THE BASF Novice River race hosted by Watuni Canoe Club, based on the North West Campus in Vereeniging on the banks of the Vaal River, kicked off the new river racing season on Saturday April 18.
While the weather dawned gloomy with a chilly wind, the new paddlers basked in the warm sun which cleared the clouds, and thoroughly enjoyed their first river race.
The race, especially shorter than usual to accommodate learner paddlers, took place from Henley On Klip off the R59, and finished in Meyerton, a distance of nearly 15km.
While there were a number of new paddlers from all areas of Gauteng, some experienced paddlers also enjoyed the opportunity to get back on to the river after a few months layoff, in some cases even a few years.
Glen Sinclair and Dave Ivy are longtime residents on the banks of the Klip River and are frequently found enjoying the river, but have not been serious racers for some years as they concentrated on their businesses and families. This year they have issued a challenge to other over 50-year-old paddlers and the race is on.
They finished third overall as the first Master age paddlers, and are looking forward to the race season ahead in a time of 1:1minute.
Morgan Ziervogel partnered with her father Warren, who are also members of the local Johannesburg Canoe Club, They did extremely well, finishing in second place overall as the first mixed double team, in a time of one hour exactly.
