Smiles all round after surfski series opener
Hank McGregor and Michelle Burn took the first race in the Varsity College Marine Surfski Series.
KZN’s 2014 summer surfski season got underway on Friday 10 January when close on 300 paddlers tackled the tricky conditions of the Borland Surfski Challenge, race one of the popular Varsity College Marine Surfski Series.
Regular series top performers Hank McGregor and Michelle Burn laid down the early marker for their fellow title hopefuls when they claimed the men’s and women’s races respectively.
A break in the recent large surf conditions had participants excited shortly before the start of the encounter however as the race’s start time drew nearer a testing break developed and saw many thrown from their skis both on their way out at the start or coming back in through the surf at the finish. The challenging conditions however were far from enough to dampen the spirits of both those in the water and on the beach and there were smiles aplenty on the beach afterwards, the return of Durban’s surfski season visibly welcomed by all.
With the 2014 Dusi Canoe Marathon just around the corner, the ever hardworking Mark Mulder made his intentions for the iconic three day race clear to all as he blitzed his way to an impressive second place. Series organiser and Team Jeep/Varsity College athlete Barry Lewin wiped away a few layers of festive rust en route to his third place overall whilst a welcome return to competitive paddling saw Darryl Bartho (Fenn) claim fourth.
Like McGregor, Burn too was unchallenged at the front of the women’s race and cantered to a comfortable victory to open her account with Lauren Felgate and Julie Cornelius rounding out the women’s podium.
Despite their age seeing them placed firmly in the masters age group, the evergreen pair of Lee McGregor and Allan Hold were simply unstoppable at the front of the doubles race, despite the best efforts of under-23 brothers Calvin and Byron McKie.
A largely novice-filled short course field was led home by lifesaving sensation Paul van Achterbergh in the singles section with Mark Lewin and Thule’s Jamie Owen claiming the doubles category.
Friday 17 January sees the action continue with the Billy the Bums Surfski Challenge, race two of the Varsity College Marine Surfski Series at Marine Surf Lifesaving Club at Addington Beach at 5.30pm. Visit: www.marineseries.co.za
