Dabs paddlers take honours in the Florida Lake Canoe Club Marathon Race

The Florida Lake Canoe Club Marathon Race took place recently and Dabulamanzi Canoe Club (Dabs) paddlers took home top prizes.

Such races provide a training opportunity for long distance marathon races. A number of paddlers will participate at the International Canoe Federation (ICF) marathon championships set to take place in Metkovic, Croatia on September 19–23, for paddlers aged U23 into their 80s.

Read more: Surfski hits the Dabulamanzi Canoe Club waters

Dabs’ Wayne Jacobs won the main 20km race in 01:34:00 as first finisher and first in the veteran age category, over 40. He was chased by Sowetan Benjamin Mntonintshi, and fellow Dabs canoeists, Michael John Robb and Robert Crichton.

Also read: Dabulamanzi Canoe Clubs paddler of the year

The Florida club hosted this race following the example of Ekurhuleni Kayak club, and Centurion Canoe Club in recent weeks, with a 20km long distance training race, as well as short 10km for less fit or newer paddlers who just wanted to enjoy the hour on the water in nature. There was also a 3.6km race for the guppies, U12, which included U6, U8, and U10.

The marathon’s youngest achiever was Dabs’ very own Ruoxi Hao, who won the U12 race, chased by various paddlers from Soweto Canoe and Recreation Club. Aara Judy, also from Dabs, was the only female braving the still cold winter weather as the lady winner.

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