Congratulations to Jordan and Alexa who made the SA Team and went to the Junior and U23 Sprint World Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria to race K1s in the 500m and 1000m distances. No medals came home, but when interviewed both said it was an amazing experience. The racing was at another level, so there was a lot of self-improvement and lesson learning to take into the next season.
In other international paddling news, Niel Burger got a 6-month posting in the UK that just happened to coincide with their polo season, so he has joined the London Dragons. As one of SA’s best players, he also says that ‘they’ are at another level. He now plays club tournaments all over Europe on weekends; so he also says he’s learning a lot. Amazingly, the Irish National team were missing a player, so they roped him in to play for them. Nice one Niel!
Also away from home is Benoni. A dozen brave Dabs people went to the ERK Ice Cracker at Homestead Dam on Saturday. There was no ice, and the day wasn’t bad either, particularly for Mike Stewart and Pieter Engelbrecht who took the win from our lads. The front bunch was a group of four who worked well together and then with 200m to go, Rob Crichton and young Luke were napping and beaten into second place, just ahead of Mat Ballenden and Mark Garden. Lessons were learnt there too. Well done to Gabi and Karen who claimed the ladies win for Dabs, while looking good in their new club kit. (It’s very nice; have you got yours?) Well done also to Nkosi who bought a dozen youngsters to the Guppy Race. Phamna won the boys section while Buhle won the girls. Thank you to Mr Tandy and his team for hosting a great event.
Nkosi flies to France on Wednesday and we will no doubt see him on the Telly at the opening ceremony – fantastic! Anyway, while Nkosi was in Benoni (dreaming about Paris), Gunther took a several learners to the Vaal River near Parys, where they shot (and swam) the Stonehaven rapid several times. At the end of the morning Nikki Slater was the only paddler who hadn’t fallen out, but swimming is something we all do, time and time again, as her father will attest. Well done to all who took on the rapids – and well done to Gunther for all he does to grow our sport.
Last weekend (news travels slowly from the Eastern Cape) we had a couple of country members paddling at St Francis Bay in the King of the Canals competition. Well done to Rod Penaluna who won the ‘Uncle and Niece from Out of Town’ category, paddling with Rae Attridge. And congrats to Correl who won the lucky draw for a Carbonology paddle donated by Hein van Rooyen. “Ja was such a luck and it’s such a nice paddle” said a very happy Correl.
Staying down at the sea side, for the working class here in Joburg, this is the car park in Plett where our country members’ morning school happens daily (well after sunrise), following which they have coffee and then a nap. Such is life for those who worked hard and invested (or married) wisely. What’s your money (or partner) doing for you?
It’s the second SolaSafe Mixed Doubles race on Thursday and we hope to see you there. Then it’s the 9 Miler in Centurion on Saturday – and we hope our racing snakes will win this one for us. No pressure lads – go Dabs!