Centurion paddlers excel at Gauteng K1 River Championships
Paddlers from the Centurion Canoe Club performed superbly at the recent Standard Bank Clean Water Challenge in the Free State, which also served as the Gauteng K1 River Championships for 2024.
The recent Standard Bank Clean Water Challenge took place on the Liebenbergsvlei River between Reitz and Tweeling in the Free State province.
This two-day race covering a 35km section of river with major rapids and tricky currents, corners, and rocky sections, also served as the Gauteng K1 River Championships.
It was an opportunity to select a team to represent Gauteng at the South African K1 River Championships event.
Wally Fisher from the Centurion Canoe Club was the best achiever from the club paddling both days in a time of 4 hours 25 minutes, as first finisher in the Sub Grand Master age category and 21st in the Single Kayak (K1) race. With that he secured his selection to the team in his age category.
Pierre-Andre van Leeuwen was the first Master age category finisher (50 plus). He finished 30th (K1) in a time of 4 hours 56 minutes.
Elton Du Preez followed closely behind Van Leeuwen in 5 hours 5 minutes as third Sub Master finisher in 32nd place (K1).
Photo: Supplied
Another Centurion paddler, Johan Pretorius, finished in 5 hours 27 minutes, 40th (K1) and fourth Sub Grand Master.
Wayne Lotter was the fourth Sub Veteran and 46th overall (K1) in a time of 5 hours 45 minutes, while Hertz Eiselen was the fifth Grand Master finisher, in the 50th place overall (K1) in a time of 6 hours 37 minutes.
There are always several K2 (doubles paddlers) – or even K3 (3-man kayaks) – who enjoy the experience, the competition, the excitement of the river and clean water as well as fitness training and being in nature, while not striving for selection in the K1 category.
Other paddlers just enjoyed one day on the river for the experience without being in the race technically.
Gerrie Moolman and Martin Moolman from the Academy Canoe Club based at Roodeplaat dam finished the first day as 10th (K2) in a time of 2 hours 24 minutes and.
Pretoria Canoe Club based at the Roodeplaat Dam were also present at the race with Allan Worms and David Manley finishing as 20th (K2) as fourth Masters team on the first day in a time of 2 hours 41 minutes.
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