McGregor’s birthday present

Salt Rock local and canoe marathon world champion Hank McGregor gave himself an awesome birthday present on Friday evening.

McGregor claimed victory in the McCarthy Toyota Durban Kingsmead Surfski Challenge, the third race of the the 2014 Varsity College Marine Surfski Series.

The choppy seas did not slow McGregor down as he shot past a world class field on contesters at Addington Beach in Durban.

“There was not much assistance out there and, with there being no wind at all, it was really hot – almost like sitting in a heated room the whole way – so you just had to put your head down and work hard,” he said.

The champ took an early lead on the first leg of the two lap, eight kilometre course and piled onto what became an unassailable lead.

Matt Bouman came in second and Grant van der Walt claimed third place while Michelle Burn was the women’s race victor despite a strong field of contenders.

Over 200 paddlers hit the warm waters to battle it out at the third race of the series while scores of onlookers cheered them on.

Race four of the series, the Thule Surfski Challenge, gets underway from Marine SLC, Addington Beach at 5.30pm on Friday January 31.

For more information go to at www.marineseries.co.za.