Paddlers come from afar for Elandsriver Memorial Race
Paddlers were offered a final chance to prepare for the Dusi canoe marathon with the Elands Memorial race on Saturday.
NELSPRUIT – Ahead of the Dusi canoe marathon that kicked off yesterday, paddlers had a final chance at preparing for the race last Saturday with the fifth 3338 Elands Memorial race.
It all started after canoeist Laetitia Scheepers drowned in the Elandsriver in 2009. Ever since 2010, the race has been held in her honour.
Eric Dixon, the organiser, said it means a lot that her parents attend the race every year. It takes a lot of organising, and the race went well with 63 participants – in 43 boats – completing the race.
Dixon said one K1 and one K2 boat withdrew before the end due to damage to their canoes.
It all started just behind the Ngodwana plant of Sappi (the main sponsor) at 10:00. Beforehand, members of the Lowveld Canoeing Club, the organisers, cleared tree blocks and cut grass. Marshalls on kayaks were present everywhere on the water, helping those who got into trouble when their boats capsized.
Dixon said it was the most perfect water level (just below 20cumec) which resulted in a very fast race. Aside from exciting rapids, the route offered some 90-degree turns and submerged rocks.
Local paddler Mark Smith won the K1 race with a time of 1:26:25. Gustav Smook came in second with a time of 1:28:51 and was the first sub master to finish. Rudi Halbich and Mark Williams were third overall and first in the K2 category with 1:28:52.
Shaun Maphanga (1:30:14) finished fourth overall and won the sub veteran category. Wihan Venter (1:34:34) won the veteran category and came fifth overall. Gerhard Steyn (1:34:39) was the first sub grand master to finish as ended overall sixth.
The master-category was taken by Colin Wilson (1:37:19) who was 10th overall and the great grand master winner, Brian Longley (1:38:340 ended 13th. The winner of the grand master category, Frank Dabrowski (2:11:41) ended 47th.
Among the juniors, Johan Ubbink (1:36:02) was the first u/18 to finished in an overall position of eighth. Dewiko Loots (1:40:00) finished first amoung the u/16s and was 16th overall. Dixon said it was a great time in Loots’ second time in a K1 on the Elands after having completed the race twice before in a K2 with Dixon.
Donald Moncho (1:42:47) overall 21st won the u/23 category. Monique Steven partnered with Michael Benci (1:42:47) to finish as the first mixed double in 20th position.
Among the female paddlers, Antje Manfroni (1:46:44) was the first K1 lady to finish 23rd overall and Daniela Afonso (2:03:30) was the first junior lady and 41st overall. The last paddlers to finish came in after 2 and a half hour.
View more photographs from the race here.
