Fourways canoeists earn Gauteng call-up
FOURWAYS – Four canoeists finish strong at trials to make selection for the South African Marathon Championship.
Four Fourways residents have been selected to compete for Gauteng at the upcoming South African Marathon Championships.
This follows the paddlers securing good times at the Gauteng K1 and K2 trials at Homestead Dam, Benoni, on 22 and 23 July respectively.
Colin Wilson finished first in the sub grandmaster division trial in a time of 1:44:20, while resident Michael-John Robb and doubles partner, Grant Ahlschlager, finished in the doubles senior division with 1:39:22.
Fourways couple Kelvin and Taflin Byres were selected together after finishing second in the mixed doubles with 1:55:08.
“The most challenging part of the trials were the portages on every lap [3km], where we had to stop at land, pick the canoes up, run 100m to put the canoes down in the water and carry on,” said Wilson, himself a five-times medalist in South African Marathon Championships with a gold and silver at previous World Championships.
The marathon canoe races, which are roughly 22km, are not just races you can show up and compete in without extensive preparation.
“Being a water sport, it is that much more challenging to stay in form when you have to contend with the frosty Highveld winters and limited daylight hours,” said Jason Brown, general manager of the Dabulamanzi Canoe Club, based at Emmarentia Dam, where the local canoeists train.
“Much of the winter training on the dam continues after the sun disappears or before it has risen – not only for those who were selected but for many other hardy and dedicated paddlers.”
Brown believes the canoeists will hold their own in the Marathon Championships in Pietermaritzburg, on 12 and 13 August.
Success there will serve as a bonus to the canoeists, as it will determine the selection for the SA team to compete at the International Canoe Federation Canoe Marathon World Championships, also in Pietermaritzburg, in September.
Related article: Dabs canoeists surge into Gauteng marathon squad
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