Canoers edge closer to epic Duzi challenge

The power of overflowing rivers is not to be tempted, unless you are a daredevil preparing for mania.

The oldest canoe club in Johannesburg, the Johannesburg Canoe Club (JCC), hosted a two-day river race in Midvaal, 27 and 28 February. Originally scheduled for January, coronavirus restrictions caused a postponement, putting the race weekend on a collision course with the perilously flooded Daleside through Henley on Klip to Meyerton river route.

Several Florida Lake Canoe Club (FLCC) paddlers were in action in Midvaal as preparations for canoeing’s crown jewel intensify. The event acted as a race for qualifying points for A grade river status, as well as seeding for start batching at the upcoming Dusi Canoe Marathon, scheduled for 18–20 March. The Dusi is the premier canoeing event on the African continent, drawing over a thousand paddlers to the UmsinDusi river in Zululand’s Valley of a 1 000 Hills.

Gauteng Canoe Union Media Liaison, Jennie Dallas, described the treacherous conditions canoeists faced in Midvaal. “The river was in full flood with participants paddling over low-level bridges. While some of the rapids flattened out with no rocks in sight, others were very challenging with powerful waves tossing the boats up in the air. It was a very challenging, exciting river race, perhaps on par with what can be expected from a full Dusi in March since Inanda Dam is full to capacity,” said Jennie.

Fleurhof resident, Nkosi Mzolo, finished the JCC event in 4 hours 7 minutes, while Delport van Schalkwyk finished in a time of 6 hours 50 minutes to win the Grand Master age category prize. Moshe Nghomane partnered with Richard Roos to finish in 5 hours 21 minutes, and Macdonald Nkosi and Michael Tilney finished in 5 hours 25 minutes despite breaking the nose of their boat.