Dear Fellow WCCU Members,

You may recall that one of our WCCU members, Rob MacLean, excelled at the Canoe World Championships in Singapore last year by winning TWO Gold Medals in the Masters Category for the K1 (single canoe) and K2 (double canoe) classes respectively. A great achievement indeed - he beat a couple of Kiwis, a Spaniard or two and some Hungarians and Aussies amongst others - enough said!

Some months ago, Rob indicated that he might not be able to defend his titles in Rome, (to be held September 2012), due to funding constraints. As a result, some of Rob’s friends from his Rhodes University days decided there is a need to raise the necessary money to send him to Rome. He advises that he has every intention of defending these titles in Rome, should he be able to raise the finances and has been training seriously for the event with Pete Cole’s training group since January.

Rob's expenses from Cape Town to Rome and back includes air fares, accommodation, championship/competition levy as well as the transportation in a ship container of his two canoes together with those canoes of the other RSA participants and so his outlay will be substantial.

So, a Golf Day at the Westlake Course on Thursday 14th June 2012 has been arranged.

( Note well - there are wonderful prizes to be won - see below) 

 The details of the Golf Day event are as follows:

 Date:                 Thursday, 14 June 2012.  Tee-off times from 11 hrs onwards.

 Venue:              Westlake Golf Club in Lakeside.

Competition:      Four Ball better ball Stable ford.

 Cost:                R1,600-00 per arranged four ball or R400-00 per single entry to make up a four ball.

THE DAL JOSEPHAT TO LADY RACE IS ON………………….. the very intrepid Paarl crew of Eric and Francis (our very own radar and evinrude) tripped on Tuesday and although the water was low didn’t have to get out their boats so get your boat admin/seconds/wives/significant others sorted and get down there for the first Berg race of the 2012 season. The weather man has also predicted rain( based on the accuracy of recent weather predictions it may just snow but it all helps!)

This is a novice event so all novices are welcome but only if you have completed your river proficiency test. You will be asked for your test slip at registration so pls ensure that you bring it.

Life jackets are compulsory!

Race starts at 10.00am at Dal Josephat Bridge in Paarl and finishes at the Lady Loch (iron) bridge in Wellington.

Race entry fees: Senior – R60/Junior R30 (prepaid race entry fees are valid for this event)

Prizes only for novices – thanks so much to BRIANS KAYAK CENTRE for their very kind donation of prizes.

The race is hosted by Paarl Canoe Club, all enquiries can be directed to Eric Farringer on 083 458 3559

Images of the event can be found HERE

Download K1 Results HERE
Download K2 Results HERE

Results and Report to follow as we receive them.

2.       Entry fees – R80 for Seniors  and R40 Juniors (if you enter on Saturday you will not be charged for Sunday ie the R80/R40 will cover both days entry fee.  If you choose to paddle for a single day only the entry fee will still be R80/R40).  Prepaid paddlers will not have to pay additional – this is included in your prepayment option.

The WCCU canoeing events for this coming weekend, Saturday and Sunday 12^th/13^th May, sees the start of the local canoeing season in all its glory as from now on, virtually every weekend until the beginning of October will have a local canoe race available for local paddlers to ‘strut-their-stuff’!!

This weekend sees the WCCU K1 (Saturday 12th May) and K2 (Sunday 13th May) canoe marathon events from which the provincial team will be selected to represent the Western Cape at the South African Canoe Marathon Championships which will be held at same venue on Saturday/Sunday, 9^th/10^th June. At the SA Champs, selection of the  South African team for the World Canoe Marathon Championships to be held in Rome, Italy, from 19^th – 23^rd September, 2012, will be made.

 Simon van Gysen (above) and Lance King (below) are two of the favourites

Images by John Hishin, Capetownsportphotography