Daryn paddles to 49th in SA
Krugersdorp's talented K1 paddler finished 49th during the Orange River Descent Canoe Marathon.
A large group of paddlers from Gauteng were in action during the Orange River Descent Canoe Marathon (K1) that took place recently, with Krugersdorp’s talented Daryn Koertzen among them.
For starters, Daryn finished in 49th place with an overall time of five hours and 44 minutes, racing among the best in the country, including Olympians Hamish and Thomas Lovemore, who placed first and second, respectively, and Gauteng’s Wally Fisher, who placed third.
Gauteng Canoe Union (GCU) spokesperson Jennie Dallas said that despite the long distance from Johannesburg, it was enormous fun, well-organised and enjoyable.
“The Orange Descent follows an unusual format of the second day being raced upstream of the opening stage. Day one saw canoeists paddling for 26km from Keimoes down to Kakamas. Day two saw paddlers starting in Upington and finishing 28km downstream at Kanoneiland.
“According to the Orange Descent’s official website, the relatively dry and arid Northern Cape is not a normal venue associated with water sport yet paddlers were provided with constant water levels due to farm irrigation.”
She added paddlers at the Orange Descent are treated to a unique mix of river conditions.
“The semi-desert environment and the river’s status as a key source of irrigation for the region means the competitors are tested by a variety of rapids, weirs and even long stretches where paddlers race down fast-flowing irrigation canals and some wide sections of gently flowing deep water, and the event makes for a great test of both skills and tactical ability.”
