With the South African Olympic sprint season now over, and the selected teams competing at the Paris Olympics, canoe marathon season in Gauteng is in full swing.
Paddlers now prepare for the International Canoe Federation (ICF) World Marathon Championships and other SA long-distance river races training and races are underway.
As preparation for these events commences, Edenvale resident Chad Andrews and father Cliff Andrews made a splash recently competing at Rietvlei Dam.
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On July 27 Centurion Canoe Club (CCC) hosted the second race of the marathon season.
Gauteng Canoe Union public relations and media liaison Jennie Dallas said the first marathon training race was hosted at Benoni’s Homestead Dam.
It was held on July 20.
The July 27 race hosted by CCC was held at Rietvlei Dam.
Dallas said the race at Rietvlei Dam included categories for K1 (single kayak), or K2 (double kayak) as well as K3 (three-man kayak).
It provided fit, strong and competitive paddlers the opportunity of a tough 18km long race.
A shorter 12km long race was also held for the newer, younger, less fit or older paddlers
Dallas said Chad and Cliff Andrews enjoyed their race adding mileage to their fitness.
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The duo finished their race in a time of 1 hour 35 minutes.
“Paddlers are looking forward to the next marathon training race scheduled to take place at Florida Lake Canoe Club,” said Dallas.
The third training race will be held on August 17.