The Northern Cape province will be adding another sizzling sports event to their adventure calendar when it hosts the Canoeing South Africa Sprint Trials this weekend.  The two-day event will take place at the spectacular Vanderkloof Dam from 13 – 14 April.

The national trials will be hosted to select the national squad for upcoming international events such as the Senior World Cup Regatta series, which will take place in Hungary, Czech Republic and Poland next month as well as the World Student Games in Russia in July and the U/23 World Championships in Canada in August.

A highly competitive field of paddlers are expected to participate in the trials and some of the top paddlers in the country will be seen in action.  Expected participants will include 2012 Olympic gold medallist Bridgette Hartley, Olympic paddler Tiffany Kruger, world marathon champion and world cup medallist Shaun Rubenstein and World Cup medallist Michael Arthur.  Saturday will see paddlers competing in the heats and semi-finals for the various distances, while the finals will take place on Sunday.

“The Northern Cape is fast becoming a mecca for water sports events.  During the past two years alone, we have hosted an international water-skiing championship, two incredible Green Kalahari canoe marathons as well as the upcoming sprint trials.  It is especially gratifying to see that these sporting events are utilising some of our great natural resources such as the Orange River.  The organisers of the event were highly impressed with the standard of facilities and offerings at the venue and it definitely played a deciding factor in moving the event to the Northern Cape.  It is a privilege for the province to host athletes of world-class calibre and we are confident that they will be amazed by the great weather, incredible beauty and warm hospitality of South Africa’s largest province,” mentions Sharron Lewis, CEO of the Northern Cape Tourism Authority.

The Vanderkloof Dam is the second largest dam in South Africa and located on the mighty Orange River approximately 180km south of Kimberley and 100km from De Aar.  Featuring the highest dam wall in the country, Vanderkloof is a must-see destination for water sports fans.  A variety of accommodation options are available from luxury self-catering establishments to chalets, camping and caravan sites at the holiday resort.  The Rolfontein Nature Reserve lies on the southern shores of the dam and offers game viewing, picnic sites and a hiking trail.