JOHANNESBURG Canoe Club hosted the annual South African K2 river championship event on the Vaal River, on November 12 and 13 and proved they’re a club to contend with, as they achieved medals and titles in a variety of categories.
Due to the drought and the Vaal Dam’s excessively low level, South African paddlers have for months been concerned and dubious about whether the Vaal marathon would take place – and would successfully be the hosting race for the SA K2 river championships event.
The water level in the Barrage section of the Vaal river below the dam wall, but above Parys, has however been relatively full during past weeks – with all the rainfall which didn’t pour into the Vaal dam catchment area, but entered the Vaal river below that from the Klip tributary.
The canoe race started just below the Barrage in good fast swift water flow, at the Cote de Val resort. After 37kms at Smilin ‘ Thru resort, day one – November 12 – finished with happy, smiling paddlers despite the long hard slog. Many achieved their best performance time for that distance: ie. 17/18kms per hour with more than the 80 cubic metres per second promised.
Circumstances unfortunately changed dramatically overnight, due to the deluge of water that arrived from Jo’burg and surrounding areas into the barrage catchment – forcing the water management officials to open sluice gates and release 300 cubic metres per second. The paddlers who’d overnighted in Parys, watched with concern as the river water levels rose and rose, to higher than two metres, sloshing over the banks in some areas – and making the river at Parys a potentially dangerous stretch of wild water. Massive trees and debris also washed downstream, in the fast flowing water.
The race organisers had no choice but to re-route the race to above Parys – and avoid the fun exciting white water section, where massive boulders were covered by layers of debris and a swim would be potentially disastrous. The race was shortened therefore on day two, from 30km to a mere 10km stretch from Smilin’ Thru to the Likkewaan kanoeklub, just on the outskirts of Parys – where the top finishers clocked 43 minutes in a magnificently fast sprint time trial format. Paddlers were forced to paddle upstream against the strong current for a couple of kilometres, to spread the field – and the strong and tough triumphed, while other paddlers were quite exhausted until they could utilise the fast flow to their advantage closer to Parys.
There was little doubt that Morgan Ziervogel with her partner Holly Spencer would be a competitive combination and they didn’t disappoint, finishing the race as South Africa’s top women champions in a time of 3:39 over the two days – and 47kms – to claim the title.
Alex Masina partnered with Liam Stewart to ensure their victory as u.18 junior SA K2 champions, finishing the race in 3:10 as the top juniors.
Ryan Simonato and Gavin Steyl doubled-up, to secure their best opportunity of gaining a podium position; and managed a second place in the sub veteran age category – finishing the race in a time of 3:22.
VIDEO: VAAL RIVER CAME DOWN IN FLOOD ON 12 NOVEMBER
OVERNIGHT TO 13 NOVEMBER – SEE LINK ON GAUTENG CANOE UNION FACEBOOK
