THE LOWVELD’S FAVOURITE 4X4 DAY

SUMMERHILL 4X4 OUTDOOR ADVENTURE AND FAMILY FUN DAY

HAZYVIEW - 4^TH JUNE 2011

The sun shone, the birds sang, the children played and the Windhoek flowed. The dust flew and so did the helicopter. And the people came in their numbers. About two thousand of them, in fact.

Saturday’s event was the biggest Summerhill 4x4 Day for many years. Over 40 vehicles took to the course with varying levels of success and went home with fabulous prizes from generous local and national sponsors as well as donations from the parents of Summerhill learners.

The newly-launched Hazyview Paramedic Response Unit was called in only once, to assist Steven Smit from Johannesburg when his bakkie rolled at one of the obstacles but the majority of entrants cleared the obstacles suffering little damage.

The results in the various classes were as follows:

Class 1 – SHORT WHEEL BASE STANDARD

1. #27         Stefan and Tristan Wintershoven
2. #7           Tokkie de Lange and Neil Alberts
3. #5           Jacques Swarts and Annemarie McDonald

Class 2 – SHORT WHEEL BASE MODIFIED

1. #16         Jaco Bredell and Hugo Butler
2. #32         Nico Pretorius and Ryna Grobler
3. #28         Cobus and Pieter Venter

Class 3 – LONG WHEEL BASE STANDARD

1. #39         Garhard and Attie Bothma
2. #3           Marius Linde and Wally Reynolds
3. #46         Riaan and Adele van der Sandt

Class 4  - LONG WHEEL BASE MODIFIED

1. #45         Boeta Bekker and Bennet Nel
2. #9           Evert Erasmus and Philip van der Walt
3. #20         Tommy and Elmarie Pretorius
4. #12         Frank and Marise Holloway

Class 5 - SPECIAL VEHICLE & PURPOSE BUILT VEHICLE

1. #1           Kosie and Carel van Heerden
2. #17         Thinus Potgieter and Jackie Drotsky

Class 6 – FUN BUGS

1. #34         Neil Salter and Ryan Matheson
2. #6           Morne Craffert and Stephan Froneman
3. #2           Gene Jacobs and Bev Aucamp

 Class 7 – LADIES OBSTACLE

1. #22         Elmarie Pretorius and Leonie Erasmus
2. #31         Leonie Erasmus and Elmarie Pretorius

The Kiepview Conservancy 8km Fun Run was won by Thokozane Hlatshwayo with Peter Esterhuisen in second place. Henry Mnguni came third. The 4km Seniors was won by Adriana Vermenter and the Juniors by Ben Smith, with Craig Thomas coming in a brave second, despite a broken toe!

The winners of the cake-icing competition were Sarah McQueen and her team of Summerhill Grade 7s and of the eight prizes awarded in the inter-schools 4x4 colouring competition, Mickey Muis School won four.

But it wasn’t all about the contests. To a backdrop of lively music and commentary from the MPowerFM Thunder Truck, manned by the inexhaustible Q, the people of Hazyview and hordes of visitors from around the Lowveld and further afield watched a number of spectacular demonstrations and, in between times, indulged themselves in the serious business of shopping and eating at the numerous stalls.

The kids were entertained with games and competitions, pony-riding, an enormous Giant Slide and the rolling Water Balls. In between activities they indulged in candy floss and hot dogs while their parents tucked into Galito’s chicken, Fat Belly Pancakes and superb curries prepared by the Hervormde Kerk.

It was a great day out. Rick Budai brought four snakes along and demonstrated his handling skills and their ‘friendliness’. The SAPS White River Dog Unit gave a dog display, there was a mock river rescue by Off-road River Rescue and the Ringetani Marimba Band had the crowd tapping and clapping at the arena’s edge. In fact, there always seemed to be something going on somewhere!

The day closed with the ever-popular Supa Quick Showstopper, which sees the 4x4 vehicles lining up and pushing their way through a long, bumpy and unpredictably muddy straight, right on the edge of the Sabie River. Following that, and to the delight of the participants, prizes were handed out by Mrs South Africa, Laurette Batstone, from Nelspruit.

Although the final tally has yet to be completed, all the indications are that the day will turn out to have been a hugely beneficial fund-raiser for the self-funding school and that the proceeds will go a long way towards financing the new classrooms required as a result of the speed with which Summerhill is growing and improving its facilities.

Thanks to Summerhill School – its parents, teachers and learners – for hosting yet another thoroughly enjoyable community day. All the competitors, stallholders and visitors agreed that the event had been a huge success and they are already looking forward to next year when an even bigger range of attractions is planned.

For those interested in sending their children to Summerhill, the school will be hosting an Open Day for prospective parents and other interested parties on 17^th June. Call Anita Pillay at the school on 013 737 8221 for more information or simply turn up on the day between 8am and 1pm.

Summerhill Event Co-ordinator
Angie McQueen
Tel: +27-72 174 4101
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.summerhill.org.za
Event Location GPS: Lat -25.032417 S / Long 31.102284 E

Next event: To be advised.