Download full results HERE

The 1^st race, scheduled to be run on the Breede River on the 26 km section from Nekkies to Eilandia, had to be changed, as with the authorities pumping water out of the river and into the Brandvlei Dam, the amount of water from Nekkies downstream wasn’t enough to hold a canoe race on. The Berg River substituted and so paddlers tackled the 24 km section between Paarl and Skooltjie is very good conditions, weather-wise, and with the river at a medium to low level, but quite passable. It was also important that this, the 1^st river K2 race of the season, be on a relatively easy section of river, ‘difficulty-wise’ as traditionally (and this weekend was no exception), a host of new, inexperienced paddlers take part, the K2 season being much more of a social one than the K1 (singles) season. 

With the change is race venue, it would appear that a number of the ‘top guns’ chose to train on other waters, but this did not detract from the fun that was had by the 60 craft and their occupants that took part in this race.

The race was actually won by a K1 (Lance King of Milnerton Canoe Club, with another K1, that of Edgar Boehm jnr from Peninsula CC coming 2^nd) but officially, being a K2 race, the first canoe in was that of Adrian ‘AJ’ Bam and Rory Sandberg of the Maties Canoe Club, with Chris de Waal and Frohann Visser (Mil/Maties) in 2^nd and the junior crew from Paarl, Josie Williams and Diviano Pietersen, claiming 3^rd spot.

In the Women’s division, a disappointing turnout saw two crews competing, the Paarl/Milnerton combination of Helene Rabie and Desiree’ van Riet coming 1^st with UCT’s Shannon MacLean and Wiebke Toussaint taking 2^nd place.

However, that welcome grouping, known as mixed-doubles was very much in evidence – this is very much a Breede ‘scene’ – with Richard Fly and Letitia Steenkamp (both Maties) winning from Michael Hay and Tamika Haw, siblings Marisa and Michael Pretorius making the 3^rd spot, which was a very good effort, seeing that they arrived late at the start, having had to return home to retrieve forgotten paddles!

Results:

Senior Men – K2 - doubles.

1. Adrian ‘AJ’ Bam/Rory Sandberg, Maties – 1 hour 37 minutes 51 seconds.

2. Chris de Waal/Frohann Visser, Mil/Maties -  1:37:53

3. Joseph Williams/Diviano Pietersen, Paarl - 1:38:08

4. Michael Watson/Wayne August, UCT/Paar – l:41:36

5. Rob MacLean/Andre’s Rabie, Pen/Paarl – I:41:52

6. Mynhardt Marais/Daantjie Malan, Paarl/Maties – 1:41:57

7. Ian Glass/Shaun Butler, Pen/Pen – 1:45:22

8. Jacobus van Wyk/Burgern Coetzee, Paarl/Paarl – 1:46:32

9. Emile Minnaar/Michael Farringer, Paarl/Paarl – 1:48:31

10. Tallon Denovan/Jaco Schoeman, CTY/CTY – 1:50:26

Senior Women

1. Helene Rabie/Deseree’ van Riet, Paarl/Mil – 2:05:51 (24th overall)

2. Shannon MacLean/Wiebke Toussaint, UCT/UCT – 2:24:29 (39th)

Mixed Doubles

1. Richard Fly/Letitia Steenkamp, Maties/Maties – 1:51:22 (12^th)

2. Michael Hay/Tamika Haw, Maties/Maties – 1:51:45 (13^th)

3. Marisa Pretorius/Michael Pretorius, Mil/Mil – 1:55:56 (15^th)

Juniors.

1. Joseph Williams/Diviano Pietersen, Prl/Prl – 1:38:08 (3^rd)

2. Emile Minnaar/Michael Farringer, Prl/Prl – 1:48:31 (9^th)

3. Marisa Pretorius/Michael Pretorius, Mil/Mil – 1:55:56 (15^th)

U21.

1. Michael Hay/Tamika Haw, Maties/Maties – 1:51:45 (13^th)

2. Grant Pollock/Andrew Still, UCT/UCT – 2:02:41 (22^nd)

3. Matthew de la Hey/Allen Clark, Maties/Temp – 2:12:22 (27^th)

Sub Veterans

1. Tallon Denovan/Jaco Schoeman, CTY/CTY – 1:50:26 (10^th)  

2. Justin Swart/Marcel Basson, Prl/Prl – 1:50:31 (11^th)

3. Jamii Hamlin/Stephan Beattie, EVP/Pen – 1:56:40 (17^th)

Veterans

1. Chris de Waal/Frohann Visser, Mil/Maties – 1:37:53 (2^nd)

2. Henk Roux/Gary Clark, WHR/WSK – 2:13:35 (29th)

Sub Masters

1. Mynhardt Marais/Daantjie Malan, Prl/Maties – 1:41:57 (6^th)

2. Donnie Malherbe/Hanre Streicher, Prl/Maties – 2:01:45 (20th)

3. Johan de Clercg/Hannes van der Westhuizen, Prl/Prl – 2:09:53 (25th)

Masters

1. Ian Glass/Shaun Butler, Pen/Pen – 1:45:22 (7^th)

2. Francois du Toit/Neil Bartie, Prl/Prl – 1:55:25 (14^th)

3. Eric Farringer/Francis Steyn, Prl/Prl -  1:59:32 (18^th)

Sub Grandmasters

1. Rob Maclean/Andre’ Rabie, Pen/Prl – 1:41:52 (5^th)

2. Rene Boehm/Peter Calitz, Pen/Pen – 2:05:23 (23^rd)

Senior Men – K1 – Singles

1. Lance King, Mil – 1:37:51

2. Edgar Boehm jnr, Pen- 1:37:53

3. Dave Hitchcock, Pen – 1:48:52