Watts poised to join the Kingfishers
Durban North veteran paddler, Chris Watts to become only the fifth man to paddle the Hansa Fish Canoe Marathon for the 30th time.
WITH just under a week to go until the Hansa Fish River Canoe Marathon veteran paddler and Durban North resident, Chris Watts, has seen and felt everything he is feeling at the moment, 29 times before. He will start the race for the 30th time at the on 27 September and join a prestigious list of four others that have achieved Kingfisher status.
“After my first Fish in 1983 I knew that there was the possibility of carrying and doing more,” Watts said. “I have always lived an active lifestyle and with running and paddling being part of my life the support of my family was the only other thing I needed and they have been incredible.” Watts will join Andre Rabie, David Gillmer, Rory Anderson and Harold Wattrus in the Kingfisher group of paddlers with Anderson leading the pack with 31 Fishes under his belt compared to the 30 of the other three.
As he prepares for his 30th outing on the 82kilometres down the Fish river from Grassridge dam to Cradock, it seems that there is always something that keeps bringing him back even from as far afield as China.
“The camaraderie is something that keeps me coming back, the friends that I have made over the years in Cradock, like Ingrid and Ted Collet, as well as the complete change from the Kwa-Zulu Natal rivers and environment. It has to been consistently my favourite race on the calendar but a full Umko just pips it,” Watts said.
The race has morphed into one of the biggest races in the country and Watts is proud to be a part of it. “The race has certainly changed over the years – the most obvious change has to be the amount of paddlers on the water but some new routes on the dam and no wire fences in the river that you have to get out for. Keith’s has also gotten easier with more water,” he mentioned.
The plan for 2013 is not elaborate and Watts hopes that it will be a good race for him and his friends son, Gary Clark. The career does not seem to be coming to an end either and as long as he can get down the river Chris Watts is a person you will see at the finish in Cradock for a number of years to come. “The body still seems to be able to handle what the river brings so I will just have to keep going as long as the body and the mind will allow it,” Watts said jokingly.
The Hansa Fish River Canoe marathon takes place on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 September. More information can be found at www.fishmarathon.org.za
