Carom
BARENDRECHT - The Dutch top team with Dick Jaspers, Torbjörn Blomdahl, Martin Horn and Jean van Erp were together for a final farewell this afternoon. The legendary foursome, which was three times Dutch champion and three times cup winner, has not found a new sponsor after Van Donge and De Roo has stopped last year.
The most successful team in the Netherlands for years travelled around the country this years giving demonstrations to gather money for the Kika fund (Children Cancer free). The total yield, symbolized in a 22.121,55 euro check, was handed to former Olympic swimming champion Inge de Bruijn, who is ambassador of the fund.
Peter Luck, Van Donge en De Roo's team leader: ,,The total amount is much bigger, almost 50.000 euros, because many sponsors have transfered their money directly to Kika.''
The champion team has finally stopped now. Peter Luck: ,,I had many negociations with new candidates this year, including a constructor, which wanted us to play in the NAC football stadium. But the company has gone bankrupt in these times of economic crisis. So we finally haven't been able to find a sponsor.''
Two of these four players are performing in the Netherlands next year: Martin Horn for eight matches with Dekker Keukens, Jean van Erp for fifteen matches with Martens Cleaning in Kapelle.
Dick Jaspers and Torbjörn Blomdahl will not play in the Premiership next year.
The tour of the team for the Kika fund started last year in Jacobswoude in Woubrugge and after sixteen performances throughout the country ended on April 29 in Het Dorstige Hert in Grave.
This afternoon (Sunday) four players met in a small tournament in De Uitspanning in Barendrecht. Torbjörn Blomdahl won in the first round against Dick Jaspers, Martin Horn defeated Jean van Erp. In the final, Martin Horn beat Blomdahl, Jean van Erp won the losers match against Jaspers.