From Sprints in Portugal to Surfski in Ponta to Marathons in Pretoria, Dabs people have been paddling all over the place…
The Centurion 9 Miler, renowned for cold and windy conditions almost as bad as the Berg, was for the second year in a row breathless, sunny, warm and wonderful, unless you took a swim. Then it was icy cold – just ask Captain Cook. The 9 Miler is also renowned for being one of the best value for money races on the calendar. Once again, all entrants got a quality long sleeve t-shirt and it seemed that all who stayed for prize giving got a gift – from chocolates, to wine to biltong to a braai. The only people whose names didn’t come out the hat were the two Michaels (MJ Rob and Mike Stewart), but they did get some cash for winning the race, ahead of Benjamin and Kyle, with Brad and Emma coming third. Sam Butcher won the K1 race without any competition as Matt Fenn was sick and only did 1 lap while Clint didn’t want to get sick after his club mates put him in the water. Shame. Has anyone owned up yet? The final award went to the club with the most paddlers, and sadly this wasn’t us this year – come on Dabs! But well done to the Pretoria people from CCC for putting on yet another good event, and for having the best representation.
Talking good representation, this year the infamous Turtle Tour attracted boyfriends and girlfriends, husbands and wives, fathers and sons, mothers, some people from the mother city, some proper paddling people, and even the Admiral, not just the normal Navy rabble. Best of all, everyone came home safe and totally stoked. At Dabs, most of us have a nickname and apparently Bevan Manson is Ken. Oh, you knew that, sorry – anyways, what you probably didn’t know is that Ken is not just a proper paddler – he is also a poet:
In a far-off land where wild things roam,
We found our hearts in a coastal home.
Aloha5, a slice of grace,
Where sea and sky embrace the place.
Ponta Mamoli’s golden shore,
Welcomed paddlers, friends, and more.
We crossed the border, bribed with flair,
Mozambique’s charm hung in the air.
Through Maputo’s gates and forest green,
A game reserve, a living dream.
Elephants wandered, giraffes took stride,
And pelicans soared in perfect glide.
Our villa stood like a storybook,
With waves out front and views that hook.
Cold beers clinked, the rum ran deep,
While ocean breezes rocked our sleep.
Bron, Hardi, and Flemdog fed us right,
Feasts by fire, pure delight.
The banter rich, the laughter bold,
Barefoot bliss with tales retold.
Each day began with ocean’s call,
With paddles slicing through swells tall.
Moolslang led, with maps askew,
While Ben said, “Longer!” (as Ben will do).
Yet each route brought its fair reward,
As beauty met us offshore.
Raoul and Karen stole the show,
Surfing breaks with perfect flow.
Mias and Daantjie learned the pace,
And felt the ocean’s warm embrace.
Chris took gold, the weekend star,
For catching waves near, wide and far.
Dolphins danced and turtles glowed,
Flying fish in sunlight showed.
A whale breached wide beneath our gaze,
As crabs and birds joined nature’s praise.
At night we roamed the bush anew,
With nyala, buck, and nightjars too.
Then came the elephant bold and wild,
Moolies and Flem both screamed like a child.
There were feats that must be named,
Where legends grew and glories claimed:
Pete, Chuck and Flemdog cut the point,
Precision, pace, the perfect joint.
Carol, moving like the tide,
Ran and swam, with lens as guide.
Riaz and Gordon, mostly calm and keen,
Drove eight hours with heads serene.
But none of it could come to pass
Without the man with heart and class.
Raoul, you legend, trip supreme,
You stitched the threads of this sweet dream.
To Moolslang and Chuck, your efforts shine,
You made the trip a rare goldmine.
So here’s to Turtle Tour’s next round,
Where friendships, laughs, and waves abound.
With hearts so full and minds set free,
We toast the sea — and what will be.
Until next year, the call is clear:
Same crew, more rum, and endless cheer.
Brilliant writing for a brilliant tour. Take a bow Bevan and Raoul.
Well beyond Pretoria and Ponta, our young sprinters representing South Africa were feeling the heat in Portugal at the 2025 ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships in Montemor-O-Velho. Kayla raced the 500m and 1000m sprints but didn’t progress beyond the heats. Jordan made the semifinals for the 200m but not the 500m while Alexa made the semi’s of both the 200m and 500m events, but unfortunately, we didn’t get through to any finals; the competition was that intense. Alexa and Jordan teamed up for the mixed 5000m relay where they were dicing with the New Zealanders, while in the Juniors Kayla teamed up with Cody from Cape Town to beat the Americans and the Poms, but still the likes of Hungary, Portugal and Spain were in a different league. The team manager lamented on the lack of medals but described the tour as a success with the youngsters gaining important experience for the future.
Coming soon – spring and summer! And with it, the canoeing calendar conundrum – so many events, what to choose? Got to support our races – the Liebensberg Vlei and the Vaal. In between there’s October with two big surf ski races on top of great river races like the Fish and the Lowveld Croc, and so much more…. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe – where will your leave and money go?
Till next time – Go Dabs!