Monthly canoe races end

GAUTENG Canoe Union School League ended their annual season of monthly races on Saturday November 8 at Emmarentia Dam, where the overall prize giving for the year was hosted.

Learners from a wide variety of primary and high schools participated in the school league, coaching and training at nearby dams/lakes through canoe clubs. Points are awarded on a sliding scale for each race completed, from winner to last finisher and the accumulated points at the end of the year dictates the individual winners, as well as the top schools represented out of some 60plus as well as the top club points achievers.

St Davids Marist College of Inanda, who recognises canoeing as a school sport once again came out as the winners of the Primary School Award, while they were also placed third top high school. Parktown Girls won the second high School position, with Hoërskool Parys in first high school and second primary school.

Peter Chissano, who represented Turffontein High School, was the top paddler in the u.18 category for the year, while Alex Masina, a pupil at Forest Town High School, was the top leading paddler in the u.16 age category.

Both paddlers are members of Johannesburg Canoe Club based at Wemmer Pan and have been increasingly successful, achieving and improving at a rapid rate. The accumulated points gained from participation in races resulted in Turffontein High School reaching eighth place on the Gauteng Canoe Union School Log, out of nearly 50 high schools represented throughout the year, while Forest Town, was placed seventh.