ERK duo wins title at canoe marathon
They finished eighth overall and first in their category.
Pieter Engelbrecht and Michael Stewart claimed the SA K2 River Championships masters’ title during the ADG Vaal River Canoe Marathon, on November 23 and 24.
The East Rand Kayaking (ERK) members completed the 70km two-day race, eighth overall in 05:30 and first in their category.
The event covered a 32km distance from the Vaal Dam wall to Three Rivers on day one and finished off with 37km from Eden Manor to Umfula Lodge on the last day on November 24.
Clinton Cook and Wayne Jacobs won the race in 05:16 after clocking 02:34 on day one and covering the day two distance in 02:41 for victory.
The ERK’s Dawid Gerber and Richard Tandy clocked 06:33 for second place in the sub-veteran masters’ category while Mike Barry and Liam Stewart crossed the line 06:35.
Springs resident Tye Wood and Jonathan Nel finished the race 31st in 07:28 while Vallon Kupferberg and Leon Maritz clinched the sub-grandmasters’ title in 07:05 after crossing the line 27th overall.
Bianca and Johan Grabe fell a place outside the top three of the veterans’ race. They were eighth in the mixed-doubles after crossing the line in 07:28 for 31st overall.
Salmarie Pretorius teamed up with Renier Kruger from Centurion and they were 10th in the mixed-doubles race and fifth in the veterans’ category.
“The paddlers had a great time and the race was enjoyed by all in attendance. This secured the future and tradition of this historic two-day race in the Vaal River,” said Gauteng Canoe Union (GCU) PRO Jennie Dallas.
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