Some of the top paddlers in the country will be heading to Upington in the Northern Cape to battle it out during the Green Kalahari Canoe Marathon, which takes place from 22 to 24 March 2012.
The total prize purse of R270 000 has attracted the crème of the local paddling circuit and will ensure extremely competitive racing. In the men’s division, Breede River champions Lance King and Heinrich Schloms will take on the dream team of Thulani (Michael) Mbanjwa and Sibonelo (Eric) Zondi.
Mbanjwa and Zondi recently finished third in The Unlimited Dusi and were particularly impressive during the portages. The route of the first Green Kalahari Canoe Marathon features three portages and with Mbanjwa and Zondi being particularly strong runners, race organisers are expecting a strong challenge from them at each take-out.
In the women’s division, superb paddling is on the cards with current Fish River champions Hilary Pitchford and Abby Adie preparing to tackle Olympians Jen Hodson and Carol Reeves. Pitchford missed out on The Unlimited Dusi due to a wrist injury, but Adie took part with twin sister Alex to finish in second position.
The junior category also promises to be fiercely contested as Paarl Canoe Club has entered four juniors with national colours in paddling, including former junior Berg champion Joseph Williams and Junior Olymian Luke Stowman.
According to race organiser Gawie Nieuwoudt, they are delighted to have such a top notch field for their first race. “It is definitely great news for the race that we’ve managed to attract some of the top names in South African paddling to our inaugural event. This will definitely set a benchmark for the race and establish it as a key event on the paddling calendar. We can certainly expect some hard paddling and some clever manoeuvres on the water from these seasoned campaigners,” mentioned Nieuwoudt.
The three-day stage race starts from the Upington Ski Club and traverse 99km down the mighty Orange river to the finish just before the Augrabies Falls. In addition to the action on the water, spectators and supporters will also be able to enjoy the warm Northern Cape hospitality, great Kalahari cuisine and fantastic wines.
Off-the-water activities include sundowners at Oranjekom, tastings with Orange River Cellars and trips to the majestic Augrabies Falls. The Quiver Tree Food and Wine Route is a must for any travel itinerary as it provides the perfect showcase for the rich cultural diversity and gastronomic offerings of the region. A host of family-friendly accommodation facilities provide offer good value propositions.
For more information, visit the Green Kalahari Canoe Marathon on www.gkcm.co.za.
