This week we take a look at the Long and the Short of paddling – with respect to distances and to people…
In our canoeing circles we have some Long almost giraffe like people, along with some Short, almost little people, but even more distinctively, we also have different disciplines, specifically Short sprints along with Long marathons, contented by the Short and the Long. Short sprints start at 200m and are won in a matter of seconds, while marathons take hours, with Long ones like the Berg requiring the better part of 24 hours. This week’s news looks at the Long and the Short, in paddling disciplines and in people, but regards the latter, remember that we are all the same (height) when seen swimming….
Starting with the Short discipline, last weekend we had the Long Jordan Klopper and the Short Alexa Godden representing Dabs and South Africa at what must surely be one of the most picturesque paddling venues in the world – Auronzo di Cadore, Italy. Jordan raced up in the Senior K1 200m and K1 500m events up against the likes Hamish Lovemore and Uli Hart and the European sprint specialists, so the competition was fierce and he progressed to the B Finals. In the Senior women Alexa made 4 A finals, including the K1 200m and K1 500m events, along with Women’s K2 and Mixed K2 500m events. Esti and Hamish were the stars winning their respective K1 500m A Finals while Hamish and Uli won the Men’s K2 500m A Final. It’s great to see South African Sprinters at the top of the Short game.
Up next it’s the Long (and hard and cold and wet) Berg Marathon, where we are a bit Short on the number of Dab’s representatives. Long in height and in experience is Graham Monteith, winner of the 1989 event, and now going for Berg number 29. Also entered are Mat Cockram who is on 15, Siseko who is on 4, Ethan who is on 2 and Benjamin Mntonintshi who is Shortest on experience as a Berg novice. In total, less than 100 brave souls have entered. 11 are ladies, 16 are Berg Novices, while 32 have done more than 10. Hank is lining up, as is last year’s winner Tom Lovemore, while also up at the sharp end will be the Berg’s second most successful contestant Robbie Herreveld, who last won almost 30 years ago, and came second last year. Wishing he was 10 years younger is Monteith, who could well be up there with them. Go Monty! In the ladies, 3 recent winners (Jenna Nisbet, Christy Shrimpton and Stephanie Von Der Heyde) will be contesting the title – but sadly Dabs don’t have any ladies representing this year.
Good luck to our guys and spare a thought for all who are going; the weather is looking to be awful; but that’s the Berg – Long and hard and cold and wet. But as they like to say in the Cape – you can’t call yourself a real paddler until you have done one. Short or Long, they will still take your entry.
And that’s the Long and the Short of Paddling for this week
Till next time – Go Dabs!