By Richard Arderne
A few reasons why paddlers enjoyed the Pam Golding Canals Winter Doubles Challenge on Saturday morning, 19 July 2025
1. JBay surfing had finished the day before (well done Connor )
2. It was sunny with a light breeze ☀️
3. The breeze was easterly with a dropping swell, so surfing was mediocre or worse
4. It was a fairly high tide, great for paddling in the canals
5. Complimentary coffee and rusks before the start ☕️
The Start
6. Complimentary boerie rolls, cool drinks and beer afterwards
7. One lucky paddler, Rick Betts from Port Alfred, took home the Carbonology lucky draw paddle
The Carbonology Lucky Draw Paddle
8. There were also a few lucky draw Rack & Paddle accessories
9. It was an opportunity to paddle double our usual time trial distance … without a cut-off time
10. It was an excellent chance of riding slip in a bunch (thanks, Jaco and Janine )
11. Many paddlers would be enjoying the excellent Pam Golding Red on the evening after the race
12. R6000 in cash for category winners
13. More importantly, enjoying the camaraderie of paddling in a bunch (thanks Jaco and Janine ) and the drink and chat afterwards
The 20km podium and trophy, and cash handover
14. Prizegiving finished in time for the Lions-Oz rugby
15. It was a chance to rub shoulders with Olympic paddler, Andy Birkett, now a regular St Francis visitor … plus the regular crew of locals, PE and Plett paddlers
PS 1
Unsurprisingly, Olympic paddler Andy Birkett won the main 20km race in his K1 (after paddling a 10km warm-up before the start!), but being a doubles race, the red-hot pair of under-18s, Matt Coetzer and Liam Stephenson, took the trophy and R3500.
PS 2
I was finished after 20km, despite perfect conditions and Andrew and I riding Jaco and Janine’s slip for about 19.5km
Over 65 winners in the 20km race
PS 3
Thanks very much to all who helped, especially Kath Bowren and Carol Rothero, who stood in for our timekeeper, Mandy McGregor, who wasn’t well. Dave and Marie Louw manned the coffee and rusks station, and Ken McGregor, Ross Anderson, Charlie Jonsson, and Andrew Bowren braaied. Jane Arderne took videos (and Raffy played with Sharkey )
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