It has a guaranteed water release and canoeists flock to the little Karoo town to enjoy the wild water obstacles, shutes built over the weirs, and mighty rapids on the fast flowing Fish River.
The race took place over 80km, ending in Cradock, on September 27 and 28.
A cold front from the Cape whipped up wind and massive waves on the dam that swamped some boats as they started towards the river, while numerous boats needed to be rescued.
Other paddlers, with later starts, were forced to portage, carrying boats down the road and up the dam wall, to the river on the other side.
Paddlers from the East Rand Kayak Club, based at Homestead Dam, were among the hundreds of participants from around the world who converged on Cradock, to take on the mighty river.
The first finisher from the local club in this K2 race was Michael Stewart, who has carried the front runner’s flag for some years at the club.
Michael partnered with his 14-year-old son, Liam, to win the “Father and Son” category at the Hansa Fish River Marathon, finishing the race in 85th position in a time of five hours, 49 minutes.
Liam, a pupil at Ashton International College, has been training on rivers with his father for the past six months.
James and Donna Tutton were the next finishers from the club, competing in the mixed doubles category (male/female combination), finishing as the 104th double and just missing out on a top 100 feather in their caps, in a time of five hours 59 minutes.
Liwalam Ntsiza, a young paddler in the club’s development programme, finished next, partnering with a Sowetan youngster, Simnikiwe Ntondini, in six hours, 48 minutes.
The older generation of highly experienced paddlers did not disappoint, with John Rowan and Vince Buttrick taking the second place podium position in the “Great Grand Master” age category (65 years and older), while Chris Rowe and John Lawson, in the under 60 age category finished, in eight hours, 37 minutes.
