FEEDBACK – JCC LIDO KLIP RACE SUNDAY 18th SEPTEMBER 2016
GCU K1 TRIALS FOR TEAM SELECTION AT SA K1 CHAMPIONSHIPS (FISH) AND
GCU K1 CHAMPIONSHIPS
PHOTOS – SEE FACEBOOK/GAUTENGCANOEUNION
The JCC Upper Klip river race from Buksies next to Lido Hotel, to Ixoxo Manzi in Daleside was certainly challenging with rainy cold windy unpleasant conditions after the recent heat wave.
The river section itself is certainly more challenging and interesting that the lower reaches of the Klip river which everybody is already bored with after a season of racing and has numerous obstacles as well as many portages in the shallow low winter level. A number of boats withdrew due to damage and leaking while ductape repairs were not successful due to the wet cold conditions either.
The first two waterfalls were called compulsory portages, while the Devils Toilet was open to paddlers for the first time and the few who dared it were pleased with their experience and they made up a bit of time – there are a couple of photos of this exciting new rapid now opened up – its looks pretty rough! There were few swimmers at the weir and pipes where a good water flow aided the passage. The low level bridges are generally easy enough to portage although slick muddy slimy conditions resulted in some slipping and Morgan’s Corner was very challenging especially for the K2’s who struggled with the sharp turns through the trees and boulders, resulting in a number of swims.
Alex Masina was the K1 GCU Champion winner of the race (JCC) also as first Under 18 junior paddler, in a time of 2 hours 27 minutes with Siseko Ntondini taking 2nd place (SOW) some 5 seconds later as first Under 23 paddler, while Phineas Zulu (SOW) finished 3rd overall in 2 hours 30 minutes as the first Senior age group paddler. The second and third senior finishers were Alex Roberts and Robert Crichton, (Dabs) in 2 hours 31 and 2 hours 32 minutes.
Morgan Ziervogel was the winning lady and first Under 23 female, (JCC) finishing in 2 hours 53 minutes, with Holly Spencer, also Under 23 finishing next in 2 hours 57 minutes (Dabs). Janet Bartlet was the 3rd lady finisher in the Sub Master age category, in a time of 3 hours 28 minutes (Dabs).
Kelvin Byres (Dabs) was the first Veteran Finisher in 2 hours 35 minutes, while Gavin Steyl and Roland Smith (JCC/VIC) were the first double finishers in 2 hours 39 minutes.
The first Sub Grand Master to cross the finish line in 2 hours 44 minutes, was Lowvelds Gerhard Steyn, followed by the first Sub Veteran finishers and 2nd K2 in 2 hours 45 minutes – Shaun Maphanga (FLCC) partnered with Neil Butcher (Dabs) for his first Fish although Gerhard Du Plooy was the K1 Sub Veteran finisher in 3 hours 15 (Dabs). Sibusiso Chwayi (SOW) was the first Under 16 finisher, in 2 hours 47 minutes.
Uwe Schmidthaus (VIC) was the Sub Master top finisher of the day in a time of 2 hours 53 minutes, while the first finishing Grand Master in 2 hours 55 minutes was Meyer Steyn with Malcolm Stothard as top Master in 3 hours 2 minutes (Dabs). Frank Dabrowski was the first finishing Great Grand Master in 3 hours 13 minutes (Dabs).
There were only TWO Mixed Double teams on this section of river ideally better suited to K1 boats, with Mariette and Andre Zandbergh (WAT) finishing in 3 hours 6 minutes while Kate and Roger Stubbs (DABS) finished in a time of 3 hours 17 minutes in the Veteran age category.
Numerous marshalls were required for the various points along the river and thanks to JCC for their efforts as well as hot food at the finish. Further gratitude must be voiced for the amount of hard work time and effort put in to clear / tidy up the section which not long ago was completely tree blocked.
Jennie Dallas
for GCU PR
082 857 8571