GAUTENG CANOE UNION AWARDS – SUNDAY 28 JUNE 2015
Gauteng Canoe Union recognised its achievers from the previous year 2014 / 2015 at a function at Rusty Hook restaurant a venue surrounded by pleasant landscapes with a scenic little dam and some farm animals providing a rustic flavour, on Sunday 28 June 2015, at a breakfast function.
Despite the previous day’s cold winds, the day was not as cold although overcast skies prevented the sun from warming the day up, however the venue provided a closed off area with hot food and mushroom heater to create a pleasant environment, although dark, resulting in difficulty for photography with the small candle type lights, and flashes reflecting off surrounding windows and glass in the gloomy but warm interior.
Previous Chairman Dennis Carlse introduced Steve Jourdaan to handle the GCU prizegiving speeches presenting him with a re-award certificate for his National Colours relating to his team management of the World Marathon Championships in Oklahoma, USA in 2014.
National Colours: Re-award certificates for the World Junior and Under 23 Sprint Championships (Hungary) were presented to David Rodrigues and Esti van Tonder, while re-award certificates were also presented for the World Canoe Polo Championships in France, to Chad Andrews, Chris de Bree, Greg hoets and Peter Geach as well as to juniors Dugan Afonso and David Rodrigues.
New National colours – blazer and certificate were presented to Sarah Jane Goldschagg and Daniela Afonso , while juniors Kevin Rodrigues, Nicolas Weeks and Divan Barnard were awarded pocket badges and certificates.
It was unfortunate that a number of the presentee’s were unable to be present at the function although in many cases team members were able to accept the awards on their behalf.
Federation Colours were also presented for Marathons World Masters Championships, Oklahoma, USA as a re-award certificate to Gustav Smook, while re-awards for Sprint World Cups Europe were presented to both Esti Van Tonder, Tiffany Kruger and their coach Fouche Van Tonder.
Gauteng Colours awards consisting of a badge and certificate were presented for Mark Smith in the Senior Age category as well as Colin Wilson, for Masters, while ladies awarded were Anna Clifford Arwidi and Sarah Evans. Under 23’s Siseko Ntondini as well as David Goldschagg were recognised as was junior girl Caroline van der Linde.
Re-awards were presented for Graham Holm in the Sub Grand Masters category as well as Kate Lapacz for the ladies, and Junior boys, Johann Ubbink.
Trophies were also presented to achievers for the past year, mostly relating to river races or canoe polo – listed below.
The GCU River Championships – K2 Vaal event achievers included:
Grand masters Mike Howard & Graham Holm, Sub Masters Gerrie Moolman and Willi Endres, Veteran Champions Andrew Hall and Barry Painting, Sub Veteran Champions Shaun Maphanga and Serge van Hee, Under 23 Champions Siseko Ntondini and Thando Ngamlana, who were also the K2 Champions, while the K2 Mixed Doubles championship award went to Kirsty Fox and Richard Tandy.
In the K1 River Championships awards, the Lowveld Crocodile River race, the Grand Master winner was Gerhard Steyn, while the Master was Peter Geach, Sub Master Champion Gustav Smook, Veteran Champion Anton Fatti, Sub Veteran Champion George Louw, Under 23 Champion Siseko Ntondini, as well as K1 Champion, while Kirsty Fox was the K1 ladies champion.
The best Organised Multi Day race award was presented to JCC for the 2 Day Klip who received 97.5% of the votes, with Dabs Eurosteel Croc achieving 93.6% to take second place, and Lowveld Croc in third with 87.4%. The Best Organised Single Day race saw Elands Memorial Race in 3rd place with 94.28%, the ERK Dusi race 2nd with 94.85% and the Florida Klip July Race taking 1st place with 98%.
The Canoe Concepts Mixed Doubles Champions were Shaun Maphanga with Monique Steven, while the Surfski Champion award was won by Mark Garden.
The Canoe Polo female champion was nominated as Daniela Afonso, with Nick Weeks being the Canoe Polo Male champion of the year, and the Sprinter of the year was Esti Van Tonder.
The Female paddler of the year was awarded to Kirsty Fox, while the Male paddler of the year was Siseko Ntondini!
A warm friendly relaxing and informal environment with a pleasantly tasty breakfast and surrounded by champions who made the effort to be present, the event was very enjoyable and enjoyed by all.
Jennie Dallas
GCU PR
0828578571