Olympian Andy Birkett is the favourite for Saturday

2024 Paris Olympics paddler, multiple world marathon champion and 15 times Duzi winner Andy Birkett is the favourite to lift the Pam Golding King of the Kromme trophy for a second time after Saturday’s race.

And his wife Nicky, whose credentials almost match Andy’s, is the hot favourite to win her first Pam Golding Queen of the Kromme title, although the “Queen” for the last two years, Chloë Bunnett , will be sure to push her all the way.

Olympic paddler and world champ Andy Birkett paddled a St Francis canal time trial two weeks ago with the Pam Golding franchisee

The course records for this 20km race will be under threat! So, if other paddlers want gold, maybe they should consider the 12km short course.

The 3pm start and the finish of this race, held every year since 2006, with the same sponsor, is at and at the Cove, Shore Road.

Entries are streaming in, and close at 11am on Saturday … https://paddler.paddlesportsa.com/

Paddlers working hard up the river in a Pam Golding King of the Kromme a few years ago

PRIZES

Prize money for the trophy winners was doubled this year from R2000 to R4000. And so the total cash purse increased from R8000 to R12000. This is to ensure that we continue to lure the cream of SA’s paddlers. The winners in the past have been household names in the paddling community, and we want to keep it this way. From the sponsor’s point of view, it is wonderful to attract a big field, especially of locals, but famous winners are also great for the profile of the event.

The start of last year’s Easter Saturday Pam Golding KING OF THE KROMME

There are prizes for the first three men and ladies, and girls and boys under 18, and ladies and men over 65, for both the short and long race. And a lucky draw prize of a sought-after Carbonology split paddle (value R3500), donated once again by Carbonology, co-sponsors for the last 15 years.

PAST WINNERS

Former “Kings” Jasper Mocke (three times), Greg Louw (two times), Matt Boumann (once) and last year’s winner Ricky Talevi (all household names in the paddling world) are not competing this year, so locals are hoping that St Francis ace Phil Smith will be on the second step of the podium. Two times “Queen” Jade Wilson will unfortunately be missing on Saturday.

CONDITIONS PREDICTED FOR SATURDAY

Low tide is at about 12.30pm so the tide will be coming in all afternoon, but the tides will be neap tides, so not too strong or high. The weather forecast looks good, so there could be lots of boats, fishing and skiing up the river, to add some boat wake to add to paddlers’ difficulties. There will be a safety boat accompanying paddlers, in case anyone needs help, which is very unlikely.