Pam Golding Properties King and Queen of the Kromme

So the Easter Saturday Pam Golding Properties King and Queen of the Kromme is over for another year!

80 paddlers started, the strongest field ever: amazingly five national paddlers, all possible winners (Phil Smith, Jasper Mocke, Ricky Talevi, Brandon van der Walt and Steve Woods).

And great sunny weather .. on the way up! Hard work on the way back into the easterly breeze ..

WELL DONE to our winners, 2022 QUEEN OF THE KROMME young Jade Wilson (back to back victories!) and former world champ Jasper Mocke , 2022 KING OF THE KROMME (Jasper also won in 2018).

Jasper, now living in JBay, was less than a boat length ahead of Ricky Talevi, who seems to get faster the older he gets! Local hero Phil Smith (last year’s winner, and first local winner ever) got tangled up with a fishing line, and Steve Woods pulled out after only 2km with chest cramps. Brandon Van Der Walt , maybe not so fit after his wedding, finished in third place, but a few minutes behind Jasper and Ricky.

Well done to all paddlers, some doing their first 12km river paddle. Very hard work paddling back into the strong incoming current and easterly breeze. Although high tide was at 3.45pm on the coast, it was still pushing up hard at the Cove at 5pm! And tricky coping with wake from many speed boats.

Just to add regarding ladies winner Jade Wilson, she finished ahead of top paddlers like Jason Goedhals and Fanta Gous … in a double! And well ahead of strong paddlers Werner Smit and our club captain Pete King. And more than seven minutes ahead of another very strong double pair, Andre van Wyk and Richard Tebbutt as well as evergreen Gavin McNish and Kay McNish and top vet, Ashley Fulford . And even further ahead of very competent paddlers like Brad Rosser, Neil Barrow , Lance Wyly, Paul Gerrard and SA iron man champ Christian Middleton. And Jade paddled on her own for most of the race!

I thought Kirstin Scott had a great race (hope she doesn’t mind me saying that), only 8 min behind Jade, but looks like she might have enjoyed Brad Rosser’s ample slip! Tracey van der Walt was perhaps a bit off her game after her recent wedding! .. 4min behind Kirstin.

Huge thanks to Shaun Frayne for pulling me all the way back. He is an excellent mountain biker, but not a regular paddler, but proved strong yesterday! I fell off my bunch with that horrible portage on the right on the way up just after the big bridge (keeping in the deep channel was way quicker) so had a lonely long paddle up to the Geelhout bouy, but luckily Shaun caught me when I was thinking of hitching a ride back in a speed boat!

Sincere thanks to Marie Dave-and Marie Louw who was amazing as usual eg sorting out many entry problems etc etc. She is actively involved for weeks. Also to Charles Jonsson and Jen Vallance and Magda Boshoff.

On the day, thanks to the registration/timekeeping team Marie, Mandy McGregor, Gail Brooker and Jo Brown . And to boat drivers Paul Middleton and Brian Wilson , photographer Marian Smith for her usual wonderful photos, also great photos by Chris Middleton and Paul Middleton .

And Pete King for the race briefing and placing the turn bouy up the Geelhout. And to Jason Goedhals from Carbonology for the lucky draw paddle as always (won by Jade!). And Lance Wyly Wyly for the lucky draw life jackets etc. And to Chantel Fichardt Chantel Fichardt James and Mae for their wonderful venue (Quays) and friendly vibe. I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few thank you’s …… apologies!

The entry fee of R140 included a First Choice recovery drink plus a tasty Quay’s meal and a cold beer. After the start of the 20km and 12km races, there were guppy and paddle board races, also with great prizes. Life jackets were only compulsory for guppies. Paddlers were required to enter online at paddler.canoesa.com. The races were only open to CSA registered paddlers. Paddlers were required to stick a Pam Golding sticker onto their boat. Good vantage points for watching were at the start, at the Cove at the end of Shore Road and from the Kromme bridge.

The long course is wonderful opportunity every year to paddle up to the Kromme River Island, about 8km upriver, then a few km up the beautiful meandering tributary, the Geelhout River, to the turn bouy.

It’s always singles race, and prizes are only for singles, but doubles are welcome. There is always a sweep boat (usually Pete King’s) for safety, sweeping … and maybe sustenance for the last long course paddlers! And an ambulance is always in attendance.

The start was at 3pm at Quays on Easter Saturday, where it has been based for the last 6 years, since moving from the Cove, in Shore Road. The finish is also at Quays.

There was R6000 in cash for the first three men and first three ladies. This year (for the first time) there was equal prize money for men and ladies.

And a trophy each for the mens and ladies 20km winners, the 2022 QUEEN & KING OF THE KROMME. There were 36 bottles of fine red wine for 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes for both men and ladies for both the 20km and the 12km in the three age groups: 1. seniors (ie 18 to 60), 2. u18, 3. over 60’s. And a podium photo of each category. And a lucky draw for a gold Carbonology split carbon fibre CS2 paddle (retail value R3200). Thanks as always to Jason and Hein from Carbonology.