New date set for Drak Challenge

NOW in its 27th year, the popular N3TC Drak Challenge canoe marathon has been moved to 1 and 2 February to take advantage of the changing weather patterns.

The two-day, 75km classic along the Mzimkhulu River is one of the most popular races on the national canoeing calendar but it is entirely dependent on rainfall to provide suitable river conditions.

The last two editions of the race have been held on low rivers due to irregular summer rainfall.

OTHER SPORT NEWS:  Three-day ride adds to uBhejaneX appeal

The race organising committee took the bold decision to push the race back by a few weeks in an attempt to have it coincide with better summer rainfall.

“One of the realities of climate change is that the summer rainfalls patterns are changing,” said race committee head, Lloyd Riggien.

“Most of the local paddlers are farmers and they monitor the weather systems very closely. There is no point fighting it, we just have to adapt and move the race a few weeks later into the year.”

Riggien added that the previous date coincided with the first week back at school. “It was also a week or two into the new work year and, so soon after the December holidays, it was difficult for people to take time off work to come to Underberg,” he said.

The race is part of a trio of sporting events that make up the FNB Drak Adventure Weekend, along with the FNB Drak Music Experience concert at the Underberg Club on the Saturday night.

Visit www.drakadventure.co.za to enter.

Do you want to receive alerts regarding this and other Highway community news via Telegram? Send us a Telegram message (not an SMS) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5409.

You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Telegram number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts.

Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple.