Event: W.C.C.U. Canoe Marathon Championships.
Venue: Peninsula Canoe Club, Zandvlei, Lakeside, Cape Town.
Date(s): K1 (singles) Saturday, 9th May, 2009. K2 (doubles) Sunday 10th May, 2009.
Time: 10h00
Classes racing: Seniors, Juniors, Under 21’s and all Masters categories (i.e. over 35 years).
The W.C.C.U. Canoe Marathon Championships will be held this weekend, Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th May, on Zandvlei and through the Marina da Gama canals. The distances for Senor Men is 30 km, Senior Ladies, 26 Km and Juniors and Masters categories, 22 km and will consist of laps similar to the standard Peninsula Canoe Club Time Trials, but with a portage section of approx. 100 m on each of the laps. Looking at last weekends ‘Marina16’ event, the favourites for the senior men’s title will surely come from Lance King (Milnerton CC) who won the ‘Marina 16’ and last years (and for many years before 2008) champion, Graeme Solomon (Peninsula CC). Hot on their heels will be the likes of Gavin White and if they have returned in time from the World Cup Surf Ski events in Spain, Sean Rice and Tom Schilperoodt (both Peninsula). In the Senior Ladies section, it is in fact two U21 paddlers who are dominating things at the moment, they being Jackie Barnes (Peninsula) who won last weekends ‘Marina 16’ and Milnerton’s Bianca Beavitt. There is a dearth in the Senior ladies division at the moment, Alexa Cole taking a sabbatical from paddling (until perhaps the 2nd half of the season – the K2 doubles, Breede River races), Abbey Meidema (overseas), Nikki Mocke (pregnant) and Michelle Eray (campaigning on the surf ski circuit in Europe at the moment). Nevertheless, both Jackie and Bianca are National Junior Canoe colours awardees and are no slouches – in fact, the thought of them racing the aforementioned is an exciting one as these young ladies are putting in impressive training times and sessions in recent times. In the Junior divisions, it is hoped that Crisjan Coetzee (Milnerton), who did well in the 10 km event at the recent S.A. Sprint trials will be ion the water this weekend ‘to strut his stuff’, because his sprint training and competitions to date will have given him the strength to do well – will he have the ‘legs’ for the longer distance though? The marathon events start on both days at 10h00. Registration is at the Peninsula Canoe Club from 08h30. |
