The TRAC Croc Canoe Marathon start was moved 8km downriver due to a pod of hippos on the original route.

The race was to begin just below the Kwena Dam wall, but due to the hippos in the river, including at least one calf, safety was put first and the start point moved.

At the 1.3km mark, 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 a boat) for 600m to avoid another lone hippo.

The race took place on Sunday, October 11 on the Crocodile River.

The river is narrow and fast-flowing with a couple of weir chutes and plenty of rapids and rocks, waves and corners – quite challenging, and as usual, there were a few boat breaks and withdrawals.

Siseko Ntondini takes top honours

The overall and senior category winner was Siseko Ntondini from Soweto Canoe and Recreation Club in 01:28:13.

He was followed by clubmate Benjamin Mntonintshi in 01:29:48, with Thabani Msia from Dabulamanzi Canoe Club in 01:30:28.

Lowveld Canoe Club member Mark Smith was the fourth to cross the finish line and first in the 45-50 age category in 01:31:11.

Clubmate Stuart Butcher finished 24th overall and third in the over-50 age category in 01:52:20.

Another Lowvelder, Ekurhuleni Kayak Club’s Kyle Hay, finished 15th in 01:42:24.

The only woman in the race, Abby Solms, finished in 01:39:59.

Marshals ensure paddler safety

The race organiser was Lowvelder Piers Cruickshanks, a legend in his own time in South African paddling, with Wickus Loots and Janus Wessels providing marshalling on the weir while other local club members helped with organising the paperwork, entries and timekeeping.

Local paddlers recced the river before the event and on the morning of the race, with marshals positioned at various points. Red-and-white danger tape was set up to warn paddlers of hazards such as fallen trees blocking the route as well as the lone hippo.

The race was challenging, interesting and very enjoyable.