The Gauteng paddlers have been feeling very despondent in recent months as nume-rous river races have been cancelled. Before the rains, the river was low and “bony”, with several rocks that could damage boats. Once the rains arrived, the rivers were flooded, and they waited with bated breath to see if the annual two-day Vaal River Race could proceed. A few weeks ago, all the gates on the dam were open and the area below the dam wall was flooded. The result was a potentially dangerous water level for canoeists. Fortunately, discussions with the Joburg Water Board were positive as no more rain was anticipated in the feeder area. They could ensure that only one gate was open on the days before the race. In so doing, the water level was more manageable although still a full fun river with some exciting rapids and weirs to master.
Johannesburg Canoe Club, based in Wemmer Pan, was the first canoe club in Johannesburg in 1948 and has hosted this race annually since 1949, so it has become a legendary icon of canoeing in Gauteng.
Unfortunately, due to various water pollution matters arising at Wemmer Pan in the past year, since resolved, the club lost many members, sponsors and supporters, and the race was in danger of being cancelled. However, a sister club, the second club to be established in Johannesburg, the Dabulamanzi Canoe Club based at Emmarentia Dam, stepped up to the plate and organised sponsorship and helpers to support the original club of Johannesburg and ensure the race would continue. The Vaal River Marathon two-day event took place on Saturday and Sunday 25 /26 November 2022, 30 kilometres per day in full river conditions, with over 100 paddlers on the river during the weekend – although some less fit and determined paddlers also took advantage of the one-day race opportunity. The first finisher in the race was Emmarentia-based Dabulamanzi Canoe Club member and one of their top paddlers – Sandton-based Clinton Cook, who finished the two days of the race in four hours 32 minutes.
Parys-bound white water paddler Sylvia Nel always successfully enjoys the Vaal rapids and participated in the two-day event with a different partner on each day – on day one with Emmarentia dam paddler Kirsten Pott to enjoy the excitement of the rapids, and they finished the 30 km section, happily and successfully in a time of three hours 39 minutes. On day two, Sylvia partnered with Johan Pretorius, a member at Centurion Canoe Club to finish in three hours 21 minutes – a long, tough slog for fit paddlers. A few KwaZulu-Natal-based paddlers were in 2nd to 5th place, excellent top-class paddlers who train on the infamous Dusi River, and who travelled to Gauteng to enjoy the opportunity as the race was declared a seeding position race for the Dusi river race, scheduled for February. So it provided excellent training of 30 km per day on fast flow!
