New Winklespruit bowls champion crowned
Everyone asked us to join in a fun day of bowls and I just fell in love with the game.
Ivan van den Bergh, 41, is the Winklespruit Bowling Club 2020 men’s champion singles. He beat Basil Ananiadis in the final on Saturday, 10 October after it was postponed due to inclement weather.
“I felt excited when I won the finals. I’ve been trying to do so for the past two years and finally achieved it. This was my first time winning, although it wasn’t my first time facing Basil. I think I`ve played against him multiple time in competitions, as well playing alongside him, normally in trips. I went to the final game with a positive attitude and as all bowlers know ‘it’s all on the day’. That day was in my favour.”
In the past two years, he and his partner, Barrie de Wee, have won the 2-4-2 and pairs competitions. Unfortunately he hasn’t made the cut for any invitational or provincial teams, but hopes to reach those levels soon.
Ivan was born in Nelspruit and did his schooling at Laerskool Witrivier and Zeerust Secondary in Pretoria. In his younger days, he participated in athletics, swimming, tennis, golf and target shooting. “After school I started off studying graphic design, but came across web development and since then I have continued to improve my knowledge in the programming world. I finished with a MSCD diploma and I work as a business process engineer for Sappi.
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We always wanted to move to the coast, so when my wife received the opportunity to relocate in 2011, we took it on.”
He is married to Adele and they have two sons – Jacques, 19, and Marius, 15.
“My first choice of sport was golf and I was a member at Acacia Country Club in Pretoria for a few years. When we moved to the coast, I started playing bowls at Munster Bowling Club. We always went to visit my parents-in-law and they were members there. We would often go to the club and have a braai with friends. Everyone asked us to join in a fun day of bowls and I guess that’s where it all happened. I just fell in love with the game. I was a member there for a few years, until my parents-in-law moved to Toti and we decided to join Winkle about four years ago.”
For hobbies, he enjoys doing art once in a while and also carpentry. “I love spending time with my family and friends, enjoying a beer and braai. I missed playing during the first stages of lockdown. I was used to going out on a Friday and on the weekend to play and socialise.
I can’t really say if the break improved my bowls or not – it just felt like riding a bike again. You don’t forget how to.
“I am still working during lockdown – our department moved from office to a working from home phase. Work never stopped and therefore one can only feel and be blessed.”
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