The rains seem to have gone and the river season is drawing to a close, but the heat lingers on; and the heat will soon be on for sprints, marathons and even surf-ski!
It seems that KZN’s Mtolo and Msia can’t stop winning the Non-Stop Dusi – they claimed their 5th consecutive title in a record time of just 7hrs 44 on the shortened course that now starts at Bishopstowe. Dusi winner Matt Fenn was in a single and claimed second spot just ahead of our Scarcies Benji and Wonga who were 3rd. Ryno and Phineas came 8th and the only Dabs crew, Daryn and Kevin came home in 19th place. Twenty boats started and 19 finished so this was mission accomplished for these river dogs. Beers earned – well done boys!
A day or two after day the Non-Stop, the final Trilogy Sprint event took place at Roodeplaat Dam. Well-done to overall winner the big Dawie Gerber who won big. Thanks to the sponsors PVM Energy Bars, Flatdog Bodyguard Sunscreen and Power Race Sunglasses. Well done to Esti Olivier for getting this going.
Then it was the 2024 Stihl Umkomaas Marathon which will be talked about for many years to come, mainly because it was one of the lowest ever. It was said the levels were just 1meter on day one and 0.9meters on day two, perhaps lower which made the river more testing in a technical sense. In recent years where there were wide roller coasters of white water, this year paddlers were presented with rock gardens that needed skillful navigation. Where most the boats were then doubles, this year 4 in 10 were singles; being smaller and lighter they were the answer and far faster in the many bony rapids, but that said it was still a lot of fun for doubles, and even the only K3 made it home. 77 boats started, all eventually got to the end of day one, only 5 failed to conquer the second day.
On paper and on day one it always looked like the podium was going to be stacked with Dabs lads. Clint and Young Luke had a fantastic start and won the shortened day from St Josephine’s to Riverside, but not before Wayne and his brother Warren had wound them in to finish just over a minute off the pace. Rob and Sibusiso were 4th while Garden Boy and Siseko were 5th. But the real challenge is day 2, and this decided the 2024 winners. Clint and Luke had a mare. With the low levels they had swapped their shiny new Zeus for an old Rush that was battered and bruised before they got to No1 and then in two pieces at the bottom of No4, where their race ended. Wayne and Warren swam in No1, and that opened the door for Thomas Lovemore and Brendan Rice (who were 3rd on day1 and portaged No1) to get through unscathed and then the win 61-kilometer course in 4hours 36minutes, which is not that slow. Brendan is from Australia; he is the son (and dead ringer) of Sean Rice who won the 1988 Umko with Colin Simpkins. Wayne and Warren came second, Rob and Sibusiso third, Mark and Siseko were fourth while Jacques Theron was fifth and first K1. Fastest on the testing and technical day 2 were Matt Fenn and Brad Boulle, by almost 6 minutes, but they had had a mare on day 1and were happy just to finish. The photos of these two boys suggest that their bromance is stronger than ever, which is all a bit confusing, considering the Dusi pics our reporters shared of Brad and Emma in the February News.
Well-done to Ethan who aptly finished his first Umko race in an Athena – which he now knows is (almost) an anagram of his name. Well-done also to Dylan Browne on his first finish with Master Jack and to Frank Geiger on his first finish with Rob Levick. It was fantastic to see Cliffy Andrews back on a river, he and Chuck were first father and son – although some thought they looked more like brothers and the father and daughter Hatfield combo did beat them. It was also great to see some of our old VLC friends Warren and Rob back on the river. Well-done to all the oldies and newbies – but sadly no Dabs Darlings, although there were over a dozen ladies from KZN, come on the DD’s! Everyone who went has a war story or two; some say they won’t start at that level again, while others suggest the Umko is way more intimidating when raging – and that’s the beauty of the Umko, a river without dams or weirs, you have to take what you get, and every year is a different challenge – that’s why it’s called the radical test.
As a (really radical) matter of contrast, the 1972 Umko was the highest ever, and one of the longest ever, from Hella Hella to the sea. 4 doubles and 5 singles finished, Paul Chalupsky and Tony Scott beat Robbie Stewart and Rowan Rasmussen by just one minute. Other legends like Graeme Pope Ellis, Eric Clarke, Charlie Mason, and Ali Manyard also finished. The winning time for the 145-kilometer course was just 7 hours 9 minutes and 46 seconds. Chalupsky and Scott’s boat (an Accord) was unscratched.
Not quite canoeing, although most of us do swim, this last weekend was the SA Masters Swimming Champs where our Club Secretary claimed 2 Gold and 2 Bronze medals. Well-done Caren!
It’s the SA Sprint Championships and School League this weekend at Victoria Lake Canoe Club Germiston and we would like to wish every Dabs and Scarc Sprinter good luck. Our chairman has declared that those not sprinting should be on the side cheering our athletes on. It’s going to be exciting, and we will get to see who makes the Olympic team.
Further afield we have a big bunch of Dabs Darlings and guys going off to Fish Hoek on a surf ski tour. Our reporters tell us that Lightening is the Tour Director. A Frightening thought. Also there are the likes Raoul, Moolies, Fish and Tex, so there will no doubt be several war stories. Have fun guys and girls – and be safe.
Then GCU Marathons start on 6th April with the Short Course Series (3.6km including 2 portages) at VLC before the Long Course events happen later in the month.
And there’s also Easter Holiday Canoeing Clinic with Coach Adro that starts on Monday 15th April at Emmarentia, so if you have friends or family with kids who need to get out the house and have some fun in the sun, please let them know.
So much is happening – enjoy!