Top paddlers awarded

Florida Lake Canoe Club broke new ground at their awards event for the 2014 to 2015 canoeing race season on 22 March at Rusty Hook function venue.

While Shaun Maphanga was widely acknowledged as the club and West Rand top paddler overall for the past season, with Monique Steven finishing the 2015 Dusi as the first K1 female finisher of the gruelling event, ever in the history of the club, the two shared a number of trophies as top male and female paddler for the past year, including top Sub-Veteran age group winners.

Jerome Boulle was presented the top award for the best senior age category paddler – over 23 and under 35 years old – for the second year running, and he was also awarded the Best River Repairman for the past season, for his successful effort at repairing his broken boat during the Dusi to ensure a finish. Boulle was asked to regale the group of supporters at the event with his clarification regarding the repairs carried out that resulted in his award for this trophy.

He explained how he used tree branches as crutches to support the boat, borrowed a drill from a well-equipped spectator to make holes and used cable ties to tie the broken parts of the boat together, wrapping duct tape around the boat, branches, holes and cable ties and managed to finish the 120km river race successfully although it was a long day!

Details: Florida Lake Canoe Club Jennie Dallas 082 857 8571.