Van der Walt and Hartley claim spoils

BRANDON van der Walt grabbed his first win of the Bay Union Open Ocean Surfski Challenge on Sunday while Bridgitte Hartley cemented her place on top of the women’s standings with a second win in the series.

Racing a Westerly out-and-back course from the Durban Undersea Club, van der Walt powered away from last week’s runner-up Gene Prato, Tyrone Maher and Stew Little to claim his first win in the series, after finishing second to Hank McGregor last weekend.

Master, Lee McGregor, raced to an impressive sixth overall, Oscar Chalupsky making a welcome appearance in his old home town was ninth and U23 marathon star Alex Masina wrapped up the top ten.

In the women’s race Hartley led home a carbon-copy top three of the series opener women’s podium as she outlasted Jenna Ward and Kyeta Purchase in the rolling swells.

Jenna Ward was second in the women’s race ahead of Kyeta Purchase and visiting Australian U23 paddler Montannah Murray.

Connor Botha was the first junior home and Lungelo Shange took the prize for the best development paddler.

Hamish Mackenzie and Tayne Thompson shaded last week’s double ski winners Quinton Rutherfoord and Mark Perrow to take the doubles title, with Gavin Searle and Donna Winter taking the mixed doubles title.

The third race of the Sunday morning series next week is the Geriastskis Doubles Race offering the same options of a six kilometre short course and a 12km long course race.

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