Canoe spectacular at the Vaal
EMMARENTIA - Local residents battled it out at the Vaal river for the Gerhard Nel Memorial on 21 June.
A number of paddlers from the Emmarentia Dam based club, including Cornelis Human and Etienne Rawlinson who are arguably the best paddlers, participated in the Gerhard Nel Memorial Canoe Race at the Vaal River on 21 June.
The talented locals, Human and Rawlinson did not go unnoticed when they finished second and third in a time of 2 hours 14 minutes with only a second between them. The memorial, which takes place every year, honours one of the legendary paddlers Gerhard Nel, who died at the river from a heart attack. Paddlers endured the 26km race which went upstream and downstream of the Vaal River and up and down the Taaibosch.
Jennie Dallas, Gauteng Canoe Union’s public relation officer said: “The Gerhard Nel Memorial was a success. It was good to see everyone in good spirits and having fun while preparing for the upcoming event. Although it was cold, the club grounds on the banks of the Vaal River had fires to warm chilled paddlers for the Berg training race of 27km.”
The paddlers managed to benefit from the memorial by preparing themselves for the upcoming 220km and a four-day ultra marathon which is described as the ultimate canoe challenge at the Berg River in the western Cape this July.
The best river paddlers will gather in Paarl for the start of their river challenge and finish their race at Velddrif.
