Spent time this weekend at the Breede River Canoe Marathon supporting Ruth’s two brothers, Doug and Steve, as well as some other mates racing. Enjoyed the small thrills of racing from vantage point to point following the action, but would far rather have been on the water myself.
(Start of Day1, just outside Robertson)
Have raced to a fifth here two years ago, with Gert Van Deventer. Sweet memories. Weather was picture perfect. In a nutshell, Len Jenkins and Cam Schoeman were in a class apart, and dominantly took out five min on day one, leaving day two a play for second. Inspiring form. Doug and Steve raced real well, but struggled with the combination, sitting “skew” and came home in 8th. Flatmate Courtney raced in a gutsy 5th, with his partner Gavin, and the other boat I was rooting for was Master Martin Dreyer and his partner Michael Mbanjwa, who out smarted Zaren for fourth.
(Len Jenkins and Cam Schoeman negotiating a low level bridge)
Further up was Enrest van Riet and Heinrich Schloms, who sprinted for second against a too quick, just returned from World Sprint Champs, Ant Stott and Mike Arthur, and settled for 3rd. Ant and Mike then second, with Len and Cam plent daylight ahead.
(Father and Jeannie knackered after Day1)
My old man got jinxed into a boat and reckon he enjoyed the float down stream. With a bit more training he and his partner, Jeannie Bomford, could have won the mixed doubles race as the front four were all pretty tight.
Will hopefully be reporting with perspective from on the water next time.
