Latest news with #DabulamanziCanoeClub
The Citizen
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Dabs paddlers find success in Portugal
Dabulamanzi Canoe Club (Dabs) paddlers were among the South African paddlers who enjoyed their experience at the U23 Canoe Sprint Championships held in Portugal from July 23 to 27. They competed in various race distances, heats, semi finals, and finals, gaining experience and enjoyment over the few days. Read more: Young paddlers hit the water running at the Canoe Polo SA Championships Alexa Godden reached the semi finals in her two singles races, 200m and 500m, having paddled in three events at the regatta. She also joined Jordan Klopper, in the U23 mixed relay, where they finished 16th. Emmarentia resident Kayla Szalay thoroughly enjoyed her first world cup sprint event, which can be quite daunting. While participating in the 1 000m and 500m events, she realised that competing is a long term journey. It builds a foundation for future victories, creates learning opportunities, and develops grit and determination, even when not achieving the positions hoped for. A tough lesson for a young person to learn, it will stand her in good stead for the future. Kayla partnered with Cody Stallard in the long, 5 000m mixed relay, finishing 18th after navigating chaotic portages. Fellow Dabs paddler Klopper progressed out of the heats in the 200m K1 (single kayak), where he finished ninth in the semi-finals. This was Klopper's third international event, and he thoroughly enjoyed the championships this year. He felt it was a really tough challenge, but learned a lot and gained experience, and he looks forward to his growth and improvement going forward. Matthew Wilson has trained at Dabs since he was U8, and has, subsequently, achieved numerous international victories. For this competition, he doubled with Sbulelo Ngobese in the 500m K2 event, finishing eighth in the junior category (U18) heats. Matthew also represented SA in Szeged, Hungary, at the Olympic Hopes in 2024, and also participated at this year's Dusi River. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
The Citizen
19-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Roosevelt Park firefighters conquer Comrades
Two firefighters from the Franklin Roosevelt Park Fire Station have once again proven their mettle, completing the gruelling 2025 Comrades Marathon for the second time. Read more: Watch: Comrades Marathon hero helps collapsed runner finish race This year's down run, from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, proved to be a different beast altogether, testing their limits in unexpected ways. Mphekgo Leshalabe crossed the finish line in 10:30:00, earning himself a bronze medal, however, despite the medal, he admitted this year's experience was tougher than his previous uphill run. 'I did not expect a down run to be that difficult,' he confessed. 'Normally, they would say a down run is more difficult than an up run, and I experienced it myself in the marathon. The down run is difficult because I has a lot of injuries. I had blisters and the pain was unbearable on my left foot.' He paid respects to the marathon, adding that it is a different race on its own. 'It is not called the ultimate human race for nothing, finishing the race alone is something else, let alone getting the medal.' Also read: Dabulamanzi Canoe Club paddlers fish out the medals at the ICF World Marathon Championships in Metkovic, Croatia While the reward of finishing was sweet, Leshalabe fell short of his goal of achieving a Bill Rowan medal, coming in under nine hours, setting his sights higher for next year. His teammate, Tendani Nemalamangwa, shared the same experience, finishing in 10:07:00, also securing a bronze, stating that it was a challenge running in this years marathon. 'It was my second down run, so I thought I was going to do better than my first one, but it was just harder. I just think that I have to train more on down runs, but, if I was to choose, I would choose up run, which is much easier.' He emphasised the need for a holistic approach to the race, highlighting nutrition, endurance, and mental resilience as key factors. For him, the Comrades is about overcoming his limits and achieving personal milestones. He plans to focus on increased mileage to improve his performance in future races. Platoon Commander Otsile Kobue applauded the two firefighters for their incredible achievement. 'We are proud of their dedication, commitment, perseverance, and strength. They are an inspiration to all of us.' Their experiences show how even the most seasoned of runners can be challenged by the unpredictable nature of the ultimate human race. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! Related article: Soweto Marathon back from the brink of collapse At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
