Bedfordview and Edenvale paddlers from Germiston-based Victoria Lake Canoe Club took to the rapids when they competed in a two-day Dusi training race.
Originally meant to be held in January, the training session, hosted by Wemmerpan-based Johannesburg Canoe Club, organised the 2021 JCC Two-Day Klip training event, which was held on February 27 and 28.
Held in the Midvaal area, it saw participants start above Daleside, paddling through Henley on Klip and finishing in Meyerton.
Gauteng Canoeing Union public relations officer Jennie Dallas said paddlers had a 33km distance to cover, which included a few kilometres of portages.
“This provided paddlers the opportunity to use the race for qualifying points for A-grade river status, as well as seeding for start-batching at the upcoming Dusi event,” said Dallas. The My Life Dusi is set to take place between March 20 and March 28.
Following the heavy rains and hail in the Alberton and Henley area on February 26, the river was bursting. “Participants paddled over low-level bridges, and the running portage took place around the Henley Kidson Weir for safety in grasslands on the banks that were saturated and swamp-like,” said Dallas.
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While some of the rapids flattened out with no rocks on sight and were easier to manoeuvre than usual, others were challenging with powerful waves tossing boats up in the air, which resulted in several swimmers and a few broken boats.
“The local Heineken factory donated cases of zero per cent alcohol, which turned out to be extremely refreshing beers for the exhausted paddlers,” said Dallas.
She said the company also sponsored promotional corporate gifts as prizes at the race.
• The first and top finisher was Sowetan Siseko Ntondini.
• The first lady finisher was Sowetan-based junior u-18 Tinyiko Mahwayi.
Residents from the Bedfordview and Edenvale area and paddlers from the Victoria Lake Canoe Club also enjoyed their adventure in the swollen river.
The top finishers from Germiston were the coaches from Victoria Lake, Loveday Zondi and Richard Cele, who finished both days in times of three hours 41 minutes and three hours 48 minutes respectively.
Benjamin Cockram from Kensington finished as the second master paddler (over 50) in a time of four hours 16 minutes.
Junior Helen Janse van Vuuren partnered with Robert Hamer to finish the race in five hours 37 minutes as the first mixed-double boat.
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