Paddlers are on top form
KYALAMI – Claude Nish talks the surprise it was coming out in first place at the JCC Two day Klip and how excited he is for the Dusi Canoe Marathon coming up this month..
Midrand-based canoeist Claude Nish and his partner John Cunningham from Lanseria finished as the first sub masters in the double kayak category at the JCC Two Day Klip River Race.
Nish and Cunningham canoed 31km a day for the two days at the event hosted in the Midvaal area. The duo finished in 4:28:00, securing their spot in the My Life Dusi Canoe Marathon taking place from 18 to 20 March.
Nish said, “Coming out in first place was a surprise. We were pushing very hard and were not aware we were leading, so it was a surprise.”
He added that their preparations for the race had been tough considering the lockdown restrictions. “Lockdown has been tough on everyone, especially trying to train and enjoy your sport. We have been fortunate that the race organisers spent many hours getting permission to do races and allowing us to enjoy the rivers within the regulation rules.”
Nish said the race was tough with high water levels in some instances and having to run after 30km of paddling. “Our next race is a favourite and one of the longest races, the Dusi Canoe Marathon which will be covering around 121km.”
Jennie Dallas, public relations officer for the Gauteng Canoe Union said the Dusi was a three-day endurance event field with paddling and portaging.
“The river race on the UmsinDusi was first run by a group of ex-army guys in the 60s led by Ian Player and a group of comrades, and has been hosted annually since.”
