Enduring low water levels and rocky rapids
The club hosted its 71st Vaal River Canoe Marathon which is well recognised as a grinding river race for the tough.
Paddlers from Victoria Lake Canoe (VLC) Club recently finished a challenging 70km Johannesburg Canoe Club (JCC) Vaal River race on December 5 and 6.
JCC club hosted its 71st Vaal River Marathon, well recognised as a grinding river race for the tough.
Jennie Dallas, the Gauteng Canoe Union public relations officer, said the first day of the race was rainy and cloudy. Paddlers were well dressed for the possibility of rain. However, the day warmed up.
“The race started at the Vaal Dam sluice gates, and there are 8km of rapids including Kloppers, a weir, the Shute, rocky islands to weave between, and a rocky rapid with a few winding treacherous channels between rocky islands.
“After that it is flat hard work and a slog, except for Benoude Boude which has another S-bend of rocks and rapid, and Goosebay Weir, 36km later at the Three Rivers Riverfront Estate where the race finished for day one.
“Day two started at the Eden Manor, below the Barrage and finished 34km later at Smiling Thru in Parys,” said Dallas.
She added there was a challenge of low water levels.
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“With the Vaal dam just above 30 per cent, no water release was available to ease the journey. Paddlers got stuck on sandbanks, and rocky flat rocks frequently wading in ankle-deep water.
“Since they are likely to be training for the Dusi, the portaging option of carrying the boat was a good training opportunity as well.”
Dallas explained the race was a Dusi seeding event.
“The Dusi is the world’s toughest known canoe endurance marathon and races throughout the country provide the opportunity to prepare and build stamina and strength leading up to the event.”
VLC club coach Loveday Zondi finished first from his club with a time of 5 hours 45 minutes.
Helen Jansen van Vuuren, an u-16 Germiston High School learner and VLC club member, followed Zondi as the club’s next finisher.
“The young paddler became the second lady finisher with a time of 7 hours 3 minutes,” said Dallas.
“Anton and Shellee Nel finished in 7 hours 7 minutes as the first male and female combination in the mixed doubles K2.
“Ryan Booysen completed his 70km race over two days in a time of 7 hours 22 minutes, while Robert and Dominic Hamer finished in 7 hours 38 minutes.
Roelof Greyling and Jannie Oosthuizen crossed the finish line on the second day after clocking 8 hours 41 minutes,” said Dallas.
With lockdown restrictions, numerous canoe racing events were cancelled or postponed.
JCC based in Wemmer Pan was the first canoe club to be registered and operational in Gauteng.
“This why the JCC club is the oldest canoe club on the Highveld,” added Dallas.
“There will be a two-day Klip River race scheduled for end January and an upcoming Dusi, end February, where training and race points will be vital to river canoeists. This is provided that the new level three lockdown restrictions do not result in further cancellations of events.”
Contact the newsroom by emailing:
Marietta Lombard (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za, or (Journalists) Busi Vilakazi busiv@caxton.co.za , and Lebogang Sekgwama lebogangs@caxton.co.za.
