FLCC unleash fine man/ woman pair for Fish
Archie and Karima to team up in A-grade event.
The Florida Lake Canoe Club (FLCC) will unleash another interesting canoeing partnership at the Fish River Canoe Marathon that commences on Friday 27 September.
This after it was announced that the young Archie Moncho and Karima Hare – who probably will be the first black woman paddler to participate at the event – will be partnering in the K2 mixed double category.
“Archie and Karima are a nice combination. They finished on the podium (third place) in the mixed double category at the East Rand Kayak Vaal River race in mid-September, not to mention they completed a recent time trial in just 55 minutes,” says FLCC spokesperson Jennie Dallas.
“They are really looking good for a successful and enjoyable Fish River experience,” Jennie added.
Karima has been a member of FLCC since 2005 when she started canoeing recreationally and socially. Over the years her tenacity and endurance proved her strength in the long distance events and she eased into marathon races and river racing.
She became the very first black woman paddler in Gauteng to obtain her river proficiency in 2010 and has been enjoying learning about rivers and rapids since, although wary and cautious, she enjoys the adrenalin rush and adventures of the rivers.
As Fish River organisers searched the databases and logs for a female paddler from a previously disadvantaged background to have done the Fish River, it becomes more likely that the 18-year-old Karima will be the first to break ground at this major A-grade event.
Archie Moncho, also a longstanding member of the community youth development programme at Florida Lake, who attends Victory House Private School thanks to sponsorships and bursaries, is still an U/18 junior paddler and will partner with Karima on her voyage at the K2 doubles race in Cradock (from 27 and 28 September), which is an 80km tough wild water ride.
