A sprint towards the finish line at Dabs
The sprint championships recently took place and Dabulamanzi Canoe Club canoeist put their best paddle forward.
The Gauteng Canoe Union recently hosted the Sprint Championships at Dabulamanzi Canoe Club (Dabs). This was to enable the selection of the best teams in all age groups who then represent the province at the South African Sprint Championships to take place on 22 – 24 March 2024 at Germiston Lake.
Sprints are said to be an important discipline in the canoeing/paddling sport as it is an Olympic discipline and several South African youths have been selected over the years to participate in the Olympic Hopes, an international regatta, that prepares U15, U16, and U7 sprint canoeists prepared for possible future participation at the Olympics.
The sprint discipline consists of short fast races; 200m, 500m, and 1000m. There were also long-distance sprints of 2000m for U12 and 5000m for older paddlers.
Dabs paddlers achieved well in their various race distances and age groups. Michael Tilney was the second finisher in the sub grand master age category (U60), while in the U16 girls’ Catie Schaafsma, finished second in the 500m and Matthew Ballenden was the first master age category winner in his races 5000m, 1000m, 500 and 200m. In the U18s, Theo Dreyer finished first in the 5000m, and second in the 500m and 200m sprint events. Tome Dos Santos was the third U18 finisher in 500m and 300m events.
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