SECUNDA – POOL
CHAMPIONSHIPS – OCTOBER 2008
Have
you ever attended an 8-ball Pool championship competition?
With
54 pool tables in one big room? The word
‘electrifying’ does not describe it enough!
One
of Hein’s (my hubby) team members, Mourits Muller,
was due to play in the SA 8-ball Championships at Graceland Hotel, Casino &
Country Club, Secunda, Mpumalanga.
About 1 ½ hours’ drive from Gauteng. Graceland sponsored the whole event from 12 –
18 October 2008.
We arranged to stay with my cousin, Anton and
his wife, Erika, and 3 lovely daughters, to watch Mourits play singles from
Thursday to Saturday: 16 – 18 October 2008.
We had in mind to leave Randburg the Thursday
morning. But what good is a mind if you
can’t change it???
Wednesday afternoon, 15 October 2008
Just after
3pm, Hein asked: ‘Why don’t we sleep
over tonight?’ We looked for a dam close
to Secunda and found one called ‘Grootdraaidam’, (a real tongue-twister) outside
Standerton.
Went to my trusted friend, Google, and searched
for ‘Grootdraaidam Standerton Accommodation’.
A site popped up advertising stone chalets right on the dam’s edge. When I phoned to enquire about availability
and rates, the lady informed me that the small chalet was only finished the
previous day, but was available at R500/night for the chalet.
We packed in a flash. I have 4 pack lists now: 1 for self-catering in a chalet for a period
of time, 1 for camping, 1 for picnics and the latest: self-catering for 1 night.
We left Randburg at 5pm, struggled through the
traffic and arrived in Standerton around 7.30pm. Driving through the town, another 30 kms,
part gravel road and we arrived. It was
already dark, so we couldn’t see the dam.
Johan, the owner, showed us our chalet. It is
cosy and very close to the dam. Built
with lovely stone walls, 2 en-suite bedrooms, open-plan lounge/kitchen and
smallish patio with no roof. We heard
the waves in the dark.
After a quick unpacking, Hein lit the fire and
we had barbecued chicken thighs, coleslaw and egg-and-mayo salad. (Compliments of the Spar.)
Both bedrooms and the living area have sliding
doors and look out onto the dam.
Thursday 16 October 2008
We awoke with the sound of a fish eagle (they
nest on the island), made coffee and lit the fire just after 6am. For boerewors (sausage) rolls, of course. Also, we had to be in Secunda at 9 to watch
Mourits play.
Johan arrived and told
us his vision for the Grootdraaidam. There are also 2 other chalets, bigger
spaces with 2 bedrooms. This dam is part of the Vaal River
and his development is the first. The
farm is registered as a company.
Interested parties buy a stand and become a shareholder in the
company. For more information, contact
Johan at (Johan – 083 309 7373 johan@standerton.co.za
). If you’re interested in a chalet on a
game farm between Vrede and Memel (Free State)
– or a flat on the beachfront of the South
Coast, don’t hesitate to
contact Johan for further information.
There are plentiful fish in the dam and with
only 1 ½ hours’ drive from Johannesburg,
an ideal weekend home.
We arrived in Secunda just before 9, wished
Mourits good luck and sat down to watch his game.
54 Pool tables in 1 big room – awesome! The players are soooo good!
Mourits won his 1st game. We celebrated with a hearty breakfast and
coffee. His next game was around
noon. He won again.
We went shopping and then went to Anton &
Erica’s home to relax for a few minutes, refreshed with a bath and went back to
the casino for the Mourits’s last game of the day – at 5pm.
We were riveted – nearly chew our nails and had
a long celebratory drink when he won.
Mourits is now in the top 32 of this particular
competition.
For dinner we went to Secunda’s
waterfront. We opted for the Ocean Basket and had
wonderful sushi as a starter. Then I had
a seafood platter for 1 (divine) and Hein had fish & chips.
Right next to the restaurant is a volleyball ‘sand’
court. We watched the kids play in the
sand and thought about all that sand in the parents’ car.
We went back to Anton & Erika’s home, had a
cup of tea and went to bed.
Pool-watching is exhausting!!!
Friday 17 October 2008
9am.
Mourits knows his first opponent and said he’s good.
There are a lot less people – it’s serious
stuff now.
The players are varied – Afrikaans, English,
Black, Indian, Coloured, Women, Old and Young -
as young as 14-years! Her dad is
one of the best and she’s following in his footsteps.
We found a spot close to Mourits’s table and
the game started. But alas – this guy is
seriously good. Best out of 9 games. A few times, the opponent opened – and
closed. Mourits had his play cut out for
him.
After a nerve-racking few games, the opponent
won.
To be 20-something and in the top 32 of this
particular competition, is definitely something to be proud of.
We had an awesome time, learned a few things
about pool and Secunda.
That evening we had a lovely braai with Anton,
Erika & daughters.
Saturday 18 October 2008
Before 8am
Saturday morning, we left for home. We
had another braai at noon …
Such is life for Hein and me…
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