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Dal Josephat to Lady Loch Bridge - Novice Race |
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Written by Mark Torrington
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Thursday, 14 May 2009 |
Venue: Berg River – Dal Josephat Weir, Paarl to Lady Loch Bridge, Wellington.
Distance: 15 km
Type: Novices race only, although experienced paddlers are welcome if they are available to assist the novices on the river.
Start time: 10h00.
Where: Dal Josephat Bridge, Paarl.
Registration: from 08h30.
Compulsory: Personal Floatation Devices (formerly known as Life Jackets).
This Saturday sees the first of the local canoeing season races taking place on the Berg River, when the 15 km section between Paarl’s Dal Josephat Weir and the Lady Loch Bridge outside of Wellington will be raced. It is a race with a difference though as it is for Novices and only Novices will be in the line to win prizes on this event. Experienced paddlers are welcome to join in – in fact, are strongly encouraged too – as they can assist beginner paddlers on their way down their (generally) first ever river race, something that can be fairly intimidating to a novice.
This section is fairly benign, although the weather office is predicting stormy conditions and rain – but hey, if you want to become a river paddler in the Cape, that is part of the deal! There are a few small rapids that will be encountered, branches of trees that hang over and into the river and no doubt some minor tree blocks, but with the river at a low level at the moment, the flow wont be pushy, so no problems are predicted.
This is the only Cape river race that paddlers can enter and do not have to have their River Proficiency Certificates, so it is an excellent opportunity to see what it is that one has to look forward to.
Registration is from 08h30 on the river banks below the Dal Josephat Weir with the start being at 10h00.
For more details – consult the W.C.C.U. website – www.wpcanoe.org.za.
Rob MacLean
Media Lisiaon – W.C.C.U
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 04 February 2010 )
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