Paddlers who participated in the past weekend’s Vaal River Canoe Marathon, thoroughly enjoyed the challenge as usual and were pleased to be back on the river – thanks to the sponsors Cloete’s Sand & Stone.

The race started at Rapid’s Paradise (just below the dam wall / across the road) with a festive excited spirit of enjoyment, and finished on the first day at Albatross Ski Boat Club, in Three Rivers. Day 2 started at Eden Manor below the Barrage and finished at Umfula Lodge / Parys.
The traditional Vaal River Canoe Marathon has been hosted for many years as an excellent training / preparation towards the fitness required for the Dusi Canoe Marathon that takes place in February.

This year’s Marathon event was postponed from December 2025 because of excessive flooding of the river at that time with all sluice gates open. The race was subsequently postponed then to the last weekend of January /first day of February 2026. Unfortunately – disappointing for many, the water level was extremely low and bony, and the organisers were unable to obtain a water release from the dam wall for the event.

Paddlers frequently were grinding over the rocks / stones spread on various sections of the river – which can cause boat damage and resulted in less participation for the event which covered distances of 34 and 37 km per day.

This certainly slowed their times down and paddlers occasionally needed to get out and wade their way through the shallow rocky sections carrying their boat – with some participants only taking part on one of the days of the marathon training event.

The race however forged ahead and was enjoyed by participants and supporters, as well as organisers despite the various challenges!

The first finishers of both days were Siseko Ntondini, a well known Sowetan based paddler – probably the first from Soweto to ever do the Dusi Marathon in KZN, partnered with a younger very experienced Benjamin Mntonintshi in a time of 2 hours 37 (Day 1) and 2 hours 49 minutes (Day 2) – total time 5h26 minutes!

Highly experienced paddlers Robert Crichton (Gauteng) and his KZN partner Marco Magni were second finishers as First Veteran age category in 5 hours 30 minutes, with third place finishers, Mark Garden and Sibusiso Chwayi, crossing the line in 5 hours 40 minutes.

A bunch of younger paddlers followed soon after. They were Ethan Cockram and Sikhanyisele Dekeda (first U.23, 5 hours – 41 min both days), followed by another Sowetan team Nhlamulo Mahwayi and Sbusiso Tyiki!the – the first U.18 team in 5 hours 59 minutes.

The first Mixed Double (Male/Female combination) – Renschi van Zyl and Matthew Ballenden finished in 6 hours 14 minutes over both days, followed by a KZN team, then an international paddler James Russell partnered with Michael Stewart from East Rand Kayak club, Benoni – in a time of 6 hours 28 minutes (1st Master age category 50years+) – a wide spread of variety in ages, experiences and from various areas!

Great Grand Master (over 70 years) team Lloyde Hanson and Peter O Connor finished in 6 hours 35 minutes as 13th Double K2, The first ladies team to cross the finish line in 6 hours 39 minutes was TUKS student Caitlyn Odell partnered with Shannon Parker-Dennison from KZN
A great tradition – still upheld!!!