JCC UPPER KLIP RACE – 20 SEPTEMBER 2015
PHOTOS: FACEBOOK/GautengCanoeUnion
Another cold spring day enveloped Gauteng in overcast weather with some drizzle and a miserably cold wind as the hardy paddlers took on the most challenging section of the Klip River, the Upper Klip from Buksies in Walkerville, through to Ixoxo Manzi, in Daleside, on Saturday 20 September 2015, hosted by the Johannesburg Canoe Club.
The 33km stretch was no easy feat in the low winter levels and extracted much energy from the paddlers who needed to portage some of the most interesting and fun rapids on the section to avoid risking boat damage……
The tight narrow winding Klip river infested with overhanging, or fallen over and dead non indigenous trees required complete focus and attention, while back paddlers in K2’s worked hard to manouvre the long boats around and through as well as under tight sneaks…..
While it is undoubtedly an excellent training stretch, where reading river flow and understanding the currents effects on corners and through tree stumps is an important part of river skills, the stretch is technically and physically demanding – while some paddlers love the challenge presented, others resent the effort required – but all are wiser, stronger and better equipped for the top section of the Hansa Fish, leading up to Keiths where the water flow will be a lot faster and more treacherous, while the trees will be just as challenging!
Paddlers meandered through dumped garbage including hundreds of government issue condoms which floated down the river surrounding the paddlers, leading or chasing them!
The SCARC teams led the Upper Klip River challenge with seeming ease and a good gap in time while acknowledging that it was a very tough section to paddle with Tom Ngcobo and Thando Ngamlama finishing 1st in 2 hours 32 minutes, and Phineas Zulu with Zonele Nzuza 2nd in 2 hours 34 minutes. Alex Masina with peter Chissano from JCC took 3rd place as well as first Under 18 team in 2 hours 35 minutes.
There were only two ladies teams, with Sylvia Nel (LIK) finishing as the 4th K1, in 3 hours 33 minutes, and the SCARC girls team of Asanda Ndlovu and Sneziwe Gxobole as the first K2, in the Under 18 category, in 3 hours 59 minutes.
The third K2 finishers were Ryno Armdorf and Guy Caterter (SOW/DAB) in 2h39, while Gavin Steyl with Ian Walker (JCC) were the first Master Finishers in 2 hours 39.
Serge Van Hee finished as the First K1 and first Sub Veteran (FLO) in 2 hours 54 and Michael Kirkby with Duncan James (CEN) were the Veteran champions in 2h57.
Sean and Sara Evans (DABS) were the first Mixed Double, as 8th K2, in a time of 3 hours 14 minutes, and Emile Theunissen with Shelley-Anne Robertson (Dab/FLO) the second Mixed double in 3 hours 25 minutes.
The only K3 hardy enough to take on the difficult challenge with numerous portages besides the very tight tree sneaks, was the winning Sub Master crew in 3 hours 22 minutes from JCC – Michael Roy, Derrick Oliver and Willie Du Plessis.
North West University students Leo Kerkhoff and Jason Spengler finished as the first Under 23 doujble in 3 hours 23 minutes.
The egg/bacon rolls and hamburgers seemed especially delicious after the cold long tough workout but paddlers were glad to have the kilometres on their belt as they finished the last river race in Gauteng before the Hansa Fish.
The upcoming long weekend will see the committed dedicated canoeists heading for Mpumalanga to take on the most exciting river race on the calendar, the Lowveld Crocodile…. and with one more 15km ERK Night race before heading for Cradock, the tapering period of rest kicks in.
Thanks to JCC for the training opportunity and marshalls for spending hours on the cold windy corners to provide guidance / safety backup….
Jennie Dallas
for GCU PR
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