Junior paddlers training for Olympic Hope competition
A number of the junior paddlers race at Homestead Dam as part of their respective training programmes and a number of events on the annual calendar are allocated to the local club.
The Ekurhuleni Kayak Club based at Homestead Dam was a hive of activity on the water when it hosted an event for young paddlers in age categories from u-8 to u-18 last weekend (July 28).
A team selected from the Inter-Provincial inter-schools competition was identified to participate in the Olympic Hope competition in Slovakia in September and the Benoni event formed an integral part of their race training.
The Olympic Hope event is for young people aged 15-17 and is organised by the European Canoeing Association.
It gives athletes the chance to race at an international competition with other successful athletes from over 30 countries around the world at the Zemník Canoeing Sport Centre near Bratislava along the River Danube.
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The Gauteng Canoe Union School League offers the opportunity for young school-going paddlers to participate in regular races throughout the year, earning points on a sliding scale for every race completed.
The budding paddlers can also achieve provincial colours by competing in the inter-provincial competitions that take place with an annual inter-school and inter-provincial sprint competitions being held annually as well.
Juniors selected to represent SA at the Olympic Hopeful competition in Slovakia: U-18 Boys – Finlay Leask, Matthew Maccelari, Adrian Rodd. U-16 Girls – Kamilah Hank and Helen Jansen van Vuuren, Tinyejo Mahwayi and Thembelihle Jokozela.
