Hi ,

It is almost inconceivable that paddlers of the standard of Andy Birkett and Nic Notten have not made the national team for the long course at the World Marathon Championships in Romania later this year.

It is a testament to the awesome level of paddling that was displayed at our national championships, in Cape Town, over the weekend.

There were some mammoth performances, especially in the men's K1 and K2, as well as the U23 K1 and U18 K1 and K2.

The women were not to be outdone, with some exciting racing across the categories. A real pity that the numbers in the women's races were as low as they were. It changes the dynamic of the race and does not give credit to the standard.

Star of the weekend, Hamish Lovemore, making a clean sweep in every event he entered. He certainly made a strong statement to the naysayers (me being one of them) that it is possible to string 3 phenomenal performances together on consecutive days. In retrospect, it would have been interesting if he had entered the short course.

The majority of us would require the services of a defibrillator and a lot of chemicals if we attempted 3 days of racing at that level.

For a ballie, Hank pulled off the almost impossible. A silver and a gold. Edging Andy out in one of the tightest finishes of the weekend in the K1 for the silver and dominating the K2 with Hamish the next day.

Newly married, Jenna Nisbet, also pulled off some solid performances as an "almost ballie", with a mirror of Bridgitte Hartley's one gold and one sliver.

Bridgitte winning the K1 and claiming silver in the K2 with Christie, and Jenna winning the K2 with junior star Saskia Hockly, and claiming silver in the K1.

There were impressive efforts from across all categories. Far too many to mention. What is evident is that marathon racing is alive and well.

All we need to do now is to convince the average paddler that flatwater racing is not only for the medal winners. It is exciting and a great way to improve.

Notwithstanding the limitations put on the event due to covid, there was an impressive turnout of paddlers from across all of the unions. The trailer park was overflowing.

As usual, the true heroes of the day were the event organisers. A fantastic effort by the Peninsula Canoe Club.

The results of the championships were used to select the national team to represent SA at the World Marathon Championships to be held in Romania in late September and early October.

Here is the team for the World Championships and the results from the SA Champs

Lots of hard work to be done if we are not going to let the Hungarians and Danes give us another klap.

Romania is a relatively inexpensive destination. It is expected that SA will be sending a large contingent of masters paddlers to back up our national team.

We appeal to all masters paddlers, who are wishing to enter, to let me know as soon as possible. This damn covid pandemic is playing havoc with international freight and we are wanting to send the container, with our boats over, far earlier than we usually do.

"Stomach" Van der Walt has been selected as the team manager. It is his first time. Team members should start sending him a flood of irrelevant and unreasonable demands as soon as they can, just to get him into the swing of things.

Whilst on the subject of covid and national teams.

Our surfski team, is still sitting firmly on the fence.

They are meant to be representing SA at the ICF World Ocean Racing Championships in Lanzarote this time next month.

Unfortunately, Spain has a travel ban on anyone from South Africa, the UK or Brazil.

The ban involves a ten day mandatory quarantine period entering and leaving, which is not overly appealing to our team.

The organisers have indicated that they have approached the local authorities and arranged a waiver of the quarantine.

They have, however, not yet produced an official letter stating as much. Most of our team members have rightly dug their heels in and refused to throw their hard earned ammo at air tickets and visas until we show them the letter. The clock keeps ticking.

Here is the team that will be representing South Africa in Spain, hopefully!

Our two Olympic hopefuls, Esti and Chrisjan, made amends for the disappointment of not qualifying, with a silver medal each at the World Cup, held in Barnaul, Russia on the weekend.

Both of them earned in the 500m K1.

Hopefully these performances will inspire them to keep committed for Paris and will prove to our aspirant younger sprinters that there are rewards after hard work.

With SASCOC now allowing continental qualification, our sprinters have a very realistic chance of being able to race on the biggest sporting stage in the world.

With flatwater marathon paddling done for most of us, except those going to Romania, attention turns towards the sea.

There are exciting races and series in every one of our 3 coastal unions.

This weekend sees the running of the "King of the Bay" in Durban. Usually one of the best attended races on the calendar.

Eastern Cape has their Bay series.

"Hot off the press" news from the boys in Slummies is that the Pete Marlin ski race has attracted some significant sponsorship and that the prize money for this year's event is one of the highest in the history of ski paddling in the country. I will keep you posted.

The Western Cape paddlers are now heading for the rivers, as the "pre-Berg" races start in earnest. This week being the "Paarl to Skooltjie".

With most of the dams in the province being significantly fuller than in previous years, the river season looks like it will be a good one.

This year is the 60th Berg. From confirmed reports I can inform you that a number of old Berg stalwarts have crawled out of the woodwork and will be making an appearance.

If there is ever a year for you to tick this one off, now is the time.

That’s all for this week

Your SG
Copper
1111


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