2 Sep 2016

Written by: Kyle Gilham

Breede ready for SA K3 Marathon Champs action

Robertson – A K3 national title, some of the country’s finest doubles crews and two magical days of river marathon action from Robertson to Swellendam combine this weekend, forming a mouth-watering 2016 Breede River Canoe Marathon mix.

Starting on Saturday at McGregor Bridge, paddlers will tackle the 37km to Riggton River Farm, Bonnievale before Sunday’s 33km second stage takes participants to the finish line at Kambati River Resort.

While an annual K2 championship event, this year’s Breede doubles as the South African K3 River Marathon Championships, adding some extra spice to the racing amongst those a little way behind A Batch’s racing snakes.

The powerhouse combination of Bevan Manson, Kyle Friedenstein and Andrew Carter appears clear pre-race favourite in the K3 category and will take some stopping this weekend while up front, two elite men’s K2 crews look set to go head-to-head for this year’s race title.

2015 winners, Graeme Solomon (Bamboo Warehouse/Knysna Racing) and Stu MacLaren (Euro Steel) will paddle with 2014 winner Greg Louw (Knysna Racing/Merrell) and 2013 victor Jasper Mocké (Euro Steel/Mocké Paddling) respectively.

The two pedigree pairs will however be chased hard by half a dozen determined combinations, all eager to finish inside the top five and challenge for a podium place, if not better.

Rice brothers, Kenny and Sean (Think Kayaks) have plenty of power between them, AQRate’s Louw van Riet and Gavin White are regular Western Cape top performers while Edgar Boehm Jnr. and Tyron Maher have impressed all season.

Former Junior Marathon World Champ, Brandon van der Walt (Euro Steel) and his junior partner, Hamish MacKenzie will hope to throw their hat into the ring, Lance King and PW Basson are back together again having won the race in 2009 and Heinrich Schloms, paddling with John de Villiers, has also stood on the top step of the podium previously.

The women’s race sees three boats – Abby Solms and Ronele Stevens, Robyn Henderson and Jane Swarbreck as well as Jordan and Kim Peek – squaring off for the ladies’ spoils.

Bianca Beavitt is another noteworthy entry, the Century City/Pink Lady however opting to tackle the challenge alone.

Husband and wife combo, Simon and Kim van Gysen will be another fascinating entry to keep an eye on as the pair who destroyed the Hansa Fish mixed doubles record in 2015 combine again, this time on their more familiar, local Western Cape waters.

While the Breede River has run at a low yet manageable level in the build up to the clash, the forecast of rain for most of Friday may well save participants from a scratchy two days altogether.

The 2016 Breede River Canoe Marathon, which doubles as the 2016 South African K3 Marathon Championships, takes place from Robertson to Swellendam on 3 and 4 September. More information can be found at www.breedemarathon.co.za

ENDS