Sandtonites sprint to victory at Gauteng Canoe Union Sprint Championships
Sprints is an important discipline in the canoeing/paddling sport as it is the Olympic discipline and several SA youth have been selected over the years to participate in the Olympic Hopes international regattas, to prepare them for possible future participation at the Olympics.
Local paddlers excelled in the Sprint Championships organised by the Gauteng Canoe Union recently.
The competition was to enable the selection of the best teams in all age groups. The selected paddlers will represent the province at the upcoming South African Sprint Championships. The Sandton-based and surrounding areas’ competitors came through and showed off their incredible skills. Among the numerous achievers was Matthew Ballenden who finished first in the master age category in his races. One of these was the 5km sprint race which included a short portage run.
Gabriella van Rooyen finished as the first sub-master age category woman in the 5 000m sprints, while Jordan Klopper finished as the first U18 male in both his races – 1 000m and 200m. Alexa Gooden won her U23 in the 500m and 200m sprint races in a doubles event with her partner Helen Jansen van Vuuren. A young Rioux Hau competitor representing St Davids Marist College finished fifth in the U12 200m, third in the 500m, and second in the 2 000m race.
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