Dabs News
Here we share all Dabulamanzi’s news so that we can honour our paddlers, share the excitement of the activities that happen on and off the water and relive our favourite memories.
If you have a story to share, send it to dabulamanzimedia@gmail.com .
Dabs News | From Marathons and Sprints, to Hospital Beds and Heartfelt Tributes
Two months ago, the Morning School crew put up a Memorial Bell in the clubhouse, in honour of Mark Feather and all our paddling friends who have passed on. This past Thursday evening, the bell was rung for the first time since then - for Brian Jordan. Giles Walkey,...
Dabs News | Vaalie Surfski Success at the Freedom Paddle
Just a few weeks ago we had the HASSC where Ricki Talevi & Mike Arthur took the bragging rights ahead of Wayne Jacobs & Matt Coetzer, after which there was some talk as to what might happen at the next showdown, which happened on Sunday… While some were...
Dabs News | From Marathons to Surfski, a Clean Up and a Remembrance Paddle
It’s been a busy time for many from the finest canoe club in the whole dam universe. On Thursday evening Dabs hosted the second GCU short course Marathon Champs, with the Guppies doing 2km’s including one portage and all other age groups doing 3km’s with two portages....
Dabs News – SA Sprint Champs Weekend
This year’s SA Sprint Championships and the SA Schools Sprint Championships were hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal Canoe Union at Roodeplaat, which was nice and convenient for the people from our pond, but not so nice for the people from KZN, as there was mayhem on the N3...
Dabs News – Darlings Tour: A Weekend of Realization & Reckless Laughter
There’s something about a girls’ weekend that resets the soul. The Dabs Darlings’ trip to KZN was exactly that—an escape filled with adventure, reflection, and pure, reckless laughter. Standing at the edge of the ocean, watching the waves crash against the shore, I...
Dabs New – The Stihl Umkomaas Marathon 2025
The rains came for the Drak and the Dusi – both were full, fast, and fun. And then the rains came for the Stihl Umko, making this full, fast, and fun at another level altogether. It was BIG. Day 1 started at 2.1m and increased to 2.4m. Apparently, the way the Umko...
Dabs News – March ’25 Rivers, Sprints, Marathons & More
It was a very busy weekend with pretty much all the different disciplines in play, what with the Non Stop and the One Hop, Mbanjwas to Josephines, Sprints and Kayak Cross down in KZN, Marathons at Florida Lake and novice trips on the Vaal River. On Friday a few...
Dabs News – Dusi 2025
Some traditions get stronger, others fade. What was once South Africa’s premier river race can no longer attract a title sponsor, nor can it start at its original location. Yet the challenge remains, and those who finished this year’s Dusi can feel as proud as ever....
Dabs News – Our Iron Men
Well done K&C. They might not look they are made of iron, perhaps because of too much KFC washed down with copious amounts of cold beer, but Kevin and Chuck are our latest Pope Ellis Iron Men, having completed the Midmar Mile, Comrades Marathon, and the Dusi Canoe...
Dabs News – N3TC Drak Challenge
To go or not to go, that was the question, as it looked like there would be little to no water for the 2025 N3TC Drak Challenge. Some were committed and some sat on the fence waiting, while the organizers sent out a deluge of pictures with the promise of rain. Still,...