Florida Lake Canoe Club (FLCC) hosted the Tops Spar Dusi seeding race during the weekend of 11 December, on the Gauteng Klip River from Daleside to Meyerton. This was the final race of the year and the water levels were encouraging thanks to the recent rainfall.
Sibonelo Khwela, who was part of the Eurosteel racing team, was sponsored to participate in the race from his home province of KwaZulu-Natal. He is one of the most competitive river paddlers in South Africa, and took part in this race to ensure his qualification to the front row of the Dusi seeding. It was of course no surprise that despite his lack of familiarity with the Klip River, he managed to win the race in 2 hours 12 minutes.
Shaun Maphanga from Florida, who has achieved a silver medal at the Dusi, and a podium position for his age category (Sub Veteran) finished as 5th K1, and first Sub Veteran, in a time of 2 hours 19 minutes.
Gauteng Canoe Union’s Jennie Dallas said the river race was tough, in accordance with requirements for qualifying for the FNB Dusi.
“It also included a couple of 2-kilometre portage stages, to meet the criteria for entry to the world’s most infamous endurance canoe race,” she said.
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