Compliments of Richard Kohler The WCCU 2014 K2 (doubles) canoeing season got underway on Saturday 2nd August, when over 100 paddlers took on the 70 cumecs of flow that the Breede River offered up over the 27km section between Nekkies (near Worcester) and Eilandia (nowhere near anywhere!). Paddled therefore in a full river and with a stiff to very strong at times, tail wind, the 1st canoe crossed the line in the good time of 1 hour 32 minutes 01 seconds, the entire field being home in 2 hours 16 minutes - indicative of the strong flow which tends to keep paddling fields relatively close together over distances greater than 20 kms. Starting at the new Breede River start time of 10h00, the field got away and were not worried at all by the rapid that is at the base of the outflow from the Brandvlei dam, it being little more than a roller-coaster wave than a drop (as it normally is) and so there were no swimmers there for a change. The top crews of Graeme Solomon/Ivan Kruger (Pen/Cty), Ernest van Riet/Edgar Boehm Jnr (US/Pen), Heinrich Schloms/Josie Williams (Prl/Prl) and Louw van Riet/Luke Stowman (US/Prl), got away quickly, van Riet/Boehm being shaken off at the Pump House weir some 5km after the start. The leading trio stayed together passed the numerous known obstacles and landmarks such as the S bend (which caused some considerable chaos to paddlers further back down the field), the Wall of Death Rapid, Lovers Lane the R43 bridge and the Nappy Run Rapid until at Alfies bridge (completely inundated by the high waters), Solomon/Kruger made their break to get away from Schloms/Williams and van Riet/Stowman. However, it was not plain sailing for Solomion/Kruger for at about the 24km mark, they took an incorrect channel to river right which turned out to be a dead-end, forcing them to turn around and go back, seeking the main channel. During this time, Schloms/Williams went past and notwithstanding going all out chasing the new leaders, Solomon/Kruger were not able to make up the deficit. As a result, Scholms/Willaims crossed the line first in 1:32:01, Solomon/Kruger, 10 seconds later in 1:32:11. whilst van Riet/Stowman were placed third in 1:32:39. Results: Top Ten. 1. Heinrich Schloms/Joseph Williams, Prl/Prl, 1:32:01 2. Graeme Solomon/Ivan Kruger, Pen/Cty, 1:32:11 3. Louw van Riet/Luke Stowman, US/Prl, 1:32:39 4. Ernest van Riet/Edgar Boehm jnr, US/Pen, 1:34:17 5. Ant Lake/Shati Stewart, UCT/UCT, 1:35:24 6. Wayne Wilson/Mynhardt Marais, KZN/Prl, 1:35:41 7. Richard Allen/Mike Schwan, Mil/Mil, 1:38:37 8. Diviano Pietersen/Emile Minnaar. Prl/Prl, 1:39:06 9. Brandon Collyer/Rob Hart, Pen/Pen, 1:40:12 10. Andres Hart/Tristan Bernstein, Pem/Pen, 1:40:14 Juniors (U18) 1. Andres Hart/Tristan Bernstein, Pen/Pen, 1:40:14 2. Mark Keeling/Andreus Beukes, Pen/Mil, 1:40:24 3. Theo Moses/Marco Marsch, Prl/Prl, 1:44:37 U23 1. Ant Lake/Shanti Stewart, UCT/UCT, 1:35:24 2. Diviano Pietersen/Emile Minaar, Prl/Prl, 1:39:06 3. Jason Smit/Kimberley Gardner, UCT/UCT, 2:16:12 Sub Veterans 1. Ernest van Riet/Edgar Boehm jnr, US/Pen, 1:34:17 2. Morne Hugo/Riaan le Rouw, Prl/Prl, 1:47:35 Veterans - Women 1. Lis Hart/Sandra Eardley, Pen/Pen, 1:51:10 Veterans - Men 1. Herbert Conradie/Riaan Swart, Prl/Prl, 1:44:30. 2. Gavin Aspeling/Gavin Finch, Cty, 1:49:22 Sub Masters 1. Wayne Wilson/Mynhardt Marais, KZN/Prl, 1:35:41 2. Richard Allen/Micke Schwan, Mil/Mil, 1:38:37 3. Rob Hart/Brandon Collyer, Pen/Pen, 1:40:12 Masters 1. Francois Meyer/Andries Smit, US/US, 1:45:48 2. Franscis Steyn/Christo Lotze, Prl/Prl, 1:47:32 Sub Grandmasters 1. Ian Glass/Shaun Butler, Pen/Pen, 1:40:24 2. Veronica Jones/Colin Miller, Pen/Pen, 1:57:50 Gransmasters 1. Rob MacLean/Enslin van Riet, Pen/Mil, 1:42:04 2. JT Basson/Giel van Deventer, Prl/Prl, 1:45:33 Mixed Doubles 1. Chis de Waal/Lisa Scott, Mil/Mil, 1:40:40 2. Ken Findlay/Romy Findlay, Pen/Pen, 1:54:47 3. Murray Walters/Nicolene van der Merwe, UCT/UCT, 1:55:19. K1 (single canoes) 1. Brandon van der Walt, Pen, 1:35:23 2. Ashley Carstens, Pen, 1:38:51. 3. Daantjie Malan, US, 1:50:42
Posted on: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 08:04:48 +0000