The ERK Dusi training race took place at Homestead Dam on Saturday.
The popular challenge attracted over 80 canoeists, mostly those striving to build up stamina and fitness for the world’s toughest endurance event in February, the infamous Dusi Canoe Race from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.
The race provided top quality canoeing to all finishers, as well as much appreciated meals and drinks.
East Rand Kayak Club are extremely grateful to the metro’s department of sports who support various athletic codes throughout the area, helping to develop sport in all different arenas.
The Victoria Lake Canoe Club, based at Germiston Lake, had paddlers, who are training for the Dusi, take part in the event.
Collen Gibbs finished the race in one hour and 54 minutes as the second veteran paddler, and his club mate Bernhard Kloss was the fourth veteran finisher in a time of two hours and two minutes.
The top finishers of the race (who are likely to be among the top Gauteng finishers at the Dusi event next month), are achievers as a result of community/youth development programmes hosted by canoe clubs throughout South Africa.
The young u-23 paddlers Siseko Ntondini and Thulani Ngamlana, from Soweto, led by mentor Loveday Zondi (who won the race in one hour and 36 minutes), took the second and third place podium positions, respectively, while Shaun Maphanga in fourth won the sub-veteran podium prize.
Sowetan Siyabonga Tyiki was the first u-18 junior to finish in a time of one hour and 43 minutes.
The 22km race took place on a fine day with sufficient breeze and overcast skies for the paddlers to enjoy the tough hard slog, which included two portages of 2km each on the side of the dam, carrying their boats in the Dusi tradition.
The training of running with one’s boat, and finding a comfortable way to manage, as well as practising smooth efficient take outs and put ins, are an essential part of the preparation for the Dusi, as is the necessary fitness and endurance training, and the Gauteng Canoe Union calendar has provided double-header weekend races throughout January to assist the paddlers with their preparation.
