orka-blog

High drama decides SA Schools titles.

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 04:29:05 +0100

The Varsity College SA Schools Surfski Champs produced racing of the highest standard with the incredibly strong Orka Training Squad who made their way up the coast for the event destroying the KZN's junior talent and claiming both the boys' and girls' title.

The battle at the front of the boys' race was fierce as the lads from Cape Town set a blistering pace from the outset.

A strong interval by defending champ Dom Notten (Wynberg Boys' High), Craig Flanagan (SACS) and the inform Kenny Rice (Bergvliet High) saw them drop last year's runner up Jordan Zeelie (Grey High, PE) and Shanti Stewart midway through the 8km tussle.

A spirited effort by the two saw them close the gap shortly before the group turned at the final can however good awareness by the lead trio saw them catch a wave as they turned whilst the other two missed out.

That saw it become a three way end sprint with Notten and Flanagan edging ahead of Rice however a drama filled sprint up the beach saw the two miss the finish line leaving the door open for Rice to trot across the line first and claim his maiden U18 title.

"It’s so awesome to have won tonight! It was unlucky for Dom and Craig but I watched where they were going and new they weren't right so stuck with my line and fortunately it all paid off for me," said Rice.

"I've had a great season in the Cape and this really caps things off superbly for me!"

"Its my third year at the champs so that makes even sweeter and I'm really looking forward to coming back again next year!" he added.

After another titanic tussle Amy Hare out sprinted paddling partner and her best friend Kirsten Flanagan to claim the girls' title despite having only started grade ten in January.

"It was a really good race. Kirst was going really well especially into the head wind so I managed to tuck in behind her and then got the inside line as we went around the final can and that was enough for me to get my nose in front," said Hare.

"It’s my first time here for the champs but I've been up to Durbs quite often for lifesaving so I know the conditions quite well but it was definitely quite tough out there with such a strong wind!" she added.

It just goes to show that all the hard work these paddlers are putting in on the Swamp is really paying off. From Orka Paddles Well done Guys and Girls.

SA Schools Results:
Boys:
1.Kenny Rice 34:28
2.Dom Notten 34:32
3.Craig Flanagan 34:38
4.Shanti Stewart 34:58
5.Jordan Zeelie 35:23
6.Nick Notten 35:50

Girls:
1.Amy Hare (U16) 39:06
2.Kirsten Flanagan (U16) 39:15
3.Kerry Segal 40:49
4.Jodi Cleworth 43 39
5.Candice Murray 44 37

Nation’s leading youngsters to do battle at SA Schools Surfski champs

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:50:32 +0100

Firstly I must appologise for the lack of news, running a factory, training again and being Mom leaves little time for much else, but I have made a promise to keep you all more up to date with the goings on at Orka Paddles and Pete's Orka Training Squad, so here is the first installment.

This weekend a wealth of top junior surfski talent from around the country is headed for Durban’s shores as school pupils from the Western and Eastern Cape look to tackle KwaZulu-Natal’s finest ocean paddlers at the 2012 Varsity College SA Schools Surfski champs.

Into its third year of existence the champs continue to grow from strength to strength and, after rigid regional trials, this year’s event sees the twelve top youngsters from the Orka Training Squad in Cape Town, together with elite juniors from Port Elizabeth and surrounds, making the journey to the eastern coastline.

Amongst the Cape storm is 2011 defending champ Dominic Notten (Wynberg Boys’ High) who is determined to hold onto the title he worked so hard for last year, regional trials winner Kenny Rice (Bergvliet High), Craig Flanagan (SACS) and his younger sister Kirsten.

“Hopefully I can hang onto my title again this year but last year’s race was really tight and I think this year’s race is going to be even closer!” said Notten. “The competition at the Western Cape interschools race was really tough and things were a lot closer so I’m sure it’s going to be really tough this weekend.”

“I had SA lifesaving champs last weekend which I had worked really hard for and did a lot of training towards plus I’ve done a lot of paddling since last year’s race so we’ll just have to see how things go,” he added.

Rice, younger brother of surfski ace Sean Rice, has grown immensely as a paddler since his previous trip to the champs where he claimed bronze, and will be looking to do everything in his power to ensure he is across the line first, just as he did in the Western Cape trials a few weeks ago.

Jordan Zeelie (Grey High) will lead the Eastern Cape charge and having just been pipped by Notten on the line in 2011 he will be eager to go one better this time around.

KZN stars Calvin McKie (Clifton College), Gene Prato (Glenwood High) and Travis Wilson (Maritzburg College) have enjoyed some incredibly hard fought affairs throughout the Varsity College Marine Surfski Series with numerous races only being decided in the final few metres.

The trio of talented hometown lads are determined to put in a strong bid for victory in their own backyard as well as put their hand up for the R40000 bursary as part of the Varsity College Sport Life programme to be awarded to the performance of the championship.

In the girls race Toti youngster Kerry Segal (Kingsway High) has dominated proceedings in the previous two contests, however 2012 promises to be a far closer affair as Kirsten Flanagan, Jodi Cleworth and regional winner Amy Hare (All Springfield Senior) head to Durban confident and in good form after a strong Cape season.

“I went to world marathon champs in Singapore with both Kirsten (Flanagan) and Jodi (Cleworth) so I know them well and know how strong they can be but I really want to defend my title again so I’m determined not to let them beat me,” said Segal.

“If I can get through the surf cleanly then I’m confident I will be able to get ahead of the rest of them but a lot comes down to the start and finish in the waves and if you come unstuck there it can be your race over.”

“I haven’t spent huge amounts of time in the sea but I had SA lifesaving champs last weekend and I’ve been working really hard this past week so I’m feeling good. My win in the ladies race at the last Varsity College Marine Surfski Series race also gave me a lot of confidence so hopefully I can now build on that,” she added.

The Varsity College SA Schools Surfski Champs, part of race ten of the Varsity College Marine Surfski Series, takes place at Addington Beach in Durban on Friday 30 March at 17h30. More info can be found at www.marineseries.co.za

Dusi 2012: Cele brothers rattle The Unlimited Dusi cage

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:44:01 +0100

Pietermaritzburg – Brothers Richard and Nhlanhla Cele of the Change A Life academy threw the cat amongst the pigeons and sent out a strong warning to the rest of the elite The Unlimited Dusi canoe marathon field when they claimed a shock victory in the tough Campbell’s Farm to Dusi Bridge race on the weekend.

The siblings took the line honours ahead of many top Dusi title contenders in the key race that incorporates most of the tough paddling and portaging sections of The Unlimited Dusi first stage on water levels exactly the same as that predicted for the big race in a fortnights time.

“It was a very tough race and we had to work very hard so we are very happy to have won,” enthused Richard Cele. “It is our first win together so we are very proud.”

Adding further mystery to the duo’s surprise success was the fact that until recently they weren’t going to tackle the Dusi together and were instead slated to race with other members of the academy.

“We only formed this combination when our other partners dropped us but I’m really enjoying paddling with my brother. We discuss everything and we always talk about exactly what we want to do so it has been really nice,” said Richard Cele.

“Neither of us is lazy so we’ve been working very hard together and we are feeling very strong at the moment,” he added.

The stunning win however disguises the fact that Nhlanhla Cele is carrying an ankle injury that might prove decisive to their hopes of a Dusi podium finish.

“We have been paddling and running very well but we’ll just have to see how Nhlanhla’s ankle is before the race,” said Richard Cele. “We could only paddle together last week because he couldn’t run but I have still been running hard.”

This result, along with their third at the Best 4 Healthcare Rietvlei Rumble and a string of solid finishes in the past few weeks, has cemented their status as genuine top five contenders who could well threaten the podium.

“We paddled last year’s Swartland in the Cape together and then the Berg, which is a four day race which is very difficult so I think that has made a big difference to why we have been doing better in the past three months,” said Cele.

“We’ve been working hard and have watched Bungee (Thulani Mbanjwa) and the other guys for a while now so hopefully it will be our turn soon.”

Careful guidance by multiple Dusi winner and Change A Life head coach Martin Dreyer has kept the pair’s feet firmly on the ground however the talented Cele brothers are quietly lingering in the wings, ready to pounce on the slightest mistakes the supposed ‘big names’ may make and could well be this year’s surprise package.

“We are hoping to finish in the top ten at Dusi and if we can beat Kwanda (Mhlope) and Lance Kime then we will be very surprised but very happy,” said Richard Cele.

“Our main goal is to finish ahead of Thomas Ngidi and John (Ngcobo) and Lucas (Mthalane) and Mmeli (Cele),” he added.

Hank McGregor claims Fenn Cape Point Challenge to end year on a high

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 04:46:57 +0100

Fish Hoek – World marathon champ Hank McGregor added the cherry on the top of his most successful season ever by winning the Fenn Cape Point Challenge, presented by Hansa and Di Data, in a gruelling showdown with the Mockè brothers and defending champion Sean Rice.

The race started at dawn at Scarborough beach where a large group raced with a moderate South Easter blowing to the halfway mark at Cape Point, at times challenging the paddlers with a modest headwind.

McGregor tagged along behind local pacesetters the Mockè brothers and Tom Schilperoort through the tricky kelp beds towards Cape Point, where they were met by stronger downwind conditions, and McGregor made a decisive break.

Jasper Mockè took a swim after misjudging a tight line through the reefs at Cape Maclear that he had hoped would open up a short lead for him, but he remounted quickly and started to close in one the paddlers ahead of him.

By Smitswinkel Bay McGregor had blitzed a two minute forty second lead and had the race in his steely grip with a defiant solo charge in the hot flat conditions into the finish at Fish Hoek.

With victory well and truly in his grasp McGregor tapped back and reached the finish with a minute buffer between himself and a fast finishing Jasper Mockè with his older brother and two-time winner of this race Dawid Mockè making up the balance of the podium. Rice was fourth with Aussie stars Hayden Smith fifth.

"This is one race that I can really tick off as one that I paced perfectly," said McGregor. "I tapped off a little at the end but I remembered how flat I felt in the last five kilometres in previous races so I wanted to make sure I had something in reserve in case they came back at me."

"I was kinda shadow boxing and covering it from the front, watching where the local guys were all the time to make sure I didn't make a mistake with lines like I have done in the past," he added.

"This race means a lot to me. I have raced six and won four, with two seconds, and it has a special family connection for me, so I am really stoked with the way it went. I think you'll never get better conditions for a Cape Point than we had today," said McGregor.

Jasper Mockè was delighted with his second place. "It was a great race and second to Hank is brilliant!" he said. "Maybe that swim wasn't such a bad thing because it forced me to get back into my own rhythm."

"We simply had no answer to Hank today," conceded Dawid Mockè, the newly crowned world series champion. "I have 25 good kilometres in me, but over this distance his long distance training really showed."

He heaped praise on his younger brother's good form in closing in at the death in securing the runner-up berth. "He is in great shape. I would have liked to have a word about him pulling away from his older brother, if only I had been able to catch up with him!"

On form junior Dominic Notten continued his rise through the ranks of national surfski racing by winning the boys title, holding off a determined challenge from Craig Flanagan.

Alexa Cole added the Fenn Cape Point title to her impressive CV after dominating the final stages of the women's race which was complicated by talented youngster Bianca Beavitt starting in a batch ten minutes earlier than the other elite women.

Cole and Kim Brugmann latched onto a fast racing bunch for the first ten kilometres, before Brugmann dropped off the bunch. Cole managed to hang on, worried that the fast pace was using too much energy before she fell off the bunch ten kilometres before the turn at Cape Point.

Brugmann however managed to get onto the wave of a fast double ski and caught up to Cole as they rounded the Point, setting up a needle race over the second half of the race. Cole's stamina and experience on the homeward leg where the runs and downwind conditions deserted the paddlers came to the fore and she was able to pull away from the tiring Brugmann.

"Kim (Brugmann) and I spent a lot of the day hacking away on our own and I think she was battled in the closing stages," admitted Cole, who caught Beavitt on the finish line to cement a ten minute victory margin and her first Fenn Cape Point title.

Cole echoed the sentiment of all the paddler who enthused about the event, which she predicted was poised for a major growth phase. "It's been a brilliant event and everyone is already talking about the next one. I think the numbers, which were already at a new record this year, are going to snowball," she added.

FENN CAPE POINT CHALLENGE, PRESENTED BY HANSA AND DI DATA
OVERALL
1.Hank McGregor 3:47.46
2.Jasper Mockè 3:48.49
3.Dawid Mockè 3:49.06
4.Sean Rice 3:50.00
5.Hayden Smith (Aus) 3:54.59
6.Grant van der Walt 3:58.44
7.Paul Marais 3:59.42
8.Brandon van der Walt 4:00.23
9.Tom Schilperoort 4:00.53
10.Richard von Wildermann 4:02.12

WOMEN
1.Alexa Cole 4:36.36
2.Bianca Beavitt 4:45.23
3.Kimm Brugmann 4:47.26
4.Kerry Louw 4:56.36
5.Kirsty Wessels 5:03.44

DOUBLE SKI
1.Shaun Rubenstein/Steve Farrell 3:50.53
2.Warren Valentine/Kenny Collins 3:56.27
3.Grant Woollaston/Bryan Taylor 3:58.13
4.Jaysen Golding/Marc Germiquet 4:00.44
5.Eugene van der Westhuisen/R. Daman 4:01.00

Top Dogs back for Race 7 at the Strand

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:42:42 +0100

With the top Cape boys and girls, baring Jasper Mocke, all back in town this race was destined to be a cracker.What we didnt know is that the wind would play ball as well.

With the race at Strand traditionally held on the Saturday and in an area of Cape Town, some call the other side of the world it was interresting to see who pitched up. There were new faces and old faces even some long forgotten faces. Definatly a few faces missing but the small field that did manage to find its way to the Strand were spoilt with a Treat of a race.

At first glance from a paddler who does not on a normal occasion find ones self at the Strand, the weather looked somewhat awefull and daunting. The wind gusting sand so hard it took guts not to shreek from the pain. Paddlers clung to their boats at the start line stopping them from taking off down the beach.

The caorse was explained as an out and back from Gordens Bay and then a downwind paddle along the back line to Strand Life Saving Club. I struggled to understand how this would all add up to be mainly down wind but was willing to give it a try.

With leash and Life Jacket securly fastened the race took off!

As we started to head out of Gordens Bay I realised this was going to be a cracker. With no ground swell the small wind swell that was more than managable. The wind really did most the work and before we knew it it was time to turn and head in again. Hear it was a little like hard work but knowing that it couldnt last for ever you just had to put your head down and grind it out!
The front bunch of men had already wittled down, with the top four hanging on with their teeth as they ground back. Once the bouy at Grordends bay was rounded and the finnal 8kn down wind stretch was underway the technical skill off Dawid s came into play.

The runs were fun and somewhat like Langebaan,but what I liked most as a nervous sea paddler was the ammount of safty! With the NSRI in there spirit of Surf Ski and Honda Marine Sommerset West on wet bikes one never felt alone out on the course.

All too soon it was over, Dawid charging in ahead of Sean with Tom just off the pace. Graeme and Pete made up the top 5 and Dom Notten having to put in some serious work after a dismal start to edge in front of Kenny Rice for the junior honours.

My race would probly be my best local race ever just for the guys I managed to pip. One or two that I have never ever gotten the better of and that always gives you a feeling of achievement, so long may it last.
All in all thanks to Strand Surf and Herbert Conradie as well as NSRI and Honda Marine Sommersett West!

I am one of the lucky ones who got to enjoy your huge efforts, Thank you.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS
ISLAND TRIBE, RACE 7 OF THE DISCOVERY SUNGLASS HUT SURFSKI SERIES:
OVERALL
ELITE MEN
1. Dawid Mocke (Peninsula) 1:01:47
2. Sean Rice (Peninsula) 1:02:01
3. Tom Schilperoort( Peninsula) 1:03:03
4. Graeme Solomon (Peninsula) 1:03:46
5. Peter Cole( Peninsula) 1:05:52

ELITE LADIES
1. Alexa Cole (Peninsula) 1:11:33
2. Donia Kamstra(Strand) 1:14:15
3. Bianca Beavitt ( Milnerton) 1:15:32

JUNIORS
1. Dominic Notten (Wynberg Boys) 1:06:32
2. Kenny Rice (Bergvliet H/S) 1:10:47
3. Craig Flanagan(SACS) 1:10:50

Sean Rice wins drama-laced thriller in Fish Hoek

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 04:59:48 +0100

Fish Hoek - Sean Rice threw the race for the Discovery Sunglass Hut Surfski Series title wide open by winning the New Balance Surf Challenge in dramatic circumstances on Sunday.

For the second week running the race was decided in a sprint finish up the beach. This time it was Rice who upstaged Dawid Mockè and Tom Schilperoort to win the title by less than a boat length in a thrilling finale.

Dawid Mockè, who was race director, had a tough call to make after days of heightened shark activity in the area. He set a course outside the bay, but close enough to the coast line to shelter the paddlers from the predicted harsh conditions. Although a rain squall lashed the area just before the start, the predicted high winds did not appear and the race began in ideal paddling conditions with flat seas and medium winds.

"It was hard and a bit like a marathon event with the top four paddling in spurts and taking breaks," said Rice. "There were a few runs going out to flat rock and all in all it was a good course. Its great to be winning with the two international races coming up soon."

Following the winners in close proximity was series race one winner Jasper Mockè, followed by Steve Farrell and Gary Cromie.

The women's race was won by Alexa Cole of Peninsula Canoe Club and who has just returned from the World Canoe Marathon Championships , paddling the all new Allwave ski from Italy. Last weeks winner Kim Brugman, was second with race one winner Donia Kamstra third.

Cole was delighted with her win. "The conditions made it a hard race, but I enjoyed it and enjoyed the new ski I paddled," said Cole "Its good to be back in a surfski after a long season of canoeing."

The race was contested by a field of 119 surf ski paddlers, all of whom agreed that it was hard but fun.

The Series moves to the Atlantic Sea board for race four, The Discovery Downwind on Sunday 6 November. This is a mobile start event depending on wind conditions. More details can be found at www.surfski.co.za

SUMMARY OF RESULTS
NEW BALANCE FISH HOEK SURF CHALLENGE,
RACE 3 OF THE DISCOVERY SUNGLASS HUT SURFSKI SERIES:
OVERALL
ELITE MEN
1. Sean Rice (Varsity College) 1:00:18
2. Dawid Mockè (Fish Hoek SLC) 1:00:19
3. Tom Schilperoort (Peninsula) 1:00:28
4. Jasper Mocke (Peninsula) 1:00:35
5. Steve Farrell (Peninsula) 1:03:15

ELITE LADIES
1. Alexa Cole (Peninsula) 1:09:48
2. Kim Brugman (Peninsula) 1:10:19
3. Donia Kamstra (Strand) 1:13:57

JUNIOR BOYS
1. Dominic Notten ( Wynberg)(U18) 1:04:58
2. Kenneth Rice (Bergvliet)(U16) 1:05:12
3. Craig Flanagan(U18) 1:08:58

Back in a Surfski

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 01:59:59 +0100

Well after thinking I had retired in 2008 to have our first child, Jarryd born in May 2010, I am quite surprised to find myself back in a boat. It all happened quite by chance. Pete has got a fantastic Orka Training Squad running with some of the best paddlers in the world hammering it out daily on the Swamp in preparation for various races. Included in this bunch are some extreemly tallented junior paddlers who he wanted to take to the SA Marathon Champs in Durban in August. I thought it would be a great idea to tag along and support, catch up with old friends and just enjoy myself.

With the ticket booked I thought I was off to Durban for a holiday, wrong!! A great friend of ours had just moved his business close to the Swamp and suggested we start paddling at lunchtime, this really appealed to me, no early mornings and generally less wind to contend with (the wind gets up on the Swamp in the afternoons). Well this was all going well so I decided to see how I would do in the weekly time trial, which also went better than I thought and as they say the rest was History, I entered SA's and managed to win the race which then booked me a spot for the World Marathon Champs in Singapore. Having left my boat there to be freighted to Singapore there was no turning back.

I realised I had 10 weeks to really put in some hard training so after a call to my old fitness guru, informing Ant we were going to have to up it a bit at lunch times, finding out when Sean Rice was hitting the Gym and organising Pete to coach a bit more from the bank while looking after Jarryd things started to fall into place.

I got some great distance in while doing the Breede River pre races, raced the Breede in the main field, thanks Jack's and all that was required was some good speed sessions which I got while Craig, Dom, Kirsten and Jodi were on holiday and also putting in the hard yards for Singapore.

So it was off to Singapore we went, Jarryd included, Steve Jourdan the South African Manager organised it all fantastically, I am not sure if he has ever had such a young supporter tagging along but Steve thanks again. As always it is a great trip with great people and I get to race the best ladies paddlers in the world.

Well the thing that hits you first when arriving in Singapore is the heat, added to this the very high humidity I knew racing would be tough. The course was also race at Marina Bay in the heart of Singapore with lots of boat traffic. During our first few paddles I found it extreemly bumpy, but after lowering my seat settled in nicely. The portage was a jetty take out and put in with the run being accross a floating soccer pitch....definitly a first. Craig and Kirstens Mom, Sue volunteered to look after jarryd while I raced and Pete seconded...Thanks Sue. So all that was left to do was get in my boat and race my guts out for 6 laps around the Singapore Marathon Circuit.

After not the best of starts I managed to work my way up to the bunch fighting for 3rd at the end of the second lap, slowly it wittled down to three of us and so it stayed with myself ending 5th. The highlight of the trip was to come a little later when Hank raced an absolutly superb race to win the Mens Race, and with it the World Marathon Title for 2011.

Well I am now back in Cape Town and still on the Swamp, I have been approached by an Italian Surfski Manufacturing Company (All Wave) to race their new Surfski in Hong Kong and Dubai at the end of the month, so with the Summer Surfski season in full swing in Cape Town I got to race the boat for the first time on Sunday. So far I have really found it great in the conditions I have managed to paddle in. The race went really well, race report to follow!!
So with 2 weeks before I am really hoping for a few downwinds to really put the boat through its paces.

See you on the water.

Hansa Fish River Canoe Marathon Day 1

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 04:43:22 +0100

Cradock – Defending champions Hank McGregor and Grant van der Walt have a firm grip on a unprecedented hat trick of victories after totally dominating the 49km first stage of the Hansa Fish River canoe marathon.

The duo blitzed a four and a half minute lead at the end of their total domination of the first stage that saw several top contenders sidelined by dramas on the river.

“It was just a perfect day for us, one you always dream of having at the Hansa Fish,” said McGregor, who is preparing for the world marathon championships in a fortnights time. “We’re really stoked to be here in one piece and leading going into day two.”

Barring a disaster of seismic proportions, they have done all the hard work to set up another title, and the national K2 river marathon titles, with the race for the minor places on the podium being led by national sprint squad members Greg Louw and Mike Arthur.

German stars Tobias Bong and Achim Overbeek led the chasing pack, despite a spate of disasters on the stage. They started last in the seeded A batch after a spate of mishaps at the start, including another paddler standing on their paddles at the Le Mans style start.

The Cape surfski combination of Tom Schilperoort and Jasper Mocké provided another talking point with their fourth place on the stage.
“River paddling is almost like a completely different sport. It requires a lot more precision than surfski and is all about making no mistakes,” said Schilperoort.

The women’s race mirrors the men’s race with pre-race favourites Hillary Pitchford and Abby Adie well clear of their challengers The duo made kids work of the nasty Keith’s Flyover rapid, before streaking away to register an overnight six minute lead.

The big field of paddlers celebrating the race’s 30th anniversary enjoyed clear Karoo weather over a full river, with only a persistent headwind to dog their progress downriver.

The36km final stage into Cradock features three big weirs, with the last, Cradock weir well known for moulding the final outcome of the results. More information can be found at www.fishmarathon.org.za

SUMMARY OF RESULTS - HANSA FISH RIVER CANOE MARATHON
DAY ONE
Men
1.Hank McGregor/Grant van der Walt 2:43.57
2.Greg Louw/Michael Arthur 2:48.32
3.Tobias Bong/Achim Overbeek 2:48.58
4.Tom Schilperoort/Jasper Mocke 2:48.59
5.Jacques Theron/Piers Cruickshanks 2:49.07
6.Robert Knebl/ Tomas Slovak 2:49.09
7.Andy Birkett/Pierre-Andre Rabie (U23) 2:50.27
8.Michael Mbanjwa/Eric Zondi 2:52.51
9.Mark Mulder/Lance King 2:54.30
10.Alasdair Glass/Edgar Boehm Jnr 2:54.30

Women
1.Hilary Pitchford/Abby Adie 3:10.45
2.Jen Hodson/Tiffany Kruger 3:16.52
3.Kim Brugmann/Angie Gafney 3:21.10
4.Jenna Ward/Brittany Petersen (U18) 3:21.23
5.Debbie Germiquet/Carmen Blakeney 3:23.50

SA Marathon K2

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 04:15:51 +0100

Action a plenty at day two of SA champs

Despite Mother Nature's best efforts to put a dampener on affairs at day two of the SA flatwater marathon champs at Shongweni dam on Sunday, on the water the action was sizzling hot and there was simply no stopping Hank McGregor and Grant van der Walt as the pair powered their way to front of the pack and crossed the line just seconds ahead of the rest of the field.

With no less than five former world champs on the senior men's start line and a wealth of marathon experience to add the race always promised to be a humdinger of a contest and the small crowd who braved the cold and wet were certainly treated to a tremendous encounter as each of the top four pairs exchanged blows and tested one another throughout the race.

It was the superiority of McGregor and van der Walt though though that saw the pair narrowly edge out the experienced Ant Stott and Graeme Solomon and the rising talent of Michael Mbanjwa and Eric Zondi over the final hundred metres.

In the women's race it was a one horse race from the word go as Michelle Eder and Donna Winter made their way around the course unchallenged throughout and came home well ahead of second placed Debbie Germiquet and Carmen Blakeney.

Earlier in the day the junior boys race saw the Cape duo of Craig Flanagan and Dominic Notten put in an incredible performance in the closing stages to recover from a dramatic spill midway through the race with the pair ultimately getting the better of their fellow U18 paddlers in the final sprint to claimed the overall honours.

“It was a tricky situation as we all came into the portage quite close together and the guys behind us tried to switch sides as they approached the jetty and in so doing they just clipped the back of our boat and over we went,” said Notten.

"At that moment I really thought it was all over but we got up and put in a really strong portage and when we put in again the others were only twenty or so metres ahead of us and we knew we weren't out of it just yet."

"We dug deep and once we caught them we decided the next portage was where we were going to make our move and fortunately it all worked out for us," he added.

The cape storm continued its successful ways in the juniors girls section as junior boys winner Craig Flanagan's younger sister Kirsten and her partner Jodi Cleworth, despite both still being under sixteen, resoundingly paddled their way to the top step of the podium ahead of Emma Horner and Catherine Atkinson.

With the SA champs having been completed both paddlers and canoeing enthusiasts alike now eagerly await the announcement of the names of those who have been chosen for the national squad to represent South Africa at the World champs in Singapore in October.

SA Marathon Champs K1

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 04:01:05 +0100

McGregor and Cole crowned SA K1 champs

Hank McGregor continued his incredible run of form in the paddling world as he comfortably claimed the top step of the podium in the senior men’s K1 race along with another national title at the SA flatwater marathon champs held at Shongweni dam on Saturday 13 August.

Against the exquisite backdrop of the Shongweni Msinsi reserve there was action aplenty on the water as the country’s leading K1 paddlers battled it out for the prestigious national titles and at the same time looked to catch the eye of national selectors ahead of the World champs in Singapore in October.

McGregor, contempt to sit at the back of the initial four man lead group, eased his way to a comfortable lead midway through the race eventually crossing the finish line in first place ahead of Grant van der Walt.

Having started in the same batch as the senior men Brandon van der Walt showed just what kind of form and condition he is in as he managed to sit with the unstoppable McGregor for the majority of the race and hence crossed the line some three hundred metres ahead of Cam Schoeman.

Michelle Eder and Alexa Cole battled it out for the senior ladies title with the pair alternating turns at the front before Eder’s slow last take out saw Cole really put the hammer down on the final portage and she opened up an unassailable lead. Jenna Starr claimed the U23 women’s title.

“I only decided to take part in the champs a couple of weeks ago so to have come here and won today is really great,” said Cole.

“Obviously it would been great to have had a bigger, stronger women’s field here today but quite a few of the other top ladies are overseas at the moment so there’s not much you can do about that, I just tried to focus on my own race out there,” she added.

Earlier in the day it was the turn of the juniors and after an early breakaway and then a solid performance throughout it was local paddler Donavan Wewege who made the national title his own ahead of Western Cape’s Dom Notten and Jordan Zeelie from Port Elizabeth.

Having secured the SA Schools surfski title earlier in the year Amanzimtoti youngster Kerry Segal put in a superb performance in the closing stages of the junior girls race to edge out Emma Horner and claim her third national marathon title in as many years.

U18 BOYS
1.Donavan Wewege 1:46.11
2.Dominic Notten 1:46.35
3.Jordan Zeelie 1:46.36

U18 GIRLS
1.Kerry Segal 1:55.04
2.Emma Horner 1:55.14
3.Kirsten Flanagan

SENIOR MEN
1.Hank McGregor 2:21.38
2.Grant van der Walt 2:22.22
3.Alex Roberts 2:34.29

SENIOR WOMEN
1.Alexa Lombard 2:17.59
2.Michelle Eder 2:18.58