An annual paddling highlight takes place on the Hoogekraal River

KNYSNA NEWS - The Parkes Hoogekraal K1 canoe race is organised by the canoe section of the Knysna Yacht Club and is a highlight on the canoeing calendar every year.

For the past eight years, the event has been sponsored by Jim Parkes of the forestry company Geo Parkes & Sons.

His property on the Hoogekraal River is also the venue for this special race.

It was a beautiful crisp autumn morning this past weekend when paddlers took to the Hoogekraal River to tackle an 18km, 10km or junior race of 4km.

The winner of the 18km main race was visiting Cape Town paddler Eugene van der Westhuizen in a time of 01: 31.01, followed by Chloe Bunnet, a phenomenal local paddler from Knysna and a champion paddler on the Spanish national surf ski team, who was just two seconds behind.

Johan de Bruijn came third in the 18km race.

The 10km race was won by Danie Liebenberg in a time of 50.03, followed by Knysna entrants Pierre Giraud and Albert Wasserman who tied for third place in a time of 52.10.

The 4km junior race was won by Jade Swanepoel and Paige Swanepoel paddling a double surf ski with an equal time of 31.45. Next was 12-year-old Laume Liebenberg from Sedgefield in a single kayak.

Paddlers took to the Hoogekraal River for a special annual event this past weekend.