Local learners climb paddling leader board
Two Krugersdorp learners made their town proud.
The Gauteng Canoe Union (GCU) School League runs races throughout Gauteng during the calendar year, ending with a final event and annual prize-giving to award medals, trophies and certificates to all participants.
The final race and annual prize-giving took place on Sunday, 29 September at Homestead Dam in Benoni. The Junior paddlers were awarded positions based on the accumulated points achieved – earned for each race on a sliding scale from winner to last finisher.
Keegan Marais from Curro Krugersdorp earned 61 points in the U/10 boys group, while his older brother Matthew, in the very competitive U/14 age group, earned 44 points.
Jamie Wellish from Krugersdorp, who is home-schooled, was the second place U/18 female finisher with 103 points.
These points are also credited to the school represented, although there are only a few schools in Gauteng that recognise canoeing as a school sport, hence the low numbers of participation from most local schools.
Some interesting league stats:
• 166 school league paddlers competed in the GCU 2019 race series
• Eight GCU canoe clubs were represented
• 48 schools competed
