The annual cricket challenge that takes place on Boxing Day on the Village Green has an exciting line up of teams. 12 teams will vie for glory in this popular tournament, where teams are booked a year in advance. The majority of teams are from previous tournaments and some have been participating since the first game was played 10 years ago. Only if a team from the previous year cannot make it do we open the invitation to wait-listed teams. This year we have two new teams joining us.
We are very fortunate to have Robbie Fleck, Bobby Skinstadt and Schalk Burger returning again. Schalk says this is “the best
day of the year” for him.
The potjie competition was sorely missed last year, so it’s back. Every 6‟s team has to enter a pot plus any individual or team may enter. The pot has to be made from start to finish on the field. Judging times will be given on the 26th December. Anyone interested in entering a pot must please contact Johan on 0825503552.
It is a fun day for all around the Stanford S.C.G. The kids get to play social cricket or paddle in the lei water, friends and
family spend a relaxed day with picnic baskets, or supporting our local school by purchasing food from them on the field.
Ice cold refreshments are also on offer. This year the prize giving will be held on the field as soon as the final match is played. The first match is at 8.00 am and the prize giving should be at 6 pm. The after party is at KC‟s restaurant and bar in Stanford.
All proceeds from this event will be used towards the greening of the Village Square, so it is a very worthy cause that will
benefit the community of Stanford who all use the square, and it will enhance the beauty of our historical town. For more information please contact Mandy on 082 213 0512 or via email moo@omail.co.za

Once again, Stanford’s warm heart and deep care of others motivates the Village event this week. On Saturday, 26th November, from 3pm to sunset, will be our first ever Stanford Stumble. Great fun is to be had, and the profit will go to the Abigail Hoogbaard fund. (Abigail is a little girl from Stanford who suffers from CHARGE syndrome, and needs financial assistance for specialist schooling).
A 5km run or 2km walk through the vineyards at Stanford Hills. Teams will be dressed up, with prizes for best dressed. The traditional water tables will be replaced by wine tables, hence the name Stanford Stumble! The race will end on the front lawn at Stanford Hills, where there will be live music by Jazz band SWAY. And of course, excellent local wine and beer! Children are welcome, and the African Horse Company will be offering pony rides. A jumping castle and free use of the swimming pool should keep the young ones entertained!
Great prizes to be won. R50 per team of 2 to enter, and 2km should be a walk in the park for most (excuse the pun!)

There will be cool drinks, water and mini-picnic baskets on sale, as well as Boerewors rolls. Leg massages available at race end, sponsored by La Femme, and all in aid of charity. Please contact Steph at the Stanford Tourism office for entry forms ask@stanfordinfo.co.za or 028 341 0340

A great week of fun and adventure has been planned by Hermanus Adventures in conjunction with PSG Konsult starting on Saturday 1 October at 07:00 with a half marathon and 6km fun run from Hermanus High School and ending on Saturday 9th October with an 800m open water swim in the Hermanus Old Harbour.

Say Bonjour, don your beret and play Boules on the lawns of the Marine Hotel. Enquiries to tikari@hermanus.co.za

Enjoy your boyhood all over again and play with the trains at the Conference Centre above the Wine Village at the Hemel en Aarde Village. The Overberg Modular Railway Club will be exhibiting their large 7 x 5 meter HO (1:87) scale 16.5 mm gauge track modular layout, with rolling stock of the old SAR (such as the Blue Train & Orange Express) plus trains of German, Swiss, Austrian, English and American origin on display. Contact Paul Wolvaart – 084 520 2033

Get your adrenelin pumping and try out the fantastic mountain bike routes through the Hemel en Aarde valley. 5, 15, 25 & 45 km rides are on offer through spectacular scenery on single and jeep tracks.  Contact Jan van Schalkwyk - 082 850 1062

Sign up for the first ever Cliff Path Night Run from Grotto Beach to the New Harbour. Pound the cliff paths, skim the single tracks, cross the Mussel River and enjoy a welcome cold drink at the end. Contact Paul du Toit 082 820 3331

Challenge yourself on a 15km Mtb  or trail run time trial. Fast, furious and fun! A short warm up on tar, then it is you, the bush and the clock. Great jeep tracks, winding single tracks, very little climbing and some great fun. It is the challenge of the future, only yourself to beat.  Cyclists will set of one by one every 30 sec and rock the daisies against the clock!

Consider a trial run? The 12 & 17 km Trail Runs will lead you where very few humans have ran before. Beautiful mountain trails, along river banks and forest tracks. The fynbos will be in full bloom with protea and heather in abundance. The 12 km climbs to 305 m, while the 17 km will have your heart pumping at 435 meters climbing. The 6 km Bosloop will take the novice on a run of a lifetime.

Swim with whales. Dive in for the 800 meters Open Water Swim in Southern Right Whales territory! Under strict supervision of Walker Bay Adventures and the NSRI we will take swimmers on a 400m outward bound buoy to return and finish in the Old Harbour. Contact Deon Ferreira - 082 460 2943

Entry forms for these events are available from The Wine Village or Euodia Cycles, or enter on line

The 21st of June is the shortest day of the year; the Winter solstice, the official middle of winter. And to celebrate the day, and the fact that summer has to follow a long wet winter, the brave (mad) people of Stanford will be leaping into the icy Klein River in a community driven fund-raising initiative called the Penguin Plunge.

Around the world, people rise to the challenge to immerse themselves in the winter waters. In Canada, this ritual is held on New Year’s Day. In the United States, it’s called the Polar Plunge.

Springfontein Wine Estate will contribute the wine and Hennie’s Pub has volunteered to make a comforting Gluhwein to thaw out the frozen braves.

A donation covers the entry fee, and the proceeds will go to deserving local charities. Sign up with the editor of Stanford River Talk: ed@stanfordrivertalk.co.za

Be part of the world wide celebration of Earth Hour on Saturday 27th March 2010 at the Village Green in Stanford! After the success of Stanford’s 2009 Earth Hour,  it was decided to enhance this event and create a fund-raising opportunity in support of Overberg Conservation Foundation.

With the Cape Town Jazz Fest taking  place 3 days after Earth Hour, the timing was perfect to organise a Mini Jazz Festival in our own village.  The Stanford restaurants will function as Jazz Venues for that evening, and the purchase of a ticket for R60 will gain entrance to all restaurants bordering the Village green and the High street. You are encouraged to meander the High Street restaurants and sample all the delicious foods, company and music on offer.

The event is proud to host Chad Zerf, pianist and vocalist from the UCT school of Jazz, getting ready to perform with George Benson himself at the Cape Town Jazz Fest; Morne Katz - brilliant guitarist and vocalist/pianist; Michaela Faye Kruger in an excellent chocolate Jazz trio at the Art Cafe; Overberg’s very own icon, Piano Ben, will charm audiences with his professional smooooooth sounds at Evergrines; Les Witz at Paprika’s on Saxophone - toe tapping Dixie Jazz man, hat and all!  Johan Dowries from Hawston with the Gospel for the King Jazz Band will be on at Stanford Arms Hall.  On the Blues/ Jazz side famous SA musician Valient Swart, guitarist and vocalist, will be at Gypsies! For those looking for a great ‘knees up’, Mississipi Disco will be at La Finestra.

The Street Market begins at 3pm. The High Street will be closed to traffic and Stanford will turn into a mini New Orleans with treats and eats, pumpkins and pony rides.  The stores and antique shops will stay open late spilling their wares onto the High Street and the stoeps of Stanford.

The Earth Hour picnic on the Green will start at around 6pm. Local award winning produce will be on sale, and visitors can fill their picnic baskets.

The Church bells of the area will peal across the Kleinriver to mark the much awaited 100 million strong global movement of  Earth Hour, when the lights suddenly switch off at 8:30pm plunging the Village Green into Galaxies and Starlight.  The Hermanus Astronomy Society will have star pointers and be available for anyone interested in learning about the night sky.

At 10pm, the Jazz Fest will begin in the restaurants bordering the Green and along the High Street, introduced by a Sax playing “Oh what a wonderful world” across the Village Green. Contact Stanfordinfo or the Art Cafe to book your tickets.