Friday, 30 July 2010 – Another successful day filled with jukskei demonstrations and coaching. The jukskei team continued to make numerous friends amongst the Americans. More people came to watch the South Africans tossing the skeys at a target and many wanted to learn our game. Many of the Horseshoe pitchers succeeded in turning the skey sideways right from the word go.

At 19.30 the South Africans were taken to the Horseshoe pitches to receive coaching on pitching. Some of the world’s best pitchers coached the South Africans. Sue Snyder, one of the best horseshoe pitchers in the world, as well as a designer of horseshoes, coached Bets, and within a matter of 30 minutes Bets had pitched 9 ringers from 12 shoes! (Louisiana here we come!) After a coaching session with Bill (he looks like Wild Bill Hickok), Rob Hickman challenged me (Annetjie) to play a game of horseshoes. The first to get 21 points win the match. Unfortunately his American ego got a big knock when I beat him 22-9! According to some of the officers of the NHPA it was the most fun they have ever had at a World Tournament.

ABOVE: Annetjie in action-coached by Bill Hickman and Barn looking on	ABOVE: Tjaart being coached by Brian Simmons – no.2 pitcher in the world

Die opskrif van hierdie 3de brokkie nuus op die webwerf, sê alles. Die entoesiasme en belangstelling van die Amerikaners is oorweldigend. Vandag het die juniors en hulle ouers by die ‘World Horseshoes’ opgedaag en dis duidelik dat die mense wat ‘horseshoes pitch’ ook jukskei kan speel. Daar is baie ooreenkomste tussen die twee sportsoorte. Die aksie is dieselfde en daarom het hulle geen probleem met die vorentoe tree nie. Die horseshoe spelers is egter geneig om die skei effens laag te los, maar na ‘n paar gooie en die nodige afrigting, kry hulle die ‘los-voor-die-oë’ reg.

The touring group had a hectic Tuesday at Dulles Airport, waiting for a connecting flight to Chicago. Eventually we flew to Chicago just to find out that it was too late for a connecting flight to Cedar Rapids. Luckily the members of the Yankskey group are very positive and they all made the best of the situation. Thomas and Tjaart proved to be excellent at massaging feet, unfortunately only Patrys and Sanet benefitted from it!

NUUS VAN DIE YANKSKEY TOERGROEP!

Uiteindelik het die langverwagte dag aangebreek! Die eerste 6 lede van die toergroep, Anna en Lindie, Barn en Annetjie, Tjaart en Sanet, het reeds om 6.00, 23 Julie op Dulles, Washington DC, geland, en is baie vriendelik deur Celia Lourens en haar ma, Doortjie, ontvang en na ‘n gerieflike hotel in Baltimore geneem. Later die middag moes hulle weer die 40myl van Baltimore terug Washington toe ry om die 2de groep, Gerrie en Melanie, Thomas en Patrys, Bets, Tinus en Willie, by die lughawe te gaan haal. Die aand is die hele groep deur Celia en haar man, Dirk, op ‘n heerlike braaivleis onthaal.

Celia is ‘n dinamiese ’live wire’ wat alle reëlings hier in Baltimore en Washington DC vir die groep gedoen het. Sy het ons program aan ons verduidelik en elke toerlid het sy/haar reissak met t-hemp, pette, kaart, skryfgoed en lekker goodies daarin, ontvang. Dis met groot waardering dat ons op haar hulp en gasvryheid hier in die vreemde kan staatmaak.

Springhill Suites (ons Hotel)