THE annual Gauteng Canoe Union K2 (Doubles) River Championship race took place on the weekend of November 1 and 2, hosted by Johannesburg Canoe Club, from the Vaal dam wall near Deneysville, 32km on Day one to finish in Three Rivers, a long shallow slog with a number of tired paddlers arriving at the finish.
Day two started below the Barrage and with a water release both days were more pleasant than normal paddling on the Vaal river and some 30km later paddlers straggled in to the finish at the Smiling Thru’ Holiday Resort upriver from Parys.
With 8km of enjoyable and challenging rapids at the start of the race and plenty of flat water afterwards, making up good resistance training, paddlers build up their stamina and endurance as they prepare for the major river race of the year, the 120 km Dusi, in February.
Greg Smith from Glenvista partnered with Brandon Collyer from the Peninsula, to finish as the second Sub Veterans after losing their first place position when stuck on some rocks at Benoude Boude on Day two, finishing in 5:3min as the eight boat.
JCC Members hold their own
Greg Smith from Glenvista with Peninsula partner Brandon Collyer were 2nd Sub Veterans at the Vaal River K2 River Championships.
