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Youngster stuns SA's queen of the sand

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Bianca von Bargen sprints to victory (topfoto.net)
Bianca von Bargen sprints to victory (topfoto.net)

Cape Town - Marine youngster Bianca von Bargen blitzed South Africa’s queen of the sand Mandi Maritz in a stunning Beach Sprint victory at the General Tire Lifesaving South Africa KZN Provincial Championship.

Von Bargen also took first in Marine’s team victory in the Sprint Relay.

Maritz, South Africa’s for so long South Africa’s best, snatched victory from the very talented Von Bargen in the most dramatic of finishes in the Beach Flags, but it was the younger Von Bargen who edged the battle of the generations.

The emergence of Von Bargen and the display of Montgomery adds depth to a discipline in which Maritz for the past decade has seldom been challenged in South Africa.

Marine’s Martin Binedell, among the men, was strong in the surf, claiming victory in the Surf Swim, and he also powered his way to victory in the Run/Swim/Run.

Carmel Billson, in the colours of Marine, teamed up with sister Natalie, Kyeta Purchase and Von Bargen to win the Beach Relay, but South Africa’s 2017 Female Athlete of the Year, had to settle for second in the Surf Swim (to Alice Edward) and third in the Single Ski, with Kristin Bellingan taking top spot.

Warnadoone’s Landon Kruger won the male Beach Sprint in the absence of South Africa’s National champion Jonathan Rorke and host club Winklespruit were first in the men’s Double Ski.

Shane Maquire (Umhglanga Rocks) won the Beach Flags, with Marine’s Dylan Bridger a top three finisher in the Beach Flags and Beach Sprint.


Mandi Maritz of Durban Surf Lifesaving Club (left) held on to her KZN Womens Flags title in spite of tough competition from Bianca von Bargen of Marine Surf Lifesaving Club (topfoto.net)

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