André from Vryheid wins R41K in ECR’s Grand Challenge
“Parked on the side of the road, between Vryheid and Nquthu, waiting for the questions, I was really stressed. The last time I was that stressed was during my matric exams. I was actually shaking."
The first time André Herbst received a call from East Coast Radio saying that he had been selected to compete on the Grand Challenge, was in October last year.
The connection was lost in the middle of the phone-call due to bad signal and so was his chance of winning the quiz.
When he got the call this morning saying he had been selected again, he pulled off the road on the way to work in an area he knew had reliable signal to make sure he didn’t miss the opportunity to compete again.
This time… R41 000! was at stake.
André is the manager of a Build It hardware store in Nquthu. He moved to Vryheid two years ago from Melmoth in order to take on the position. However, he is no stranger to Vryheid having matriculated at Pioneer High School.
He was about to begin his daily commute to Nquthu, when he was contacted by East Coast Radio.
“I listen to the Grand Challenge every morning and if the competitors don’t win, I feel devastated for them. I entered the competition by SMS. Of course, this time I wasn’t devastated about all the people who lost before me because it meant there was a larger sum of money to compete for,” said André.
“Parked on the side of the road, between Vryheid and Nquthu, waiting for the questions, I was really stressed. The last time I was that stressed was during my matric exams. I was actually shaking.
“I guessed half the answers, and there were actually two questions that I didn’t even hear. I just chose an answer because I knew that if I asked them to repeat the question, I would run out of time.
“Afterward, I was expecting a score of five or six out of ten. When they told me I had won, I was in shock. I still can’t believe that I won. I think it will only sink in once the money is in my account.”
André says the win comes at the right time as he is moving house and the unexpected windfall will help a lot with that. He will also use the money to settle some of his debt. Of course, a special treat is in order and André intends to spoil himself with a pair of riding gloves as off-road motorcycling is his passion.
“I want to thank East Coast radio, the sponsors of the Grand Challenge, and God, for sending this opportunity my way. Without Him, I wouldn’t have made it.”
Congratulations André Herbst, from the Vryheid Herald team!
