The annual (2 day) K1 Olifants River race, held in the Olifants River Valley in the region of Citrusdal and under the Cedarberg mountain range, was held this immediate past weekend. This race, steeped in legend over the years because of its difficult navigation through bush, Palmiet channels, rapids, ‘waterfalls’ and bridges, did not disappoint the 60 plus paddlers who braved the ice-cold, yet crystal-clear, waters of this picturesque river and the 2009 race will no doubt add to the myths associated with it, what it offers and the inevitable war-stores that go with it, year-in and year-out!

Lindi-May and Heinrich the 2009 King & Queen of the Olifants

And this year was no different when, soon after the start, on a medium to low (and as a result, very tricky) level and in virtually the first bushy, Palmiet-lined set of channels, the eventual race winner, Heinrich Schloms, took an incorrect channel (when his way forward was blocked by another canoeist). When he finally managed to get back to the main flow of the river, he was faced with the prospect of having to paddle past most of the rest of the field who had taken another, clearer channel in the river bed! Catching the front bunches by the time he had reached the Algeria bridge, where the floods in recent times had built the sand up against the bridge so much, that a front end loader had to be used to clear it for safety and road use, the race was on to find ‘The Waterfall’ rapid, some 2 -3 km downstream following a quick portage over the bridge. Here Schloms made up the time when van Riet and van der Westhuizen missed the channel taking them down to ‘The Waterfall’ rapid, whilst Schloms found it.

With van Riet and van der Westhuizen needing to portage out of their predicament, Schloms, with clear water in front of him, was able to make up the gap so that the final sprint in to the finish line on Day 1 of the race, was between Schloms and van Riet, Schloms taking line honours by 2 seconds with van der Westhuizen a further 8 seconds back to arrive as the 3^rd canoe home.

As  the rest of the field came in, reports of bushwhacking to almost ridiculous levels, but in line with what can be expected on this amazing race, kept paddlers and spectators alike amused for hours afterwards and this was played out at an almighty party at the Quad bike farm that evening that ran well into the night!

An early start for day 2 at Biesiesvlei, some 20 km upstream from Citrusdal, saw a number of sad-looking paddlers (after the previous evenings excesses!) line up on a much narrower section of river, to be released on elapsed time so as to avoid the chaos of a massed start on a narrow, ‘twisty-turny’ river that would detract from the overall reason for the race – i.e., of having fun and activity on one of the most pleasant river racing venues in the Western Cape. As a result, the top three paddlers from Day 1, Schloms, van Riet and van der Westhuizen, kept each other company to record an end-sprint to the Citrusdal bridge where they could hardly be separated.  

The final overall top 3 positions then went to Heinrich Schloms, (Paarl CC), with Ernest van Riet (Stellenbosch CC) coming in 2^nd and Eugene van der Westhuizen (Milnerton CC), 3^rd overall.

The Women’s category, Lindi-May Harmsen (Milnerton CC), fresh from her 2^nd place on the previous weeks Berg River canoe marathon, was the first woman home in an excellent 10th place overall, followed by novice paddler, Kirsten Penderis (Stellenbosch) in 2^nd and Veteran paddler, Lisa Scott (Milnerton) in 3^rd place.

Results:

Top Ten

1. Heinrich Schloms – Paarl Canoe Club – 2 hours 45 minutes 10 seconds.

2. Ernest van Riet – Stellenbosch CC -  2:45:11

3. Eugene van Der Westhuizen – Milnerton CC – 2:45:22              1^st Sub Master

4. Marynard Marais – Paarl CC – 2:49:09                                     2^nd Sub Master

5. Dane Sanvido – Stellenbosch – 2:55:53                                    1^st U23

6. Richard McMartin – Century City CC – 3:00:44

7. Daan du Toit – Milnerton CC – 3:09:32                                      1st Su Veteran

8. Rob Hart – Peninsula CC – 3:09:37                                          1^st Veteran

9. Shaun Butler – Pen -  3:09:55                                                  1^st Master

10. Lindi-May Harmsen – Mil – 3:10:36                                         1st Woman.

Senior Women

1. Lindi-May Harmsen – Mil – 3:10:36

2. Kirsten Penderis – Stel – 3:39:02

3. Lisa Scott – Mil - 3:46:30

U23

1. Dane Sanvido – Stel – 2:55:53

2. Kirsten Penderis – Stel – 3:39:02

Sub Veterans

1. Daan du Toit – Mil – 3:09;32

2. Frohann Visser – SSW – 3:11:00

3. Tallon Denovan – LAN – 3:23:46

Veterans

1. Rob Hart – Pen – 3:09:37

2. Duncan McIvor – Pen – 3:12:55

3. Rob Meintjies – LAN – 3:20:35

Sub Masters

1. Eugene van der Westhuizen – Mil – 2:45:22

2. Maynhardt Marais – Paarl – 2:49:09

3. Daantjie Malan – Stel – 3:34:07

Masters

1. Shaun Butler – Pen – 3:09:55

2. Neil Bartie – Paarl – 3:19:41

3. Chris Logan – Mil – 3:28:08

Sub Grandmasters

1. Anthony Penderis – Stel – 3:22:55

2. Rene Boehm – SIM – 4:05:20

3. Naas Fischer – WHR – 5:11:44

Grandmasters

1. Giel van Dventer – Paarl 3:23:57

2. Gerfried Nebe – Pen – 3:26:18