Advantage McGregor as series draws to end

TRIPLE Canoe Marathon World Champion Hank McGregor regained the lead in this year’s Varsity College Marine Surfski Series men’s title race when he returned to the ocean for the first time in a few weeks and claimed an important race victory.

McGregor was a notable absentee from the star-studded line up in recent weeks as he and the Western Cape’s Jasper Mocké put in a second place effort in the Dusi Canoe Marathon before clinching victory with Sbonelo Zondi in the Non-Stop Dusi Canoe Marathon two weeks later.

A welcome return to the ocean on Friday evening saw McGregor, who has claimed the series’ men’s title for the past four years, put in yet another dominant performance in his ski as he clinched his fifth race victory of this year’s popular summer surfski series and opened the doorway to claim a deserved fifth series crown.

“With a couple of canoe races behind me it was great to be back in the ski!” said McGregor. “It was my first surfski race in a while so it was really great to get another win under my belt,” he said.

With fellow title challenger, uMhlanga’s Matt Bouman’s absence from the race McGregor went head to head with good friend, training partner and regular doubles companion and Durban North resident, Grant van der Walt.

With women’s title winner Michelle Burn again opting for the more social mixed doubles approach with her husband Oliver, the women’s race was once again dominated by Nikki Russell while Mt Edgecombe resident, Jenna Ward, claimed second.