Sunday, 14 August 2011 09:12
Page 1 of 2
McGregor takes SA flatwater marathon champs title
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 and was so relaxed and in control of proceedings he even took the time to stop and have a drink on his final portage before heading to cross the finish line in first place ahead of Grant van der Walt.
“It was a really good day out for me today,” said McGregor. “Whilst it may not have been the toughest challenge it’s a national title nonetheless and so I’m really happy about that!”
“I was a little bit tired having just gotten back from Australia this week so I took my time to ease into things early on and then managed to finish nice and strong and get the win which is great.”
“Hopefully Grant and I can carry on with things tomorrow in the K2 and it would obviously be really nice if we could make it two from two this weekend but things should be a lot more competitive tomorrow,” he added.
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.
“I’ve been putting in a lot of training here at Shongweni over the past eight weeks and that really paid off today. I’m really chuffed with the win and to have beaten my brother is especially satisfying!” beamed younger brother Brandon van der Walt.
“Things are going really well at the moment, even better than how I’d hoped they would, so hopefully I can just keep it going and continue my good form,” he added.
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.
“Previously I’ve been a slalom paddler but when I got back from worlds last year I decided to give this a go and so to have won today is really great,” said Wewege.
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.
“Emma went the front early on and tool up the pull. When I tried to head to the front she pulled harder so I was then very happy to sit back and let her pull and I had a really good final take out and that’s when I decided to attack,” said a visibly satisfied Segal.
Sunday sees the turn of the K2s which promises to be even closer and more exciting. Racing gets underway from 08h00 at the Shongweni dam.
More info can be found at www.canoesa.org.za
See summary of results on the next page.
Add comment
