Category: Race Reports

Lovemore and Vogt win SA K2 title, 2026 Fish cancelled: 13 September 2026

SA PaddlingYour Latest Paddling Report

31 August – 13 September 2026

Canoe · Surfski · Ocean · Sprint · SUP · 31 August – 13 September 2026

Lovemore and Vogt win the SA K2 title.
The 2026 Fish is cancelled.

Hamish Lovemore and Keegan Vogt won the SA K2 River Champs on the Liebenbergsvlei by 17 seconds, and KwaZulu-Natal crews took seven category titles on the day. The Fish River Canoe Marathon, set for 2 and 3 October, was called off because of Foot and Mouth Disease in the Eastern Cape. In Cape Town, Ryley and Jarryd ran the Miller’s Run in a double in 35:52, the fastest double time on record. Lovemore also came home from Poznań with a world championship silver in the K1 5000m.

12 Sep · Lovemore and Vogt win SA K2 title ◆ 2–3 Oct · Fish River Canoe Marathon cancelled ◆ 5 Sep · Miller’s Run double record, 35:52 ◆ 30 Aug · Lovemore silver in the K1 5000m ◆ 31 Oct–1 Nov · Pete Marlin, SA S1 and S2 Champs ◆ 18 Sep · Cape Point Challenge info evening ◆ 19–20 Sep · Dolphin Coast Surfski Challenge ◆ 26 Sep · Century City Sprints ◆ 27 Sep · Jock Claasens Memorial Race 12 Sep · Lovemore and Vogt win SA K2 title ◆ 2–3 Oct · Fish River Canoe Marathon cancelled ◆ 5 Sep · Miller’s Run double record, 35:52 ◆ 30 Aug · Lovemore silver in the K1 5000m ◆ 31 Oct–1 Nov · Pete Marlin, SA S1 and S2 Champs ◆ 18 Sep · Cape Point Challenge info evening ◆ 19–20 Sep · Dolphin Coast Surfski Challenge ◆ 26 Sep · Century City Sprints ◆ 27 Sep · Jock Claasens Memorial Race

SA K2 River Champs

River · Marathon / Free State

Lovemore and Vogt win by 17 seconds

Hamish Lovemore and Keegan Vogt won the SA K2 River Championship on the Liebenbergsvlei on Saturday 12 September in 1:50:20. Clinton Cook and Jeremy Maher finished 16.7 seconds behind them. Wayne Jacobs and Luke Salmon were third, 46.6 seconds down on the winners.

The title moved to the Liebenbergsvlei after low water in the Breede River. Saturday’s race sheet lists 81 finishing boats: 52 K2s, 14 K3s and 15 K1s. Lovemore won it 13 days after his K1 5000m silver in Poznań.

SA K2 Champs · top five K2s

1	Hamish Lovemore / Keegan VogtDCP · MAR · KNCU	1:50:20
2	Clinton Cook / Jeremy MaherDCP · NAT · KNCU	1:50:37
3	Wayne Jacobs / Luke SalmonDABS · GCU	1:51:06
4	Msawenkosi Mtolo / Zamokuhle MeyiwaDUB · KNCU	1:56:51
5	James Gotte / Siyabonga NdlovuMAR · DUB · KNCU · U18	1:56:53

KwaZulu-Natal crews won seven K2 categories on the day. The U18 winners, James Gotte and Siyabonga Ndlovu, finished fifth among all K2s, two seconds behind the fourth placed senior crew.

SA K2 Champs · category winners

U23	Kwanele Banda / Siyanda MajoziSIP · THU · KNCU	2:08:15
U18	James Gotte / Siyabonga NdlovuMAR · DUB · KNCU	1:56:53
U16	Sanele Mtolo / Ayabongwa JaliDUB · THO · KNCU	2:09:20
U14	Sihle Mbanjwa / Bongokuhle NgubaneTHU · DUB · KNCU	2:25:29
Mix	Raymond Radebe / Nosipho MthembuDUB · UMZ · KNCU	2:08:20
Wmn	Tamara Sneyd / Hilary BrussUMV · KNCU	2:12:49

Times come from the results sheet issued at 14:46 on race day. The SA K3 Champs ran on Sunday 13 September; those results follow in the next edition.

People: Hamish Lovemore, Keegan Vogt, Clinton Cook, Jeremy Maher Discipline: River marathon Province: Free State

Miller’s Run Record

Surfski · Downwind · Double / Western Cape

GPS watch showing 11.63km in 35:52.3 at 19.4 km/h after the record Miller's Run — The watch at the finish: 11.63km, 35:52.3, 19.4 km/h.

Ryley and Jarryd set the fastest double time on the Miller’s Run: 35:52

Ryley and Jarryd paddled the Miller’s Run in a double surfski on 5 September in 35 minutes 52 seconds, the fastest time ever recorded on the run in a double. They covered 11.63km at an average of 19.4 km/h.

In January 2011 surfski.info reported Dawid Mocke and Oscar Chalupsky’s 37:18 in a double as the fastest Miller’s Run of all time. Ryley and Jarryd went 1 minute 26 seconds quicker.

Their kilometre splits show where the run was won. They held under 3:05 for the first four kilometres, then hit 2:51 and 2:45 in kilometres six and seven, the fastest at 21.8 km/h. A paddler out on the water that day watched them come past with the highest cadence they had ever seen, fast enough to look like an express freight train was chasing them.

Miller’s Run · 5 September · kilometre splits

1	2:56.2	20.4 km/h
2	3:01.4	19.8 km/h
3	3:04.7	19.5 km/h
4	3:03.3	19.6 km/h
5	3:15.3	18.4 km/h
6	2:51.4	21.0 km/h
7	2:45.3	21.8 km/h
8	2:59.5	20.1 km/h
9	3:20.4	18.0 km/h
10	3:21.1	17.9 km/h
11	3:15.0	18.5 km/h

Lap screen with the eleven kilometre splits from the record run

The final 0.63km took 1:58.7. Source for the 2011 time: surfski.info

People: Ryley, Jarryd Boat: Double surfski Route: Miller’s Point to Fish Hoek Province: Western Cape

Fish River Canoe Marathon

River · Marathon / Eastern Cape

Cancelled over Foot and Mouth Disease, with refunds through PSA

The Fish River Canoe Marathon organising committee has cancelled the 2026 race, which was scheduled for 2 and 3 October at Cradock, because of the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in the Eastern Cape.

The race committee took the decision with the Fish River Farmers Association and the local farming community. Every entrant gets a refund through the PaddleSport South Africa entry portal, and the organisers will help anyone whose refund does not come through. The committee says the race returns in 2027.

This is the second Fish lost to Foot and Mouth Disease in three years; the 2024 race was cancelled for the same reason. The Pre-Fish, set for 19 and 20 September at Cradock, is also cancelled. The 2026 race carried the SA K1 River Champs, and no replacement venue for the K1 title had been announced by 13 September.

On 4 September the organisers were still promoting entry deadlines of 20 September for pre-entries and 28 September for late entries, with an extra R200 for late entry and a start at Grassridge Dam. PSA posted the cancellation on 10 September, and Western Cape paddlers shared it on Facebook.

Source: PaddleSport SA · fishmarathon.org.za

Organiser: Fish River Canoe Marathon Race Committee Discipline: River marathon Province: Eastern Cape

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Pete Marlin Surfski Race

Surfski · Ocean · SA Champs / Eastern Cape

A gathering of world champs for the SA ocean titles in East London

The Pete Marlin Surfski Race in East London carries both SA ocean titles this year: the SA S1 Champs on Saturday 31 October and the SA S2 Champs on Sunday 1 November. The organisers are promoting it as a gathering of world champs, with more than R140,000 in prize money and over 150 championship medals.

Andy Birkett won both the singles and doubles in 2025. In a pre-race message from last year’s podium he said he is not confident of defending his titles, but that it is one of his favourite races. Jade Wilson, a regular on the women’s podium, and Dawid Mocke are both training for it.

Entries are open on the PaddleSport SA entry portal, and paddlers need open ocean surfski proficiency on their PSA profile. Anyone who wants the race shirt must enter by 21 September.

Pete Marlin 2026 race shirt poster, entry deadline 21 September

Source: petemarlin.co.za · Pete Marlin on Facebook

People: Andy Birkett, Jade Wilson, Dawid Mocke Discipline: Surfski Venue: East London Province: Eastern Cape

Sprint World Championships

Sprint · International / Poznań, Poland

Lovemore silver in the K1 5000m

Hamish Lovemore won silver in the K1 5000m on 30 August, the last day of the Canoe Sprint World Championships in Poznań. It was South Africa’s only medal of the regatta and his second world championship silver over the distance in successive years.

Four men came into the finish together. Lovemore sprinted from the back of the group past Norway’s Amund Vold and Denmark’s Mads Pedersen, but could not reach Portugal’s Fernando Pimenta.

K1 Men 5000m · final

1	Fernando PimentaPOR	24:15.72
2	Hamish LovemoreRSA	24:17.17
3	Mads PedersenDEN	24:18.17

Earlier in the week Lovemore won the B final of the K1 1000m, which placed him 10th. Bridgitte Hartley finished 15th in the women’s 5000m. Esti Olivier was eighth in her 200m semi-final and seventh in the C final of the 500m.

Source: PaddleSport SA · Team SA

People: Hamish Lovemore, Bridgitte Hartley, Esti Olivier Discipline: Sprint Province: KwaZulu-Natal

Dolphin Coast Surfski Challenge

Surfski · Ocean / KwaZulu-Natal

Two days, 45km, doubles only

The FuelU2 Dolphin Coast Surfski Challenge is a double ski race this year, over 19 and 20 September on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast.

Day one goes from Pirates Surf Lifesaving Club to Umdloti, 22km. Day two carries on from Umdloti to Salt Rock, 23km. Entry is R950 on the PaddleSport SA entry portal, and entries close on Wednesday 16 September.

Sponsor: FuelU2 Discipline: Surfski, double Province: KwaZulu-Natal

Cape Point Challenge

Surfski · Ocean / Western Cape

An information evening at Fish Hoek on 18 September

The STBB Cape Point Challenge holds an information evening on Friday 18 September at the Fish Hoek Beach Sports Club, at 6:00 for 6:30pm. The race itself is set for 19 December, with 20 December as the alternative date, over 52km from Scarborough to Fish Hoek.

Four paddlers with Cape Point Challenges behind them are speaking:

HistoryGarth WattersThe story of the Cape Point Challenge
QualifyingIan BlackQualifying for race day
TrainingKenny RiceTraining and preparation
SafetyRob MousleySafety on the water, and for yourself

Questions from the floor follow the talks. Race details are on the Cape Point Challenge website.

Venue: Fish Hoek Beach Sports Club Discipline: Surfski Province: Western Cape

Club Racing

Clubs · River · Sprint / KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape

Crusaders Canoe Club Jock Claasens Memorial Race poster for 27 September 2026 — Crusaders Canoe Club’s poster for the Jock Claasens Memorial Race.

A 16km memorial race, junior sprints and Monday time trials

Crusaders Canoe Club runs the Jock Claasens Memorial Race on 27 September over 16km. A shuttle service takes paddlers back to the start: drop the boat at the start, drive to the finish, and the club drives you back. The first car leaves at 07:45 and the last at 08:45. There are lucky draws, beer and boerie rolls afterwards.

In Cape Town, Century City Canoe Club hosts the Century City Sprints on Saturday 26 September. Races run over 1000m, 500m and 200m for paddlers from U8 to U23, in guppies, K1s and surfskis. Registration opens at 08:30, racing starts at 10:00, and entry is R50. The contact number is on the poster.

Tygervalley Canoe Club runs a 2km time trial every Monday at sunset, on the water at 5:45pm. It is open to all levels and aimed at paddlers building up to the longer monthly time trials.

Century City Sprints poster for Saturday 26 September 2026

Tygervalley Otters 2km canoe club trial poster, every Monday at sunset

Clubs: Crusaders Canoe Club, Century City Canoe Club, Tygervalley Canoe Club Discipline: Club racing

Downwind Clinics, Langebaan

Surfski · Coaching / Western Cape

Downwind Clinics 2026/27 Langebaan poster listing six weekend dates — Six Friday-to-Sunday clinics, October to March.

Six weekends from October to March, ten paddlers each

SA Paddling’s Richard Kohler and Robin Tindall are running weekend downwind clinics in Langebaan for paddlers who can already handle a surfski and want to learn to ride runs.

Each clinic runs Friday to Sunday and takes ten paddlers. The coaching covers wave reading, catching runs, stability and setting up your gear. The R5,490 fee includes two nights’ accommodation, breakfasts and dinners, on-water safety, transport in Langebaan and a mystery goodie bag.

The dates are 16–18 October, 6–8 November, 11–13 December, 22–24 January, 19–21 February and 19–21 March. The October clinic is almost sold out, and the November, December and January clinics are filling up fast. Applications are on the clinic application page.

Downwind conditions on Langebaan Lagoon, video still

Langebaan downwind conditions, 87 seconds. Tap to play.

Coaches: Richard Kohler, Robin Tindall Discipline: Surfski Province: Western Cape

PE2EL Surf Ski Challenge

Surfski · History / Eastern Cape

PE2EL Challenge book purchase notice — The PE2EL book notice, with local and offshore orders.

A book on 50 years of the 244km race

A hardcover book on the history of the PE2EL Surf Ski Challenge is on sale, in a standard and a limited edition. Orders from South Africa and overseas go through the order form.

The race runs over four days and 244km, from Bluewater Bay in Gqeberha to Nahoon Beach, with overnight stops at Woody Cape, Port Alfred and Hamburg. It dates to 1972, when paddler John Woods and runner John Ball raced each other along the coast. Nigel Harvey led the book project with Gavin Harvey, Francois Gous, Dave Collins and author Dean Allen, working from newspaper archives, race records, photographs and paddlers’ own accounts.

Source: Daily Maverick

Event: PE2EL Surf Ski Challenge Discipline: Ocean Province: Eastern Cape

Safety

Safety · Proficiency / National

Wednesday Why question and answer card on race entry proficiencies — This fortnight’s Wednesday Q&A on water safety.

Why the entry system turns away experienced paddlers

A paddler who has raced river and ski before can still be blocked from entering an event if their online profile does not show the right proficiency for it.

Proficiencies can only be added by a designated safety officer on the PSA safety portal. Past races count for nothing if the proficiency is missing from the profile, so the fix is to ask your club’s safety officer to update it before entries close.

Body: PaddleSport South Africa Portal: PSA paddler portal

Calendar of Events

Diary / 2026–27

Featured events with posters, then the full diary from 14 September to March 2027.

18 September

Cape Point Challenge information evening

Fish Hoek Beach Sports Club, 6:00 for 6:30pm. Talks from Garth Watters, Ian Black, Kenny Rice and Rob Mousley.

19–20 September

Dolphin Coast Surfski Challenge

Double ski. Pirates SLC to Umdloti 22km, then Umdloti to Salt Rock 23km. R950, entries close Wednesday 16 September.

24 September

Vlei 2 Fish Dash

Registration at PLC in Lakeside from 11:00 to 12:30, race starts 13:00. A lap of the vlei, out of the mouth and up False Bay to Fish Hoek Beach Sports Club. Entry R280.

26 September

Century City Sprints

1000m, 500m and 200m, U8 to U23, guppy, K1 and surfski. Registration from 08:30, racing 10:00, entry R50.

26–27 September

Stilbaai Classic

Sea race of about 20km from 12:00 on the Saturday, route set on the day. River races of 10km and 20km from 07:00 on the Sunday. R350 per race, R200 under 18.

27 September

Jock Claasens Memorial Race

16km, Crusaders Canoe Club. Shuttle back to the start, first car 07:45, last car 08:45.

10 October

Paddle the Lagoon, Langebaan

First running, from the Langebaan Yacht Club. Surfski 13km and 17km, plus a 6.5km short course for sea and touring kayaks. Reserve day Sunday 11 October.

31 October – 1 November

Pete Marlin, SA SS1 and SS2 Champs

SS1 title on the Saturday, SS2 on the Sunday. Entries are open on the PSA portal; open ocean surfski proficiency required. Race shirt entry deadline 21 September.

Dolphin Coast Surfski Challenge 2026 poster

Tap any poster to open it full-size.

Full diary to March 2027

Dates	Event	Discipline	Location
18 Sep	Cape Point Challenge information evening	Talk	Fish Hoek Beach Sports Club, Western Cape
19 Sep	Franschhoek to Paarl to Strand	River	Western Cape
19–20 Sep	Dolphin Coast Surfski Challenge (double ski)	Surfski	Pirates SLC to Salt Rock, KwaZulu-Natal
24 Sep	Vlei 2 Fish Dash	Surfski	Marina da Gama to Fish Hoek, Western Cape
26 Sep	Century City Sprints	Sprint	Century City, Western Cape
26–27 Sep	Stilbaai Classic (sea Saturday, river Sunday)	Surfski / river	Hulle By Die See, Stilbaai
27 Sep	Jock Claasens Memorial Race	River	Crusaders Canoe Club, KwaZulu-Natal
1 Oct	Kingfisher Canoe Club boat auction	Club	KwaZulu-Natal
2–3 Oct	Fish River Canoe Marathon · CANCELLED	River marathon	Cradock, Eastern Cape
9–11 Oct	Paddle Worldwide Ocean Racing World Champs	Ocean	Spain
10 Oct	Paddle the Lagoon (reserve day 11 Oct)	Surfski / sea kayak	Langebaan Yacht Club, Western Cape
16–18 Oct	Downwind Clinic 1	Surfski coaching	Langebaan, Western Cape
18 Oct	CPC Qualifier 1	Surfski	FHBSC, Western Cape
22–25 Oct	Paddle Worldwide World Marathon Champs	Marathon	Argentina
31 Oct	Pete Marlin SA SS1	Surfski	Eastern Cape
1 Nov	Pete Marlin SA SS2	Surfski	Eastern Cape
6–8 Nov	Downwind Clinic 2	Surfski coaching	Langebaan, Western Cape
7–8 Nov	Orange Descent K1 (K2 and K3 welcome)	River	Northern Cape
7–15 Nov	Harbour 2 Harbour 160km ultra (weather window)	Sea kayak	Richards Bay to Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
8 Nov	CPC Qualifier 2	Surfski	FHBSC, Western Cape
15 Nov	3 Beaches (TBC)	Surfski	FHBSC, Western Cape
21–22 Nov	Vaal Marathon (TBC)	River marathon	Gauteng
29 Nov	CPC Qualifier 3	Surfski	FHBSC, Western Cape
5 Dec	Daniel Conradie	Surfski	Strand, Western Cape
6 Dec	Peter Creese	Surfski	FHBSC, Western Cape
11–13 Dec	Downwind Clinic 3	Surfski coaching	Langebaan, Western Cape
19 Dec	Cape Point Challenge	Surfski	Scarborough to Fish Hoek, Western Cape
20 Dec	Cape Point Challenge (alternative date)	Surfski	Western Cape
22–24 Jan	Downwind Clinic 4	Surfski coaching	Langebaan, Western Cape
19–21 Feb	Downwind Clinic 5	Surfski coaching	Langebaan, Western Cape
19–21 Mar	Downwind Clinic 6	Surfski coaching	Langebaan, Western Cape

Scope: Compiled from the Western Cape Canoe Union 2026 diary, event posters and organiser websites. Dates marked TBC are as published by the organisers.

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September 13, 2026

Hartley’s 15th, Lovemore’s 10th, SA K2 Moves to LBV, 30 August 2026

SA PaddlingYour Latest Paddling Report

23 – 30 August 2026

Canoe · Surfski · Ocean · Sprint · SUP · 23 – 30 August 2026

Hartley 15th. Lovemore 10th.
SA K2 Champs move to Liebenbergsvlei.

Bridgitte Hartley placed 15th and Hamish Lovemore 10th in the 1000m K1 at the Canoe Sprint World Championships in Poznań. At home, low water in the Breede River sent the SA K2 River Champs to Liebenbergsvlei on 12 and 13 September, and Dabulamanzi Canoe Club ran its first 24 hour Backwater Ultra.

29 Aug · Hartley 15th, Lovemore 10th in Poznań ◆ 12–13 Sep · SA K2 and K3 Champs move to Liebenbergsvlei ◆ 21–22 Aug · First Dabs Backwater Ultra ◆ 19–20 Sep · Pre-Fish, Cradock ◆ 2–3 Oct · Fish River Canoe Marathon and SA K1 Champs ◆ 26–27 Sep · Stilbaai Classic ◆ 10 Oct · First Paddle the Lagoon, Langebaan

Sprint World Championships

Sprint · International / Poznań, Poland

Hartley 15th and Lovemore 10th in the 1000m K1

Three South Africans were named ahead of the Canoe Sprint World Championships in Poznań, raced from 26 to 30 August. Bridgitte Hartley finished 15th in the world in the 1000m K1 on day three. Hamish Lovemore finished 10th in the same event on day four.

Points from this regatta carry a 1.5x multiplier in the qualification standings, and the team cards carried the #Road2LA tag. Hartley and Lovemore were entered for the 1000m and 5000m K1. Esti Olivier was entered for the 200m and 500m K1.

Day three produced a B final and a C final for the team. Day four was described by the team as a mixed bag on the water, with Lovemore’s 10th the standout. Racing finished on 30 August.

Hamish Lovemore team card for the 2026 Canoe Sprint World Championships

Esti Olivier team card for the 2026 Canoe Sprint World Championships

Placings come from Team South Africa’s daily roundups in Poznań. Official ICF sheets carry the times for each final.

People: Bridgitte Hartley, Hamish Lovemore, Esti Olivier Discipline: Sprint Province: KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng

SA K2 and K3 River Champs

River · Marathon / Free State

Liebenbergsvlei Clean Water Challenge poster for 12 and 13 September 2026 — The Liebenbergsvlei Clean Water Challenge now carries both national river titles.

Low water on the Breede sends the K2 title to Liebenbergsvlei

The PSA Marathon Technical Committee decided, and the Board approved, that the SA K2 River Champs will be hosted by Liebenbergsvlei. The announcement gave low water in the Breede River as the reason.

Three races now run over the weekend of 12 and 13 September. SA K2 Champs on the Saturday, SA K3 Champs on the Sunday, and the LBV Clean Water Challenge for anyone doing both days in the same boat. Saturday starts at 10:30 and Sunday at 08:00, over 32km per day, graded B, running from Reitz Waterworks to Zorgvliet.

Entries have reopened. Paddlers entering both days in the same boat are entered automatically into whichever SA champs applies, and the organisers asked people not to pay twice. Entering different boats on the two days means entering Saturday and Sunday separately, at half the fee each.

Liebenbergsvlei · what is on offer

SA medalsPSA CATEGORIES, EACH DAY	Both days
SA River Kings and QueensPAIR FINISHING HIGHEST OVERALL IN K2 AND K3	Overall
LBV prizesOVERALL · LADIES · MIXED · JUNIOR · BALLIE 40+ · SUPER-BALLIE 70+ · NOVICE · LUCKY DRAW	Both days

Organisers: Paddlesport Gauteng, SCARC, Dabulamanzi Canoe Club Discipline: River marathon Dates: 12–13 September 2026

Dabs Backwater Ultra

River · Ultra distance / Gauteng

Paddlers gathered outside Dabulamanzi Canoe Club after the first Backwater Ultra — The field at Dabulamanzi Canoe Club after the first Backwater Ultra.

Twenty five finishers in the first running

Dabulamanzi Canoe Club ran its first Backwater Ultra over the weekend of 21 and 22 August. The 24 hour race started at 5:00 PM on the Friday and finished at 5:00 PM on the Saturday. Paddlers had to cover roughly 6.7km every hour to stay in it. A 12 hour option ran alongside.

Thirteen paddlers completed the full 24 hours for 100 miles. Twelve completed the 12 hour race for 50 miles. Ryno Armdoff was the oldest finisher and Nhlamulo Mahwayi the youngest.

Dabs Backwater Ultra · 24 hour, 100 miles

Luke Salmon	Nic Notten	MJ Robb
Rob Crichton	Ryan Rodda	Tyde Malherbe
Matt Fenn	Josh Fenn	Sibusiso Zulu
Benji Mtonintshi	TK	Ryno Armdoff
Nhlamulo Mahwayi

Dabs Backwater Ultra · 12 hour, 50 miles

Dan McLachlan	Richard Cook	Karen Field
Renschi van Zyl	Emma Hatfield	Gareth Barberton
Wayne Jacobs	Thabani Msia	Colin Wilson
Matthew Cockram	Pierro Ioppo	Kyle Armdoff

Soweto Canoe and Recreation Club singled out three of its 24 hour finishers, Nhlamulo Mahwayi, Benjamin Mntonintshi and Ryno Armdorf. Nkosi Mzolo paddled 18 hours without having trained for the distance.

Finishers of the Dabs Backwater Ultra inside Dabulamanzi Canoe Club

Two surnames appear with different spellings between the finishers list and the club post, Armdoff and Armdorf, Mtonintshi and Mntonintshi. Corrections to news@sapaddling.co.za.

Club: Dabulamanzi Canoe Club Discipline: Ultra distance Province: Gauteng

Fish River Canoe Marathon

River · Marathon / Eastern Cape

Six weeks out, and a two day dress rehearsal first

The 2026 Fish River Canoe Marathon and SA K1 Champs run on 2 and 3 October at Cradock. Entries are open on the PSA portal at paddler.paddlesportsa.com.

Fish River Canoe Club has put the Pre-Fish on 19 and 20 September, two weeks ahead of the race. Day one runs Grassridge to Knutsford over 48km, starting at 11:00 with registration from 09:00, or Saltpans to Knutsford over 20km. Day two runs Knutsford to Town over 36km from 08:00, or Baroda to Town over 27km. The first 50 entries get a cap.

Pre-Fish 2026 poster for 19 and 20 September at Cradock

Club: Fish River Canoe Club Enquiries: Ryan Copeman Province: Eastern Cape

European Ocean Racing Championship

Surfski · Ocean / Brittany, France

Race one goes to Rosie Edwards and Bernardo Pereira

The 2026 Paddle Europe European Ocean Racing Championship opened on the Finistère coast in Brittany with an SS1 race, plus an invited OC1 category that carried no European title.

SS1 Open Women · race 1

1	Rosie EdwardsGBR · U23
2	Judit VergèsESP · SENIOR
3	Chloe BunnettESP · SENIOR

SS1 Open Men · race 1

1	Bernardo PereiraPOR · U23
2	Pierre VilellaFRA · SENIOR
3	Walter BouzanESP · SENIOR

SS1 Junior Women · race 1

1	Constança FrazãoPOR
2	Andrea Colmard JiménezESP
3	Katie Luen-TwiningGBR

Rosie Edwards and Bernardo Pereira also took the U23 titles. In the invited OC1 category Louka Brard won the men’s race and Sylvie Marin the women’s. Replay and full results are on Total Paddler.

No South African paddlers finished on a race one podium.

Discipline: Ocean racing Venue: Finistère, Brittany Source: Total Paddler

IVF Va’a World Sprints

Va’a · International / Singapore

Day 10 medal table from the IVF World Sprint Championships in Singapore — The day 10 medal table, as published by Total Paddler.

Tahiti finish on 87 medals

The IVF World Sprint Championships closed at Marina Bay in Singapore. Total Paddler reported 2,222 athletes from 29 countries and territories entered. Tahiti topped the table with 45 golds and 87 medals in total.

IVF World Sprint Championships · final medal table

1	Tahiti	45 · 27 · 15 = 87
2	Hawaii	18 · 11 · 14 = 43
3	New Zealand	16 · 26 · 29 = 71
4	USA	6 · 7 · 11 = 24
5	Canada	6 · 12 · 3 = 21
6	Australia	5 · 7 · 10 = 22
7	Brazil	3 · 3 · 1 = 7
8	France	3 · 0 · 0 = 3
9	Singapore	2 · 0 · 0 = 2
10	Wallis & Futuna	0 · 3 · 0 = 3
11	New Caledonia	0 · 1 · 5 = 6
12	Cook Islands	0 · 0 · 1 = 1
12	Germany	0 · 0 · 1 = 1

Columns run gold, silver, bronze, then total. The championships ran from 17 to 31 August, with ten days of sprint finals.

Discipline: Va’a sprint Venue: Marina Bay, Singapore Source: Total Paddler

Stilbaai Classic

Surfski · River / Western Cape

Sea on the Saturday, river on the Sunday

Still Bay Paddling Club runs the Stilbaai Classic on 26 and 27 September at Hulle By Die See. Saturday is a sea race of about 20km starting at 12:00, with the route set on the day according to conditions. Sunday is a river race over 10km and 20km starting at 07:00.

Entry is R350 per race and R200 for under 18. The sea race enters through PSA. The river race enters through Entry Ninja or PSA. Life jackets are compulsory for both days. The first 100 entries get a branded towel, and there are cash prizes and lucky draws.

Club: Still Bay Paddling Club Contacts: Brian and Clifton, numbers on the poster Province: Western Cape

Club News

Clubs / KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape

A boat auction at Kingfisher and Tuesday time trials at Century City

Kingfisher Canoe Club holds a boat auction on Thursday 1 October, after the time trial. Boats book in between 15:00 and 17:00 on the Wednesday, or 08:00 to 08:45 on the Thursday.

Bidding costs R20, which is not refundable. Selling costs R50 per item to the club, plus 10% of the sale.

Century City Canoe Club runs time trials every Tuesday with a start line at 18:00, over 3km, 6km and 10km.

Kingfisher Canoe Club boat auction poster for 1 October 2026

Century City Canoe Club Tuesday time trials poster

Clubs: Kingfisher Canoe Club, Century City Canoe Club Discipline: Club racing

Inside PaddleSport South Africa

Administration / National

PaddleSport South Africa technical committees table — Who sits on each PSA technical committee, as published by PSA.

Who chairs what, and where an entry fee goes

PSA published two reference sheets this fortnight. The first lists its technical committees. Waldo van Der Linde chairs Marathon, Charl Van Wyk chairs Ocean Paddling, Nichole Wilson chairs Sprints on an interim basis, Niel Burger chairs Canoe Polo and Don Wewege chairs Slalom and Kayak Cross.

The second breaks down a race entry. The race organiser takes the largest share. A union fee or levy applies to certain races as each union decides. The Athlete Tour Fund draws up to R20 per paddler per day on multi day events, national champs and ocean events needing open ocean proficiency, and is controlled by the discipline committees. Indemnity insurance is R4.00 or R4.70. Payfast takes 3.45%. System maintenance takes 1.05% where event income is above R100k and 2.55% below it. PSA administration of the online entry system takes 0.5%.

PSA Friday Fact card on technical committees

PSA breakdown of where race entry money is allocated

Body: PaddleSport South Africa Scope: National

Safety

Safety · NSRI / Western Cape

A broken leash off Roman Rock, and a paddler who turned back

A 73 year old surfski paddler fell out of his boat about one nautical mile north of Roman Rock on Tuesday 25 August. His leash had broken, and the ski blew away from him in strong wind.

Another paddler saw it happen, turned back, and used a bungee cord to tow the empty ski to the man in the water. Both activated their NSRI SafeTrx alerts and stayed afloat together. NSRI Simon’s Town was activated at 11:24 and launched the rescue craft Donna Nicholas into two metre swells and a 30 knot south easter. Two rescue swimmers went in, and the casualty came aboard with his ski. He was treated for mild hypothermia and was not injured.

At least five humpback whales breached around the rescue craft while the recovery ran. The paddler who raised the alarm carried on to Fish Hoek Beach. NSRI commended his swift actions.

Two things did the work here: another paddler who turned back, and SafeTrx alerts that gave the crew a position to launch to. The leash is the part that failed. The full NSRI report is at nsri.org.za.

Source: National Sea Rescue Institute, published 26 August 2026 Station: NSRI Simon’s Town Province: Western Cape

Paddle the Lagoon

Surfski · Sea kayak / Western Cape

Langebaan Lagoon · 10 October 2026

Westcoast Warriors run the first Paddle the Lagoon from the Langebaan Yacht Club.

A first running on the Langebaan Lagoon

Westcoast Warriors host the first Paddle the Lagoon on Saturday 10 October, starting and finishing at the Langebaan Yacht Club. Sunday 11 October is the reserve day if conditions on the Saturday are unsafe.

Surfski singles and doubles race a 13km mid course or a 17km long course. A 6.5km short course is open to surfskis and to sea and touring kayaks, single or double. Doubles can be mixed or same gender, and there are no age categories. Positions only are recorded in each category.

Registration runs at the Yacht Club on Friday 9 October from 17:00 to 18:30, and on the Saturday morning from 08:00 to 11:00. Paddlers staying over on the Friday are asked to register that evening. Everyone collects a key ring memento and a goodie bag. The race briefing is at 12:15 and the starts are planned for 13:00, subject to the weather and the sea on the day. Prize giving and a lucky draw follow at about 17:00, and the Yacht Club restaurant runs a race day braai.

A life jacket is compulsory for every paddler. A support boat covers the course, routes may be shortened for safety, and anyone withdrawing should still report to the organisers’ desk. Finishers must come through the official finish posts to be recorded. Parking is on Lagoon Street above Sandbaai, with security on hand, and boats can go down to the Sandbaai beach before the start.

Entries are on Entry Ninja. The organisers also run a WhatsApp group for updates on this race and future ones.

This is not a PaddleSport South Africa sanctioned event, so paddlers do not need to be registered to enter.

Host: Westcoast Warriors Venue: Langebaan Yacht Club Province: Western Cape

Calendar of Events

Diary / 2026

Featured events with posters, then the full diary from 31 August to the end of the year.

12–13 September

Liebenbergsvlei Clean Water Challenge

SA K2 Champs on the Saturday, SA K3 Champs on the Sunday, LBV Champs over both days in the same boat. 32km per day, Reitz Waterworks to Zorgvliet. Starts 10:30 and 08:00.

19–20 September

Pre-Fish, Cradock

Day one, Grassridge to Knutsford 48km from 11:00, or Saltpans to Knutsford 20km. Day two, Knutsford to Town 36km from 08:00, or Baroda to Town 27km. Free cap for the first 50 entries.

24 September