Victoria Lake Canoe Club hosts paddlers for championships
In training for Olympic selection, Helen Jansen van Vuuren was first in the U23 women’s long-distance event, finishing in 00:27:03.
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Victoria Lake Canoe Club (VLC) hosted the Gauteng Canoe Union Sprint Championships on January 20.
Several paddlers from the Germiston-based club and Bedfordview residents participated.
In training for Olympic selection, Helen Jansen van Vuuren was first in the U23 women’s long-distance event, finishing in 00:27:03.
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Colin Ledwaba was second in the 5 000m race at 00:26:55, while Richard Cele was the first sub-veteran age group finisher at 00:26:59.
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Coach Loveday Zondi was the first veteran age category winner with a time of 00:24:24.
VLC’s young rower Awesome Khako, who raced in the U14 category and finished the 5km long-distance with a portage run, was fourth in 00:35:00.
Khako was third in the 500m sprint and 200m sprint events.
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Michael Tilney was first in the sub-grand master age category with 00:28:17.
Edenvale resident Anton Nel, a member of the club’s management committee, participated in the short sprints and achieved good results.
Nel was second in the 5 000m race with the portage.
Teams in each age group selected from the Gauteng Championships will represent the province at the South African Sprint Championships in March.