Port Afred Weekend
Well the first weekend of November is over, and that means so too is the annual Port Alfred Tri-angular, where three clubs meet and battle it out for a potty, and of course a large dose of club pride.
This year, due to some ladies having provincial commitments, we dragged along 5 non bowlers who at great risk to their self-esteem agreed to fill in the gaps and come and give it a shot. Huge thanks go to Grant Hobbs, Glen Warner, Michael Tiltmann and the Grotjohn pair of Grant and Dunstan who stepped up to help us out and fully entered into the spirit of the weekend.
We all trekked down during the day on Friday, with the last to arrive being the “bachelor Bus” populated with men whose wives were on provincial duty, and other men whose wives had given them a weekend pass. Contrary to what many other thought, this lateness was not due to an extended stop over at La Lapa aka “linga longa”, but to a bad choice of streets which took us down Oxford Street after 4pm on a Friday. This resulted in over 45 minutes being wasted in getting out of town.
Eventually we were all in the same place, fires were lit, music started and drinks poured, the weekend was on! As the party wound down, most drifted off to bed while a few die-hards retired to the “Sand Castle” to discuss and solve the problems of the world late into the night.
Saturday morning dawned, cold and windy, some were nursing various levels of “ill feeling” due to the previous evening’s consumption, while one or two others avoided this all together by just not wasting any time sleeping at all. It seemed like a good plan at the time. The morning was spent organising breakfast, and for some and for others, further ensuring that the cooler boxes would be a lot lighter on the Sunday return trip.
By Saturday 2pm, the real reason we were all there began and the games began on blustery cool day, by 5pm Old Boys hadn’t fared too well, with winning only 3 out of 8 rubbers, but our “non bowlers” impressing in tricky conditions.
Saturday evening was spent with fellow bowlers, eating drinking, dancing and telling jokes, some a lot more funny than others. Those who had not slept yet were starting to show signs of wear and tear and somewhat erratic and wobbly behaviour, but this did not stop them visiting local drinking holes, while some less brave snuck off for a relatively early night!
Sunday was much warmer and little or no wind, with old boys getting their act together and reversing the day before’s results, winning 5 out of 8 rubbers, but by then the horse had bolted and we ended third which was a bit disappointing as we were champions the last two years, but we will be back bigger and stronger next year with those of you who did not attend this year.
The day ended with the trip back, and the traditional “end of tour drink at the white House”. What an epic weekend, and what a pleasure to be a member of such a vibrant club as Old Selbornians. Thank you one and all!
Some pics to follow soon..............
