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Durban - Fresh off his international win at the Dragon Run in Hong Kong last weekend, Hank McGregor returned to local waters on Friday night where he claimed race win number four of the 2015 Illovo Wall and Back Surfski Series while Donna Tutton won the women's clash.
With paddlers' best five results contributing to the overall series standings, McGregor is now just one result away from winning this year's men's title.
"It had been a pretty tough week with travelling back from Hong Kong, etc. so it was great to get the Wall and Back win," said Euro Steel/Epic Kayaks' McGregor.
"It was nice to have everyone back and racing; guys like Matt Bouman, Wade Krieger, Steve Woods and Luke Nisbet were all there.
"There was a light Westerly blowing and we all turned the can at the harbour wall together with it being all about who could use the few small bumps that were there the best and fortunately I managed to do that," he added.
Epic Kayaks' Matt Bouman and Herbalife's Wade Krieger rounded out the podium while Steve Woods and Suncoast Pirates local Luke Nisbet finished fourth and fifth respectively.
With Bouman the only major title contender to have already secured the required five results and McGregor set to tackle the 50 Miler Canoe Marathon on Saturday and Sunday, the race for the men's title is still open.
"I've got 50 Miler next weekend but I'm sure my partner, Jasper (Mocké), will be okay with me getting a ski race in on the Friday evening as well as I look to try challenge for the series title.
"Who knows, he may even throw the cat among the pigeons and race too and so there may be a Capetonian flavour to next week's results," speculated McGregor.
In the woman's race Tutton surged to her first victory of this year's series while Shaun Dias and Jody Taylor won the competitive doubles category.
The eighth and final race of the 2015 Illovo Suncoast Pirates Wall and Back Surfski Series takes place at 17:30 on Friday, December 4 at Suncoast Pirates. More information can be found at www.wallandback.co.za
SUMMARY OF RESULTS - ILLOVO SUNCOAST PIRATES WALL AND BACK SURFSKI SERIES
RACE SEVEN
Overall
1. Hank McGregor 34.16
2. Matt Bouman 34.26
3. Wade Krieger 34.58
4. Steve Woods 35.16
5. Luke Nisbet 36.06
Women
1. Donna Tutton 41.51
2. Kyeta Purchase (U18) 42.52
Junior Boys
1. Bailey de Foundemeire 38.22
2. Keaton Riddle 53.10
Junior Girls
1. Kyeta Purchase 42.52
Doubles
1. Shaun Dias/Jody Taylor 36.10
2. Andrew Button/Dave Wood 36.40
3. Anton Fouche/Linton Hope 37.20
