BIATHLON INTERPROVINCIAL OUDTSHOORN 2 FEBRUARY 2008

Biathlon interprovincial in Oudtshoorn. Saturday 2nd February 2008.

Friday afternoon Barbara, Ally & I left for Oudtshoorn. IN separate cars were; Debby & Meghan Derry & Jacqui and Amber Zeelie. John & Cheryl Kotze followed with Mike and Greg. Rianna Green was also due to be travelling to the Biathlon as her daughter Wendy had qualified for the interprovincial, but had developed a Cyst on the Brain and had been operated on that week. Markus and Susan Burri brought their two children MC and Emilio.

It was the Interprovincial Biathlon Meeting in Oudtshoorn. The drive from PE was not fun as we left PE in traffic all the way to Humansdorp. There were road works and we had foolishly failed to take the alternative route. From the Langkloof road turnoff it was easy going. We had made bookings at B&B’s and arrived at Attakwas in Van Riebeek road to find the Derry’s and Zeelie’s were already there.

The following morning we chat to the host of the cottage. Katot is a colourful man who appears to be a 4X4 enthusiast. He tells us that Katot translates into English as “Billycan”. He tells us how the name Attakwas came to be:
The Attakwa people are the remnants of a tribe of Khoi/San people who lived near the beaches of Cape Town when the first Dutch Sailors landed in the 1600s. The Khoi/San were a pastoral people who used oxen as pack animals and for the transportation of women and children.
Their dome shaped houses were made out of reed mats laid over a framework of sticks.
The Attakwas were well known for showing early settlers the passes over the Outeniqua Mountains to Cannaland (Oudtshoorn) as many of them dwelt and harvested honey along Attakwas Kloof, now a famous hiking trail.
It turned out to be an excellent house with a view over a green valley and park below. It was early evening and time for a sundowner as we waited for the Kotze’s to arrive. What a wonderful evening it turned out to be. It was warm and breathless and we had plenty to chat about as Ally, Amber and Meghan played in the park below.

When John and Cheryl arrived they joined us for an evening drink. Their two sons soon mixed in with the three girls and when we went to supper at a road side restaurant called Headlines they youngsters all sat together and had a wonderful evening as old friends. The Adults also had a stunning evening chatting and enjoying Ostrich Steaks, Calamari and Lasagne. The children had huge Pizza’s which they could not finish and were used to feed them on the way home the following day.

When we finished our meal it was already 20.00 and our bed was calling. Barbara, Ally and I shared a King-sized bed and watched the end of the ODI against the West Indies. It was Shaun Pollock’s last game in front of his home crowd in Durban. Quite emotional as he hit the winning runs!
We were up early the following morning and made our way to the athletic track.

The biathlon starts with a parade of the athletes in their uniforms. It was already hot and a tracksuit was not the coolest of outfits. After the parade (Optog), we all sit in the sun while speeches are made to welcome us. First it is the organiser, then the Dominee, then the organiser again, then the Burgermeester who is a lady, Mrs. De Jager who is the wife of the late Mr. De Jager after whom the sports stadium is named.

Then Chris Jansen makes a speech. Chris is Die Voorsitter of Biathlon SA. Finally we are dismissed and the running begins with the U9’s. Emilio is our representative and he does not do as well as he did in the trials but finishes strongly. Then in the U11’s we first have Amber who has a good run. These children have to run twice around the track (800m).

The competition is fierce but they all have fun and are trying hard. In the next U11 heat we have Ally and Meghan. These two are great friends but also strong rivals. Barbara bought Ally a pair of spikes just before we left PE and this will be her first time to run in them. At first they seemed uncomfortable but then she loosened the laces and she was fine. Their heat starts at a strong pace and the two girls are soon a way back from the front runners. Meghan is able to pick up the pace in the second lap and does fairly well. Ally chases her and also has a good finish.
The U11 boys start their run and Greg & MC are in the same heat. They start off together and stay that way throughout the run. MC is stays just behind Greg until he sees the finish line when he makes a break and just manages to beat Greg to the tape. There are not many competitors in the masters Ladies and it is soon the turn of the Senior Vets (that is us) and the Masters (Chris and Herman). We have to run 1000m.

I have done a bit of warming up in the sun and am feeling good so when the gun goes off I make a break for the front of the group. This is not like me as I normally fool around at the back. However I find my self as front runner of the EP team and wonder how long I will be able to keep up this pace. There is a Western Province athlete ahead of me and I try to focus on him and to stay with his pace.

We come to the end of the first lap and I hear 1.31 being called out and I know that I am running faster than I normally do and again wonder when I am going to start fading. Then the bell rings for the last lap. I have been hearing heavy puffing behind me and Chris passes me. They only do 800m and I know he is surging to his finish so while I try to keep up with him he is not my focus. I remain just behind the WP runner. Chris pulls off.

We reach the final 100m and I decide to try to pass the WP runner. I can hear the cheers from our group in the stands including the youngsters who are all very supportive. He hears me coming and surges. But I stay focussed and push as hard as I can and pass him in the final few meters. He had a watch and announces that we did a 3.53. This is my best time for the distance and I am delighted.

It is a very hot sun and our little group decides to pack up and find a café for breakfast. After driving around we discover a restaurant with shade and umbrellas. Here we all sit and order a small feast. Again there is a great deal of laughter from both the children’s and the adult’s tables. We try to get the children to behave but when they start throwing chips across the table we decide to let them have fun.

After breakfast we head for the swimming pool where there are already a number of people. The runners were still taking part on the track as we drove past so we are able to have a bit of a swim. The water is a bit green, not surprising as the temperature is 29 degrees and almost bath warm. There is not a breath of wind and the sun bakes down on us. We have found a nice shady spot and the Burri’s join us. I am able to have a short nap in my beach armchair.

Mike decides he has had enough of his cast and John cuts it off with a wire cutter. Mike had broken his arm in a fall from a horse. The swim goes off well enough. Emilio is first off, then Amber, Ally and Meghan. All of them do well and we are proud of our group. Greg and MC compete again but it is MC who steals the show with a 34 second 50m which is one of his best times ever. Markus has a good swim of 66seconds while I look like a dredger in the water arms flailing about, splash splash, gasp gasp and finally end up with 1min52.

After the adults have swum we head off home. The Burris will stay for the weekend and do some sight seeing on Sunday. John and family head off to Calitzdorp to visit Boplaas wine farm. I ask John to buy me a case. I am not a connoisseur of wines but will enjoy whatever he buys for us.

As we leave town we buy ourselves an ice cream & a Curry Bunny. We still have some grapes and cold drink in the car so we have plenty of sustenance for the drive home. The road is fairly clear and after 100kays we are on the Langkloof road.

We pass Krakeel where the heavy rains of December has washed to bridge away and the road has been filled in with Gravel. A sign announces Diesel at R7.42. There is a stall selling Biltong and Dry Wors. We pass other stalls selling fresh produce. Local people walk along the road with big smiles as they enjoy each other’s company and the weekend activities. Krakeel is the name of a village where I took part in a run many years ago.

We drive through Louterwater where the local industry is apple farming and pack houses. Then we come to Joubertina. We recall that a year ago, Ian had phoned to tell us about a farm near to Uniondale, he was considering buying, high up in a mountain called Mannetjiesberg. In the end he did not buy that farm but a 100hectare property now known as Wildcliff near to Heidelberg.

I glance down towards the village of Joubertina and see that they have some kind of activity on a field. They are having as much fun and sporting activity as we have just left in Oudtshoorn. There are apple orchards all along the road. Thousands of trees laden with fruit which will be harvested and used for export as well as sold to juice companies.

We make a pit stop in Kareedow. From there it is less than 150kays home. We remember to take the alternative route across the Gamtoos River and avoid the road works and traffic. We arrive safely in PE. I phone John and he tells me that he has a case of wine for us. Half red and half white.

I receive and SMS from Adrienne to say that Rianna is out of intensive care. I phone Rianna and she says that while she still has headaches she is on the mend.

That afternoon was the start of the Six Nations Rugby in Europe. Ireland beat a strong Italian team coached by Nick Mallet. And in a real upset, Wales beat England in Twykenham for the first time in 20years. The English had led 16;3 at half time and had really dominated the game with lineouts, turnovers and possession. Then there was a short period in the second half where they lost concentration altogether and Wales took over with a couple of breaks and some excellent defence that won the game for them.