Tommy and Meryl take first spot at Hansa Fish River Marathon
Tommy Booth from Springs has earned his stripes in canoeing and recently proved his worth in the Hansa Fish River Marathon with his sister Meryl in a K2 double kayak.
The annual 80km race recently took place in Cradock in the Eastern Cape where paddlers departed from Grassridge Dam.
His sister Meryl, also a keen sportsman, has frequently discussed getting into canoeing with Tommy to show her the ropes.
Read:Â Tommy ends fifth in canoe race
Tommy did not take long to master the paddling skills required for mighty rivers. However, having been in South Korea until August, there was not much time for Meryl to prepare.
Jenny Dallas from Canoeing South Africa says in order to qualify as an A-grade paddler and participate in such a long tiring event, a minimum number of preparation races is mandatory.
Read:Â Booth does it again
“Due to the lack of rain, cancellation of races, and shortage of time, the pair had no choice but to opt for the short course on the river for C- or B-grade paddlers,” she says.
The duo showed the short course participants how to do the 42km race by finishing over two days in a time of seven hours 22 minutes as the first K2 double kayak and the first mixed double.
Meryl’s description of her adventure at the Hansa Fish River Marathon was “fantastic and exhilarating”.
