Alberton Sport History
This year was the 175th celebration of the “Groot Trek”, a milestone in SA history.
ALBERTON – Exactly twenty five years ago, one of the biggest sport festivals to be held in the old Alberton (prior to 1994), was the “Groot Trek Sportfees”, where most of the sport clubs in Central Alberton were involved.
October 1988 saw several big sporting events in ring tennis, wrestling, boxing, cross-country, shooting, korfball and many more. Schools and clubs facilities were heavily involved, to celebrate “The Groot Trek’s 150th Anniversary”.
The “Groot Trek fees” shooting competition was held in windy conditions during the middle of 1988 at Hoërskool Alberton. The then Mayor, Clr Louw du Toit graced the event with his presence. Bennie Klut Marais Viljoen with 375 out of 400 and Morné Strydom Hoërskool Alberton, were the overall top shooters of the day.
At the ringtennis courts, Die Varing beat Hoërskool Alberton, before mixed women and men invitation teams of Transvaal and Vaal Triangle entertained the guests among whom the President of SA ringtennis, Dr Daan Nel, the chairman of the “Groot Trek- fees”-committee, Clr Dirk Smit, and the Mayor, Clr Louw du Toit.
A festival game indeed was the big exhibition game between David Krause (Transvaal) and Sampie Stolz (Vaal Triangle), in those days’ two big names in SA ringtennis of yesteryear.
The highlight, however, was one of the biggest amateur wrestling matches ever held in the Hennie Jonker hall. The Springboks (still called so in those years) came up against the rest of SA’s President’s team. Buoyant from their victory over the USA touring team earlier that year, the Springboks came to Alberton as overwhelming favourites.
The President’s team included five current or former Alberton wrestlers in their ranks on that day. They were Gideon Malherbe, Jaco Venter, Andrew Davidson (Olympic Games Atlanta 1996), Hein Sattleger and Niel Bester who surprised to beat his Springbok opponent H Willemse.
Another previous Alberton sportsman of the year, Evert Kleynhans defeated Jaco Venter. Another Alberton man Johan de Jager was beaten by Riaan von Bentheim.
On the jukskei grounds, the Springboks managed to outplay the strong Southern Transvaal side. Hansie Grobler captained the Springboks, with Alberton’s Magda Esterhuizen in their ranks.
