Local boy tops in canoe school league

Matthew van der Merwe who represents Charterhouse School in the Gauteng Canoe Union School League, won the U/10 boys age category on accumulated points earned throughout the year.

The Gauteng Canoe Union School League ended off the season of monthly races on Saturday 8 November with a prizegiving at Emmarentia Dam.

Pupils from several primary and high schools participated in the school league, coaching and training at nearby dams and lakes through canoe clubs. Points were awarded on a sliding scale for each race completed, from winner to last finisher and the accumulated points at the end of the year dictated the individual winners, the top schools represented out of more than 60 schools, as well as the top club points achievers.

Chentin Mienie from HF Verwoerd Primary School came second in the U/10 age category and Nicholas Erwee from St David’s Marist Inanda in third.

Matthew’s accumulated points also placed Charterhouse School in seventh place out of 54 primary schools represented, with St David’s Marist Inanda, who recognises canoeing as a school sport and encourages participation at the local club, winning the overall points for the year. Matthew is a member of the Florida Lake Canoe Club, which was the third place winning club based on points earned by club members in the school league.