Fourways residents among many in annual canoeing river race on Vaal River
Members of the Emmarentia-based Dabulamanzi Canoe Club who are also Fourways residents headed to the annual Vaal River Marathon two-day race.
Several Fourways residents who are members of the Dabulamanzi Canoe Club took part in the Vaal River Marathon.
The marathon two-day event saw more than 100 paddlers on the river, paddling 30km per day in full river conditions.
Club member Clinton Cook was the first finisher in the race in a time of four hours and 32 minutes. Fellow members Mark Garden, Mohammed Patel and Ryan Rodda also participated.
A few KwaZulu-Natal-based paddlers who train on the infamous Dusi River had travelled to Gauteng as the race was declared a seeding position race for the Dusi River Race set to take place in February.
Gauteng paddlers, feeling very despondent in recent months since the cancellation of several river races due to a number of reasons, had waited with bated breath to see if the annual Vaal River race would take place. This was due to all the gates on the dam being opened and the area below the dam wall being flooded which resulted in a potentially dangerous water level for canoeists, according to Gauteng Canoe Union media liaison Jennie Dallas.
“Discussions with the Joburg Water Board were positive as no more rain was anticipated in the feeder area and they were able to ensure that only one gate was open the day before the race to allow the water level on the river to be more manageable, although still a full fun river with some exciting rapids and weirs to master,” she said.
The Johannesburg Canoe Club based in Wemmer Pan was the first canoe club to be established in the city and had been an icon of canoeing in the province due to the club hosting the Vaal race annually since 1949. With several water pollution matters at Wemmer Pan in the past year, the club lost members and sponsors.
“The Dabulamanzi Canoe Club based at Emmarentia Dam stepped up to the plate and organised sponsorship and helpers to support the original club of Johannesburg and to ensure the race would continue,” Dallas concluded.
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