Lee McGregor wins Scottburgh to Brighton surfski race
In other parts of the country, the Berg River marathon finished on the Saturday with the paddlers deeming this to be one of the most brutal races of all time.
ON a classic KZN winter’s morning, the 57th Scottburgh to Brighton surfski race hosted by Southern Natal Surf Lifesaving Club and made possible by Huntsman Tioxide, Hypersure, Spar and Lords and Legends was an absolute cracker.
The conditions were so perfect at the start, that all paddlers got out comfortably. The race favourites Bevan Manson (Eastern Cape), Gene Prato (Toti Canoe Club), Irvan Dixon (Varsity Collage), Stuart Macalren (UCT) and father of multiple world champion Hank McGregor – Lee McGregor set the pace. There were no singles women so doubles women came into focus, Haley Author and Donna Winter and 2014 World Marathon bronze medalist Jenna Ward and rising star Kyeta Purchase.
The race was tactfully changing as Gene, Irvan and Stuart were in a batch on their own and Lee and Bevan working together. When they checked in at Toti beach, they all beached around each other with Bevan and Stuart sharing the hot spot prize.
The other three paddles were just behind with race winner, Lee, fifth at that stage. In the women’s double, Hayley and Donna hit Toti first, about two minutes ahead of Jenna and Kyeta, but surf experience counted against them and they battled to get out.
Jenna took full advantage of this leaving Toti two minutes ahead of Hayley, and it stayed this way. Hayley tried to close the gap between Jenna and Kyeta but the commitment and stamina ensured they took gold at the end.
The top five guys setting pace in the last 17km and trying to hang on to double slips with one by one falling off the pace. Stuart had taken the lead and thought he had this in the bag when as we know the comrades of this race starts at the Cuttings, when Lee with all his knowledge kept himself composed and made his move by passing Stuart and winning the race in 3:47, a minute ahead of Stuart. What a race and what a great achievement by Lee McGregor at the tender age of 63.
In other parts of the country, the Berg River marathon finished on the Saturday with the paddlers deeming this to be one of the most brutal races of all time. The Berg River Canoe Marathon takes place annually in the Western Cape over a distance of some 240km from Paarl to the small harbour of Velddrif on the West Coast.
Commonly known as the hardest river race in the world, this year was no exception with limited rain leading to a low river with very little moving water and 45km strong head winds. Race strategy and survival instincts played a critical role.
Some 131 paddlers finished the race with Hank McGregor taking a record breaking 10th win and his closet competition was 2014 Dusi winner Andy Birkett some three minutes behind. Former Toti paddler and local lifesaver, Crispin Thompson achieved an outstanding 27th overall in 21hrs 40mins. See you at the fish Crispin – you can tell us all about it.
Back to local ground, KNCU held its Sharelist season opener. A 15km C class river race from Albert Falls weir to Ovaflo Resort. Toti Canoe Club had one K2 boat on the line piloted by Matthew Ellish and Marthinus Kemp in the engine room. The boys didn’t disappoint and flew the Toti flag well by taking the prize of first novice across the line. Is this a sign of more top class paddlers coming out of Toti? I think so.
