Canoeists tackle the Vaal River Marathon
Although they broke their canoe, they still finished the race
JOHANNESBURG Canoe Club hosted the Vaal River Marathon which was identified as the SA K3 river championships race on November 11 and 12.
The race covered a distance of 36km on the first day and 34km on the second day.
While the weather was particularly pleasant for a change, the Vaal River is still wide, relatively shallow and has a very sluggish flow, making it a resistant river and hard work. It is excellent training for endurance athletes and those preparing for the Dusi in February.
The race started at the Vaal Dam Wall on Saturday and finished in Three Rivers on the Klip River. On the second day the start venue was the beautiful Cote de Val/Pont de Val Resort, and the finish at Smilin’ Thru near Parys.
There are some 10km of white water, rapids, wave trains, weirs and the infamous Visgat rapid at Groenpunt Prison before the long 26km flat hard water slog which sorts out the boys from the men.
A number of members of Germiston-based Victoria Lake Canoe Club enjoyed the tough slog on the Vaal, which builds paddlers’ stamina and endurance, making them stronger for longer races.
Paul Nel from Kempton Park partnered with VLC members Robert Kramer and Anthony Welsh. They broke their K3 on the Goosebay weir when the seams cracked but dragged themselves and the heavy leaking boat to the finish in a time of seven hours and three minutes, in full colour cow regalia.
The COW emblems were in support of children’s cancer at the Hansa Fish River Marathon earlier this year.
