Hi ,

The water under the bridge is a raging torrent at the moment.

I have, once again, been remiss in the frequency of my nondescript offering, and have had to scramble to report on happenings, of an unacceptably long time ago.

First off, I had a long chat to Richard Kohler yesterday morning.

He went for a long training session with a few of his mates, off Cape Town, a few weeks ago. When the mates turned for home, he decided to push on for a little longer and ended up in Salvador Brazil.

He arrived 63 days and a few hours later, having paddled unsupported and alone for over 6400kms, becoming the first person to paddle  across the Atlantic. Not only was this a mammoth milestone, but he also raised in excess of R600 000 for his favourite charity "operation smile", allowing over 100 children to have corrective cleft surgery.

In reply to my mundane question "how was it", he told me that the trip was characterised by extremely long periods of absolute boredom, interspersed with weeks of nobody to talk to, incredible discomfort and nowhere to hide from the blazing sun, with the odd hectic storm and mountainous sea adding a pinch of sheer terror to the equation. Other than that he had a blast.

He claimed that he was very fortunate that he had no major health issues and that the craft that he used had no major mechanical problems (as had happened in his first attempt). His major concern was the supply of water, which was negated by an awesomely efficient solar powered water purification system that provided him with an ample quantity.

He admitted that he had dropped some tonnage from his ample chassis during the trip, but had hastened to put it back once he got home and hung his paddle up.

All in all, a fantastic achievement and a very worthwhile cause.

Not too many people will be ticking the "paddled across the Atlantic" box in their lifetime.

Secondly, the Stihl Umko.

What a race. What an event. 

Refreshingly, a number of new faces, and, more importantly, a number of new youngsters.

Watching a school girl drive a boat down that river must have made a few of our fence sitters feel just a little bit sheepish. Next year?????

Some innovative thinking saw the organisers throw a couple of added attractions into the weekend pot. Rafting and a trail run. 

Just being in that majestic and unspoilt valley for those couple of days was a privilege. Managing to complete my 37th with my son in the boat was an extra bonus.

Hank and Wayne produced another faultless performance on a challenging medium river, and did not seem to be stretched at all to claim the win.

Super bok providing the oil for the vocal cords while regaling war stories, many of which will be told for years to come.

As I have told a few mates "nothing clears your head of everyday issues more than being behind the pedals of a boat in the approaches to number 1 on a full Umko".

It is an easier box to tick tan the Atlantic.

Andy Birkett has done it once again. He was selected as one of the 3 male finalists at the SA Sports Awards, which were held at a red carpet affair in Sun City on the 25th of last month.

Although swimmer Pieter Coetze pipped him to first place, Andy was presented with the ministers excellence award, yet again, raising the profile of our sport.

He even wore a jacket and tie.

With the river season in KZN and Gauteng coming to a close, attention swings, this month, to the SA Schools and the SA Sprint Championships which will be held at VLC in Johannesburg on the 28 - 30th.

If the number of people who have nominated themselves for national teams is anything to go by, this is going to be an event not to be missed. 

Hopefully the early onset of winter will not materialise.

Some good news from Lotto yesterday. We have been granted a few extra shekels to help our cause for the next year.

Also, some good noises being made by SASCOC and the Department of Sport. Things are looking up.

That's all for this week.

Have a great Easter break

Be safe

Your SG
Copper
1111

No joke this week.

Instead, a saying that I saw on a plaque, on the wall in the Himeville Arms a few years ago.