South African horseracing was reeling on Monday after the news that three of Moutonshoek’s senior staffmembers were killed in an accident on Sunday on their return from the National Yearling Sale.
Karel Skirmaans (foreman), Andries Swart (‘Monkey’) and Nico Ockhuis were killed when the Greyhound Bus they were travelling in, collided with a swerving truck near Tweedside, Touws River, about 100km from home.
In mourning – Moutonshoek
In times of great change for all involved with the farm, Dr Bennie van der Merwe of Moutonshoek said in media reports that seven staffmembers from the leading stud were in the bus on the way back from the National Sale in Germiston.
“It is devastating and we are heartbroken.” Van der Merwe said: “Some years ago our staff travelled by truck with the horses, but that was a nightmare for them so we flew them up the following year. They enjoyed the novelty of flying to the sales, but actually preferred going with the Greyhound bus the last few years. It’s hard to make sense of all of this.”
He told Turf Talk about the lost staff: “Karel Skirmaans was my right-hand man. He was 52 years old, he started with us at Moutonshoek many years ago, he was here from the beginning. Karel was a brilliant horseman and a fine human being, I am so terribly sad to have lost him. Karel was the boss and the leader. He trained ‘Monkey’ and Nico, who both became good horsemen in their own right and they and the others worked well as a team. Our hearts go out to their families who all live and work with us here on the farm. How do we console them?” he asked emotionally.
The Sporting Post extends deepest sympathies and condolences to family and friends of the deceased.
