Owing to the significant rainfall in early January, the Elands River was running strong when Lowvelder Piers Cruickshanks claimed another win at the 3338 Elands Memorial Race.

Cruickshanks lined up against more than 20 other boats, with the river’s discharge rate estimated at around 31 cubic metres per second on Saturday. Paddlers set off from Ngodwana at 10:00, and Cruickshanks wasted no time surging into the lead.

He never relinquished his advantage, staying ahead of every competitor for the entire 23km course, which finished at Lindenau Farm. He crossed the line in 01:27:52. Cruickshanks did, however, face stiff competition from the K2 pair of Benjamin Cockram and Troy Clark, who finished just four seconds behind to take second place overall.

Mark Smith (01:29:00) secured third place overall and second in the K1 category, followed by Nick Warren (01:34:50). Loveday Zondi, who finished fifth overall and fourth in K1, spent much of the race among the top three but was overtaken in the closing stages. Kevin Hunt and Daryn Koertzen rounded out the overall top 10 as the second K2 to finish, clocking a time of 01:41:41.

First held in 2010, the 3338 Elands Memorial Race is an annual event honouring the life of Lowveld Canoe Club member Leatitia Scheepers, who tragically lost her life during a training trip on the Elands River on February 14, 2009. The race was established in her memory and takes place every January or February, conditions permitting. Her boat number was 3338, which is why the number forms part of the name of this special event.