As sprint season comes to an end, canoe clubs are shifting their focus to long-distance marathon races.
With the ICF International Canoe Federation Marathon Championships set to take place on September 19–23 in Metkovic, Croatia, paddlers of all ages are gearing up for the challenge.
On Saturday, August 17, the Florida Lake Canoe Club (FLCC) hosted a marathon training race that offered paddlers from different clubs a chance to test endurance and prepare for the upcoming championships. The race started around 8:00 with registration and it featured three categories: The guppy race (3km), the dash race (10km) and the long race (20km).
The youngest achiever of the day was Ruoxi Hao, who won the U12 guppy race and was closely followed by paddlers from the Soweto Canoe and Recreation Club. Aara Judy showed her paddling prowess as the only female participant in the race, braving the chilly winter weather and taking home the winning title.
In the dash and long races, Wayne Jacobs emerged victorious, completing the race in one hour and 34 minutes, and he also secured first place in the veteran age category (U40). Benjamin Mntonintshi from Soweto took second place overall and first in the U23 category, hotly pursued by Michael-John Robb and Robert Crichton from Emmarentia Dam’s Dabulamanzi Canoe Club.
Theo Dreyer from Victoria Lake Canoe Club won the U18 age category race in one hour and 36 minutes, while Pieter Engelbrecht (Sub Grand Master/ U60) finished first in his age category and sixth overall. Michael Stewart won the Masters age category (50 years+) and will join forces with Engelbrecht to compete in the doubles race at the World Championships.
According to Jennie Dallas, media liaison of the FLCC, the race was a success and showcased immense dedication from the paddlers as they prepared for the championships. She says the excitement is palpable and they wish all participants the best with their preparations.
