Sabie Bowls Club is the third in Mpumalanga to reach this memorable milestone, after Barberton and Lydenburg. All three clubs can thank the discovery of gold in our area for their existence.
The club was honoured by the presence of David Hamer, president of Bowls South Africa, and Owen James, a member of the Bowls South Africa committee. The CEO of York Timbers, Gerald Stoltz, and Bronwyn Morris, York’s legal advisor also joined in the fun. Buco was also very visible, not only by the attendance of Frikkie Russouw and his wife, Shirley Ann, but also by two much-needed corporate gazebos to keep the water stations cool.
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“We had bowls club presidents with their spouses, a whole host of the Lowveld’s best bowlers, and visitors from as far afield as Nylstroom Bowls Club,” says Chris Colverd of the Sabie Bowling Club. “We were delighted that a number of past members, going back more than 30 years, were still fit and well, and able to enjoy the very nostalgic weekend.”
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The event started early on the Saturday morning with a welcoming address by Mpumalanga Bowls president Madaleine de Klerk (also Sabie Bowls Club’s current president), followed by short speeches from Gerald Stoltz, David Hamer and Owen James.
Suzette Hartzer Marais gave a brief history of Sabie, the surrounding areas, and the development of the gold-mining industry. An excellent lunch followed.
In the afternoon, 26 bowlers played 15 ends of social bowls, followed by a braai organised by master bowler and chef, Ben Enslin.
On the Sunday David Hamer ceremoniously unveiled our beautiful centenary plaque before the start of the Centenary Bowls Tournament.
“The green was opened by David Hamer and former member, Elaine Martens, rolling the first bowls, followed by three games of 10 ends each, punctuated by a tea break and lunch. The bowling green was in an excellent condition despite the 70 mm of rain the previous night, and it was probably the first time in the 100 years of the club’s existence that we had eight rinks, with eight bowlers on each of them, which fitted easily onto our almost maximum size bowling green. The youngest player was just nine years old and the oldest were in their 80s,” Chris said.
When the scores were all added up at the end of day, the team from Bungalows ran out convincing winners.
Chris thanked Merle Joubert and her team for organising a hugely successful and memorable event.
“Well done and thank you from all of us. We thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the entire weekend. Thank you to all our sponsors who helped make it all happen, bowling clubs who sent gifts, and players who also made considerable donations,” he said.
