Canals Winter Challenge

Pam Golding Properties Canals Winter Challenge

The 11th annual holding of this popular paddling race on the St Francis Canals will be on Sunday 23rd July at 10am.

For the last year two years the race was won by the top doubles combination in the Eastern Cape, national paddler Greg Louw together with paddling legend Rob Welsh. Will they make it three in a row? Or will locals Phil Smith and Graydon Mitchley, pip them?

The start and finish will again be at Quaysyde Restaurant, Seaglades Drive, St Francis Canals, where breakfast, coffee and lunch can be enjoyed while watching the paddling. The entry fee is R100 per paddler. The race has been sponsored since inception by Pam Golding Properties, who have become synonymous with paddling in St Francis.

Because the race is held on the sheltered canals, it will go ahead in any weather conditions, and compliments the other paddling races hosted by St Francis Paddling Club during the year, namely the Pam Golding Properties King of the Kromme, held at Easter each year, and numerous surfski races we hold on the sea, most notably the Investec Sporty Anderson Surfski Challenge, held each year on 28 December.

Canal residents are asked to encourage paddlers coming past their houses, and if on their boats, to give way to the racing paddlers. Lifejackets are not required, and beginners are welcome to enter the shorter 10km course. Even if they don’t finish, it might be the start of a long love affair with paddling!

It is a doubles race, with the prizes only for doubles, but singles are very welcome, as are K3’s. As usual, Carbonology, the PE-based surfski manufacturer have sponsored a lucky draw, a Carbonology split paddle and cover, with a retail value of R2500.

The main event is the 20km long course, with a prizes as follows: 1^st 2 x R750 plus trophy, 2^nd R500 x 2, 3^rd R250 x 2. The balance of the prizes are a bottle of very fine Pam Golding wine for each paddler for both the 20km and 10km race: 1^st mixed double, 1^st ladies double, 1^st local double, 1^st over 50’s double, 1^st U18 double.

• Quaysyde, Seaglades Drive, St Francis Canals – 10am Sunday 23 July 2017
• Prizes only for doubles, singles very welcome. 20km or 10km
• SUP (5km) and Guppie races (medals)
• R100 pp includes coffee on arrival, coolie, beer and lunch after.
• Lifejackets optional
• For more info contact Richard Arderne 083 284 0168.