Birkett beats Salt Rock’s McGregor at his own game

Andy Birkett scooped his fourth N3TC Drak Challenge title as he out sprinted the reigning world champion Hank McGregor at the end of a riveting 65km canoe marathon.

From the first stage start at Castleburn in the mist on Saturday morning it was clear that the title race was simply between McGregor and Birkett, the current number one and two ranked marathon paddlers in the world.

McGregor delivered one of his fabled end sprints at the end of the first stage to secure the overnight lead.

With the duo still inseparable with less than a kilometre to go, McGregor looked to be holding all the cards, as the Euro Steel team mates approached Wake Up Rapid.

“We were together the whole way – a game of patience and waiting for the other person to make a mistake,” said Birkett.

“About 600 metres from the finish I managed to come past Hank (McGregor) going into Wake Up Rapid, and then held him off after he made a few attempts to come past me. I managed to hang onto it to the finish!” he said.

After being comfortably beaten in the end sprint at the end of the first stage, Birkett said that it looked like the writing was on the wall.

“Coming into the end of Day One I was taking strain just sitting on his wave while he was paddling in to the end,” said Birkett.

He chalked up the win to luck, which seems to have favoured him during his four title domination of this popular race through the foothills of the Southern Drakensberg.

“Something seems to happen in my favour every year just before the finish,” mused Birkett.

He was cautious about reading too much into the victory when looking at form for the FNB Dusi, now less than a month away.

“On the paddling front it is a confidence booster, but I know that the running throws a whole new aspect into it, so it is something that I am not too sure about,” said the Pietermaritzburg based star.

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