Lynette Louw

As Smartryk Terry promised last year, Barberton’s blackball pool players are indeed back with a big bang!

On Saturday the junior black pool trials took place at DisSo and the five youngsters chosen to represent Mpumalanga at the SA championships later this year in Bloemfontein, all hail from Barberton. They are Charles Purchase, Eben Raath, Neels de Coning, Dean Zolyomi and Hennie Ackerman. Their manager Gloudi Terry is also from Barberton.

Smartryk who is at present the province manager is very proud of this achievement. “Although I manage the blackball pool in the province my devoted loyalty lies with the players in Barberton,” he said.

After two years of silence blackball pool started up again in Barberton in 2009. Smartryk then said that they would be back in a big way. Six teams participated in the league.

The players also did very well individually and seven senior and two junior players made the Mpumalanga team including three managers.

The senior trials for 2010 still has to take place and Smartryk is positive that they would exceed the amount of players that received Mpumalanga colours last year.

At present Barbertonians feature all over in the blackball pool community.

At the trials JR Stoltz acted as referee coordinator and Eugene Reyneke was the trial manager. Both are from Barberton.

The league is also nearing its end and 10 Barberton are participating.

Representing Mpumalanga at the SA championships are Neels de Coning, Dean Zolyomi, Eben Raath, Hennie Ackerman and Charles Purchase