McGregor and Nixon paddle to victory
Hank McGregor and Hayley Nixon dominated the Pirates Umhlanga Pirates race.
THE world’s oldest surfski race, the Pirates Umhlanga Pirates, dished up some kind conditions as Hank McGregor and Hayley Nixon trounced their respective men’s and ladies fields on Saturday.
It was a typically dominant display from Euro Steel/Fenn Kayaks’ McGregor who paddled away from the field in the opening kilometers and was never threatened.
The fight was for second position with a bunch of paddlers battling it out for the two other podium spots.
On the return leg from Umhlanga back to Pirates, Luke Nisbet took control of second position and Gene Prato managed to hold on to third a minute behind Nisbet.
The ladies race was a one paddler contest as Hayley Nixon continued her impressive form to claim victory four minutes ahead of Sabina Lawrie.
“We had some pretty awesome conditions for an out and back race. The conditions at Pirates were manageable on the way out and with a mild bump it made for a great race. It was a great paddle and the conditions were perfect. We saw a few dolphins as well which was special,” women’s winner Nixon said.
Conditions were not conducive to catching long runs and paddlers had to slog it out on the flat water to the Umhlanga light house and back, racing conditions that Nixon thrived in.
In the doubles race it was the ever-green Lee McGregor and Richard Lowe who dominated the rest of the field to take the two-man race title.
Murray Smith and Steve Cohen finished in second place while Stretch Struwig and Mike Stevens took home third spot in the doubles race.
Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Berea Mail WhatsApp number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts
