Boats damaged in river race
A number of boats were damaged in VLC’s river race on the Klip River, last Saturday.
Victoria Lake Canoe Club (VLC), based at Germiston Lake, has been instrumental in arranging a number of novice races to encourage new paddlers to gain experience, points and fitness on the rivers.
Last Saturday, the club hosted a race on the Klip River, from Daleside Ixoxo Manzi Riverside Resort, through Henley-on-Klip, to finish at Danie Maclean Park, in Meyerton, a distance of about 20km, as paddlers begin the new race season.
New paddlers learning the ropes require a minimum number of races to be A-graded and thus enabled to participate in major river races throughout SA.
They also need to build up stamina to cover distances of up to about 100kms for the major events.
It was a cold, rainy, wet day last Saturday, as paddlers confidently approached the Mine Rapid, over the hill from the Bass Lake.
The rapid, however, proved to be the downfall of many of the novices, with numerous boats being washed sideways into rocks and boulders.
This resulted in a number of boats being damaged and unable to continue the race.
Colin Ledwaba, an experienced paddler from VLC, partnered with novice paddler Jaco Esterhuyse.
The pair’s boat was grounded on a rock in the way of other boats trying to come through the rapid.
They nevertheless persevered and went on to take a very respectable fourth position in the race, in a time of one hour and 35 minutes.
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