Talk of the Town

Country club open day attracts public

Committee attempts to sign people up to sports including bridge, shooting

- MARK CARRELS

Anew committee establishe­d to attract more sporting activity to the Port Alfred Country Club must be congratula­ted on its hosting of an open day on Saturday November 18.

Some of the sports showcased on offer at the club were volleyball, archery, clay shooting, cricket, running, pigeon racing and bridge, which was being played in a separate facility next to the hall.

Committee member Eddie Wepener, who markets the facility under the new initiative, said they had achieved the aim of the open day — to create an awareness of the club and activities on offer. Patience was needed to help grow and market the facility to ensure that the country club was available to the whole community.

“The various clubs affiliated to the country club have to ensure they market the sports to individual­s and in so doing, open the facility to everyone to create a family environmen­t.

“So far, we have the racing pigeon club, Stenden, Kowie Striders, sports shooting, the cricket club, bridge club and the Salt & Light Church, which uses the hall on a Sunday.

“We also plan to have badminton and table tennis played here. There’s also a cycling and hiking trail,” Wepener said.

Wepener said once school holidays were over next year, they would try to

connect with schools who would like to use the facility.

“Some schools have their own facilities but where they don’t have the facilities we have, they could use the club for their activities.

“I think this is a good first turnout. “At least we have created an awareness and we got the people to sign up for the various sports,” Wepener said.

The Sport Shooting Club, which is

affiliated to the country club, operates under various sporting discipline­s, such as archery and clay pigeon shooting.

“We have quite a strong committee who is responsibl­e for each subsection within the club environmen­t.

“We only use the country club for our meetings and we use a shooting range on the Mooifontei­n quarry road for our shooting activities,” club chair Eric Fisher said.

“We encourage young people to

come and shoot but you’ve got to go through all the legal requiremen­ts to have a firearm.

“We focus on drawing people to the club who have licensed firearms.

“We are trying very hard as a committee to encourage more membership.

“The reason for an open day is to expose what we are able to offer and to encourage more people to come to the country club.”

 ?? Pictures: MARK CARRELS ?? FLIGHT OF FANCY: Ray Schenk releases racing pigeons at the Port Alfred Country Club open day on Saturday November 18.
Pictures: MARK CARRELS FLIGHT OF FANCY: Ray Schenk releases racing pigeons at the Port Alfred Country Club open day on Saturday November 18.
 ?? ?? ONE GIANT LEAP: Akhanya Ngesi smashes the ball over the net during the volleyball exhibition at the PA Country Club.
ONE GIANT LEAP: Akhanya Ngesi smashes the ball over the net during the volleyball exhibition at the PA Country Club.
 ?? ?? STRATEGIC PLAY: Bridge players attempt to defeat their opponents during their session at the country club hall situated next to the main hall.
STRATEGIC PLAY: Bridge players attempt to defeat their opponents during their session at the country club hall situated next to the main hall.
 ?? ?? HAVING A BALL: Daniel Koumoutsor­is of Stenden University SA shows what’s on offer at the volleyball exhibit.
HAVING A BALL: Daniel Koumoutsor­is of Stenden University SA shows what’s on offer at the volleyball exhibit.

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