Victoria Lake Canoe Club hosts successful 12km night race in Gauteng
For many participants, however, the race was not only about competition but also about fitness and recreation. A key focus of the race included portage practice, an essential skill in canoeing.
The Victoria Lake Canoe Club (VLC) successfully hosted a 12km night race on February 10.
The race began at 5:30pm with pleasant weather conditions, attracting 70 paddlers from across Gauteng.
The event provided an important training opportunity for paddlers preparing for the upcoming Dusi River Race, set to take place from February 19.
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The iconic three-day endurance race stretches from Pietermaritzburg to Durban and is considered one of the country’s premier canoeing challenges.
For many participants, however, the race was not only about competition but also about fitness and recreation.
A key focus of the race included portage practice, an essential skill in canoeing.
Portaging involves removing the boat from the water, carrying it across land, and safely re-entering the water.
This technique is especially important in river races where paddlers must navigate around unsafe sections. Practising portages improves agility, strength, and overall race readiness.
The winning K2 (two-person kayak) team was MJ Robb and Brad Boulle from the Dabulamanzi Canoe Club, based at Emmarentia Dam.
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They finished in an impressive time of 55.08. Close behind were Sibusiso Chwayi and Kyle Armdorff representing Soweto, finishing just 21 seconds later.
VLC’s Helen Jansen van Vuuren was the first female paddler to cross the finish line, completing the course in 1 hour and 7 minutes in the K1 (single kayak) category. Fellow VLC member Anton Nel finished just behind her in 1 hour and 8 minutes, while Josh Loots completed the race in 1 hour and 13 minutes
In the women’s K2 category, Salmarie Pretorius and Bianca Grabe from the East Rand Kayak Club, based at Homestead Dam in Benoni, claimed top honours. The first junior K2 team to finish was Dion Hopely and Emily Langley, also representing Dabulamanzi Canoe Club.
The success of the event highlighted the growing enthusiasm for canoeing in the region, while reinforcing Victoria Lake Canoe Club’s role in promoting fitness, competitive development, and community participation in paddling sports.
