The South African Canoe Marathon Championships took place at Roodeplaat Dam, offering local canoeists a chance to qualify for international races.
These championships, held from June 14 to 16, provided a platform for national team selection for the upcoming International Canoe Marathon events in Metkovic, Croatia, scheduled for September 19 to 22.
Earlier, the Gauteng Canoe Union hosted the provincial championships at the same venue on June 1 and 2, identifying the provincial team to represent Gauteng at the national level.
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These events served as critical preparation for the national championships.
Among the notable participants were members of the Victoria Lake Canoe Club (VLC).
The club boasts several paddlers with international experience.
Helen Jansen van Vuuren, a Lambton resident and U23 competitor, recently returned from the World Cup in Poznan, Poland, where she placed 6th in the 1 000m and 5 000m Sprint World Cup events.
Theo Dreyer, another standout, claimed first place in the U18 category and partnered with Eastern Cape’s Tyde Malherbe to win the doubles race.
Dreyer has represented South Africa at various international competitions, including the Olympic Hopes Regatta and the Junior World Sprint Championships, demonstrating his prowess in marathon events.
Other VLC members also competed with distinction.
Roy Clegg finished 8th in the Master age category (50+), while Richard Cele, a club coach, secured 6th place in the Sub Veteran category.
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The club’s development juniors also showed promise, with Nathi Ndlovu finishing 10th in the Under-16 race and Prince Mhako placing 11th in the U18 race.
The upcoming international event in Croatia will see South Africa represented by a strong team, showcasing the depth of talent nurtured through these competitive national and provincial championships.
