S A Grand - Paarl

Approaching Paarl

We died last night - by 8.45 pm we were lights out.

Practice at Valley Gun Club

Left Laingsburg at 8.30 am and were really pleased we pushed further yesterday.

This last part of the journey into Paarl is one of the most beautiful in our country.

The mountains and vineyards in the valleys are spectacular.

We are staying De Kleijne Bos Country House which is a wine and guava estate in the Drakenstein Valley a few kilometers outside Paarl. The buildings date back to 1692 with antique furniture in the rooms and a lavish bathroom with a bath that
must definitely be utilized in the next few days.

Our Bedroom at De Kleijne Bos

Supper at Noops

Richard got two rounds of practice in before the competition tomorrow. Valley Gun club is huge and well run and it also has a history dating back to 1960 which I will look into while we are here.

Richard also hasn't shot here for many years and it was a get together of many old friends when we arrived. It's going to be a good shoot.

Tonight we ate at the famous Noops. We just had to eat here again because the food was so good the last time we were in Paarl. Even though there are new owners, we were not disappointed. All I can say is it was YUMMY - again.

Lovely to be in Paarl.

S A Grand - Paarl

Our Dreaded E Tolls

Tonight we are back in the Cape Province for Richard to take part in the S A Grand.

We were up with the sparrows and on the road at 5.15 am.

This time we were determined not to be caught by the rush hour traffic and of course our dreaded E tolls

We are really going to just relax and soak up our country for a few days.

Groot Swartberge

We are not in a rush or at least I am not. I have to keep an eye on Richard and the speedometer, I just give him a stare and then he slows down again.

The Stark Karoo

We stopped for breakfast in Ventersburg and made sure we stopped regularly for Richard not to nod off - we did not sleep too well last night.

This Karoo of ours amazes me every time we drive through. It's starkness is absolutely beautiful.

We had planned to stay over in Beaufort West but arrived earlier than anticipated so we sill stay over in Laingsburg.

Herambi B & B

As we neared Lainsburg we drove into the Majestic Mountain ranges of the Groot Swartberge that rolled out before us as the country side started changing.

Herambi B & B is comfy and quaint and can't wait to put our heads down tonight. Karoo lamb chops can only taste like ours tonight when you are in the Cape - DELICIOUS.

Steel Challenge Roodepoort - Huntex

This weekend was the Huntex show at Galliger Estate so we decided that if we Huntex on Saturday we would be able to shoot the Roodepoort Steel Challenge on Sunday.
We arrived at Huntex just on 9 am and firstly we had to search for parking in the paid parking lot and eventually found a bay in the far most corner.
A good crisp walk to the entrance only to be faced by five or six queues that we all about sixty people deep and hardly moving. By now it is close to 10 am and we put our heads together and wonder if this was such a good idea to spend the day waiting in queues and being bumped about by crowds.
Decision - Not a good idea. So we did a turn about and headed for home.
Just as well because we received a phone call from John Beare (Chairman of the Lowveld Collectors Association) to update document of the gun collection, so time much better spent.
Sunday after our church service we were off to Roodepoort for the Steel Challenge.
We can really get hooked on this shooting of plates.
We decided to use the CZ Shadow to shoot with as we have plenty of ammo and we never shoot IPSC with the 9mm's.
This was an entirely different ball game for us to after the 40's.
The people were great and quite a few shooters from Golden City attended the shoot.
This shooting of plates can only improve your IPSC shooting.
Thanks Martin for all your help, Maureen for scoring and Werner for all the laughs, we loved it as usual.

Salvation Army Easter Eggs

On Tuesday we had another super day handing our Easter Eggs at the Salvation Army in Benoni.
The ladies that are resident at the Salvation Army home have also volunteered to help with the "Beanie Drive" so we have supplied them with wool and needles.
We made Thursday Cupcake day at the Home where we could just sit and chat while everyone got on with their knitting.
I have collected three beanies that were completed so far.
Well done ladies - keep up with the good work.
Total beanies are now close to 40.

Igugulethu Home of Safety

Sorting The Easter Eggs

The children of Tom Newby Primary School have collected

Dishing Them Out

The Babies

about 5,000 Easter Eggs so Dameon gathered up about 300 of them and decided to spoil the children of Igugulethu Home this afternoon.

The kids were very excited to see Dameon, Courtney and Victoria again and this time the

babies were awake so we could pop in and see them.

The Toddlers

I don't know who enjoys these outings more the kids of Igugulethu or our kids.

Well done Dameon - Keep up the good work.

Pretoria Steel Challenge - Vektor Club

Ladies in Pink doing Rim Fire

Want to improve your shooting skills then take part in the
Steel Challenge.

This was the first Challenge by Sethunya Proficiency Training & Trading in Pretoria on the Vektor Shooting Club grounds.

This was our first Steel Challenge and when we arrived the range officer were on their posts and friendly faces greeted to give advice for us newbies.

You may shoot handgun, shotgun and rim fire. 

8 ranges with 5 steel plates pf varying size set at different distances. First the 4 white plates

Archie Goldswain on the Line

are engaged and you end the round by shooting the "Stop" plate which has a red upright. At this point your time is recorded. Should you miss any of the targets and not fill in you are penalized 3 seconds. Each range is shot in 5 "Strings" which means you shoot the round five times, record your time five times and count your four best scores for that round.

This really rests you speed and accuracy, but be sure to take extra ammo.

As I learn more I will keep everyone up to day but one thing I can tell you - It is loads of fun.

We sure hope there will be many more of these shoots to come.

Should you want to know more why don't you contact Gys Prinsloo on 083 450 9319 or gys_prinsloo@yahoo.com or
Francois van Wyk on 082 315 4236 or fudgevw@gmail.com

Golden City Club Shoot

Our Squad

Wolf Pondering

Saturday Golden City Club Shoot and we were amazed that there were so many shooting seeing it is the Easter Long Weekend.

We had six stages and minimum 140
rounds with targets that were well in the distance and loads of hostages. A few swingers and also strong hand only shooting.

Richard & Alex Chatting

As usual you hear chirping from the other squads and Wolf

Belinda Chilling

was no exception today. He was on point as we met at the change over on several ranges. 

You can fall into any detail at the club and enjoy but today we really had a good time. Thanks Alex, I always love shooting with you, Belinda, haven't shot with you in ages - was real good, Nazeem, such a gentleman and as quiet as ever. Thanks guys for making our day so good.

Beanie Drive

Winter is slowly showing it's face, especially early in the morning and late evening so what better than to be blessed by a beanie.

Thank you Northfield for the donation of wool so far.

Thank you to all the ladies who have offered to knit for us.Especially our Senior Citizens have been getting their knitting needles out the cupboards. One lady in Ryn Park has not put a hand to knitting in 20 years and is thoroly enjoying it.

Should you be interested to join us, it is loads of fun, drop me a line.  I will supply the wool if you do not have.

If you are a group in the Boksburg/Benoni area I will even bring the muffins.

Eastern Cape Open - Clay Target Shooting - Graaf Reinett

It's the end of our break and an early start back home saw us on the road to Gauteng.

The roads are quiet and it is a lovely drive home having a good gander about all the shooting and happenings the past few days.

There were infridgements that were raised by me that were taken in the wrong context. We judges firstly bring it to your attention because we love our sport and keep it in high regards. Secondly it is pure safety regulations. We would like to be judged by Internation standards and therefore please take note - The rules state - you may not walk from station 5 to station 1 with your gun loaded - you must be within the confines of the station you are shooting on . Please do not take it personal when you are warned of your infridgement.

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Lets grow our sport

Not long after we filled up in Colesburg we saw a gent walking with a cross over his shoulder and a big smile on his face. We had to stop.

His name is Dewet Swanepoel and for the past two years he has been walking for Jesus and spreading the Word.He is on his way to the "Mighty Men's Conference" in Middelburg in the Cape. Dewet may you be richly blessed for doing God's work.

Back home safe and lovely to sleep in our own comfy bed again.

Eastern Cape Open - Clay Target AShooting - Graaf Reinett

Everitt Murray in his Heyday

Last day of the Eastern Cape Open at Graaff-Reinet.
Some shooters are on edge trying get get scores to qualify for National teams while the others are quite relaxed.

I tried to get more information about Everitt Murray because it is essential to keep the history of Clay Target Shooting alive. The scores that he shot in 1966 are phenomenal and very few people now days shoot these scores. I sure hope that in fifty years time the new comers to the sport care for it as passionately as he does.

Richard was chuffed with his score today. Much better than yesterday. Well done. Looks like you are on the right path again.

Everett's Score in 1966

Now for some grumbling.

We set off after the shoot to Nieu-Bethesda and the infamous Owl House.

A short drive of 45 minutes through beautiful
mountain scenery we follow the sign posts to Nieu-Bethesda. I googled about the Owl House and couldn't wait to see this bit of history of Helen Martins and her quirky ways.

The Best of Nieu-Bethesda

What a disappointment.

Virtually all the houses, no matter how dilapidated, is either a B & B or a coffee shop but 99% of them are closed. The Owl House which is so dusty and dirty you can't see through the windows is closed and should you want to see inside, which is only a curio shop, has a R50 entrance fee but you have to search for someone to give your money to.

I have never been to a one horse town but this town doesn't even have a horse.

Road into Nieu-Bethseda

Not coming back.

Next moan.

Last time we passed through Graaff-Reinet we were so impressed with our accommodation so we returned to the same guest house.

During our four day stay we commented on it not being the same as last time but lately I am very careful to judge too quickly and in any case it did not put us out, we were here for the shooting and it was very convenient.

Pioneer

Today we arrived back and no one had been in to freshen up as usual or put out clean

Pioneer

towels, etc and on enquiring about the problem it was just sorry so and so's car broke down, this one can't be contacted, get the key and take some towels......Excuses.

Not coming back.

Now a high five for Pioneer Restaurant in Graaff-Reinet for a magnificent Karoo Lamb
dinner. From outside it looked like a tiny old house and inside the restaurant had beautiful decor and even a garden area. Lovely way to finish our day.

Eastern Cape Open - Clay Target Shooting - Graaf Reinett

Chilling in the Club House

 Saturday 12 April 2014.

 Competition day has arrived and upon arriving at the Graaff-Reinet Gun Club Richard was greeted by buddies he has not seen in many years.

On the Trench Range

It must be at least fifteen years since Richards last trip down here to Graaff-Reinet for a provincial shoot.

As the shooter arrived we started seeing all the new faces which is so good for the
sport.

Temperatures are sky high here today and we are a good 38 deg.

We were planning to go out to the Owl House in Nieu-Bethesda but we were running a bit late due to a machine failure so we will make other plans for that trip.

Johnny No 997 and His Grandson Emmanuel Psarris No 5355

The hospitality is fabulous at Graaff-Reinett Gun Club and even though Richard is not satisfied with his score today, we had a great time.

He just needs the practice to get back into it so after so many years lay off not bad, but he is always very hard on himself.

Checking on the numbers I found one of the juniors with No 5355 who came to attend his first shoot alongside his grandfather Johnny Arseniou with shooter No 997. What a wonderful story to tell.

Eastern Cape Open - Clay Target Shooting - Graaf Reinett

Friday and it is practice day.

Graaff-Reinet Gun Club

When you get to the Graaff-Reinet Gun Club you can see their love for the sport and they love to let you in on the history of their club.

The club was founded in 1963 and Everitt Murray who served on the committee way in the days when clay target shooting started to shoot nationally, is still at the helm of the club.

Everitt at that time was the secretary of this committee and handled the handicap program and at that time the shooter just entered by name. It was decided to bring in a number system as the amount of shooters were incleasing rapidly, so as the committee was seated round the table, each was allocated a number in sequence and there after the

Practise Round

shooters were allocated theirs.

This system is still in use today. Once your number has been allocated to you it belongs only to you and may never, even should you no longer be here, be used by onyone else.
This sparked an interest in me which I will follow up and see what the latest number is but Everitt is the proud owner of No 4.

To still be involved and organizing competitions after 51 years,

Everitt - we applaud you.

After three rounds of practice it was off for some sight seeing.

At The Toposcope

The Valley of Desolation is only about 15 km from Graaff-Reinet town.

The scenery is breathtaking and the landscape is true South African. Rugged and harsh.

Sheer cliffs and precariously balanced columns of Dolerite rise 120 metres from the valley floor, against the timeless backdrop of the vast plains of the Camdeboo. This is the product of volcanic and erosive forces of nature over many years.

There are over 220 recorded species of

Valley of Desolation

bird life, 336 plants and 43 mammals.

Just before the entrance to the Camdeboo Nature reserve is a memorial to honour Gideon Scheepers.

During the Anglo-Boer War Gideon Scheepers formed his own commando, which operated in the Cape Midlands. He was captured by the British troops and charges of alleged war crimes were laid against him. 

At the court hearings in Graaff-Reinet he was found guilty and sentenced to death and was executed by firing squad.

Gideon Scheepers Memorial

The memorial comprises of three rocks from the vicinity supporting a stainless steel needle , symbolising the spirit of hope and faith in God. The largest rock represents the steadfastness of the then young Afrikaner nation. The two tilted boulders it supports symbolise this nation - suppressed but not fallen. A fourth boulder alongside bears the inscription.

Eastern Cape Open - Clay Target Shooting - Graaf Reinett

Gariep Dam On the Orange River

We have a nice little trip arranged to coincide with Richards Universal shoot down in Graaff- Reinett.

This morning we were on the road at 6.00 am. Everything was packed and organized last night so here we come Graaff Reinett.

Our first stop along the N1 route was Gariep Dam.

The Gariep Dam was originally named the Hendrik Verwoerd Dam after the first prime minister of the Republic of South Africa Hendrik Verwoerd on its commission in 1971. However, after the end of apartheid, the Verwoerd name was considered unsuitable. The name was officially changed to Gariep Dam on 4 October 1996. Gariep is San for "Great water", the original name of the river.

Gariep Dam Wall

The wall is 88 m high and has a crest South African English, 'dam' refers both to the structure and the lake it impounds. Gariep Dam has a total storage capacity of approximately 5,340,000 megalitres (5,340 hm³) and a surface area of more than 370 square kilometres (140 sq mi) when full. The hydro-electrical power station houses four 90 MW generators, giving a maximum output of 360 MW of electricity at a water flow rate of 800 m³/s.

Norval Pont Concentration Camp Cemetery

length of 914 m and contains approximately 1.73 million m³ of concrete. The Gariep Dam is the largest storage reservoir in South Africa. In
The structure is a concrete gravity-arch hybrid dam. This design was chosen as the gorge is too wide for a complete arch so flanking walls form gravity abutments to the central arch.
It was built by Dumez, a French construction company.

The Norval Pont Hotel Built in 1895

Ten kilometers further is is the little town of Norval Pont where we went to the Anglo- Boer War Concentration Camp Cemetery. The concentration  Camp housed 5192 women and children and during that time 494 people died there. The Norval Pont Hotel that was built in 1895 still stands today.

Only His Own Entourage - Shame

Next stop was Graaf-Reinett and as we drove up Caledon Street where we are staying everything was cordoned off and Black BMW's, Merc's and SUV's (AKA The Blue Llight Brigade) blocked our way in. The reason - Zuma was having lunch at a local B & B. I thought I would hang around and catch a glimpse of him and expected crowds to line the streets, but except for his entourage and a few by passers, not a soul out to greet him and not a cheer to be heard.

Golden City - Leaugue Qualification

Thursday we went off for a practice rounds with our newly loaded ammo using our .40's to get a feel and see if they met power factor. All is well.

We also took the 9mm with just because we haven't fired them for ages. We had to have a good laugh because that first shot shooting with double action took us off the target a few times until we got used to it again.

We thought we were ready for Friday to qualify for League shooting.
Friday we pitched up at the club and as it neared 3.30pm I started thinking everything was way too quiet.

I made a real boo boo.

Normally the qualifying is done on a Friday but I did not read the email ( that will teach me a good lesson) and everything had been changed to Thursday so we will just have to wait for the next League shoot.

Idiot me.