The annual VLC Night Race was a huge hit with paddlers, who took to the water for their final preparation race before the FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon.
The Victoria Lake Canoe Club hosted their annual Night Race at Germiston Lake last Tuesday. Loveday Zondi and partner Thando Ngamlana, seen here portaging (running with the boat), were the first paddlers across the finish line in a time of one hour and eight minutes.
The looming dark clouds and lightning overhead did little to dampen the spirits of more than 90 paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake last Tuesday.
The race served as one of the last opportunities for K1, K2 and K3 canoeists to fine-tune their racing and portaging (running with the boat) techniques for the world’s toughest endurance canoeing event, the FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon, which takes place in Pietermaritzburg on February 15, 16 and 17.
The FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon was started in 1951 and remains one of the biggest canoe races on the calendar, covering a distance of 120km and including a minimum of 15km of portaging over the three days.
The K2s set off first in the Night Race, followed by the K1s and K3s.
Paddlers enjoyed a smooth start to the race despite the weather, which could have made for a very choppy lake.
“We had a good turnout and the atmosphere was friendly and upbeat,” said Victoria Lake Canoe Club (VLC) chairperson Wayne Saunders.
Loveday Zondi and partner Thando Ngamlana were the first paddlers across the finish line in a time of one hour and eight minutes, with Phineas Zulu and Tom Ngcobo right on their heels, finishing the race only two seconds behind the winners.
Father and son team Michael and Liam Stewart rounded off the podium finishes, coming in third with a time of one hour and nine minutes.
The first K1 across the line was Simnikiwe Ntondini in one hour 15 minutes and six seconds, followed closely by VLC’s Richard Cele who finished in one hour 15 minutes and seven seconds.
Kobus Filmalter was the third K1 paddler across the line in a time of one hour 16 minutes and 53 seconds.
The first K3 team across the line were sub-masters Raoul Goosen, Gavin Coetzer and Ian Hewat who finished the race in one hour and 17 minutes.
VLC’s Helen Jansen van Vuuren and Katiso Hlahlati were the first mixed pair to finish the race, in a time of one hour and 21 minutes.
With the last preparation race behind them, paddlers will soon be hitting the road to Pietermaritzburg for the Dusi this weekend.
The Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s Blessing Alufeyo and Melusi Nxumalo finished the club’s annual night race in one hour and 20 minutes.
The Victoria Lake Canoe Club hosted their annual Night Race at Germiston Lake last Tuesday. Loveday Zondi and partner Thando Ngamlana, seen here portaging (running with the boat), were the first paddlers across the finish line in a time of one hour and eight minutes.
Victoria Lake Canoe Club hosted their annual Night Race at Germiston Lake last Tuesday. The K2 paddlers were the first to set off.
Helen Jansen van Vuuren and Katiso Hlahlati, both from Victoria Lake Canoe Club, were the first mixed pair to finish the club’s annual Night Race, in a time of one hour and 21 minutes.
K2 paddlers Michael Kirkby and Raymond Rorich were in good spirits as they took on Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race last Tuesday. The pair completed the race in one hour 16 minutes and 29 seconds.
VLC’s Richard Cele was in high spirits and finished the annual Night Race in one hour 15 minutes and seven seconds.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
Paddlers who took to the water for Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s annual Night Race at Germiston Lake.
