HISTORY

The Soutpansberg Squash Club is one of the town’s older, more established clubs and its history dates back to 1977. This was the year when the four founding members, Marius Bronn, André Prinsloo, Jan Joubert and Anton van Rooyen, managed to fulfil a long-time dream of having own squash courts in Louis Trichardt.

The first courts were built on the corner of the N1 and the Levubu road, where the Makhado Crossing Mall currently is. Initially just one court was built, with a second one added in 1982. In around 1987, a third court was added with a glass back wall.

The first club championships were held in 1979 and the winners were Jan Joubert and L Bezuidenhout. The club’s first chairperson was Marius Brönn, who served in this position until 1979. To date, the club has eight honorary members, namely Marius Brönn, Andre Prinsloo, Jan Joubert, Wim de Villiers, Anton van Rooyen, Marina Stoop, Michel Stolz and Cilliers Vosloo.

When a new shopping mall was built at the end of 2005, the squash courts had to be moved. The club was then relocated to premises in Oranje Street, opposite the show grounds. In October 2006, after a closure of almost a year, the new courts were opened, and the club could recommence with its activities.

The new squash courts boasted air-conditioning and modern change rooms and showers. The design also made provision for a kitchen and braai area.

With the expansion of the Makhado Crossing centre, the club must unfortunately move yet again. Groundwork has already started at the new site on the corner of Breda and Anderson Street. At this stage, no certainty exists when construction work on the courts will begin and when the existing facilities will be demolished.

ACHIEVEMENTS

The club has a proud history of producing some of the province’s top squash players. Erik Welman is currently ranked number one in Limpopo, with his mother, Ronel, as the provincial champion in the ladies’ category. Both Erik and Ronel have won the Limpopo championships on several occasions.

Ronel has been the Louis Trichardt club’s women’s champion since 2002. She regularly represents the province at tournaments and formed part of the SA Country Districts team that took part in the SA Masters tournament in September 2018. Ronel won all her matches during this tournament, with the SACD team ending as runners-up.

The club organises several tournaments every year, with the most popular being the Soutpansberg Challenge. This tournament draws teams from as far afield as Pretoria and Polokwane. The challenge was first presented in 1987 and, apart from 2006, when no courts were available, has taken place every year.

The club is affiliated with Limpopo Squash and Squash SA.

MANAGEMENT

The club’s chairperson is Ronel Welman and the vice-chairperson is Christian Möcke. Dawie Kruger is the treasurer and the additional committee members are Charlie Barnard and Erik Welman.

The membership fee for 2019 is set at R700 per player per year. A pro-rata discount rate is applicable for late joining.

Each member receives a key to the courts and can play at any time. A computerized booking system for the courts is in place and members use a pre-paid system to activate the lights at each court.

The club’s main income is derived from sponsors in the form of advertising boards at the club. The 2019 sponsors include SAB, Bridge Motors, Vhavenda Bricks and Turner’s Framing, Sheldon & Prinsloo, Northgate and LTT Lodge.

The club can be reached at 084 5814868 or send an email to [email protected].