SA’s best ready to do battle at K2 River Marathon champs
The country's best doubles canoeing crews, including the country's two reigning flatwater marathon world champions, will converge on the Vaal River this weekend for the Vaal River Canoe Marathon.
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The race would also decide the 2013 South African K2 River Marathon Championships.
Triple Dusi winner and recently crowned U23 Flatwater Marathon World Champ Andy Birkett and his partner Sbonelo Zondi, were one of a handful of combos likely to battle it out for the title.
“I haven’t spoken about our goals much with Andy (Birkett) but I’d be very happy with a top three,” said Zondi.
Having spent some time out the boat during their recent off-season though, the KwaZulu-Natal pair were expected to dig deep to hold off the charge from 2013 Flatwater Marathon World Champ Hank McGregor and his likely Dusi partner, Jasper Mocké.
Another new pairing seeking a solid result at the national showdown are Cape Town’s Ivan Kruger and KZN-Midlands’ Cam Schoeman.
Schoeman, a former K2 Flatwater Marathon World Champ, and Kruger, who claimed a memorable bottom step of the podium finish in the Berg River Canoe Marathon earlier this year, are tipped to be strong podium contenders for this weekend’s clash.
The fourth pairing of this weekend’s title challenging quartet are Fish River Canoe Marathon silver medallists Len Jenkins of Durban and Port Elizabeth’s Greg Louw, who will be hoping their recently formed partnership will go one better than their positive first outing a month ago.
Rising female development talent Karima Hare, fresh off her Fish expedition, will team up with Katiso Hlahatsi for her second major assignment in a month.
London Olympic Games bronze medallist Bridgitte Hartley will team up with one of the country’s long standing female elite river stars Hilary Bruss (neé Pitchford) in a formidable title challenging combinations.
They will, however, have to fend off strong challenges from regular top performer Abby Adie and Gauteng-based Donna Tutton as well as the flying KZN South Coast under 23 duo of Jenna Ward and Kerry Segal.
– Sapa
