Two Benoni canoe winners selected to represent Gauteng
Benonians have secured their selection in the ERK team to represent Gauteng at the upcoming SA marathons in St Francis Bay this month
The Gauteng Canoe Union’s Marathon Championships race was hosted by Victoria Lake Canoe Club, based at Germiston Dam, on the weekend of September 19 to 20.
Paddlers from all ages, under eight through to great grand masters (over 65 years), were thrilled at the opportunity to participate in the Singles (K1) and/or Doubles (K2) races after months of lockdown.
Numerous paddlers throughout Gauteng participated in the trials for team selection to represent the province at the upcoming South African Canoe Marathon Championships to be held in October on the canals at St Francis Bay.
Categories include the 12 years and under juniors in ‘guppy’ boats, as well as K1 (Single Kayaks) men and women all ages, and K2 (Double Kayaks).
Marathon canoe races are over 20kms, and they include a portage where the paddlers get out of the water as smoothly and efficiently as possible to run a short distance with their boat, and put it back into the water without losing time, a difficult feat to manage efficiently.
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Michael Stewart from Homestead Dam in Benoni won the Masters age category in a time of 1 hour 43 minutes.
He partnered with Pieter Engelbrecht, also from the ERK club in Benoni, to win the Doubles K2 race and they also finished the race in 1 hour 43 minutes with the heavier larger boat, securing their selection to the team to represent Gauteng at the upcoming SA marathons in St Francis Bay in October.
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