Sandton residents take on 240km canoe challenge
The virtual race allowed dozens of paddlers across the country to enjoy the water and raise money for food hampers which would be distributed to the people in need.
Sandton’s very own take on the annual Berg River virtual race.
Residents Sarah Evans, Cally Henderson and Tony Lightfoot joined 20 paddlers at Emmarentia Dam to complete the Berg’s first virtual race. The race, which ran all month long, covered a distance of 240 km.
One of the oldest and longest races in South Africa would normally be hosted on the Berg River in the Western Cape but due to the coronavirus, organisers were forced to adapt accordingly. The virtual race allowed dozens of paddlers across the country to enjoy the water and raise money for food hampers which would be distributed to the people in need.
Evans and Henderson took home the silver medal for completing the full distance in over four days.
According to Gauteng Canoe Union spokesperson Jennie Dallas, Lightfoot was one of the most impressive paddlers, describe as a “spritely young athlete”. “What makes Tony’s accomplishment so special is the fact that he turned 80 during the challenge, completing the full 240kms,” she said.
Lightfoot paddled half the distance on his own in his “yellow submarine”, a large and heavy old double canoe that ordinarily requires two paddlers to get it up to speed.
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https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/276452/nothing-can-stop-this-st-davids-paddler/
