Pam Golding Canals Winter Doubles Challenge by Richard Arderne

Hello Paddlers!

Picture the scene on Saturday morning ..

You arrive at the Cove before 9am so you can watch the guppies juniors race, and while there is still plenty of parking, greet a few friends, and register with the super-efficient friendly St Francis Paddling Club ladies 👯‍♀️

Then the smell of fresh coffee ☕️ attracts you, so you grab a complimentary cup, and relax with a rusk for a few minutes in the sunshine, catching up with the other paddlers ☀️

Then soon after the exciting start you settle in on the slip of two solid lads, eg surfing behind Jaco and Dylan, for a few sunny winter laps, enjoying some banter, but ignoring chirps like “it’s your turn to pull” .. hearing is tricky with the splashing 😳

After you outsprint the kind pullers at the end (🙄), you are greeted with a beer and/or a cooldrink 🍻🍹

But wait, there’s more … legendary Billy’s Beach chef Matt Davis will serve you the very best burger ever to grace a paddling race 🍔

Once you have recovered from riding that slip, you win a bottle of fine red wine, and probably also a lucky draw Carbonology paddle, and some Rack & Paddle goodies, all whilst trading stories with the kind lads who pulled you (you buy them a beer to thank them 😎)

And there’s more!

Famous local professional photographer, Cameron Biggs, will capture you racing and enjoying your drink and winning your prize! 👍

Who would ever want to miss the Pam Golding Winter Canals Doubles Challenge?? 😊

Here are a few more reasons to paddle in the Pam Golding Canals Winter Doubles Challenge 👍

•⁠ ⁠A rare chance to paddle double your usual time trial distance … without a cut-off time 🤓
•⁠ ⁠More importantly, enjoying the camaraderie of paddling (in a bunch 🙏) and enjoying a drink and a chat afterwards 🔥
•⁠ ⁠Plenty of prizes: for both the 10km and 20km race – 1st, 2nd and 3rd for men’s, ladies, mixed, over 65, and u18 (prizes are only for doubles but singles are very welcome 👍)