Mr GP Nel
“Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” - Bobby Unser
The truth is that most champions benefit from having the right opportunity. The difference is that those who walk away with the win, the title, the glory are always those who are most prepared. It’s always about putting in the work.GP Nel was born in Windhoek on 26 March 1966. He is married to Riana.
GP achieved Free State Colours on 32 occasions in total. GP represented the Free State Senior A team from 1996-2009 in Freshwater Angling. GP also achieved Free State A Carp Angling team (2005 – 2018). While representing Free State during National Senior Championships, GP was crowned as SA Individual Champion for 3 years as well as follow-up Victor Ludorum for 3 years.GP achieved Protea Colours for Freshwater Bank Angling during 1996 to 2003. GP also achieved Protea Colours for Carp Angling during 2007 to 2012 and 2018 & 2019. GP was an angler in the Protea Carp Angling Team which were crowed as World Champions during 2008 to 2011 and 2019.
GP as Protea Carp Angler, together with his peg mates, were crowed as World Individual Champions during 2008, 2010 and 2019.
Mr Andries Maree
“Never say never because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.” – Michael Jordan
Andries Maree was born on 24 June 1970 in Pietersburg. He is married to Boudine. Andries participated in 20 SA Championships for Central North-West province in both Bank Angling and Carp Angling facets. He participated in the CNW A-team for 17 years, from 1997 to 2014. While representing CNW during National Senior Championships, Andries was crowned as SA Individual Champion twice.Andries achieved Protea Colours on 8 occations and has been crowned as Individual Word Champion once. He also was part of the Protea Carp Angling team which was crowned as World Champions at the World Championships from 2008 to 2011.
Mr Robert Breedt
"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination." - Tommy Lasorda
Robert Breedt was born in Pretoria on the 9th of June,1962. He is engaged to Juliet Welman. Robert participated in 42 National Championships in total, of which 40 of them was in a Provincial A-team. Robert represented the Gauteng Senior A team from 1989 to1995 in Freshwater Bank Angling. From 1997 to 2013 he represented the Free State Senior A-team. Robert also achieved Free State A Carp Angling Colours (2004 – 2008). Furthermore, Robert represented Free State during the 2007 Match Angling SA Championships. Robert achieved RSA Colours during 1990 to 1991 and Senior Protea Colours for Freshwater Bank Angling during 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2001. Robert also achieved Protea Colours for Carp Angling during 2003, 2004 & 2006.
Mr Jan van der Heever
“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.” – Babe Ruth
Jan van der Heever was born in Johannesburg on 15 December 1944. He is married to Ingrid. Jan participated in 58 National Championships in total, of which 33 of them was in a Provincial A-team. Jan began his angling career in 1972 when he joined South Rand Angling Club. In 1992 Jan joined Taaibos Angling Club in the Free State, where he currently still is an active member. Jan represented South Transvaal Senior A-team 12 times and their Senior B-team 4 times, from 1974 to 1991. During this time Jan was crowned as Individual National Champion twice (1978 & 1988). Jan represented Free State A-teams 17 times from 1993 to 2011 as angler. In 1999 he was crowned as Individual National Champion during the Masters SA Championship. He was selected for the SAFBAF Masters A-team from 2000 to 2008. During these tournaments, he achieved a Individual 1st place three times (2002, 2005 & 2008). Jan also was selected for the Free State Match Angling team that participated from 2006 to 2010. In 1978 Jan received RSA A-team Colours. From 1972 to 2011 Jan was selected several times for the RSA A & B teams, as well as SAFBAF A & B teams. He was selected 8 times as Captain of the Protea Senior teams, from 1996 to 2004, that participated in the Tri-Nation Tournament. Jan was also selected as technical support (SASCOC Colours) together with the Protea Feeder team that represented South-Africa during the 2012 Feeder World Championships in Belgium. Jan served as a National Selector from 2005 to 2012.
Mr Spinks Van Heerden
"If you fail to prepare, you’re prepared to fail." - Mark Spitz
Spinks van Heerden was born on 8 September 1962 in Koppies. His life partner is Ilonke Lawrence. Spinks began his angling career in 1985 when he joined the Bloemfontein Defence Force Angling Club, where to this day he still is an active member. Spinks participated in a total of 36 National Championship. Spinks achieved Free State Senior B-team Colours 3 times in 1989, 2009 & 2010. He was selected for the Free State Senior A Team 11 times, from 1991-1998 / 2008 / 2011-2012. In 1996 he became involved in Free State Ladies angling and was selected for the Ladies A team as Manager from 1996-1999 / 2002 / 2009-2010. Spinks was selected as the coach of the Masters A team in 2010 to 2011. He received SAFBAF B Team Colours in 1994 and SAFBAF A Team Colours in 1997. Spinks was selected for the 1st Protea team, after isolation, representing South Africa at the 1994 World Championships in Nottingham, England. In 1995 he was selected for the Protea Senior team that represented South Africa in the Tri-Nations Tournament at Hardap Dam, Namibia. He was selected as the coach of the Ladies Protea team in 1997 / 1999 to 2000 / 2002. From 2017 to 2019 he represented South Africa in the SASACC Masters team as angler that participated in the Region 5 Tournament in Namibia. In 2017 he was Runner-Up Individual Champion and in 2018 he was crowned as Individual Champion of the Region 5 Tournament at Hardap Dam, Namibia.
Mr Johan Scheepers
“If you don’t have confidence, you’ll always find a way not to win.”– Carl Lewis
Johan Scheepers was born on 9 May 1977 in Germiston. He is married to Shelley. Johan participated in 15 National Championships in total, of which 6 of them was in a Provincial A-team from 2009 to 2015. Johan was crowned as Individual National Champion on one occasion and has been awarded Protea Colours 9 times in total, in the Bank Angling and Feeder Angling facets He has been Runner Up Individual Champion twice at a Region 5 Tournament.
Mrs Erika Venter
"The principle is competing against yourself. It’s about self-improvement, about being better than you were the day before." - Steve Young
Erika Venter was born in Volksrust on the 3rd of July, 1961. She is married to Petru. Erika began her angling career in 1989 and participated in 28 National Championships. She is currently a member of Vasbyt Angling Club and an angler for North-East Mpumalanga. She was crowned as Individual Champion at National Championships on 7 occasions. Erika has been awarded Protea Colours 8 times in the Bank Angling and Match Angling facets. Erika has been crowned Individual Champion at a Region Five Tournament 4 times, was Runner Up on 3 occasions and Second Runner Up once.
Mrs Annetjie Lubbe
“There are certain basic qualities and characteristics you’ve got to have. Number one: you’ve got to have a will to win.” – Bob Richards
Annetjie Lubbe was born on the 15th February 1957 in Benoni. She is married to Werner Lubbe. Annetjie began her angling career in 1994 and participated in 25 National Championships. She is currently a member of Kavalier Angling Club and an angler for Central-Gauteng. Annetjie was crowned as Individual Champion at National Championships on 5 occasions and has been awarded Protea Colours 15 times in Match Angling.
Mrs Elsa Kleynhans
“Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.” – John Wooden
Elsa was born in Bloemfontein on 14 February 1959. She is married to Charlie. Elsa participated in 26 National Championships for Free State, of which 23 was in a Free State A-team. Her angling career started when she joined Western Holdings Angling Club in Welkom, in 1994. She currently is still an active member at this angling club. Elsa was crowned as Individual Champion at a National Championship on 3 occasions and has been awarded Protea Colours 10 times in Match Angling and Bank Angling. Elsa was Runner Up Individual Champion at the Region Five Tournament in 2013 and was Second Runner Up Individual Champion in 2016. Elsa was also part of the Protea Bank Angling Ladies Team which was crowned Region Five Champions in 2013 and was crowned Runner Up as member of the Protea Match Ladies team during the 2019 World Championships that was hosted in South Africa.
Mr Neville Foord
“You can’t win unless you learn how to lose.” – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Neville was born on 31 October 1990 in Pretoria. He is married to Narien. Neville is currently an active member at Kavalier Angling Club and has participated in 17 National Championships, of which 13 was in an A-team. Neville was crowned as Individual Champion at a National Championship once and has been awarded Protea Colours 12 times in Match Angling, Feeder Angling and Bank Angling. Neville has been crowned as Individual Champion at a Region Five Tournament twice. He was Second Runner Up Individual Champion at a Region Five Tournament, once. Neville was also a member of the Protea Senior Bank Angling Team which was crowned Region Five Champions in 2012 to 2014 and was a member of the Protea team in 2013 that was crowned World Champions at a World Championships.
Mr Johan Donald
“If you can believe it, the mind can achieve it.”– Ronnie Lott
Johan Donald was born in Vanderbijlpark on 29 April 1957. He is married to Marie. Johan participated in three angling disciplines during his angling career, which is: Bank Angling, Carp Angling and Match Angling. Johan began his angling career in 1990 when he joined Amcor Angling Club in Gauteng.He participated in 28 National Championships in total, of which 27 was in a Provincial A-team from 1992. He is currently an active member of Vereeniging Angling Club and still is affiliated to the Gauteng Province.
Johan was crowned as Individual Champion once at a National Championship and has been awarded Protea Colours 16 times as a Senior angler. He was also a member of a Protea Senior Bank Angling Team which was crowned as Region Five Champions once.Johan was a member of the Protea Carp Angling Team which was crowned five times as World Champions, 2008 - 2011 and again in 2019 during the World Championship which was hosted in South Africa. He also was Second Runner Up Individual Champion at a World Championship once.