GALLERY: The Sports4Life canoe marathon was at Wemmer Pan recently

The Sports4Life canoe marathon was held at Wemmer Pan in trying circumstances for the canoeists who made an effort to come down to the Johannesburg Canoe Club to compete.

November 18, 2019

Annette van Schalkwyk 1 minute read

Helen Jansen van Vuuren and K2 partner Richard Cele tackle the gusty weather conditions to take second place in the 16km during the Sports4Life canoe marathon at Wemmer Pan. Photo: Annette van Schalkwyk

PADDLERS had difficulty finding their rhythm in the gusty and bad weather conditions during the Sports4Life canoe marathon recently.

The Sports4Life canoe marathon was held at Wemmer Pan in trying circumstances for the canoeists who made an effort to come down to the Johannesburg Canoe Club to compete.

All the top paddlers withdrew from the competition because the conditions were unsafe.

The organisers had to reduce the longest race distance to 16km and give the K1s an option to portage or not, because their crafts could have been damaged if blown off their shoulders during the portage run.

The K2s would still do the portage every 4km.

The wind and gusts were at such strength that the organisers could not properly set up the portage area with chevron tape, as the tape kept getting ripped apart by the force of the wind.

The portage takeout area was the worst affected by the wind.

The race results are as follows:

6km: K2 race, with K1s entered

First Kamillah Hank – 35:10, second Colin Ledwaba and Mukhtaar Caster – 36:08 and third Rico Prinsloo and Crishan van Wyk – 38:45.

12km: K2 race with K1s entered

First Thabo Selela – 1:11;14, second Bert Matruj and Piwe Makhuba – 1:11;23, third Sarah Evans – 1:17;37, fourth Sean Evans and Caity Evans – 1:17; 48 and fifth Nkosinathi Ntombela – 1:18;47.

It was great to see the wonderful Evans family out racing together in these difficult circumstances.

16km: K2 race with K1s entered

First Khatiso Hlahatsi and Peter Chissano – 1:25;32. These guys paddled an amazing race under the very difficult racing conditions.

Second Helen Jansen van Vuuren and Richard Cele – 1:28;05. They also put such a racing effort in, it was inspiring to see.

Third Jaco Lategan – 1:40;45. Jaco handled the very difficult side swell and bounce so well and was the only K1 to do all the portages. An awesome effort by Jaco.

Fourth DNF (did not finish) the 16km, but completed 12km: Anton Nel and Nic Bradley – 1:07;57.