The annual Arendonk Sports Gala will take place in De Garve on Friday, March 18th. All last year’s champions will be honoured, but the highlight of the evening is the presentation of the Sportsman of the Year Cup. Three great candidates were selected from among all the candidates: the world duo champion, the relay team that improved the Belgian record in the 800 metres, and a mixed duo who took the Flemish title in the…pagschieten.
Getting to know you at camp with KSJ
Pagschieten was rediscovered a few years ago in Sint-Truiden and, under the supervision of the non-profit organization Extraordinary Sports, has become a popular sport in all Flemish provinces. For a year, paddle archery was recognized as an official sport discipline in Flanders. With a pag, a kind of wooden club, you have to aim between three wooden poles. You can play it in teams of two or more team members.
“I was introduced to the sport in my youth when we went camping with KSJ van Turnhout in Limburg, but we continued to play the game later with our friends,” said Philip Horimans of Kapelstraat in Arendonk. “Six years ago, one of my best childhood friends unfortunately passed away from pancreatic cancer. Pag Shooting is now a way to commemorate him. When we organize a tournament, we always donate the proceeds to Kom Op Tegen Kanker.”
His daughter Lott has also become involved in sports over the years. “I do it for my dad, but I also find it exciting and fun,” said the 22-year-old internship architecture student. “I used to do other sports myself: athletics, dance, volleyball, badminton. But shooting claws is more fun. In our garden, my father created his own field with stakes, where we can enjoy “calling” with family and friends.
Philip and Lott are well aware that they are far less athletic than the other nominees for the Arndonk Sports Personality of the Year award. However, you not only become the champion of Flanders. “You especially need a good throwing technique to throw the heavy wooden sticks 12 meters into the air: not too far, not too close and in the right direction,” says Philip, a welding and construction teacher in special education.
Peter Maes became the world champion in duo racing in his age group. † © RR
The Arndonk Sports Personality of the Year is elected by a triple vote: 20% by an external professional jury, 40% by the Sports Council and 40% by the public. Until March 15, all Arendonk residents can vote on the municipality’s website.
World Champion in Duathlon
The first candidate is Peter Mays (31 years old). Peter was crowned the world champion in long-distance races in his age group: he first ran 10 km, then ran 150 km and then ran another 30 km.
relay team see you
Arak veterans have improved the Belgian record in the 800m relay. † © RR
In 2021, Ivo Brooks, Joris Peters, Dirk Simmons and Luc de Childerne of Arac Athletics Club in Arndonk, improved the fifteen-year-old Belgian record in the 4x800m in the Over-55s category. The Arak veterans did it in a time of 10 minutes 0 seconds and 63 hundredths, more than 11 seconds faster than the old record holders at AC Herentals.
You can vote until March 15 at www.arendonk.be. It is the thirteenth time the trophy has been awarded. Previous winners include snowboarders Jurek and Luina Hendricks, cyclist Lisbet de Vocht and current professional cyclist Dries van Gestel of Total Energy.
Philipp Hormans and his daughter Lotte won the Flemish title at the Baggetten for the mixed duo in Turnhout. † © RR
“Six years ago, one of our friends died of pancreatic cancer. Pag shooting is now a way to commemorate him,” says Philip. † © RR
