Mist no problem for Vaal River Marathon paddlers
JCC hosted the 70th edition of the Vaal River Marathon.
JOHANNESBURG Canoe Club (JCC) based at Wemmer Pan in South Johannesburg was the first canoe club that started in Johannesburg in 1948.
On the weekend of June 22 and 23, the club hosted the 70th edition of the Vaal River Marathon and as it happened, the first real cold front came through for winter; however, it was a sunny, pleasant day with a slight breeze.
The morning at the start was so misty that paddlers could not see where to go to avoid islands, reeds and weed chunks, not to mention each other!
It was challenging, but the paddlers had a great day thanks to Bell Equipment who arranged bright yellow, long sleeve T-shirts for all participants as well as caps and stickers, which made paddlers more visible.
The winner of the race was Peter Chissano, from the local Wemmer Pan club, who lives near the dam. He partnered with KwaZulu-Natal visitor Mzamo Zondi, and they completed both days and nearly 65kms in 5:43.
In the second place were a young u-18 pair, Connor Erwee from Sandton and Wongama Makasi from the Wemmer Pan area, who finished the race in 5:45.
Did you know?
• The club was originally known as the Transvaal Canoe Club.
• Gary Player’s brother Ian was a canoeist and was one of the group of canoeists he got together to do the first ever Dusi river race – an epic, in 1967.
• The name of the club was then changed to Johannesburg Canoe Club.
