The Dabulamanzi Canoe Club, based at Emmarentia Dam, hosted a two-day training race on the Liebenberg’s Vlei River, from the Reitz Water Works to the Zorgvliet farm in Tweeling, near Frankfurt, on September 5 and 6.
Despite the cold temperatures and rain on the first day the paddlers enjoyed the 64km mileage they achieved over the weekend.
Richard Cele, a coach at the Victoria Lake Canoe Club (VLC), partnered with a relatively new paddler, Patrick Chappel, who is also from the local club and heading for his first Fish River event.
The pair finished fourth, in two hours, 20 minutes, on the first day, and in a time of two hours, 19 minutes, on the second day.
VLC had a large number of paddlers participating and Colin Ledwaba, also from the local club, won the K1 single race in a time of two hours, 20 minutes, as the first u-23 participant to finish.
Participants conquered the challenges on rolling wave trains, with big white water stopper waves which provided excellent preparation for the upcoming Hansa Fish River Marathon.
The marathon, an 80km challenge, is scheduled to take place in Cradock, in the Eastern Cape, in October.
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