Induction Dinner 2015

With the decision made last year to combine Induction Dinners, we now share our dinner with Grahamstown 11, Adelaide 194 and Port Alfred 177.

This year was the turn of 177 to host, and we got together at the Royal Port Alfred Golf Course for a lovely evening of good food and speeches.

Chairman Alan handed over to Ockie, and Marco was inducted as the incoming Vice Chairman.

Tabler of the Year award went to Marco Taljaard, with the Lady of the Year going to Daleen du Toit. The Davy Malan Spoon went to Guillym Theron.

After the evening, it was off to Kenny's in Port Alfred for a very late night for some.

A great time was had by all!

Chairman Alan delivering his Outgoing Address

Matching! Fabrizio, Guillym and Mr Wobberley

Daleen and Marco

L-R: Fabrizio, Jacques, Guillym, Ockie, Marco, Alan

Our new Sunflower Fund Bandana Waistcoats: Jacques, Fabrizio, Alan, Guillym, Ockie, Marco

All the new Chairman: Hennie (177), Brendan (195), Lesley (11) at the back; Ockie (210) & Dassie (194) at the front

Group Photo

Group Photo

Alan with Danielle (who took part in Kenton Capers)

Fitting for the Waistcoats

Annual Raft Race

In the pouring rain, the brave crews assembled their rafts under the Kariega Bridge, Kenton-on-Sea, and prepared to race for the Prestigious Raft Race Trophy!

Zwartkops 195 brought their ill-fated raft (it became a submarine when it overturned and had to floated upside-down the whole way last year) but had added some stabilizers.

Port Alfred 177 were sadly a no-show as the decided it was raining too much to get wet on the river...

Uitenhage 14 bailed at the last minute...

Cradock 37 took part using a boogie board and a kayak - which sadly saw them being disqualified from winning for using these flotation devices.

And Alex/Kenton 210 brought up the rear with their new Raft.

And they were off! After a hectic start, with many eggs being lobbed at enemy rafts, it was a tight race until the energy of the RT210 team started flagging. In a stealthy move, Yster from Cradock 37 tipped the RT210 raft upside down, which caused the team to spend valuable minutes diving for their metal oars (hmmm, lessons to be learnt here, me thinks).

The RT37 kayak kept up with the leading raft of RT195, and Zwartkops finished first across the line and out of the water at the slipway, with half their crew lagging behind. The boys of RT210 got their raft up and running, and finished last but with all on board to cross the finish line.

A great morning was followed up by a braai at the Clubhouse till mid-afternoon. Great fun was had by all!

Cradock 37 trying to fit both their crew on the kayak with Jacques (210) watching/not helping

Jacques & Marco (210) with Brandon (177) with the RT210 Raft

The Malan family with the Safety Boat

The spectators out of the rain under the bridge

The spectators out of the rain under the bridge

Zwartkops getting in the water at the start line

The Zwartkops raft with it's new stabilizers

And they're off!

Zwartkops takes the lead, with Cradock just behind them and Alex/Kenton lagging behind

All cheating by walking on the shallow side - Cradock just behind Zwartkops

Alex/Kenton 210 lobbing eggs at their competitors

Alex/Kenton chasing Cradock

The Safety Boat

The spectators screaming for their teams whilst walking along the tow path

Just before the big tip over from Cradock

Zwartkops takes the lead

Alex/Kenton upside down, Zwartkops minus a few crew

Diving for oars

Zwartkops' lead lengthens

Zwartkops loses a few more crew and tries to sabotage Cradock

Kenton back up right way around again

Chaos reigns

The Cradock Kayak

Zwartkops leading the field

The Safety Boat offering a rope to some of the swimmers

Alex/Kenton making a valiant effort

The aftermath, getting their breath back

The Alex/Kenton Crew: Marco, Jacques, Guillym & Ockie

The Handover of the Trophy: Marinus (195) and Alan (210)

Photo-bombers in the background (Eugene 177 and Marco 210)

Building the Raft

Maryke, Chantelle and Olivia watching the raft being launched

Ockie and Marco test the Lagoon waters

Trying not to overbalance the raft

Olivia chomping some sand and thoroughly enjoying it

SAS Alex/Kenton 210

Having delayed the inevitable, we realized that we needed to replace our raft for the Raft Race asap, and Ockie was the guy put in charge.

He managed to get pontoons (some of which were donated) and scavenged some of last year's raft to put together our new sea-craft.

We all got together at his house in Boknes, and took the raft for a test-sail on the lagoon, before enjoying an evening of fellowship afterwards.

Great fun was had by all!

Upside down but Castle Lite still on top!

Tight squeeze on the bakkie

Ockie and an exhausted Olivia

Raid on East London 1

Once again the trusty Polo was loaded with a few six packs of beer, four Tablers and a mission: to retrieve our lost Trophies from East London 1.

We left Alan's house around 5.30pm, having waited a little while for some of the guys to finish work. After a quick stop at Beavers Port Alfred for some Roosterbrood with Chicken Mayo, Cheese & Onion, we were once again on the road to East London!

We got to the Keiskamma Bridge before the urge to stretch our legs hit us, and who knew that the air conditioner was managing to protect us from what felt like 100% humidity! Once we climbed back into the car, even the dashboard was running condensation!

We got to the roadworks near East London, and again the humidity hit immediately once we opened the doors of the car. Even the GPS fell off the windscreen!

Having been given vague instructions, and trusting Alan's terrible geographical skills, we found the (thankfully) empty golf range and made use of the opportunity to get rid of the beers consumed en-route. We were then pestered by an impatient Past-ARTSA Convenor and we finally found our way through the forests of Stirling to the new Clubhouse of East London 1.

We met the guys and caught up before they continued with their interrupted meeting on the veranda (load shedding + extreme humidity forced us outdoors). After a meeting similar in style to ours, it was fellowship time as we chomped, drank a few beers and made new friends.

Who will ever forget "my boy" the new guest (otherwise known as Darrion, but Chairman Mark Crossley had memory lapses).

After a great evening, we managed to retrieve our trophies, grab one of theirs (wooden shield, East London 1, Prima Plax) and we also traded the inaugural Raiding Mat (see picture) which East London 1 and Alex/Kenton 210 will raid from each other in the future.

After a quick stop in at a certain establishment located beneath some golden arches for a midnight snack, we were back on the road home, arriving just before 1am.

A great time was had by all! Thanks to the guys from East London 1 for the fellowship and hospitality.

The Raiding Mat
L-R: Guillym, Marco, Ockie, Mark, Tarquin, Alan, HoneyBadger

Chairman Mark swopping banners with Chairman Ockie

L-R: Darrion (my boy), Guillym, Marco, Ockie, Mark, Tarquin, HoneyBadger