I have hosted Canoe Marathon events at JCC, Wemmer Pan ,now for the last 12 years and never before had top paddlers pull out after checking out the conditions.
The wind and wind gusts were at such a strength that I could not properly set up the portage area with Chevron tape, as the tape kept getting ripped apart by the
force of the wind. The portage take out area was the worst affected by the NW wind.
After a discussion in the JCC Clubhouse with the remaining entrants it was decided to reduce the longest race distance to 16 km and to give the k1’s an option to portage or not
as their boats could have got damaged if blown off their shoulders during the portage run.
The K2’s would still do the portage.
Race results are as follows:
6 km: K2 race, with K1’s entered.
1.Kamillah Hank – 35’ 10”.
2.Colin Ledwaba and Mukhtaar Caster – 36’ 08”.
3.Rico Prinsloo and Crishan Van Wyk – 38’ 45”.
12 Km: k2 race with K1’s entered.
- Thabo Selela – 1hr 11’ 14”.
- Bert Matruj and Piwe Makhuba – 1 hr 11’ 23”.
- Sarah Evans – 1 hr 17’ 37”.
- Sean Evans and Caity Evans – 1 hr 17’ 48”. Soooo great to see the wonderful Evans family out racing together in these uniquely difficult circumstances.
- Nkosinathi Ntombela – 1 hr 18’ 47”.
16 km : K2 race with K1’s entered.
1.Khatiso Hlahatsi and Peter Chissano – 1hr 25’ 32”. These guys paddled an amazing race under the very difficult racing conditions.
2.Helen Jansen Van Vuuren and Richard Cele – 1 hr 28 ‘ 05 “. These 2 also put such a racing effort in, it was inspiring to see.
3.Jaco Lategan – 1hr 40’45“ . Jaco handled the very difficult side swell and bounce so well and was the only K1 to do all the portages.
An awesome effort Jaco.
- DNF the 16 km, but completed 12 km: Anton Nel and Nic Bradley – 1hr 07’ 57”.
Best regards,
Pete Rossouw,
Cell: 082 895 8129
Email: peter@sports4life.co.za
Website: http://sports4life.co.za