A couple of my favourite photos from the Pam Golding Properties – St Francis Bay Canals Winter Doubles Challenge 😎
With 110 paddlers, it was almost certainly the biggest field we have had in the 21 years of this event, held on Saturday morning in absolutely perfect conditions 👍
Ricci Talevi and Uli Hart took the trophy, with Nix Birkett and Jade Wilson the winning ladies 👏
I think everyone enjoyed themselves … I certainly did 😊
Guppies:
There were 30 “Guppies” (under 8, 10, 12 and 14) .. by far the most ever 👏
Comment from Chairman Charlie Jonsson:
“I can’t over-emphasize the importance of Nix’s guppy development program in developing the next generation.
Camilla Prins (13) and Libby Knez (9) teamed up to do 10kms, winning the girls Under 18 with a time of 1.03. Quite remarkable.
Thanks to Richard, the timekeepers and the rest of the StF Team. A perfect day”
The 20km Main Race:
Obviously it was going to be tricky to keep up with Uli Hart (two time u23 world surfski champ) and very fit Ricci Talevi (even though well past 40 … and now five times on the trophy) 👏
They paddled at a blistering sub 44 minutes per 10km pace, and finished about four minutes ahead of top PE based paddlers, Greg Louw and Hein Van Rooyen (Hein now also past 40!) 👏
Good to see Leo Stone and Luke O’Connor, very little over over u18, finish just behind Greg and Hein 👏
Then two minutes further back, four boats, including u18 mixed Liam Stephenson and Madison Fourie (from Plett) and our local u16 Moore boys, Josh and Jake 👏
Then a seven minute gap before the next 15 boats started arriving, firstly the top ladies (who had some boat issues), Jade Wilson and Nix Birkett, and a bit later Pete King and Andrew Knight, first over 65 (but it was noticed that the Jaco/Dylan and Plett bunch dropped them near the end 😳)
Congrats:
20km
Overall
1. Uli Hart/Ricci Talevi
2. Greg Louw/Hein van Rooyen
3. Leo Stone/Luke O’Connor
Ladies
1. Nix Birkett/Jade Wilson
2. Kirsten Scott/Janine Linder
Mixed
1. Liam Stephenson/Madison Fourie
2. Charl van Wyk/Daynie Loots
3. Ian & Liz Russell
Over 65
1. Pete King/Andrew Knight
2. Gerard Demkes/Frank Dabrowski
3. Brian Wilson/Toby Mare
U18
1. Liam Stephenson/Madison Fourie
2. Josh & Jack Moore
10km
Overall
1. Richard Arderne/Byron Andrews
2. Carmel Billson/Janine Prins
3. Rob Gault/Steph Arndt
Ladies
1. Carmel Sadler/Janine Prins
2. Anna Hay/Magda Boshoff
Mixed
1. Rob Gault/Steph Arndt
2. Ken McGregor/Jill Dunlop
3. Jenni & Hugh Friedenstein
Over 65
1. Ken McGregor/Jill Dunlop
2. Dappie Prinsloo/Rooies Robbertse
Under 18
1. Camilla Prins/Libby Knezovich
Congrats to the over 70 youngsters: Dappie Prinsloo, Graham Boyd, Ken McGregor, Ian Russell, Hugh Friedenstein, and Frank Dabrowski, especially the last three who completed the 20km race 👏
And to the Under 8’s! Emily Miller, Che Goldstone, David Birkett, and James Torode 👏
(we need to attract more paddlers between the ages of 16 and 35!)
Thank You’s:
Thank you to the Pam Golding Organizing Team:
Nix Birkett, Magda Boshoff, Mandy McMregor, Anita Dabrowski, Kath Bowren, Jen Jonsson, Charlie Jonsson, Carol Rothero, Marie Louw, Dave Louw, Pete Mitchley, Pete King, and Ken McGregor.
Thanks Don Hunter for the wonderful action shots and Cameron Gav BiggsCameron Gav Biggs for pre-start, start, and prize-giving shots 🙏
A Personal Note:
Byron Andrews and I set a new record for surfing behind a big bunch (including Pete/Andrew and Jaco/Dylan) for 10km … luckily they didn’t notice us, so didn’t even ask us to pull .. not that we would have heard them anyway 😎
We won the 10km short course in a pleasing 50minutes … I got lots of stick for not paddling the 20km, but my excuse is that it’s a bit tricky running a prize giving 5min after finishing a 20km race! 😊
Recent Comments