McGregor back to winning ways
McGregor, the current World Surfski Series Champion, paddled to his fifth Mauritius Ocean Classic title in 01:15:08
Salt Rock’s Hank McGregor returned to winning ways by claiming top spot in both the Investec Mauritius Ocean Classic and the opening leg of the Bay Union Open Ocean Challenge Series.
The world’s best paddler dominated at the Tamassa Resort in Mauritius last weekend.
McGregor, the current World Surfski Series Champion, paddled to his fifth Mauritius Ocean Classic title in 01:15:08, over a minute ahead of second-placed Dawid Mocké, in 01:16:15 and third placed, Jasper Mocké in 01:16:57.
The 23km race from Tamassa Resort to Le Morne featured a stellar field of South African paddlers, including four-time winner and defending champ, McGregor (Jeep Team SA), SA Single Surfski Champ, Jasper Mocké, four-time World Surfski Series Champion, Dawid Mocké, and seven-time Dusi winner, Andy Birkett.
Then, fresh from his victory in Mauritius, and days before he was set to jet off to international surfski events in Canada and the USA, Hank McGregor stole the limelight at the opening leg of the Bay Union Open Ocean Challenge Series in Durban, holding off Euro Steel team mate and surfski newbie Andy Birkett at the end of the 12km race.
A casual McGregor was slow off the start line after realising that his paddles were incorrectly set up, and wasted time adjusting them from left feather to a right feather set-up. All this succeeding in doing was to excite several other elite paddlers, who felt they had been gifted a chance to get one over the multiple world marathon champion.
That hope was quickly snuffed out as McGregor deployed some of legendary speed to quickly establish himself at the front of the lead pack, and set up the win.
“It was a brilliant day to be out racing,” enthused McGregor.
“Durban was really showing off and I am glad such a big field came out to enjoy the conditions.”
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