PARYS DUSI RIVER RACE – 14 JANUARY 2016 – FEEDBACK
PHOTOS: SEE FACEBOOK / LIKKEWAAN KANOE KLUB
The Parys Dusi Type river race hosted by Malcolm Stothard on Saturday 14 January 2016 was quite an awesome opportunity to enjoy superb water level at between 60/70 cumecs I have been advised……that means the majority of rapids were not as technical, and Sbend rapids became straightforward over the top of the rocks type rapids! Fabulous fun!
The Dusi type race started at Smiling Thru and some 7km later required a 3km portage from the Likkewaan Kanoe Klub past the weir onto the most rocky technical section of the river just above Parys, where fast water flow did result in damage to some boats however many enjoyed and thrilled in the easier faster rapids than the really low bony stuck on rock effects of lower water levels.
The NON DUSI Race started below the Golf Course bridge and while there are still technical tricky sections to manouvre, with the faster water flow in most cases the paddlers were able to enjoy the section without too much challenge.
The Parys Vaal River also has options / choices / channels and islands and lack of knowledge of the various sections can result in paddlers getting to dead ends / running out of water, missing out on the best parts such as Big Daddy and Big Knuckles, but all in all a great training opportunity with good water flow, excellent weather and over 60 paddlers to share the experience with.
Hadeda Creek provided a spread of note and paddlers were of good cheer after the exciting stretch of river, despite some having boat damage or gotten lost – all these things happen on unfamiliar rivers, as well as technically challenging fun rivers such as the Dusi!
30 K1’s, and 10 K2’s finished the Dusi type Parys race including the run section.
The top finishers of the DUSI race included Kirsty Fox as first Lady finisher (ERK) in 2 hours 31 minutes, while the 2nd Lady finisher was Janet Bartlet (DABS) finishing as 3rd Sub Master in 3 hours 19 minutes.
In the Men’s race, the winning paddler was Siseko Ntondini (SOW) in 2 hours 2 minutes as first K1 with the 2nd K1 finisher some 2 seconds later being Loveday Zondi (SOW). Alex Roberts was 3rd (DABS) as 1st Sub Veteran in 2 hours 4 minutes and fellow club colleague Kelvin Byres was 4th finisher as first Veteran in 2 hours 6 minutes.
Richard Cele finished as the 3rd Senior age category (VIC) in 2 hours 7 minutes in 5th place, with Sub Master Mike Stewart next in 2 hours 10 minutes. Sipho Qoko (SOW) was next in 2 hours 11 minutes as the first Under 23, while Liam Stewart was the first Under 18 finisher (ERK) in 2 hours 26 minutes.
Jim Davies finished as the first Su Grand Master, 16th K1, in 2 hours 34 minutes, (DABS), while VIC’s Mark Handley was the first Master finisher in 2 hours 35 minutes.
Jerome Boulle with Elsali Boulle (FLCC) were the first Mixed Double, 3rd K2, in 2 hours 42 minutes, while Douw Kruger and Melusi Nxumalo were the first finishing K2, also from FLCC in 2 hours 29 minutes. The 2nd K2 finishers were Stuart Macwilliam and Robert Hurry (DABS) in 2 hours 38 minutes.
8 K1, 4 K2, and a K3 finished the Paddle only section of the race which started below the Golf Course rapid, cutting out the 7km of flat water sprinting from Smilin’ Thru to Likkewaan club as well as the 3km portage past the weir, and some tricky technical sections up to the bridge.
Under 23 Chazani Gumede (SOW) was the first finisher in 1 hour 18 minutes followed by Meyer Steyn (Dabs) in 1 hour 20 minutes – Grand Master, while Alastair Jackson brought up the 3rd position, in 1 hour 27 minutes.
Sylvia Nel (LIK) finished the paddle only race in 1 hour 41, as the 7th K1, 1st lady, and 3rd Master!
In 4th place, the first K2 finishers from VIC were Johan Nel and Brandon Head in the Sub Master category, one second later, while the Master finishers were Bryan Slater and Cally Henderson (DABS) in 1 hour 29, as the first Mixed double. Pete O Connor was the first GGM finisher in this paddle only river section, finishing 3 minutes after the double, as 4th K1.
The K3 finishers from JCC, Anthony Phelp, Phillippa and Martin Sly in 1 hour 35 minutes .
Jennie Dallas
for GCU PR
082 857 8571