Local paddler shines in VKB Liebenbergvlei river race
The river race was designated as the SA K3 championship event to establish the best K3 paddlers in SA
The VKB Liebensbergvlei River Marathon took place the weekend of September 15 and 16, a two-day river race covering 63km.
Kobus and Caroline Filmalter partnered with André Zandbergh from Kempton Park to compete at the SA K3 Championships event, and finished the event in 04:15 as the second mixed boat (that is, male/female combination) and as the winning veteran age category paddlers.
The race was hosted by Dabulamanzi Canoe Club at Emmarentia, and has achieved great success with sponsorship from VKB and support to the local communities providing meals, accommodation and entertainment.
The race started at the Reitz water works, on the way towards Bethlehem in the Free State, and finished in Tweeling on the first day, and in Frankfort on day two. The first day was exciting with superb white water rapids and wave trains, while the second day was flat water and a tough workout.
The river water is pumped into the Ash River near Clarens from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project and is icy cold, even as it flows into the Liebensbergvlei through Bethlehem towards the Gauteng dams.
The river race was designated as the SA K3 Championships event to establish the best K3 paddlers in SA. The three-man boat was initiated and built in South Africa many years ago as a tool to offer opportunities for novices to be escorted in a safe situation on big white water rapids.
However, it has since evolved, and sleeker faster racing K3s have also been built.
