Local paddlers showcase their skill at championships
Paddlers from VLC took on the Gauteng Marathon Championships recently.
The Gauteng Marathon Championships recently took place at Cradle Moon Lakeside Resort in Muldersdrift.
Participants from u-8 through to 80 years old competed in the event which attracted paddlers from many provinces.
One of the essential aspects of marathon racing, is the ability to master a smooth portage where the paddlers from u-14 upwards, take their boats out of the water, run a short distance carrying them, and then put them back smoothly into the water, they must then climb in without falling in, slipping, or dropping the wet smooth boat.
This is a crucial skill where paddlers can lose time or make up time depending on their efficiency.
Helen Jansen van Vuuren from Germiston High School and a member of Victoria Lake Canoe Club (VLC) based at Germiston Lake participated in the u-14 girls’ races in both K1 and K2 (single and double kayaks).
She won the girls’ u-14 singles event in a time of one hour 32 minutes and the next day she partnered with Kamilah Hank who attends Curro Aurora and is a member of the Florida Lake Canoe Club.
The girls took second place in the u-16 girls’ division finishing in an hour and 25 minutes.
They race a distance of 17.5km with three portages.
Katiso Hlahatsi from VLC and a past pupil of Germiston High School raced in the K1 senior men’s category.
He achieved a third place podium position in the 23km event with five portages.
Fellow club mate and coach Richard Cele finished fourth.
Loveday Zondi was the third sub-veteran finisher in the K1 event and won the K2 event partnered with Alex Roberts from Emmarentia-based club, Dabulamanzi.
VLC’s Mark Handley and Anton Nel from VLC raced in the masters age category (50 to 54 years) and Robert Hamer and Anthony Welsh raced in the veteran age group (40 to 44 years).
Two relatively new u-18 learners Nkosinathi and Nkosingphile Ntombela enjoyed the opportunity to take part in an inter-provincial competition and finished ninth and 11th in their race.
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