Johannesburg Canoe Club hosted its Two Day Klip River Race on 27 and 28 February.
Albertsville-based Siseko Ntondini finished as the top canoeist finishing in a time of 3:38:00. The event hosted in Meyerton was preparation and qualifying for the 2021 MyLife Dusi Canoe Marathon and consisted of a 33km canoeing distance which provided the opportunity for paddlers to use the race for qualifying points for A grade river status.
Gauteng Canoe Union public relations officer Jennie Dallas said, “With the huge hail and rain storms in the Alberton and Henley area on Friday 26 February, the river was in full flood with participants paddling over low level bridges, and the running portage took place around the Henley Kidson Weir for safety in grasslands on the banks that were saturated and swamp-like.”
Ntondini was joined on the star performers and achievers list by Sowetan-based U18 junior Tinyiko Mahwayi. Emmarentia Dam-based Dabulamanzi Canoe club members Benjamin Cockram, Troy Clark, Neil Barrow, Claude Nish, John Cunningham and Ryno Armdorff were also part of the best performing paddlers on the day.
Armdorff, a very seasoned experienced river and white water paddler who lives in Sophiatown, finished successfully in 4:9:00 as the first Veteran age group paddler across the finish line. Clark’s 4:22:00 placed him third in the Master age category, while Barrow’s 4:26:00 resulted in him being first home in the Sub Master age category. Nish and Cunningham were the first Double K2 to finish in a time of 4:28:00.
The race was an extremely challenging yet entertaining one for the canoeists. Dallas added, “While some of the rapids flattened out with no rocks in sight and easier to manoeuvre than usual, others were very challenging with powerful waves tossing the boats up in the air, which resulted in a number of swimmers and a few broken boats. A very challenging, exciting river race, perhaps on par with what can be expected from a full Dusi in March since Inanda Dam is full to capacity.”
