Exceptional performances by local paddlers

The Gauteng Marathon Championships took place on 1 and 2 June at the Cradle Moon Lakeside Resort.

Local paddling juniors who participate in the Community Youth Development programme at Florida Lake Canoe Club (FLCC) did exceptionally well, attaining podium positions in some categories.

Atle Maphanga, who is a learner at Die Ruiter school in Roodepoort was the U/8 champion girl, while Chané Steyn finished third in the U/10 age group.

The younger children paddle in specially designed stable boats and do not portage. The distances were between two and six kilometres for the U/8s to U/12s.

Discovery residents, Kamilah Hank, who attends Curro Aurora, won second place in the U/16 girls, while David Brown (a La Salle College learner) was the first finisher in the K2 Boys with his partner, Nicholas Erwee.

Ameerah Hank was the fourth finisher in the K1 girls (singles), and she and Kamilah Hank both won podium positions in the K2 Discipline (double kayaks), proving their portaging abilities are up to standard.

Ameerah also partnered with Jennifer Stuart from Reddam House in Helderfontein (Centurion) in her age group to win the U/14 girls’ race of 12km, which included two portages, in one hour, 13 minutes, while Kamilah also partnered with Helen Jansen van Vuuren (Germiston High) to take second place in the U/16 age category.

FLCC adults who achieved third place podium positions were Macdonald Nkosi and Moshe Nghomani (both coaches at the FLCC club) who finished the 23km race with five portages in one hour, 48 minutes and 46 seconds.

Shaun Maphanga and Douw Kruger were placed third in the Veteran age category in a time of one hour, 48 minutes and 59 seconds.

Participants from U/8 to 80 years of age participated at the event which attracted paddlers from other provinces to try out the venue in preparation for the upcoming South African Marathon Championships which will take place at the same venue from 15 to 17 June.