Rowers come out tops
SANDTON - Cape Robins flitting about the lake were a strong indication that winter had arrived in Gauteng on the weekend of the South African canoe marathon championships.
Without a coastal wind to fuel the cold air, the hot Highveld sun soon warmed the paddlers.
The strong field of nearly 250 competitors was attracted by top prize money and assisted by the support received from the City of Ekurhuleni and Birchwood Hotels. Jeep (Sandown Motors) assisted with provision of shuttles for the top paddlers.
The competitors included former and current world marathon and surfski champions Hank McGregor, and Grant and Brandon van der Walt. Multiple Dusi winners Andy Birkett and Abbey Adie, Olympic medallist Bridgitte Hartley and a crew of Australians also participated.
The Gauteng locals were hard put to achieve top positions and podiums in various age categories. The singles (K1) race took pace on 7 June, and included paddlers from the Gauteng school league from ages seven upwards, while the doubles partnerships (K2) took place on 8 June.
The top achiever was Dave Hamilton-Brown who was the first Gauteng finisher in the K1 race, completing the 22.5km race which included five laps around Homestead Dam and four portages, in a time of 1:46:00.
Anna Clifford Arwidi was once again the top female Gautenger, finishing her shorter distance in 1:48:00. Other podium position holders included Marco Magni (3rd Sub Veteran), Bradley Fisher (3rd Sub Master) and Colin Wilson (2nd Master).
With refernce to your headline – people who sit in canoes, use paddles and face forward are “paddlers”. “Paddlers” participate in the Dusi & Berg River Canoe races. People who sit in rowing boats, use oars and face backwards are called “rowers”. “Rowers” participate in the Oxford/Cambridge boat race To your greater reading community I imagine your headline would make no difference!