This one’s about marathon paddling, fine club fun and stories from what must be the most scary ski race in the world. Tough.
The Centurion Canoe Club and Reitveli Dam served up fine (almost warm and almost windless) conditions for their 9 Miler, although why they keep calling it the 9 miler but set an 11.5 mile course is quite confusing. Anyways, the short course of about 9 kilometers was won by the U23 Gareth Barberton from Tuks who only just beat Dabs’ U14 Rui Hao. First ladies in for the short course was Gabriela van Rooyen and Lesedi Bobo. In the main 18.5km event, people who paddle at our pond were on the top step of all the main categories; although sadly not all are from Dabs or SCARC, so CCC end up taking the coveted award for the best supporting club, with just two paddlers more than Dabs and 5 more than SCARC. Line honours went to Brad Boulle & Nic Notten (Hey Nic, please ask Mrs. Naude for a Dabs membership form) just ahead of Berg boys Sbuda Chwayi & Benji Mntonintshi, with the U18’s Sbusiso Tyiki & Nhlamulo Mahwayi taking third. First Mixed Doubles and fourth overall were the young U23 pair of Luke Salmon & Amy Hulett, beating the aging Mark Garden & Matt Ballenden. Ouch. Michael Stewart from ERK has no friends and paddled on his own to come sixth overall. First ladies home went to the U23 pairing of Emma Hatfield & Sarah Field; they were pulled all the way by Hardi, who had a great day because he didn’t swim. The good news is that Emma and Amy have promised to join Dabs because they like boys at our club. Talking about liking, it seems Nic Notten likes Mrs. Naude’s daughter; he was seen nibbling her neck, and a head of lettuce, after winning the race.
Well done and thank you to CCC, the organisers and sponsors on another fine event. They like to give away lots of freebies – from bars of chocolate (seeing the joy of a boy winning one was priceless) to bottles of wine, multiple gift vouchers from Canoe Concepts, loads of Carbonology peaks, fancy Funky Pants, and finally a paddle from Carbonology, which went to a very happy 13 year old Henk from CCC. Fantastic to have so many incentivized.
On Saturday evening the 2025 Awards were held at the Finest Canoe Club in the Whole Dam Universe. And what a fine evening it was – well done and thank you to all the organisers and workers for making it what it was. Sadly it wasn’t nearly as well as it could or should have been supported – but it was a special evening, particularly for the winners and all the kids, as the evening doubled up as Christmas in July. Nkosi who was to do the SCARC awards was stuck at the Fire Station, but what a welcome he got from all the kids when he arrived. Later on the Dabblers were up and after the band had warmed up, Flem pup strode to tremendous applause – in white draws – and white mask and white hat; as a blend of who knows what (Elton John, Freddie Mercury & Boy George?) but with his boys they soon mesmerized the crowds and had them doing as he commanded. Garden got going and soon had his shirt off, to show off his landscaping – and so the party got more and more festive.
Anyways the winners for 2025 were:
“Tonight is a very special Chairman’s Award for me, because it will be the last one I present as Chairman of Dabulamanzi.
I wanted to give this award to this person even before I knew that today was such a special day for him.
Because no matter what life brings, this person always shows up. He never lets us down, and he always smiles. It doesn’t matter how hard your day may be, when you see his smile, it immediately cheers you up.
He keeps us hydrated after hard time trials and races, and keeps our Sunday mornings going with the famous Dumichinos.
This one is very special to me, and I hope you know how much you mean to all of us.
So, on your birthday, and as my final Chairman’s Award, it gives me great pleasure to present this award to you, in recognition of the joy, warmth and consistency you bring to our club and to all of us.
Thank you for always showing up. You are truly part of the heart of Dabulamanzi, and you carry our DNA on your sleeve.
Happy birthday and congratulations, Dumi.”
The last award presented by Karen was the new Chairlady’s Award: Elandrie Zietsman.
On Sunday the PE2EL book launch was held at Dabs in a surprisingly clean club house, where Dumi was again busy – serving Dumichinos instead of booze. Notably none of the Rietvlei winners made it to TT, nor did many of the Awards evening revelers. Thankfully the promised coffee, rusks and fire were there, as was as Nigel Harveys baby brother Gavin and Dave Collins, who first paddled the first race in 1972, telling us how long it took to pull the book together, including thanking Janet Bartlet (who was busy cycling and wasn’t there) for her help; and sharing some interesting facts like over 400 000 individuals have run the Comrades, over 20 000 have finished the Dusi but only 798 have completed the PE2EL. We weren’t sure if they were trying to get us to join their elite group or scare us off, but what they did do was sell all the copies they had there. If you want one please speak to Pete O’Connor – it’s a beautiful book including big stories and a few pics and names of lads from Dabs.
That’s all for now. Till next time. Go Dabs!