Rosebank paddlers enjoy the challenge of the JCC Two-Day Klip River Race
MELROSE – Melrose-based paddler Neil Barrow enjoyed the race finishing both days in 04:26:00.
Johannesburg Canoe Club, based at Wemmer Pan, hosted the 2021 JCC Two-Day Klip on 27 and 28 February in the Midvaal area.
Rosebank paddlers used the event as training for the upcoming Dusi Canoe Marathon scheduled to take place from 18 to 20 March.
The Klip River Race begins above Daleside through Henley on Klip to finish in Meyerton. The race consists of two days of 33km each including a few kilometres of the portage, providing paddlers with the opportunity to race for qualifying points for A grade river status as well as seeding for start positions at the Dusi.
Hail and rain storms took place in the Alberton and Henley area on 26 February meaning that the river was in full flood with participants paddling over low-level bridges. The running portage took place around the Henley Kidson Weir for safety in the grasslands on the banks that were saturated and swamp-like.
While some rapids flattened out with no rocks in sight, others were incredibly challenging with powerful waves tossing the canoes into the air, resulting in a number of swimmers and a few broken boats.
The top finisher was Sowetan Siseko Ntondini (of movie fame – Beyond the River) holding onto his seeding as top Gauteng paddler, while the first woman home was Soweto-based junior Tinyiko Mahwayi.
Melrose-based paddler Neil Barrow enjoyed the race finishing in 04:26:00 while Craighall resident Daniel Cole partnered with river novice Ryan Hawke to successfully complete their first race together in good time under extremely challenging conditions. The pair finished the event in 04:29:00 as the second double boat across the finish line.
Experienced white water river paddler and Parkview resident Nick Warren struggled after his paddle broke early in the race. He took some time to find a spare, delaying him and eventually finishing in a race time of 04:57:00.
Teacher and canoe coach at The Ridge School in Westcliff Daniel Maclachlan and his partner Alex Weir completed the race in 05:18:00.
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