Mighty Fish River success
The Hansa Fish River Canoe Marathon, which is hosted annually in Cradock in the Eastern Cape, has always proven to be a popular A-grade race with a guaranteed water release.
Canoeists flock to the little Karoo town to enjoy the wild water obstacles, shutes built over the weirs, and mighty rapids on the fast flowing Fish river.
Suitable for novice canoeists as their first A-grade race, it is also a fabulous social away weekend for the whole family with bands and parties, including guest entertainers who this year were Theuns Jordaan and Centre Stage.
The race took place over 80km, ending in the town of Cradock, on September 27 and 28.
A cold-front from the Cape whipped-up wind, creating massive waves on the dam that swamped some boats with numerous of them needing to be rescued.
Paddlers from all around South Africa and notably from Gauteng, as well as international paddlers converged on Cradock to enjoy a paddling weekend.
Craig Smith, who lives just off Kraft Road in Germiston, is a member of the Florida Lake Canoe Club, based in Roodepoort, partnered up with fellow club colleague Debbie Dixon to do the mighty race, finishing in a time of seven hours and 22 minutes over the two days and 80kms.
The first finishers from the local Victoria Lake Canoe Club based at Germiston Lake were Josh Loots and Richard Cele in 107th position, and finished in a time of six hours.
Roy Clegg finished in six hours and 13 minutes with his partner from the Eastern Cape, and the young Colin Ledwaba and Katiso Hlahatsi were 153rd with six hours and 16 minutes.
