Nelspruit canoers set up new record
A new record for the official K1 marathon was set up averaging 4:41 minutes per kilometre with portages (overland track between navigable waterways) at the Longmere Dam on Saturday morning.
The race was in marathon style, which comprises four laps of five kilometres including a short portage of 50 metres each. The total distance of the race is 20,2 kilometres.
Mark Smith improved on his previous best by a big 1:43 minutes finishing in first place with 01:35:06 minutes and Gustav Smook also improved with 2:50 minutes finishing second with a time of 01:35:07. Rudi Halbich and Andreas van Tonder were both only 30 seconds off their best time with 01:39:38 and 01:39:39., but had to wait
for Trevor Smith. Trevor was down by 57 seconds, but defenitely not of his own
doing, but by the grace of his mates, he finished in sixth place with a time of 01:40:54. Janus Wessels improved by a massive 10 minutes. Mark Williams and
Bonny Bridgeford bettered their combination time also by 2:17 minutes and came
in with a time of 01:52:59. Mike and Jared Adams did very well with a reform of
13 minutes and deserved a time of 02:09:40.
As far as the winter league points positions are concerned, Wikus Loots finished first with 882 points, Trevor Smith in second with 712 and Smook in third with 699.
The SASOL Lowveld Croc Canoe Marathon will be held on October 12-13 from Kwena Dam to Montrose Falls.
