Despite the packed canoeing calendar, the huge turnout of canoeists for the recent South African Sprint Canoe Championships at Shongweni Dam ensured the event was a success with national champions being crowned from Under 8 to Seniors, underscoring a continued resurgence of interest in flat-water paddling in the country.
Paddlers from all over the country descended on Shongweni Dam for the championships that gave a number of young, aspiring paddlers the opportunity to race on a national stage for the first time, as the event doubled as the selection event for the Junior World Championships coming up later this year but also for the Olympic Hopes Regatta.
Over the three days of racing that finished on Monday, over 270 paddlers took to the water in the various age categories with the Boys Under 14 age category being the biggest group with 39 paddlers fighting it out for the honours which were claimed by Ayanda Mpithi from the Asizenzele Primary School in Cato Ridge.
Leading the way in the Under 18 Girls category was Girls High School’s Melonie Croeser who beat Wykham Collegiate’s Laila Maher and Georgina Howard from Epworth who ended second and third respectively.
Young Matthew Privett from Hermanus High School won the overall Under 18 Boys title ahead of Joshua Simpkins from Westville Boys’ High School in second and Khwandokuhle Mzolo who ended third.
Amongst the senior ranks it was the Under 23’s who dominated both the women’s and the men’s overall national titles.
Border’s Jade Wilson was the strongest paddler overall in the women’s category ahead of her provincial teammate Zara Wood while local Jenna Nisbet (neé Ward) ended in third overall.
The men’s overall crown went to Under 23 star Alex Masina ahead his fellow under 23 paddlers Sam Butcher in second and Jordy Malherbe in third.
The stand out competitors were :
U8: Brittany Cameron, Anton Derksen
U10: Chesley Cameron, Zack Papadopoulos
U12: Derryn Milward,Winstino Abrahams
U14: Kalay Szalay, Ayanda Mpidi
U16: Valma Jean Hockly, Luke Salmon
U18 K1: Melonie Croeser, Finlay Leask
U23: Jade Wilson, Hamish Lovemore
Senior: Jenna Nisbet, Sam Butcher and Alex Masina
Masters: Jason Ekstrand, Jean Luc Mauvis, Mike Walsh, Sean Privett, Garth Schonewolf, Willem Landman, Nigel Briggs, Murray Mackenzie
Overall Standings:
Under 8 Girls
1. Britney Cameron 67.0
2. Charlotte Sneyd 42.0
Under 8 Boys
1 Anton Derksen 72.0
2 Benjamin Strydom 66.0
3 Sabelo Mbhense 49.0
Under 10 Girls
1 Chelsey Cameron 73.0
2 Cherlaigne Sucks 70.0
3 Isabelle Van Heerden 67.0
Under 10 Boys
1 Zack Papadopoulos 114.0
2 Joshua Friedericksen 104.0
3 Joshua Powell 98.0
Under 12 Girls
1 Derryn Millward 85.0
2 Lorna Kernahan 84.0
3 Katie Foulds 82.0
Under 12 Boys
1 Winstino Abrahams 120.0
2 Ethan September 112.0
3 Josh Worthmann 107.0
Under 14 Girls
1 Emma Privett 159.0
2 Tia Hector 149.0
3 Jahkyda Tiras 144.0
Under 14 Boys
1 Ayanda Mpiti 180.0
2 Nkanyezi Hlongwane 166.0
3 Luke Wilson 150.0
Under 16 Girls
1 Neriyah Dill 169.0
2 Amy Duffett 162.0
3 Jessica Behn 138.0
Under 16 Boys
1 Luke Salmon 180.0
2 Lungelo Shange 162.0
3 Theo Dreyer 151.0
Under 18 Girls
1 Melonie Croeser 168.5
2 Laila Maher 155.5
3 Georgina Howard 144.5
Under 18 Boys
1 Matthew Privett 164.5
2 Joshua Simpkins 147.5
3 Kwandokuhle Mzolo 144.5
Women All Ages
1 Jade Wilson 134.0
2 Zara Wood 132.0
3 Jenna Nisbet 105.0
Senior And Under 23 Men
1 Alex Masina 169.0
2 Sam Butcher 167.0
3 Jordy Malherbe 164.0
35+ Men
1 Stuart Clifton 123.0
2 Mfan’fikile Gwala 86.0
3 Michael Walsh 117.5