SA Marathon
Champs provides key pointers for Windhoek Berg River Canoe
Marathon.
The SA Canoeing Marathon Champs at Keurbooms estuary near
Plettenberg Bay this weekend, shook the apple tree to show who
was going to be in the mix at the four day Windhoek Berg River
Canoe Marathon in four weeks time.
Defending champion Hank McGregor made his intentions abundantly
clear showing that he is back to his best form, winning two SA
titles on the weekend in a classic raw power grind-out to the
finish. He won both the singles and doubles gold medals,
entrenching himself as the man to beat on the Berg in a months
time.
The two days of racing in Plett has also shifted the spotlight to
his younger friend Grant van der Walt, who was breathing down
McGregor’s neck in the K1 race, and shared the K2 gold with
McGregor the following day. An entry from Van der Walt would add
an exciting new dimension to this years Windhoek Berg River Canoe
Marathon.
McGregor, after a brief lowering of his profile is raring to
defend his sixth Berg win, having equalled Robbie Herreveld’s
record of race victories. He has confirmed that he is definitely
going for a seventh title, and a new record of wins in this tough
228 kilometre long race.
McGregor noted that his preparations last year were far
from ideal, having stepped off a plane from the Mauritius Surfski
World Cup just in time to race the Windhoek Berg. This year, he
said he has all the time he needs to prepare.
“I’m going to get down to the Cape with enough time to recce the
river at levels approximating what we’ll have on the race” he
added with a terse smile.
The response from one Cape elite racer was equally bullish. Lance
King and new-found wave-companion Mark Holzhausen were only two
minutes behind the McGregor in the K1 national title decider at
Keurbooms.
23 year-old Lance King who has been training on the Windhoek Berg
route daily, familiarising himself with every feature he can, has
been growing in stature every year. “I know I’m timing things
well this year, and I’m getting stronger while many of the older
top guys’ performances have plateaux-ed”, he quipped.
Another key pointer from the weekend’s racing in Plettenberg Bay
was the steady performance of Pierre-Andre Rabie and both Patrick
and Andrew Birkett. The trio formed a threatening posse that
raced for fifth position in the national title decider.
Windhoek Berg women’s champion Robyn Kime was one big name absent
from the results from the Keurbooms Champs. However Abbey Adie’s
was there to show the way to a small field of ladies K2’s in an
intriguing pairing with Lindi-May Harmsen.
With Abbey Miedema now based in Canada and unlikely to put an
appearance, does the gentle Kime have the dance floor to herself?
With dams of the Berg River System approaching 100% full,
44cumecs at Drieheuwels weir at time of writing, the chances of a
“low” Berg have all but been eliminated.
The Windhoek Berg River Canoe Marathon takes place for 14 to 17
July, and will be preceded by a time trials for 70 invited
athletes on Tuesday 13 July. More information can be found at
www.windhoekberg.co.za
ENDS
