Enthusiastic young canoeist and Parkview resident Jess Webber (9) is making waves after winning the U10 Gauteng Canoe Union Schools League of 2018 on 4 November.
The St David’s Marist Inanda learner raced across an extremely windy Homestead Dam in Benoni to secure a win in the final event in the school league series.
“I am really happy I managed to finish my year on such a good note. I trained hard and feel really good about my achievement,” said Jess.
“I love being on the water, in the open air with my team and I enjoy racing. It really feels good to get fit and strong.”
Jess began canoeing at the beginning of last year and paddles as a member of the St David’s Canoeing Club and his home club Dabulamanzi in Emmarentia.
His coach at the Dabulamanzi Club, Phineas Zulu described Jess as a talented individual who trained hard.
“If he goes on training hard, he will hopefully achieve Springbok colours at age 16 or 17,” said Zulu.
Jess’s win follows a number of earlier victories this year. In March, he competed in the SA Schools Sprint Championships at Roodeplaat securing the position of overall winner in the U10 category. In June, he competed as a member of the Gauteng team in the SA National Marathon Championships in St Francis receiving his Gauteng colours for the second time.
Jess said he looked forward to competing in river canoeing events in future and hoped to do the Fish River Canoe Marathon and Dusi races with his father.
In addition to winning the schools’ league in his own age category, St David’s prep canoeing team was also the overall winner at the primary school competition for the year.
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