All smiles at memorial race
After last year’s absence, river levels allowed the 3338 Elands Memorial Canoe Race to return to the Lowveld on Saturday.
The race is held each year in honour of Laetitia Scheepers, who lost her life doing a training trip on the Elands River on February 14, 2009.
Both of Laetitia’s brothers, Josua and Albrecht, and her sister, Charlene, were at the start of the race, where a moment of silence was held in her memory.
The race is held over 23 kilometres on a river filled with extraordinary fauna and flora.
The race was won by local boys Piers Cruickshank and Roger Mortlock in a K2 in a time of 1:30,46. Second and only six minutes behind them, also in a K2, were Loveday Zondi and Mpilo Zondi.
In the K1 category, Richard Cele came in first with a time of 1:43,45, and was placed third overall. Following him were two other Lowvelders, Ant Baird in 1:48,01 and Wikus Loots in 1:49,37.
The first lady to cross the finish line in the K1 category was Sonja Bohnsack, with a time of 2:08,58. She was followed by Kirsty Pott in second and Sylvia Nel in third place.
A lot of work was done four weeks prior to the race in terms of cleaning the river of fallen trees and branches. “A big thanks has to be given to all Lowveld Canoe Club members,” said JC Kriek, the organiser.
Charlene Cruickshank, sister of Laetitia, spoke on behalf of the Scheepers family. She thanked Eric and Annabelle Dixon, the Lowveld Canoe Club members who went the extra mile, as well as every paddler who made the effort to attend.
Cruickshank said every smile on the river proved that everyone enjoyed it. “If Laetitia had been at the start of the race, she would have said, ‘Ja, jissie, just enjoy!’ What a fantastic way to remember her.”
As the results show, Lowveld paddlers are peaking at the right time, as the next big race is the Hansa Dusi from February 27 to 29. The next local river race is the Trac Lowveld Croc that takes place in October.
If Laetitia had been at the start of the race, she would have said, ‘Ja,
jissie, just enjoy!’