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Summer series Results:
Download Alfies - Elandia
Download Nekkies Elandia
Download Osdrif - Elandia The first event of the new Breede River summer series kicked off with 40 paddlers, including 2 international competitors, Joep van Bakel and Rick Daman taking time out on their last day in South Africa to take on the Cape rivers. The temperature in the Breede winelands hovered around the high 30’s, the water level was perfect, and the mood was set for a great weekend of paddling.
The first event began just downstream of the Osdrif Bridge on the R43 between Worcestor and Villiersdorp, and finished at Eilandia. This 19km stretch of river meanders alongside game reserves, lodges and campsites, paddlers were treated to splendid scenery, cries from the fish eagles and of course some hotly contested racing. The front bunch of Joep van Bakel, Heinrich Schloms and Lance King put the hammer down from the start with Joep taking the line honours, and Heinrich and Lance hot on his tail. Mixed doubles crew of Greg van Heerden and Liezel van der Westhuizen, SABC/KFM presenter took the K2 race, training hard for the celebrity batch of the Unlimited Dusi next month. First Junior in was Luke Stowman from Paarl Canoe Club, a mere minute behind third place, showing that he is definitely a force to be reckoned with this season. First novice was extreme adventure racer Ugene Nel, who is not entirely new to paddling having done this section of the river before in adventure racing, but thoroughly deserved his win in a K1 in front of some seasoned WP paddlers. We were also very privileged to have a few of the SAPS divers who assist with safety on the Berg joining us to do their first race; after watching the Berg on the sidelines for 10 years the pressure finally got to them and they are now on a mission to complete their first Berg this year! After a lunch break spent lazing in the Breede river, the second race started at 2.00pm from Alfies low level bridge with a very refreshed group, some even taking time out to swim again on the start line, (like they just couldn’t get enough!) and ending at Eilandia again. This was a relatively short event as far as racing goes, 11km, but was again a very tightly contested race. Once again Joep van Bakel took first place, Luke Stowman now showing his form took second, Joseph Williams(another Paarl development graduate) taking third, and Heinrich Schloms fourth. Five mixed doubles boats entered this leg of the race, and once again Greg van Heerden and Liezel van der Westhuizen took the K2 race with Under 18 paddler, Johan Kotze, of Velddrif taking the Novice race. Seasoned paddlers Edgar and Rene Boehm brought up the rear with what was supposed to be a relaxed Saturday afternoon trip down the river but once the starter’s gun went, the adrenalin kicked in and all thoughts of relaxation were left behind with the swimmers! A great evening was had by all those who opted to camp/stay alongside the river and make a weekend of the series. Sunday morning threatened to be an absolute cooker, with the mercury finally reaching 42 ˚C. The race briefing was held in the shade under the trees at Nekkies resort, and liberal amounts of sunscreen were slapped on! The third leg of the series, Nekkies to Eilandia, was 29.3km, and included a 2.3km portage through Klipkrans game reserve just after Osdrif Bridge. Those training for the Dusi however made the most of the opportunity to practice their portaging skills in conditions not much different from the Dusi valley, hot, hot, hot! Heinrich Schloms took first place with Paarl legend Mynhardt Marais coming in second, and Maties student Mike Owen on his tail. Ernest van Riet and Caryn Adam took the K2 race, also training hard for the upcoming Dusi. All in all the series was a resounding success and thoroughly enjoyed by all, thanks to Milnerton Canoe Club paddlers, Kevin Bouwer, Desiree van Riet, Lisa Scott and Jane Amory for their generous contributions to the prizegiving, and a huge thanks to all the seconds and officials who supported the paddlers and lastly thank you to the paddlers who made the effort to come out to the river and make this weekend such a success. |
Race Results/ Reports 
