ERK hosts 33km race
The East Rand Kayak Club, based at Homestead Dam, hosted a 33km race on the Vaal River, from the dam wall, near Deneysville, to Three Rivers, on Saturday, September 14.
The long, tough, hard slog on the mostly flat water of the Vaal river, which always feels sluggish, normally has head winds, but the weather was perfect in mid-September, for the paddlers trying out their doubles skills for the SA K2 River Championships race, which will be held on this river in November.
These paddlers will also be hoping for selection to the GCU team, to represent the province at the event.
The SA K2 River Championships will take place from the dam wall to Parys, over the weekend of November 2 and 3.
The river race was also a great opportunity to iron out partnerships for the Hansa Fish River Marathon, in the Eastern Cape town of Cradock, on September 27 and 28, as it was the last Gauteng-based river race before the 80km wild white water event.
The top finishers from the East Rand Kayak Club were Mike Stewart, who finished in eighth place; John Rowan and Vince Buttrick, who won the Great Grand Master category (over 65 years old), and brothers Leon and Pieter Maritz, who finished in three hours, four minutes, in the fourth Sub Veteran age category.
A number of East Rand Kayak members also organised and marshaled the race, which was a great success.
