STUDENT SPORT CLUB OF THE YEAR
Canoe

"Our members are Serious about Speed". The Canoe Club has a distinctive focus on Kayak Sprinting and is renowned for its competitive edge in Gauteng. The Club utilizes all support structures at UP in order for its members to engage in and experience the total hub of kayaking. Various support elements such as Sport Science and Medicine, Physiotherapy, Biokinetics, Sport Administration as well as the CSIR plays an instrumental role to achieve outcomes and goals set by each individual.

The Club returned with the bronze medal from the annual SASSU event. It was the best team performance ever from Tuks Canoeing. Marcus Melck was accepted by the IOC to attend a specialized three month Kayak/Canoe Coaching Course at the Semelweiss University in Hungary. The Learn To Canoe Programme is the only 'formal' Development Programme in Operation north of Johannesburg. Since it's inception in October 2003, more than 100 students have enrolled for the programme. The LTC programme is a self sustainable programme and has received interest on provincial as well as national level.

On competitive level, members also participate in high profile events, such as the Duzi, Berg, Umkomaas and Fish River Marathons. Participation is not restricted to fresh water as two club members participated in an International Surf Ski Event in Cape Town earlier this year. Two paddlers were selected for the SA Sprint Team to participate in the World Cup Sprint Regatta, in Dussberg, Germany during May and Michael Arthur also qualified to attend the final Olympic Trials in Possnann, Poland. As a SA Top 10 rated Sprinter, he also participated in the, by invitation only, uShaka Marine Canoe Challenge, which received extensive SS TV coverage.

The Club boasts a sound and effective administrative system. The Club is managed from a Canoe Office which was inaugurated earlier this year in the Sport Centre where committee operations are streamlined. The newly enrolled B Sport Science Canoe students enjoy an interactive administrative, coaching and technical environment. The Gauteng Canoe Union acknowledged the Club for presenting one of the Top 3 Best Organized Races in Gauteng.

Michael Arthur, Canoe

Michael is a third year BSc Engineering student and is a member on the Canoe Club Committee. He played a pivotal role at the SASSU Fish River Marathon where he contributed to Tuks earning an overall third position. Michael is a multi-skilled kayaker where he is a force to be reckoned with on river as well as flat water sprint events. As a novice sprinter, Michael is a respected paddler where he rates in the top 3 positions of most events he participates in in South Africa.

Michael represented Gauteng at the SA Sprint Championships in Pietermaritzburg where he was crowned SA Champion in the 500m as well as 1000m events. Michael has represented Gauteng for the past two consecutive years. He was a member of the SA Senior Sprint Team to the World Cup Sprint Regatta in Duisberg, Germany during May 2004 where he reached the B-finals in the K2 section. He came 5th in the 500m and 6th in the 1000m. He was selected to travel to Poznan, Poland to participate in the Athens Olympics Final Qualifier. Michael is rated as a Top 10 South African paddler and was invited to participate in the First uShaka Canoe Challenge during July in Durban.