Paddlers scoop top honours

Three Hout Bay paddlers, Holly Smith, Ryley Smith, and Jared Shrimpton, scooped top honours in the SA Marathon Championships and the SA Surfski Championships.

The SA Marathon Championships took place from Friday June 14 to Sunday June 16 while the SA Surfski Championships were held on Saturday and Sunday July 13 and 14.

Earlier this year, brother and sister Holly and Ryley were selected to represent South Africa at an international lifesaving competition in Durban in April (“Siblings to represent SA at lifesaving champs,” Sentinel, March 1).

All three attend Camps Bay High School. Ryley and Jared are in Grade 10 and Holly is in matric.

At the SA Marathon Championships, which were held in Gauteng, Holly came second in the women’s under-18 singles and first in the women’s under-18 doubles with her partner, Georgia Singe, of Fish Hoek High School, making the SA team for women’s under-18 singles and doubles, according to Camps Bay High School spokesperson Carol van der Spuy.

“Ryley achieved first place in the under-16 boys’ singles and second place in the under-18 men’s singles, making the SA team for men’s under-18 singles.

“Jared placed third in both the under-16 boys’ and under-18 men’s singles categories. Then Ryley and Jared teamed up for the doubles event, achieving first place in the under-16 boys’ doubles, first place in the under-18 boys’ doubles, making the SA team for men’s under-18 doubles,“ Ms Van der Spuy said.

The trio will represent South Africa at the 2024 ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships to be held in Croatia later this year.

“At the SA Surfski Champs in Durban, Holly secured second place in the under-18 women’s singles and sixth overall in the senior women’s singles. Alongside Georgia, Holly won the under-18 women’s doubles and placed an incredible fourth overall in the senior women’s Race, making the SA team.

“Ryley Smith won the under-18 men’s singles and under-16 boys’ singles, while Jared finished sixth in the under-18 men’s singles and fourth in the under-16 boys’ singles, making the SA team,“ Ms Van der Spuy said.

Holly said she had enjoyed meeting new people and racing against the world's best at the tournaments.

“It’s fun travelling with such awesome teammates and making lifelong friendships. I hope to retain my world championship title in the K2 with my partner, Georgia Singe,” she said.

Jared said he was very proud to represent South African, while Ryley said: “I’m super stoked to be able to compete on an international level and to represent SA doing the sport I love most - looking forward to it.”

Camps Bay High School principal Louis Mostert said: "We are incredibly proud of Holly, Ryley, and Jared for their exceptional achievements in these prestigious competitions. Their dedication, hard work, and sportsmanship are truly inspiring. We are excited to see them represent South Africa on the world stage and wish them the best of luck."