Paddlers battle for spot in team for national championship
The Gauteng Marathon Championships will take place at Victoria Lake Canoe Club at Germiston Lake on May 28 and 29 May. It will be a K1 and K2 event.
Gauteng is hosting a series of marathon races leading up to the Gauteng Marathon Championships where the team that will represent the province at the South African Marathon Championships will be selected.
The first event took place at Homestead Dam on May 8 as a K1 event.
The event covers all ages from U8 to great grand masters. There are varying distances for younger and older age groups with the main event for seniors being in the region of 20km or 21km, depending on the size of the lake.
Numerous great grand masters from the East Rand Kayak club (ERK) participated in the race.
Benoni resident Liam Stewart finished third as the first U23 paddler, while his father, Michael, was the first in the masters. He finished in a time of 1:42:52.
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Jonathan Nel also enjoyed the challenge, finishing in a time of 1:49:47 at his first marathon flat water race.
Pieter Engelbrecht from Boksburg enjoyed his endurance challenge, finishing in 1:35:44 as the first master. He finished in fourth place overall.
Tommy Booth made a comeback to canoeing as a fitness sport to finish as the third veteran. He finished at 1:47:32.
Johan Grabe from Kempton Park enjoyed the challenge of the competition and the portages. Grabe finished the race at 2:02.
The Gauteng Marathon Championships will be at Victoria Lake Canoe Club at Germiston Lake on May 28 and 29 May. It will be a K1 and K2 event.
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