THE two-day Klip River race over the weekend was the last river race in Gauteng prior to the FNB Dusi and was an important training opportunity for paddlers.
It provided tough, challenging and exhausting technical stretches, numerous obstacles to climb in and out or around of, some awesome rapids with massive stopper waves and huge drops and holes that swallowed paddlers whole.
A number of paddlers from Mpumalanga, Natal and the Cape participated in the event as their own rivers are dry due to the drought conditions.
East Rand Kayak Club based at Homestead Dam has always been strong supporters of the world’s toughest canoe race which will take place from February 18 to 20 in the Valley of 1000 Hills, starting in Pietermaritzburg and ending in Durban.
Members have been participating in the races to prepare for the challenge and at the Klip River race they managed the tough and demanding conditions with confidence.
Michael Stewart and his son Liam were the first club finishers in a time of five hours and six minutes in fourth place.
Jarryd Breeds and Tommy Booth clocked five hours 55 minutes to finish the race, while Clint Munro and his father Alan from Kempton Park finished the race in seven hours 16 minutes.
