The great canoe race
ROODEPORT – Florida Lake Club hosted a successful K2 combination which saw local talent using the race as an opportunity to prepare for the up coming South African K3 River Championships in October.
Florida Lake Club hosted a successful Kayak 2 (K2) combination in the wild rapid on 16 August which allowed the K1 and K3 paddlers to also participate.
Local residents from Emmarentia Dam-based club, Grant Thiel, Mfundo Sithole and Wareen Thiel were among those participating for the (K3) combination.
The 22km race from Daleside to Meyerton saw Thiel, Sithole and Warren proving a successful K3 combination during the river race.
The talented locals managed to benefit from the grueling race which was used as part of training in preparation for their impending South African K3 River Championships at the Hansa Fish River Marathon in October. According to Thiel, the race was a great preparation for their impending championships. “After the race, I was so tired but I believe we are ready for October.”
Thiel mentioned that they will be doing more races during weekends to ensure that they are well prepared for the championships.
“The Emmarentia Dam-based club did very well,” said spokesperson of Gauteng Canoe Union Jennie Dallas.
She added that “A number of older paddlers will also be selected for the Gauteng team for their achievements – top submasters, top master, top mixed double, top granmasters and the top K3 as well as some good K1 positions from the club.”
“It is also pleasing to note that the top finishers of the race were black paddlers supported by the GCU transformation programme,” Dallas concluded.
