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Durban - With the Varsity College Marine Surfski Series nearing completion paddlers caught up in various battles throughout the ranks tackled Friday evening’s Hi Q Surfski Challenge, the penultimate race of the ten leg affair, with Hank McGregor claiming his fifth race victory of the series which, together with his solitary second place hands him yet another overall men’s singles series title.
McGregor, having spent much of the day in the uMsundusi and uMngeni valleys seconding Marc Germiquet through The Unlimited Non Stop Dusi, dug deep to overcome fatigue to hang on to yet another top of the podium finish.
“It was a really long, tiring day for me so to come here tonight and win is something I’m very stoked with,” said the Team Best 4 Kayak Centre athlete. “There was a little assistance with the odd bump here and there but there wasn’t really much wind at all so it was tight racing again and you couldn’t really get away from the other guys.”
“I made my move towards the end and fortunately was able to make it stick. It was another great Friday evening race so it was nice to get another win and it really is great to be able to wrap up another series win as well.
“The standard this year has been phenomenal with all the guys really raising their game and putting a lot more time and effort in to it. With the World Champs not too far away, which I know is definitely a goal of mine and I’m sure is of a couple others as well, so to have beaten guys who are paddling really well at the moment and who are approaching things really professionally is great.
The two men who have been nipping at McGregor’s heels throughout the series, Matt Bouman and Varsity College’s Grant van der Walt (Team Best 4 Kayak Centre), once again gave it their all but came up just short of claiming the top step of the podium.
Bouman however claimed a vital second place finish with van der Walt third, leaving it all to play for between the two top elite athletes going into the final leg of the series next week as the battle for second place goes down to the wire.
The women’s race saw a resurgent Nikki Russell power her way to the front of the field and claim a confidence boosting victory ahead of Danica Bartho and Jenna Venter.
Most notable, though, was the absence of series defending champ Michelle Burn, currently in the Western Cape ahead of this weekend’s Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, and hence means her ability to one again challenge for this year’s title have all but gone out the window as she looks set to fall one short of the six results that count towards the overall series standings.
The doubles title was claimed by the experienced pairing of Gavin Searle and Derek Hauptfleisch with Jean-Luc Mauvis and Kerry Segal finishing shortly behind them as the first mixed double across the line.
Clifton youngster Calvin McKie claimed victory in the junior boys sections whilst Epworth’s young river talent Jordan Peek powered her way to the front of the junior girls field in a rare surfski outing.
Richard Huber edged his way to the front of the short course singles field whilst Guido Peria and Ryan Love were the first short course doubles crew across the line.
The tenth and final race will also see some of the country’s leading junior talent in action as the Varsity College SA Schools Surfski Champs are also hosted on the same evening on the same course. Under 18 boys defending champ Kenny Rice will once again be the one to watch going into the clash however local lads Gene Prato and Calvin McKie will be out to do their best to ensure the title returns to KZN shores.
Race tenth and final leg of the Varsity College Marine Surfski Series, the Varsity College Surfski Challenge as well as the Varsity College SA Schools Surfski Champs, take place on Friday 15 March with all the action getting underway at the usual 17:30.
Summary of results:
Long Course
Singles – Overall
1.Hank McGregor 29.44
2.Matt Bouman 29.49
3.Grant van der Walt 30.01
4.Brandon van der Walt 31.25
5.Adam Nisbet 31.45
6.Kyle Friedenstein 32.49
7.Nic Burden 33.08
8.Calvin McKie (U18) 33.17
9.Murray Smith 33.23
10.Jordon Clauson (U18) 33.53
Singles – Women
1.Nikki Russell 35.16
2.Danica Bartho 35.40
3.Jenna Venter 37.16
Singles – Junior Boys
1.Calvin McKie 33.17
2.Jordon Clauson 33.53
3.Travis Wilson 33.59
Singles – Junior Girls
1.Jordan Peek 41.07
2.Savannah van Rooyen 43.16
3.Jordan Taylor (U16) 48.23
Doubles – Overall
1.Gavin Searle/Derek Hauptfleisch 30.56
2.Jean Luc Mauvis/Kerry Segal 31.05
3.Steve Smith/Joe Boy 31.52
Short course
Singles – Overall
1.Richard Huber 19.44
2.Luke Criticos 19.59
3.Tim Drummond 20.06
Doubles – Overall
1.Guido Peria/Ryan Love 19.21
2.Geoffrey Spiers/Nic Tingle 20.10
3.Bruce Glenday/Sarah Glenday 24.04
McGregor, having spent much of the day in the uMsundusi and uMngeni valleys seconding Marc Germiquet through The Unlimited Non Stop Dusi, dug deep to overcome fatigue to hang on to yet another top of the podium finish.
“It was a really long, tiring day for me so to come here tonight and win is something I’m very stoked with,” said the Team Best 4 Kayak Centre athlete. “There was a little assistance with the odd bump here and there but there wasn’t really much wind at all so it was tight racing again and you couldn’t really get away from the other guys.”
“I made my move towards the end and fortunately was able to make it stick. It was another great Friday evening race so it was nice to get another win and it really is great to be able to wrap up another series win as well.
“The standard this year has been phenomenal with all the guys really raising their game and putting a lot more time and effort in to it. With the World Champs not too far away, which I know is definitely a goal of mine and I’m sure is of a couple others as well, so to have beaten guys who are paddling really well at the moment and who are approaching things really professionally is great.
The two men who have been nipping at McGregor’s heels throughout the series, Matt Bouman and Varsity College’s Grant van der Walt (Team Best 4 Kayak Centre), once again gave it their all but came up just short of claiming the top step of the podium.
Bouman however claimed a vital second place finish with van der Walt third, leaving it all to play for between the two top elite athletes going into the final leg of the series next week as the battle for second place goes down to the wire.
The women’s race saw a resurgent Nikki Russell power her way to the front of the field and claim a confidence boosting victory ahead of Danica Bartho and Jenna Venter.
Most notable, though, was the absence of series defending champ Michelle Burn, currently in the Western Cape ahead of this weekend’s Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, and hence means her ability to one again challenge for this year’s title have all but gone out the window as she looks set to fall one short of the six results that count towards the overall series standings.
The doubles title was claimed by the experienced pairing of Gavin Searle and Derek Hauptfleisch with Jean-Luc Mauvis and Kerry Segal finishing shortly behind them as the first mixed double across the line.
Clifton youngster Calvin McKie claimed victory in the junior boys sections whilst Epworth’s young river talent Jordan Peek powered her way to the front of the junior girls field in a rare surfski outing.
Richard Huber edged his way to the front of the short course singles field whilst Guido Peria and Ryan Love were the first short course doubles crew across the line.
The tenth and final race will also see some of the country’s leading junior talent in action as the Varsity College SA Schools Surfski Champs are also hosted on the same evening on the same course. Under 18 boys defending champ Kenny Rice will once again be the one to watch going into the clash however local lads Gene Prato and Calvin McKie will be out to do their best to ensure the title returns to KZN shores.
Race tenth and final leg of the Varsity College Marine Surfski Series, the Varsity College Surfski Challenge as well as the Varsity College SA Schools Surfski Champs, take place on Friday 15 March with all the action getting underway at the usual 17:30.
Summary of results:
Long Course
Singles – Overall
1.Hank McGregor 29.44
2.Matt Bouman 29.49
3.Grant van der Walt 30.01
4.Brandon van der Walt 31.25
5.Adam Nisbet 31.45
6.Kyle Friedenstein 32.49
7.Nic Burden 33.08
8.Calvin McKie (U18) 33.17
9.Murray Smith 33.23
10.Jordon Clauson (U18) 33.53
Singles – Women
1.Nikki Russell 35.16
2.Danica Bartho 35.40
3.Jenna Venter 37.16
Singles – Junior Boys
1.Calvin McKie 33.17
2.Jordon Clauson 33.53
3.Travis Wilson 33.59
Singles – Junior Girls
1.Jordan Peek 41.07
2.Savannah van Rooyen 43.16
3.Jordan Taylor (U16) 48.23
Doubles – Overall
1.Gavin Searle/Derek Hauptfleisch 30.56
2.Jean Luc Mauvis/Kerry Segal 31.05
3.Steve Smith/Joe Boy 31.52
Short course
Singles – Overall
1.Richard Huber 19.44
2.Luke Criticos 19.59
3.Tim Drummond 20.06
Doubles – Overall
1.Guido Peria/Ryan Love 19.21
2.Geoffrey Spiers/Nic Tingle 20.10
3.Bruce Glenday/Sarah Glenday 24.04
