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Trio tussle for lead in Global Trader Drak ChallengeSunday, 23 January 2011 11:12 Neck-and-neck tussle for lead at Drak ChallengeUnderberg – The final stage of the Global Trader Drak Challenge canoe marathon will start with a riveting three way battle for the lead, after the trio of pre-race favourites ended a thrilling 28km first stage on a full and feisty Umzimkulu river side-by-side.Defending champ Hank McGregor led the endsprint to the line at the Swartberg Road bridge, with Len Jenkins and six times champ Ant Stott right on his rudder, at the end of a curious cat-and-mouse stage that saw Ant Stott race back into contention after falling behind in the Valley of a Thousand Rapids. The women's race was raced completely differently as Robyn Kime smashed the stage record in a classy showing, while the defending women's champ Abby Adie worked hard to half the lead that Kime built through the testing first half of the stage. "It was an absolutely awesome day on the river," said McGregor. "The river was at a brilliant level, like riding a rollercoaster. It’s great that we are all together because we are all good friends who have been racing each other for years." McGregor took the lead early in the race from Len Jenkins, thanks to a tactical decision to put his splashcover on right at the start, while Jenkins bolted off the line without fitting his, taking on water in the first few rapids. "I was happy to let Len lead again as we went into the rapids above Black Murray, so that I could follow his lines," said McGregor. However by Black Murray Stott had fallen behind, and was lagging 200m off the pace being set by McGregor and Jenkins. Stott had to dig deep to erase that deficit, and may well pay the price for that charge. "That really tired me out getting back on the front bunch, and I reckon I might be under the whip tomorrow on the final stage." Jenkins and McGregor however seemed content to ease their pace to allow Stott a chance to rejoin them, setting the stage for a titanic duel for the title between the three paddlers who have dominated this race since the turn of the new millennium. "I can promise you we won’t be together when we get to the finish tomorrow," predicted McGregor. "Something is going to happen. It always does on this race! This race is wide open!" Under 21 Cape racer Lance Kime excelled in the demanding river conditions to finish fourth, ahead of seasoned Gauteng river marathoner Jacques Theron. In the women's race Maties student Robyn Kime's bid to add the GT Drak title to the long list of races that she has already won stated with a determined charge through the tough rapids in the valley of a Thousand Rapids. Wisely opting for a stable kayak to prevent a repeat of the succession of swims that derailed her bid last year, she quickly built up a handsome lead. However, once they had emerged from the Valley of a Thousand rapids, Abby Adie came back at her on the long flats leading to the finish, and was content to just over thirty seconds adrift at the end of the stage. Both Kime and Adie broke the women's first stage record, with Kime setting the new mark almost two minutes faster than the 2006 time set by Alexa Lombard on a full river in 2004. "I had a brilliant run through the top section, where the water was nice and fast," said Adie. "I have been doing a lot of tripping, but the way I shot Black Murray was the best I have ever shot that rapid. It felt awesome!" But perhaps the standout performance of the first stage came from Toti racer Michelle Eder. She clawed her way back into contention from a distant tenth place in the women' race to finish the stage in third. Using her strength from her sprint training, where she is aiming to get a women's K2 to the London Olympics with her Toti pal Tiffany Kruger, Eder raced her own race. "I am always a slow starter," said Eder. "I honestly don't like the big rapids, but on the flats I was able to pick the other girls off one by one." Eder was also trying to shrug off the pressure now on her to challenge the two race leaders on the 38km final stage to Hopewell farm. The Global Trader Drak Challenge ends on Sunday with the 38km final stage from Swartberg Road bridge to Hopewell Farm, which includes the demanding Underberg Gorge and the final challenge of the Lower Gorge. More information can be found at www.drak.co.za SUMMARY OF RESULTSDAY ONE - GLOBAL TRADER DRAK CHALLENGE Overall 1.Hank McGregor 1:25:49
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