It’s not news and if you didn’t know, then where have you been? But how could we not do a write up on our this. Following the SA Champs in St Francis, 21 paddlers were selected to represent South Africa at the World Marathon Champs in Vejen Denmark, of which 6 are from Dabs – surely our best result ever! Of the 21, there are 9 Junior, 4 Under 23 (2 of whom will also represent at a Senior level) and 8 Senior paddlers. Flying the Dabs flag for South Africa we have Luke and Bruno in the Juniors and Christie, Clint, Wayne and Brad in the Seniors. Well done also to Holly, Georgia, Babette, Neriyah, Zak, Jared and Ryley in the Juniors; Jade, Saskia, Uli and Matt in the U23’s; and Nicole, Michelle, Hamish and Andy in the Seniors.
To borrow a post from Boet regards our Dabs Stars: SALUTE!!!!!!! You girl and guys lift our club and make us so proud. Dabs has always had the “Gees” but needed to improve results. It’s taken years because it’s not easy. Now we have the best training squad in SA. This will create and perpetuate an upward vortex. We, the fish and chips, will bask in your glory. Well done. Well deserved. Good luck.
But that’s not all folks! This week it’s the Africa Beach games in Tunisia where Kwanda from SCARC will represent South Africa in the U23 Sprints while Nkosi goes as the Team Manager. Then next week the South African Junior and Under 23 Sprint Team leave for Auronzo, Italy, so beautifully picturesque it looks like a Travel Advert. The Junior team includes Theo, Jordan and Caitlyn (who has defected but learnt how to paddle properly at Dabs), along with Amy, Kerry and Daniel. In the U23 we have Alexa from Dabs along with Helen, Nkanyezi, Kwanda, Sandile and Callum.
In August the World Sprint Champs will be held in Duisburg Germany, where Dabs has Nic representing South Africa along with Chrisjan, Callam, Henry, and Esti. Then, for the Olympic Hopes to be held in Poznan Poland in September, we have Kayla, Theo, Jordan and Tome from Dabs along with Stami from SARC and then also Emma, Ayanda, Luyanda, Senzo, Wandile, Nkanyezi, Thandeka, Cody, Daniel, Jared, Ryley and Tyde.
And then in Canoe Polo we have Mia & Etienne going to Ireland to represent South Africa at the Junior International Championships while Neil and Kyle are off to Belgium in August to represent the SA Barbarians in training for next year’s World Cup.
So we have 15 Dabs members, several SCARCIE’s and a whole bunch of Saffas competing at the 2023 World Sprints, Marathons and International Polo events to support over the next few months. With this kind of domination, and our club gees, we truly are the finest canoe club in the whole dam universe. Go Dabs!