Paddlers heading for the Fish River Canoe Marathon

Dabulamanzi Canoe Club recently hosted a 35km river race on the Liebensbergvlei between Reitz and Tweeling.

Paddlers from the Emmarentia-based club managed to gain points towards qualifying for A grade river status during the Canoe Concepts Mixed Doubles Championships which attracted a high number of males and females in the sport.

Paddlers were out in full force aiming to earn points for the impending 80km Fish River Canoe Marathon in October.

Cobus Wagner and Marlise Swanepoel from the local club are also gearing up to compete at the marathon. The two have been in the game since beginning of the year. They have managed to earn sufficient race points to qualify to do their first A grade river race. According to Wagner the recent river race was a learning curve.

“Since I joined the club, I have been learning a lot and now I am happy that we will be competing at the Fish Canoe Marathon,” said Wagner.

“Me and my partner Marlise will ensure that we finish the race but most importantly we enjoy it,” he said.

According to Gauteng Canoe Union[https://www.gcu.co.za/] spokesperson Jennie Dallas, the two are well prepared for the much anticipated race. “They are well prepared, [they] know the ropes and the dangers to avoid, and have practiced how to fall out and swim with their boat through the winter temperatures of Gauteng and are not daunted by the challenge of the Fish,” said Dallas.

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