Hank McGregor grabs silver at world champs in Portugal
Given the world championship status, the field drew some of the best paddlers from around the globe, but South Africa again proved its surfski supremacy.
Salt Rock paddling legend Hank McGregor took silver in last week’s World Surfski Championships.
This capped off two weeks of international competition for McGregor, who would have hoped to add another gold to his already overflowing medal cabinet.
A week earlier, he earned gold in the mixed K2 35-49-year category in the Canoe Marathon World Championships alongside his wife, Pippa.
Held in Viana do Costelo, a small town north of Porto in Portugal, the surfski race took athletes south along the town’s shoreline.
Given the world championship status, the field drew some of the best paddlers from around the globe, but South Africa again proved its surfski supremacy.
It was tight between McGregor and countryman and eventual winner Kenny Rice throughout, but there was just too much left to do in the final straight for the chasing pack.
“I tried my best but lost it to Kenny, who finished really fast over the last two kilometres,” said McGregor.
Still, the margin of victory was less than 12 seconds, proving how tight things remain at the top of the paddling pyramid.
McGregor’s time of 1:17.22 was good enough for a comfortable second place, 26 seconds ahead of Australia’s Mackenzie Hynard.
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