ERK paddlers take on Free State river challenge

Several East Rand Kayaking (ERK) paddlers amped up their preparations for the new season with the infamous two-day 30km river race challenge on the Liebensbergvlei River in Eastern Free State.

They joined hundreds of paddlers from across the country who headed to the Free State to race in the freezing water pumped into the As River from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.

The race started in the small town of Reitz at the Reitz Water Works, with the paddlers racing westwards on the meandering Liebensbergvlei River to the finish in Tweeling.

“The paddlers enjoyed the challenge on the river with wild white water, currents, wave trains, corners with rocky shelves as well as a few weirs and rock invested downhills to add to the excitement,” said Gauteng Canoe Union’s Jennie Dallas.

“The 30km section was raced on September 16 and 17 and was made up three races, starting at Reitz Water Works and ending in Tweeling on Zorgvliet Farm.”

ERK veterans Michael Stewart and David Gerber were among the experienced campaigners in the competition. Despite sustaining damages to their boat, which affected their position, they made it to the finish safely.

Novices, Jonathan Nel from Boksburg and Tye Wood from Springs, who recently achieved their river proficiency certification, finished 22nd in a time of 4:38 in the K2 category.

“Well done to the new learners on finishing their first river challenges. They certainly learned a lot from this experience and all enjoyed the exciting river and the challenge as they paddled past the mealie-fields on the farms between the little towns – scraping over rocky shelves, fighting through huge wave trains and drops down weirs, dodging rocky downhill rapids with fast flowing water,” said Dallas.

Dallas thanked the hosts, Dabulamanzi Canoe Club from Emmarentia, and all the sponsors for ensuring the event was a success.

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