Excitement builds for river paddle event

Excitement is building for the second SPAR River Paddle Challenge, which takes place in the Swartkops River estuary on November 24.

This, the second edition of the event, is expected to draw entrants from a broad spectrum of the paddling community, with organisers Zsports Events having arranged a variety of events from 11am.

The event will take place at Dufour Park on the Swartkops River. It caters for paddlers from U12s to the 65-plus category and includes singles, doubles, triples and stand-up paddling.

The entry fee is R100 per paddler. Entries received on the day will be charged an additional R30.

Organiser Mike Zoetmulder, of Zsports, said the success of 2017’s event provided plenty of reasons to continue the concept as it was one of the major fundraisers for the Zwartkops Conservancy.

An environmental organisation, the Zwartkops Conservancy works constantly to maintain the eco-system of the river and its surrounds.

Zoetmulder said the race was unique in that it took place in an estuary.

“It won’t work at low tide, so we do this when the tide is high, enabling us to create narrow canals through the mud flats for the paddlers.

“This is what makes it exciting for competitors.”

The Bluewater Bay Surf Lifesaving Club women’s team have also thrown their support behind the Zwartkops Conservancy in an initiative sponsored by SPAR Eastern Cape.

Two of the club’s surf boats have been resprayed red and carry a simple message: “Stop the use of plastic bags”.

“Though our main function is looking after the safety of bathers, we believe our responsibilities go much further,” club chair Dave Bamber said.

“We have all seen the horror pictures that show how we are polluting the oceans and the harm to marine life.”