Local paddler show his mettle in Klip River Race
As the weather warms up and the Hansa Fish River A-grade marathon draws closer, Gauteng paddlers are out in full force to prepare for the big-water event that will happen in Cradock.
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2016/08/IMG_3388_22055.jpg)
This marathon will be 80km of sheer adrenaline and fun.
In preparation, Florida Lake Canoe Club hosted the 22km Tops Spar Klip River Race from Daleside to Meyerton on Saturday, August 28, to provide opportunities for newly registered paddlers to gain points for A-grade status in order that they may participate in the Hansa Fish River Marathon in October.
The transformation programmes in Gauteng have also proved immensely successful. The winners were Siseko Ntondini (Soweto), followed by Alex Masina (South Johannesburg) in 1 hour 21 and 22 minutes respectively.
Ray Davidson from Boksburg, a member of the Ekurhuleni Kayak Club at Homestead Dam, clinched his fourth point towards A-grade status after finishing the race in a time of 2 hours 5 minutes.
The first weekend of September will see the Gautengers heading for the Free State to participate in the 70km river race that runs from the Ash Water Highlands Project to the Vaal River, and a month after that they will be in Cradock for the 80km marathon.