Toti canoeists brave two-day Tugela race
After the spoils at the start, it was down to a good old grind and get the 24km of day one completed.
IT was another busy weekend of paddling over a variety of disciplines.
Over 400 river enthusiasts descended upon a bitterly cold Winteron to brave the annual two day Tugela 20s.
This race is the only two-day race on the calendar that allows one to gain two qualifying points which assist in the seeding for this year’s Fish River Canoe Marathon. Day one starts 100m upstream of the Dreil Dam weir with the option to either shoot the weir or take the portage. The ice cold water makes this decision slightly tricky and being within the first 100m of the start, the hustle for positioning interferes with the concentration levels as Ross and Brett found out. Not all was lost as when they surfaced from the scouring the river bed they were met with the unusual sight of Matt Collins and his partner Konrad following suit.
After the spoils at the start, it was down to a good old grind and get the 24km of day one completed. Newest Toti Club members Donovan Badger Ridley and Calvin Hagar McGlead delivered a never-give-up approach to complete their first-ever river race. Challenged with boat damage, broken steering and a broken paddle, the sheer determination brought them home to a hero’s welcoming. Well done boys. Matthew Ellish and Marthinus Kemp delivered another fine performance on the river. Maybe a top 100 in the Fish this year?
The women’s race was full of action and show of outstanding strength, ex-Toti paddlers Jenna Ward pairing up with young Keyta Purchase and Kerry Segal joining forces with the experienced Abby Adie battled until the end. With only two minutes separating the two doubles over the two days, makes the SA K2 championships later very exciting.
Day two of the Tugela 20’s was no better. An earlier start saw paddlers take to the water with the temperature barely breaking 0 deg. The shorter of the two days, saw the racing snakes ultimately sprint the 18km to make up for any lost time experienced in day one.
First Benjamin Bradford and Gavin Shuter 2.58.44.72, second Alan Houston and Msawenkosi Mtolo 2.59.47.08, third Jarryd Gibson and Brandon Orpwood 3.02.00.31, fourth Craig Heenan and Mpilo Zondi 3.02.44.92, fifth Louis Hattingh 3.03.24.28, sixth Hamish Lovemore and Emanuel Zaloumis 3.04.01.25, seventh Wandile Luthuli and Mfaniseni Nyawose 3.05.33.66, eighth Brent Chiazzari and Trenton Lamble 3.05.50.15, ninth Kerry Segal and Abby Solms 3.08.44.42, 10th Stu Clifton and Kevin Musgrave 3.09.07.30, 11th Siyabonga Hlophe and Thabani Msiya 3.09.08.27, 12th Konrad Karcz and Matthew Collins, 3:09:21.77, 13th Kyeta Purchase and Jenna Ward 3.11.23.37, 14th Ross Fountain and Brett Hadiaris 3.12.25.01, 15th Jean Westhuyzen and Luc Westhuyzen 3.13.05.25, 61th Matthew Ellish and Marthinus Kemp 3.51.39.29, 187th Donovan Ridley and Calvin Mcglade 6.04.54.66.
Into the ocean, DUC hosted the 3rd and final race of their Nedbank open ocean series. The series was well supported due to the bay type launch and surf conditions together with the great hospitality at DUC for the entire family. Gene Prato and Olli Burn retained their form by taking 4th and 7th place in the singles category and Michelle Burn opted for her usual 1st place in the women’s race. Gavin Smith demolished the 12km course in 1:08.30.
First Hank Mcgregor 45.31.31, second Wade Krieger 45.45.24, third Steve Woods 45.59.64, fourth Gene Prato 46.50.07, fifth Herman Chalupsky 47:17.33, sixth Lee
Mcgregor 47.20.34, seventh Jason Ekstrand 47.56.33, eight Richard Burn 47.56.97, ninth Bailey de Fondaumiere 48.53.70, 10th Travis Wilson 49.03.44, 22nd Michelle Burn 52.07.31, 52nd Gavin Smith 1.08.30.46.
