Pam Golding Properties – KING OF THE KROMME 2018

St Francis Paddling Club’s 13^th annual Pam Golding Properties KING OF THE KROMME will be held on Easter Saturday, 31 March 2018 at 4 pm at Quaysyde.

We are confident that shifting the event from the previous years’ Easter Sunday morning to Easter Saturday afternoon is going to attract an even bigger and better field, probably more than the nearly 100 paddlers last year. It’s clear that the quality and size of the field is ever increasing.

Full Moon high tide is at 4 pm, the start time, which will make for excellent racing conditions, with less sand-bank drama ….  and a good prize-giving party at Quaysyde afterward.

Let’s hope we can hand over the prestigious floating trophy to a local for the first time … at the lucky 13^th holding of the race. It’s been dominated by PE paddlers: Scott Johnson, Calvin Zeelie, Jordan Zeelie, Luke McNish, and Greg Louw (twice). Other Kings of the Kromme were Juan Maree (Cradock), Dave Hamilton-Brown (Joburg) and Matt Bouman (Durban).

The route is from Quaysde restaurant, through the canals for 1km and then up the beautiful Kromme River for about 8km until the Geelhout tributary for a further 2km to the turn buoy. This is a particularly special stretch, with indigenous bush right up to the banks, and the river becoming ever narrower until it is only about 8m wide at the turn. Many St Francis residents have never been up the Geelhout, and paddlers cherish this once-a-year opportunity.

Then it is a race back the same way, with some assistance now from the tide, which will have started going out. And a sprint finish at Quaysyde in front of hundreds of spectators, enjoying their sunset refreshments.

It is a singles race, but doubles are very welcome (and there are also prizes for doubles). The main prizes are R2000 for the long course (20km) singles winner, R1000 for 2^nd, R500 for third, and R500 for the first lady. There is also a 12km short course, also with plenty of prizes. There is the usual main lucky draw, a split-shaft Carbonology paddle valued at R2500, kindly sponsored by Carbonology. The entry fee includes a sumptuous meal from Quaysyde and a few St Francis Brewing Company Beach Blondes.

There is also a 1km under 12 and under 10 “guppy” race, entry fee R50, which includes a medal and a meal.