Kyle Hay, Jonathan Nel and Mike Barry led the East Rand Kayak (ERK) club at the Trac Lowveld Crocodile River Race on October 11.

Hay was ERK’s first paddler home, finishing the 22km race, reduced from 30km to avoid a pod of five hippos with a calf further down the river, in 01:42.
Nel followed in 01:50, while Barry finished in 02:11.

Soweto Canoe and Recreation Club’s (SCARC) Siseko Ntondini won the race in 01:28, followed by Benjamin Mntonintshini in 01:29, with Thabani Msia from KZN third in 01:30

“The race was planned to be nearly 30km but was reduced to 22km to avoid a pod of 5 hippos that live on the river further down, with a baby calf, which makes them very protective and therefore dangerous.

“At the 1.3km there was also a roped pool noodle across the river where paddlers were required to take their boats out of the water, and do a portage (walk or run carrying boat) for 600m to avoid another hippo,’ said Gauteng Canoe Union PRO Jennie Dallas.

Legendary paddler Piers Cruikshanks, Wickus Loots, and Janus Wessels of the Lowveld Canoe Club organised the race.