Locals help South Africa qualify for canoe polo world champs
They competed in the African Canoe Polo Championships where the country's senior men and women's and U21 men and women's teams qualified for the world championships.
Four East Rand Kayaking (ERK) canoe polo players helped South Africa qualify for the International Canoe Federation (ICF) Canoe Polo World Championships.
The four represented the country in the African Canoe Polo Championships at Emmarentia Dam last week, where the senior men and women teams, as well as the men and women U21 teams, qualified for the global showpiece to be staged in the county of Deqing in the northwest of Zhejiang province of China from October 15 to 20, next year.
ERK’s Chris de Bree was part of the senior men that beat Namibia in a best-of-three tie. Despite a 4-4 draw in the first game, South Africa bounced back to win 6-0 and 4-2 to take the tie 2-0 on aggregate.
The team of U21 men, which included ERK’s Kyle Laxton and Kyle Buchler from Northmead, beat Namibia U21 men 14-0 and 11-0 in their best of three, also winning 2-0 on aggregate. They did not play the last match as they had won the first two.
The senior women and U21s were uncontested, but played in a round-robin competition, competing against the national masters and junior teams. Abigail Bottger from the ERK competed for the ladies U21.
Twelve teams competed in the competition, with 92 players, 70 from South Africa and 22 Namibians.
Other ERK players who attended the tournament and played in junior teams were Warren Edwards, David Clulee, Sara Lee Bottger, Tyler and Xavier Mans, Rowen Attwell, and Keegan Sinclair.
For the tournament results, visit https://www.tourney.nz/#/BVAsLwd8iiPskFed4LAw6x
