get to practice so we can get you fit. Practice on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s 18:00 for 18:30. See you there…..

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 22 Jan 19

23rd January 201923rd January 2019
by Glenda Todd

BNSC NEWSLETTER

A beautiful good morning from here at the North….

My view today is a perfect example of what a summers day should look like…. stunning green leafed Oak trees standing in a dwindling line down to the Tennis Club…flanked by green grassed verges…all framed by a sunshine filled blue sky… (okay, okay!!… the tarred car park doesn’t really add to the vision….but I will ignore that for the moment in order to fill my perfect picture….)

Our Friday started off as normal….juniors cricketers practicing and playing a match under lights….but a little rain put an early spanner in the works of that plan….and sent parents and kids alike under the cover of the Club house and of course the bars…where they were welcomed with open arms…..we were all sharing the Scimitar with a band debuting at the North, Black and Blue…and what a welcome addition they proved to be….a brilliant trio of musicians….with plenty of Members over the course of the evening being drawn to the Bar…like moths to a candle….to listen to this extremely easy listening bunch….so the good news is that Black and Blue will most definitely be on the recall list and will grace us all with their presence again….

As 7.30 approached …the tension began to build as the name was about to be drawn for the Joker Jackpot….and Members and their guests began to fill up the Main Bar….at the appointed time…I opened the beeeeg black box to search for a ticket that displayed the name to be looking for the Joker…and this week was a newbie….Pam Smit had a look of shock and surprise as her name was called….and then to the whoops and cheers from her table…she slowly edged forward to take her place at the cabinet….was a little flustered at having to have her photo taken before she was able to look at the cabinet…and then looked around for some assistance as to where she should point out….she eventually took the bull by the horns and indicated her selection…and Glenda slowly revealed the……..seven of hearts…..shouts of glee and some spontaneous applause from the surrounding crowd indicated their happiness at the prospect that the jackpot would still be available for them next week….and with a growing Jackpot to now reach the level of R114 494….and with 31 cards already turned face up…means that your chances of finding the Joker have improved once again…. please come and join us this week to begin your weekend on a happy and relaxed foot…it is pay day Friday…and at only R5 a ticket you can afford to improve your chances of being selected by taking a bunch of tickets….January has been a really long month….(heard a great description of the current month…..January is like 31 Mondays in a row….thought it was most apt)….so with pay day approaching it means that the end is in sight…..and we have Eben entertaining us…he is an amazing musician and returns as he extremely popular with our Members….come along and make an evening of it….

I have seen quite a lot of activity on the fields in the evenings….as pre-season begins to gain momentum and the interest is piqued at the prospect of the new teams and friends…Soccer begins their Super 8 competition early in February….so it is almost time to commence the action part of the year…Rugby has a little longer to go before their first matches kick-off….but there appears to be a good turn out and some new players joining our ranks as we head into an exciting season for our “rugga bugga’s”….keep those heads up fellows….fitness is a critical part of any sport…the fitter you are personally….the more options you offer the team and the coach….so get out there and get fit….

This week the other half of Benoni will be filled with runners….as the Johnson Marathon takes place….I wish all our athletes well, I hope that your legs are swift and your mind is strong ….this is usually a good indicator of current fitness and stamina levels….for all those not taking part…please take note of the road closures and diversions that will occur for most of Sunday morning…. please keep a those participating in your thoughts….the early weather forecast gives a cooler day….but these have been known to be fairly inaccurate in the past….

Another easy victory for our Premier cricket side on Sunday…. with the result achieved within 65 overs of the scheduled 100….Kurt Francis again had the fortune of winning the toss and send Duduza in to bat…..and albeit with some slow batting they made steady progress…but lost wickets at regular intervals to end up with a total of 140 after just short of 42 overs….three of our bowlers enjoying similar success, with Joshua, Leonard and Phumelelo sharing nine wickets between them equally….well bowled chaps….to chase the target appeared to be a bit of a breeze for our top three…an opening stand of 94 between Renier and Kyle setting a solid platform, before Kyle lost his wicket for 42 (50), Rian then continued the onslaught….and the target was achieved in the 22^nd over…Renier achieving his half century 55(57) and Rian 32 (28)…another bonus point victory which consolidates our position at the helm of the log….one more game left for us against Bedfordview away on Sunday….. All the best boys, give your best, we really need the win this to ensure our top ranking….. we are currently six points ahead of our closest rivals, but still need the win to ensure that we are in control of our playoff place…..third placed Alberton (who are seven points behind us) still have two games to play of which one is against fourth placed Kempton….and that will clear up that portion of the playoff places….I am certain that the boys would really love to have some support…so if you have some spare time on Sunday…please go along to watch them…it will be greatly appreciated….

If there anything that concerns you at or about the Club…please email me on rod.scheepers@gmail.com

Cheers…take care

Rod

Pam Smit (Valued Guest) drew the 7 Hearts. Joker Draw a turnover at R114494.00 for Friday 28th January. Be present to win it!!

“Eben” will be entertaining us from 18h30 on Friday 25th January 2019

BNAC 2019 Club Runs:
· Tuesday 5 – 6am – Start /Finish at BNAC
· Tuesday 5:45pm – 4/8km Time Trial – Start/Finish on Wilge Road, Farramere
· Wednesday 5 – 6am – Start /Finish at BNAC
· Wednesday 5:45pm – Start /Finish at BNAC – Currently 10-12km, increased every month building to Comrades
· Friday 5 – 6am – Start /Finish at BNAC
· Saturday 6am Hills – Start/Finish at Bedfordview Virgin Active 18km, increase from mid Feb
We have 2 different paced schools running on Tuesday & Friday mornings & 4 different paced schools on Wednesday evenings.

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Well done to BNAC’s Dieter Stapel. 1st Master in the Springs Garbie 32km 20/01/2019 💪👏

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Pos		P	BP	W	L	D	NR	TD	PEN	RR	NRR	Tot
Easterns Premier League Log
1	Benoni Northerns CC Premier	10	8	9	1	0	0	0	0	5.49	2.25	44
2	CBC Old Boys CC Premier	10	6	8	2	0	0	0	0	4.58	1.19	38
3	Alberton CC Premier	9	5	8	1	0	0	0	0	6.24	1.92	37
4	Kempton Park CC Premier	9	5	7	2	0	0	0	4	5.11	1.67	29
5	Actonville Spurs CC Premier	10	5	5	5	0	0	0	0	4.24	0.46	25

Pos		P	BP	W	L	D	NR	TD	PEN	RR	NRR	Tot
Easterns Premier Reserve League Logs
1	Benoni Northerns CC Promotion	9	8	8	1	0	0	0	0	5.67	2.06	40
2	Kempton Park CC Promotion	9	7	7	1	1	0	0	0	6.22	2.88	37
3	CBC Old Boys CC Promotion	9	5	7	2	0	0	0	0	4.84	1.61	33
4	Bedfordview CC Promotion	8	6	6	2	0	0	0	0	5.7	2.22	30
5	Alberton CC Promotion	9	3	6	3	0	0	0	0	4.57	0.25	27

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BNRC’s U21 first warm up games, (02nd and 1st teams are confirmed), will be on 16th February at Delmas Rugby Day following with Rugby Days at Springs – 23 February, Brakpan – 2 March and Nigel – 9 March. If you want to play rugby this year, get to practice on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s 18:00 for 18:30. See you there. Benoni Northerns Rugby club will enter a ladies senior team into a new league created especially for the ladies. Practice will start early February but on 31 January we will be doing prescreening from 18:00 for all the players interested in playing this year. Womans rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. If your are interested to play you have to be 19 years and older. Contact Jaco Havenga on 0824949604

The Scimitar

Scimitar 15 Jan 2019

17th January 201917th January 2019
by Glenda Todd

BNSC NEWSLETTER

A muggy good morning to all from a hot and humid office at the North

Some highlights of the week just passed….pre-season training for soccer and rugby….crushing victory for the Premier cricketers….flash floods….unexpected dam in the tent…..junior cricket about to commence…full-time mowing of the fields…training for the Comrades begins in earnest….Life Member misses his opportunity at the Joker Jackpot….

Let me start off with our weekend….it started in a brisk fashion with Adam Boyd from Boycott Ballad serenading us with his amazing renditions of popular songs and some wonderful new originals…I must say the his version of Hallelujah was epic…thanks Adam…. This week we introduce a new set of faces…their name is Black and Blue and they come highly recommended….so please come along to witness and welcome them to the North….they will be live from about 18h30 in the Scimitar or Patio (weather dependent)…

Shaun Taylor was considering himself as the luckiest man in the beer garden on Friday night….as his name was drawn in the Beer Raffle and he promptly won a case of Castle Lites…..he was still beaming from ear to ear….when to his surprise his name was the one selected from the beeeg black box for the Joker draw….. it seemed to be “old hat” for him as he has been up there in “hot seat” before…and he calmly waited for his photo to be “snapped” away…and then turned to the cabinet and quite nonchalantly pointed to his selection in the line below centre and watched in horror as Glenda revealed the Ace of Spades….so still no winner and now we are down to 22 face down cards….so the chances of revealing the joker, once again improves….and with a Jackpot now of R110 078…definitely worth a visit on Friday evening….at R5 a ticket, try your luck…it could just be your lucky day….see you there….

Some of our pre-season training has kicked off in earnest in the last little while, with rugby joining soccer with a fresh and early start…I think the coaches are wanting to make sure that their charges get rid of their festive season lethargy and are out there increasing their fitness levels….pushing their players to their limits…so don’t worry too much about bringing your playing boots…but rather some running shoes to improve your long term athletic prowess…

Speaking of athletic prowess…I see that our early morning school of runners seems to be growing…I get fortunate enough to meet them on a couple of mornings a week while they are busy building up their stamina and speed to achieve their own personal goals in the future….they are a great bunch of athletes…cheerful, happy and always with a ready chirp or comment to make you smile…thanks guys, keep it up…don’t ever lose sight of your own person targets and aims….

All the rain we have had, has resulted in our grounds staff having to put in extra effort to maintain the fields at an acceptable standard…Brian and his team have worked so hard over the last two years to get our grounds into top-class condition for which I personally thank them….most heart warming to see the fields are such getting back to their best after a really difficult set of weather patterns…heat waves interspersed with drought like conditions… followed by some devastating rain…. accompanied sometimes by hectic winds…and one of those winds made our tent billow up and one of the main tent supports fell over with nothing to support…. but some quick and efficient work by our Duty Manager and his bar staff…the inverted tent (which by now was now a mini dam) was emptied and the pole replaced with the minimum fuss and hassle…..so a massive tank you to Shepherd and his team….you make my life a lot easier with your level of commitment and endless energy…

Our cricketers on Sunday made short work of their opposition Kwa Thema….after winning the toss, Kurt sent the opposition in to bat…and their scorecard makes for sorry reading…only 3 players making double figures…with extras having the dubious honour of being second top scorer with 13…..coupled with 5 ducks in the Kwa Thema innings…the visitors lasted for 20 overs and were bundled out for just 66, Stefano picking up 4/19 and the other three bowlers bagging two wickets each for runs that were just into the teens ….. the top order made short work of the chase…which took just under 9 overs to complete….not without a couple of early scares though….our batting hero from the first half, Vaughn failing with the bat and Rian being unable trouble the scorers…so a comprehensive 8 wicket win…with a bonus point….still on top of the league….keep it up boys…let us keep that momentum going…this week we are at home again….and are hosting Duduza…everybody please come down to show your support in our quest to top the league….first ball on Sunday will be bowled at 10am…

Junior cricket practices and matches commence this week for the second half of the season onslaught….good luck to all of our teams….I hope that you are all well rested after your summer break and are ready for the intricacies, guile and psychological warfare that is played out on the fields…

Our baseballers are also busy again… with their respective leagues in both junior and senior formats continuing this weekend…good luck chaps….have a super second half of the season….

If you have any suggestions or complaints about something at the Club…please email me on rod.scheepers@gmail.com

Cheers…take care

Rod

Shaun Taylor (Hockey) drew the Ace of Spades. Joker Draw a turnover at R110078.00 for Friday 18th January.!! Be present to win it!!

Congratulations to all our BNAC Members who took part in the Dischem 21km; first for the year! Bright finished in the top 10 over all!! Here is to a successful year out on the road

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Cricket MVPs for last weekend: Aron Visser 93*, Andre Steyn 91, Dewald Pretorius 87, Luke Holland 80, Sian Dippenaar 78 & Joshua Thomas 9-0-37-4

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BENONI NORTHERN’S FOOTBALL 2019 SENIOR PRE-SEASON IS NOW IN FULL SWING……..EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY EVENING AT 18:30 SHARP AND SUNDAYS AT 9:30,,,,,,,,,,BRING RUNNING SHOES AND BOOTS ⚽️

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BNRC’s U21 first warm up games, (02nd and 1st teams are confirmed), will be on 16th February at Delmas Rugby Day following with Rugby Days at Springs – 23 February, Brakpan – 2 March and Nigel – 9 March. If you want to play rugby this year, get to practice on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s 18:00 for 18:30. See you there…..

Benoni Northerns Rugby club will enter a ladies senior team into a new league created especially for the ladies. Practice will start early February but on 31 January we will be doing prescreening from 18:00 for all the players interested in playing this year. Womans rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. If your are interested to play you have to be 19 years and older. Contact Jaco Havenga on 0824949604

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 8 Jan 2019

9th January 20199th January 2019
by Glenda Todd

BNSC NEWSLETTER

A great good morning shout out to you all

As we begin a new year, I would like to take this opportunity…to wish all our Members and readers a happy and prosperous 2019….I hope that this is the year where your wishes come true and that it will be highly successful for us all and collectively as a Club.

We have had some really varying weather patterns…with some heat wave conditions, some chilly winds, whilst intermittently experiencing some really tropical storms as well…. I wasn’t sure if we were staying at the coast with some of the humid days that we have experienced of late….but I am still extremely happy that we are still busy with my favourite season, summer and there is still a while away before I have to haul out my winter woollies to wrap up….I trust that the summer break was enjoyed by all….whether you were lazing at home, on the beach, in the bush, on a farm, in the mountains or even some exotic destination… I hope that we are all ready to take on the challenges that await us with vigour and verve and that these are accomplished with ease.

Our last night of festivities in 2018 was a great evening….with partying, singing and dancing being the order of the evening….the 5 piece band, Omega, proved to be a popular attraction again, with plenty of people enjoying their versions of some classics and new covers that we haven’t heard before until late into the evening, despite some rain coming in trying to spoil our party, we were able to still finish the night dry with the aid of the tent over the patio…a little earlier in the evening Marco du Plessis had his name drawn out of the beeeeg black box and was standing apprehensively in front of the Joker cabinet….trying to formulate his plan and system to see if he could determine where the joker is, he was even brought a beer case to stand that we could ensure that he had a view of the entire board….but it all came to naught as his selection (which happened to be in the middle of the bottom row!!) turned out to be the ace of hearts…..with the joyous applause from the crowd indicating that everyone was most chuffed the Jackpot was still available for the new year….so this week, we will start the year with R106 280 available for the person who can show where the Joker has been hiding himself….as our entertainment for the evening we welcome back Adam from Boycott Ballad….who is always a popular maestro with his amazing voice and interesting take on favourites, giving them a quite unique feel and sound….with it being the first official Joker draw Friday of the year, we will have the jumping castle available for the kids entertainment…I’m sure there will be a few Junior cricketer’s who will test how well that works while their parents are able to enjoy a cool refreshment in the beer garden…. join us if you don’t want to miss out….

Our cricketers hosted their annual 6-a-side tournament last weekend…and what a lot of fun it turned out to be…sixes…fours…wickets galore….plenty of laughs…throw in buckets of beer…and it is the recipe for a great day of fun….thanks to Dylan and his crew for a super event…this is definitely an occasion not to be missed….diarise it already for next year….first weekend in January and already a full set of fixtures up for our cricketers….our Premier side play their first game of the year at home, when they host Kwa Thema on Sunday starting at 10….please pop down and support our boys in their quest to win the league….

The Soccer have already started their pre-season training and had a great turn out on Sunday at the first run of the season…Coach Jannie is quite excited at the numbers that have arrived and shown interest thus far….practices will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 18h30 sharp and also n a Sunday morning at 09h30….it is suggested that you include running shoes in your soccer kit bag…..I have a feeling that fitness will be concentrated on at the moment….

Hockey will continue at the end of the month with Hockey 5’s whilst I think that Rugby will be starting off with pre-season training very soon….please note that we will have a fully fledged Junior section playing Rugby out of our beloved North this year…so well done to the administrators for getting that off the drawing board and onto the playing fields…

Our Baseballers are also already busy on the diamonds practicing for the second half of the year…so good luck with all your matches too…

That’s all for this first edition of the new year….again let me wish you all the best for the oncoming year…remember that if you have any suggestions or complaints…please email me on rod.scheepers@gmail.com

Have a great week…and to all our Junior Members starting school tomorrow…good luck in your next year of studies, as all the parents collectively breathe a sigh of relief I’m sure…was it my imagination or was this holiday seriously short?

Cheers…take care

Rod

Marco du Plessis (Football/Hockey) drew the Ace of Hearts. Joker a turnover for January 11th 2019 at R106280.00. Be present to win!!

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**At “The North” – Friday January 11th 2019: * Beer Garden open from 12h00 serving Pub Lunches. * Adam Boyd “Boycott Ballad” will be entertaining us from 18h30. 🥪**🎸

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BNAC ready to go at Varsity Kudus. First race of the 2019 Season 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🦌🦌🧀🍅

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What a successful 6 a side tournament again. The rain stayed away, and fun was had by everyone involved. Hope to see you all again next year! Congrats to the new champions, Coachie’s All stars, ending the 3 year run of Rusty Trombones.

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BENONI NORTHERN’S FOOTBALL 2019 PRE-SEASON IS NOW IN FULL SWING……..EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY EVENING AT 18:30 SHARP AND SUNDAYS AT 9:30,,,,,,,,,,BRING RUNNING SHOES AND BOOTS ⚽️

The Scimitar

The Scimitar 12 Dec 2018

12th December 201812th December 2018
by Glenda Todd

BNSC NEWSLETTER

Good day to you all

Almost done an dusted….another year about to disappear…..this is always a time for reflection….what have I accomplished this year…was it what I set out to do…or is there more I still have to do….the lekker part is that every year we seem able to wipe the slate clean on December 31…and new goals and targets get set for the new year…yes of course, some of those ideas may be super optimistic…but keep the ultimate goal in sight at all times….. so as we move into the “silly season” of partying and holidaying….a balance between outstanding tasks and some relaxation….whatever it is that you (or your wife has) have chosen to complete over this period….may each of you be most successful in the targets that you (or your wife) have set…may you all be filled with the fellowship that this season should generate….and that 2019 be the most amazing year for you all… I personally am hoping that 2019 brings us all a little more cheer than 2018….may it be an amazing year of dreams fulfilled and challenges accomplished for all of our Members.

This weekend started off with the Junior cricketers having a fun evening…braai with loved ones and the jumping castle for kids to have some fun with….fortunately the weather played along and we landed up with a great turnout and a super evening….Freedom Unfound were producing some brilliant music in the Scimitar…feet were tapping and people singing along to some classics as we celebrated another awesome night at the North….everyone was still expectantly awaiting their name to be selected from the beeeeeg black box as the hour approached for the Joker draw to commence…..this week we had one of our regulars at the Club to make his debut as a Joker Jackpot candidate…..he was quite astounded at the fact that his name had finally been drawn after years and years of trying….so much so…that he looked at the contents of the cabinet he said “I think I need a beer”….and promptly ordered one…poured it…and had a large sip….before relooking at the available cards…..and then hesitantly pointed to his selection….I think his heart stopped….as the card was slowly turned over to reveal……….the seven of spades….raucous applause erupted from the gathering crowd…spontaneous singing emanated as the crowd knew there was another week for their dream to remain….and this week we have finally welcomed the six figure jackpot….R100315 is the new jackpot figure available for one person to take home with them this weekend….remember this is the last Joker draw of the year…so your last chance to get your name called out that you can find where the Joker is hiding…the odds are improving every week…there are now only 25 cards now left to select from….this week we have some superb minstrels …Omega, the five piece band that has proved to be very popular…playing some old classics, but also playing covers of some really popular and other current tunes too….I think that the evening could be most festive….join is if you can….

Tomorrow (Wednesday 12^th) Richard (the Joker draw man from last week) is hosting his annual Pub Run at the Benoni Country Club….the route covers about 6.5 k’s…. the run will start at 17h45, while the walkers will step off 15 minutes earlier at 17h30….this is a fantastic initiative and fun event, so if you are free, please come down and enjoy with us….

The Social section hosted their annual golf day, which was held at the Police Mechanical School in Northmead….and as always what a fantastic day….the action began early at 05h30 with a complementary whiskey and milk starter…. the mobile bar on the back of Mark Hardman’s bakkie was one of the most popular vehicle on the course….some wonderful golf was played….but allied to that was some real rubbish too….but what the common thread amongst all the players on the course…was that of laughter and pushing your partners to play better golf…. my thanks to the organisers for another fantastic, enjoyable and memorable day…I will be back next year….again…

We hosted our annual staff party on Monday….where we honour and thank our staff for the stirling effort that are able to maintain throughout the year….to Shepherd and his crew….my gracious thanks for all your efforts…it is greatly appreciated and valued….

As the year winds down…this Friday will be the last of our “normal” days at the Club as we know it….as on Saturday we will only have the Scimitar and beer garden open…and will work on skeleton staff…. so the Club will be open for business each day from 10h00 to 20h00…apart from the 25^th and 26^th of December and the 1^st of January…..the jumping castle will be in the beer garden…so bring the kids along to have some fun….Normal services will resume on January 7….

Not much going on with our sporting codes…but we have had a request to promote a sport that we don’t offer at Northerns….but Benoni High are now offering Water Polo…and if there are any interested players…please contact Brad Savage-Reid on 082 781 4701…..I’m sure we have a few marvellous players that would like to join them.

To all the Members and Guest who receive our Newsletter weekly….there will be a three week break…as Glenda and I take a bit of time out to recharge our batteries that we can operate and maintain our efforts for another year….to everybody out there…may you all have a marvellous festive season….may your Christmas be joyful, blessed and filled with the true spirit of Christmas….enjoy the family time…have a spectacular New Year and may it be prosperous….and I hope all your wishes come true…

If you have any suggestions or moans and groans about the Club..please email me on rod.scheepers@gmail.com

In closing it is a drive carefully out there….there are a lot of drivers using the roads who normally aren’t on the road…..but now bring their cars out to travel the long distances to be with their family and friends…..so take a little extra care out there…

Take care….Rod

Richard Pretorius (Athletics) drew the 7 Spades. Joker Draw a turnover at R100 315.00 for the last Joker Draw in 2018 to be drawn on Friday 14th December. Be present to win it!!

Another successful Benoni Northerns Xmas Golf Day was had on the 09th Dec at the Police Mechanical School with the Players teeing off at very early hours of the morning. Winners of the day were Enrique Juanas-Uriol, Victor Pinha, Emile Rademeyer and Mike McKee finishing on 33 points. Well done Guys !!

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Omega entertaining us from 18h30. * Beer garden open from 12h00 serving Pub Lunches🌮🥗🍻🥃🍷

ATHLETICS

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The Scimitar

The Scimitar 5 Dec 2018

6th December 20186th December 2018
by Glenda Todd

BNSC NEWSLETTER

Hi there to everyone….

With our little heat wave that we are going through…it has been a time for cool refreshments, shade, swimming pools and shade…Andy Dudley has taken on the task of creating some shade….and has rigged up some additional shade for the beer garden for the hot months….it looks like a great initiative and will work a treat Andy…thank you….we will also be having a jumping castle in the beer garden for the entire summer break…and we plan to have a trial run this weekend to see how it goes….so please get the kids to come along to test it to see if will be a hit for the summer break….

The Christmas period is my favourite time of the year…and it is fast approaching…everyone appears more positive and happy at the prospect of vacations and spending quality time with family and loved ones….I trust that you all are in a positive frame of mind for the coming festive season….there are Christmas Carols blaring out in all the shopping malls (please no Boney M classics) there are new goodies on show, gadgets for the guys (young and old) trinkets and bling for the girls…everyone is stock piling food to feast on..drinks to improve the merry making…the wrapping of presents to then frantically hiding them from the kids and loved ones…it really is a satisfying time of the year….everyone seems a lot more relaxed…it is the season of giving and people are in that mood…wouldn’t it be lovely if everyone could carry on with that attitude throughout the year….to try to maintain the feeling of goodwill, our Scimitar bar will be open for the entire festive season for our Members and guests…so feel free to pop in and join us…bring the kids…the jumping castle will be up and can hopefully keep them occupied for a while too….

Our Fridays have been a little quiet…I think everyone is awaiting that the Joker Jackpot gets up into the 6 figure numbers….well we are almost there….after last week, we had a new name in the joker cabinet….Brent’s son Kelvin, who is up from PE to see his dad was the name to be drawn from the beeeeg black box….unfortunately for him, his luck at being drawn, did not continue onto the selection of the card to reveal the Joker…..and was only able to reveal the King of hearts….and this means that we edge ever closer to the 6 figures…and now sit at R97527….with no winners on either of the Members draws, means that as a member you have a chance to win almost R100000 in prizes this week….so come through…bring the children to have a jump on the castle….and listen to the sweet sounds of Freedom Unfound to sing along to….and let that end of the year feeling wrap you up too and transport you into a relaxed start of the weekend and the festive season….

The only premier side playing this weekend were the cricketers who travelled to Boksburg….and came to earth with a horrible bump….losing by 3 runs on the dreaded Duckworth Lewis method in a rain shortened fixture….we won the toss and sent the opposition in to bat…and after taking wickets at regular intervals….had them all out for 160…with Kundai bagging 4/38 and Leonard Killeen grabbing 3/15 and a run out in his 10 overs providing the bulk of the wickets….with rain affecting play, we had an adjusted total of 158 to get…..but it proved to be a task too large for us on the day…and we were bundled out for 154 and lost by 3 runs…. the only fellows to provide any resistance were Kurt (40 off 53) and WP (35 off 73)…whilst the rest really folded on the day…a real disappointing result, but we are still top of the league, by 6 points and still 3 games to go to completion of the first round….we can only hope that the new year will keep the momentum going that we enjoyed before this match…. enjoy your festive break boys…..and then come back in the new year refreshed and ready to go in the new year again….the cricket boys will start the year again with their annual six-a-side tournament on the first weekend of the new Year….

Next week sees the annual Athletics pub run….that will be run/walked on Wednesday the 12^that the Benoni Country Club…. walkers will begin at 17h30 with the runners putting their best foot forward 15 minutes later…. this is always a great evening of joyous frivolity…. come along to experience it with us if you haven’t done it before…..

The Vets and Ladies soccer are also going to be taking their festive break….they have had a new home for this first half of the season…playing all their matches on the top hockey field (thanks to Eastern Gauteng for the use of their field, while we perform some well earned R&R on the Soccer C field that endures an absolute pounding with the number of feet crossing it during the course of the year)…I have heard that despite the field being a little small….report backs are all positive on the quality of surface and the general lighting…all the sides are in the upper half of their respective leagues at the moment…so keep that up in the new year…I hope that you all have a really good break and come back revitalised…

Thanks to the Council for upgrading all our flood lights with LED’s…I am sure that this will have a positive effect on out monthly electricity running expenses of all the sub sections and Main Club….

If you have any complaints or compliments, please send them to rod.scheepers@gmail.com

Cheers till next week

Rod

Kelvin Colley (Guest) drew the King of hearts. Joker Draw R97527.00 for Friday 07th December.

“FREEDOM UNFOUND” WILL BE PLAYING from 18h00 on Friday 07th December .

ATHLETICS

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FOOTBALL

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The Scimitar

The Scimitar 27 Nov 18

28th November 201828th November 2018
by Glenda Todd

BNSC NEWSLETTER

A very good morning to all

Another week has disappeared…meaning we are one week closer to a magical time of the year….the period that I always look forward to is the Christmas break…..summer weather…and everyone appears to be in a good mood….everybody has a little more time for their fellow human beings….most people are able to take a little break from work…and their frame of mind is relaxed….the general feeling of well being and fellowship is prevalent…I really love this time of the year….stress seems to be packed away and left at work…(why can’t we do this more often?)…. Kids are uber excited at the prospect of Father Christmas bringing something special for their Christmas stocking…. but enough dreaming for today…back to reality….

This weekend was a busy one at the Club on so many different levels….normal Friday fare, cricket played over the whole weekend, Athletics year end function…and then the busy and noisy event from Sunday, the ToyRun….

Friday night greeted the return of the Zimmer Twinz…these two muso’s are like a real quality vintage red wine…they seem to improve each time they join us…this week they brought along guest artist….with the voice of a nightingale, a cross between Stevie Nicks and Blondie and everything in between….thanks guys…your new vocalist is a gem…she can join us anytime you can bring her along…..the patrons in the Scimitar were astounded at her amazing talent….the Members draw in the Main Bar again produced no winners….whilst the raffle had the staff happy…as Victor won the beer draw….but again everyone was awaiting the Joker draw….apparently Emma and Adele didn’t care much for selling the tickets….but Andy and Rae slipped into the breach and manfully withstood the “Black Friday” ticket sale rush….as the beeeeg black box was brought to the fore…and was opened to start the selection of the new Joker winner candidate……and the name this week was a new one……Clint Maxwell…who likes to be known as Max….was the lucky person….and he appeared a bit bewildered at the prospect of having to complete his choice….but he eventually settled down, with the stars in his eyes after having his photo taken…[smile…flash..smile…flash….smile…flash..] and then decided that he would choose in the centre of the board….a little down to the right from dead centre and the normal hush as the crowd awaits…whether to groan in disappointment…or to cheer in glee…… Glenda pushed the envelope of waiting a little longer for everyone……and then she turned his selection over to reveal the two of diamonds…..and the gleeful shouts emanated from the surrounding crowd….as we have another week for everyone to have their opportunity at being our next big winner….this week the Jackpot has risen to R95313…and as we approach the magical 6 figure Jackpot…everyone is fervently awaiting their chance of being drawn….at only R5 a ticket, there is a fantastic chance at being drawn as the next candidate to reveal where the Joker is hiding away…we are now in week 27, which means that we are almost half way….27 cards are still face down, but after this week, the number of cards face up will outnumber the face down ones….for our entertainment this Friday, we have the father and son duo of the Wilsons…who don’t like taking a break whilst they are performing…so it is literally non-stop music…their only breaks are for our draw dictated times of 7 and 7.30…..come along and have an evening of fun with us…..

The top performing Athletes from the Club were honoured at their year-end function in the Hall on Saturday night…it was fantastic hearing about all the achievements of these talented individuals….in the various forms of the sport offered at the Club….trail running, marathon, iron man…the list seems endless of the variants that are available these days…. Congratulations to all the winners of the various categories offered…..it was a great evening…and I have it on good authority that some of the party revellers decided to walk across the road after the party to assist with the Toy Run organisation…so a leeeeetle bit of a late evening……

And onto Sunday…..the Toy Run is an amazing day…..the amount of commitment given to this event is amazing…I love the mass arrival of all the “boneys” as they used to be known in my day…the “seeing is believing” sights of the car park…..piles and piles of toys in the collection areas…..the booming music coming from the gig rig…. the chirps and comments from the beer tent….. I personally would like to thank a few people….to our Club President…thanks for your tireless efforts, it is greatly appreciated by the Members and staff of the North…. to Peter Beart (Toy Run organiser in chief) you are a true squire and gentleman….nothing ever seems to phase you… whatever situation you get placed in, you handle it with the utmost aplomb….to all the Northerns volunteers…a massive thank you for all your efforts…you always put in a massive effort in ensuring that all the bikers remain well hydrated…thank you…. special mention must be made of the Venners (Bryan and Liz) who always make the annual trek from Cape Town to come and assist behind the bar…..superb efforts, thank you guys…..and of course my staff, who put in long hours every year to make sure that everything runs smoothly…thanks everyone….

While we were busy with the Toy Run…our Premier league cricketers were locking horns with United Cricket Club….after we won the toss and sent the opposition in to bat…..things appeared to be going along pretty well at 127/5 before a major collapse ….saw them bundled out for 138 after a few deliveries short of 38 overs….Northerns climbed into the target attempt pretty quickly and they chased down the total with ease…getting over the line after only a couple of balls into the 16^th over….with Vaughan Humphreys top scoring with 76 from 52 balls….well batted sir…. you are enjoying a rich vein of form at the moment, long may it continue….this week our boys travel to Boksburg…..all the best…let us keep the momentum going….

If you think we’re doing things right (or getting it wrong) please let me know on my email rod.scheepers@gmail.com

Have a great week….hope to see you all soon\

Take care

Rod

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