Pippa McGregor grabs gold in tough marathon champs

Salt Rock’s Pippa McGregor grabbed gold after a nail-biting finish in the South African Canoe Marathon Championships at Hazelmere Dam.

McGregor partnered with Jenna Nisbet in Saturday’s K2 race, swapping out Olympian medallist Bridgitte Hartley with whom she took bronze in this year’s Dusi Canoe Marathon.

They were engaged in a do-or-die battle with Tannah Smith and Jade Wilson throughout the gruelling 26.2km race, but held their nerve and edged in only by a second in a time of 2:05.16.

“It was really tough over the first few laps, but eventually it came down to the two boats at the front,” said McGregor.

All four paddlers train together, so any move the leaders tried was quickly spotted by the chasing pair.

“We are really happy to come away with the win. Jenna is an absolute master of marathon events, so it was a privilege to paddle behind her,” said McGregor.

In the men’s K2, Hank McGregor and Jasper Mocke took silver, finishing less than two seconds behind winners Hamish Lovemore and Clinton Cook.

Lovemore pulled off a hat-trick, also winning the under-23 K1 and open K1 races.

“Hats off to Clint and Hamish, they definitely had the top end over us at the finish,” said McGregor.

“It was our first race together in five years (referring to Mocke), so we have something to work on in the months ahead,” he said.

Despite young challengers threatening the throne, the McGregors – paddling’s first family – continue to shine and will no doubt represent their country again in September.

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