Michael paddling for a provincial spot at SAs
A lot was at stake at the recent Sprint Championships as the best team in all groups will now be selected to represent the province at the upcoming South African Sprint Championships.
Krugersdorp’s Michael Goredema was among many local paddlers who battled it out for a spot in the provincial team at the recent Sprint Championships.
Michael started paddling just a year ago and finished the long-distance 5 000m race for U16s in seventh place with a time of 34 minutes and 7 seconds. In addition, he finished seventh in his age group in the 1 000m sprint in a time of five minutes 49 seconds and 6th in both the 500m and the 200m races.
According to Gauteng Canoe Union (GCU) spokesperson Jennie Dallas, a lot was at stake as the Sprint Championships was an opportunity for paddlers to show they had what it takes.
She said the best team in all groups will now be selected to represent the province at the upcoming South African Sprint Championships which takes place at Germiston Lake on March 22, 23, and 24. The race will be hosted by the Victoria Lake Canoe Club.
“Sprints is an important discipline in the canoeing/paddling sport as it is the Olympic discipline. Many SA youth have been selected over the years to participate in the ‘Olympic Hopes’ international regattas to prepare them for possible future participation at the Olympics. The sprint discipline consists of short fast races in lanes (200m, 500m, and 1 000m) and there is a long-distance sprint competition as well (2km for those U12s and 5km for other paddling age groups).”
She added several Florida Lake Canoe Club members participated in the Sprint Championships including coaches who provided support, assistance, and guidance for the very young U8 to U10 paddlers to be at the start line timeously and in the correct lanes, assisting if any fell out of their boats in choppy waters waiting for the start of their race.
