Gautengers at Tugela 20’s!!!
The predicted cold front swept through from the Natal regions into Gauteng on the Woman’s Day weekend of 9 and 10 August although the Tugela 20’s race was not as cold as it has been some years!
The race has been traditionally recognised as suitable for new learner introduction paddlers to gain points and river experience, however with the race being the KZN K2 River Trials for the SA K2 Breede River Championships in September, there were some top paddlers taking part which has an affect on the overall indexes which are compared to the winners time! Shoo and there were some really top Natal and RSA paddling names in the first 10 finishers including some of the very best for Under 18 through to Under 23!
With no top Gautengers trying out for the KZN trials, they didn’t even feature in the top ten and in fact the first finishing Gautenger was Mark Shuter (DABS) – Sub Master winner, 6th K1, and 12th overall in 3 hours 43 minutes, against the winning time of 3 hours 10 minutes (K2) and 3 hours 12 (K1) flying the flag for the red and white athletes across the Vaal!
Gunther Grune brought in the 2nd SM position in 18th position overall (CEN) in a time of 3 hours 49, and hold on while I search for MORE Gautengers down the list but still on page 1 – to find Sv 2nd place finisher as George Louw (DABS) in 3:57 and THAT guys was our top Gauteng three!!!
Moving on to our point and training as well as experience seekers, Greg Dunnett, Gareth Duggan partnered up with KZN’s Christopher Allan (DABS / KZN) to finish as the 3rd K3 also in the SV category, (SV3) in 3:58, 30th position overall, but still in the podiums! while Lean Pretorius from Sasol finished as 16th K1, 32nd overall in 3:59 as the 4th SubVet ! Craig Lyall and Timothy Ross (Dabs) were in fact our first “senior” category finishers in 33rd position and 4 hours 1 minute ! with Malcolm Percival (VIC) as 3rd Veteran finisher and 19th K1.
The consolation is that we see many of our former School league paddlers now in KZN colours achieving excellent results ! Raymond and Linda Rorich frequently achieve podium positions for mixed doubles in Gauteng but only managed 4th in this category finishing 39th (CEN) in 4:04….moving on and looking for more if any podium position finishers from our province!
Still among the older age categories, we did get 3rd Sub Master podium as well with Johan Nel and Brandon Head (VIC) 45th overall, and first Sub Grand Masters Mark Hall and Keith Beeston (JCC) looking for mileage for Fish training finishing 48th. Aaah Michael Merry and Craig Johnston (DABS) were 3rd Masters, after the top 50 finishers, while Gauteng Ladies finishing 72nd were Meg Hedderwick and Lindsay Hopkins achieved the 5th finish spot among the ladies (Dabs). HOPE I didn’t miss any good podium finishes during usual Monday rush…..
And that was it guys – our claim to fame at Tugela 20’s – granted, for us it was a training exercise for the less fit to kickstart Fish mileage log, and an opportunity to test new partnerships or gain river experience for the uninitiated so we certainly didn’t plan to send our best strongest team!
HOWEVER this weekend is the Gauteng K2 River Trials for SA K2 Breede champs so lets see if we can get some champions out on the river as well!
Jennie Dallas
GCU PR
0828578571