Hard racing at Gauteng canoe championship
The Gauteng Canoe Union's Marathon Championship race was hosted by Victoria Lake Canoe Club, based at Germiston Dam, on September 19 and 20.
The Gauteng Canoe Union’s Marathon Championship race was hosted by Victoria Lake Canoe Club, based at Germiston Dam, on September 19 and 20.
Paddlers from all ages, from u-8 through to Great Grand Masters (over 65 years) were thrilled at the opportunity to participate in the singles (K1) and/or doubles (K2) races after months of lockdown.
Numerous paddlers throughout Gauteng participated in the trials for team selection to represent the province at the upcoming South African Canoe Marathon Championship to be held in October on the canals at St Francis Bay.
Categories include the 12 years and under juniors in “guppy” boats, as well as K1 men and women all ages and K2.
Marathon canoe races are over 20km, and they include a portage where the paddlers get out of the water, as smoothly and efficiently as possible, to run a short distance with their boat, and put it back in the water without losing time, a difficult feat to manage efficiently.
The Johannesburg Canoe Club based at Wemmer Pan, the first canoe racing club in Johannesburg, is proud of its youth development programme.
Bert Matruje and Aphiwe Makhoba from the club were second-place finishers in the u-16 age category in their 15.5km race finishing in 2:10 minutes, which included a few portages.
In the K1 races, Thabo Selela raced in the u-18 category partnered with Nkosinyathi Mtombela, finishing fourth in this very competitive age group in a time of 2:14 minutes.
