FEEDBACK: NWU Watuni Akzonobel race Saturday 5 May 2018
Great thanks to Akzonobel for their support aver the past 10 years
It was a lovely autumn morning that became pleasantly warm as paddlers gathered at The Makery for the first river race of the new 2018 season, including a number of novices who were taking on the river for their first challenge……thank you to North West University Vanderbijlpark campus for the opportunity!
The race went upstream first to spread the field before landing on the somewhat tricky Henley Weir with no walls to stop boats, where marshalls waited to ensure safety and it was Richard Cele (VLC) and Loveday Zondi (SOW) who dominated the race from start to finish with Cele finishing first in 1:31:30 with Zondi crossing the finish line in 1:31:32!! a close race indeed!
The third finisher was Mark Handley (Master) (VIC) in 1:35 with VIC’s Katiso Hhlanhla finishing in 1:36 – another close race!
The first K2 was the next finisher with Neil Butcher and Guy Crichton (Dabs/FLCC) as first Sub Veteran finishing in 1:37, while the first under 18 finisher was some 20 seconds later, bringing in Dab’s Dylan Browne, followed by Leo Kerkhoff (NWU) as first Under 23 in 1:40!
There dont seem to have been any lady racers, although the first Mixed Double (Dabs) finishing in 1:51 was Carel van Biljon and his daughter Nurya, new to the sport and thoroughly enjoying it!
VIC’s top Veteran pair finished in 1:40, Robert Hamer and Anthony Welsh and there was a K3 as well, finishing next – Steve Dunnett, Andrew Spottiswoode and Tim Proome (Dabs) finishing in 1:41 as 2nd Sub Veterans.
David Browne was the first Sub Grand Master finisher (beaten by his son earlier!) finishing in 1:45 (Dabs) and the final category top finisher was Andre Zandbergh (Wat) as first Sub Master in 3:07 though of course, he was one of the trusty faithful marshalls!!
Photos: on Facebook/Gautengcanoeunion – Album – NWU Akzonobel Watuni River Race…..