Team SA finishes world canoe marathon championships on a high

THE South African team ended this year’s ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in Ponte de Lima, Portugal, securing fourth place overall.

There was plenty to celebrate as Andy Birkett became the 2022 World Champion, winning a thrilling Senior Men’s K1 gold medal, while Hamish Lovemore became the U23 Marathon World Champion with fellow teammate Uli Hart finishing third in the Men’s U23 K1 race.

Sisters Saskia and Valma Jean Hockly (Danville Park Girls’ High School) won silver in the Junior K2 race.

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On the opening day of the championships, Saskia won a second successive bronze medal in the Junior Women’s K1 race.

In the Women’s U23 race, Christie Mackenzie won bronze in the K1 race.

Special mention must also go to Matt Coetzer and Durban North resident Josh Simpkins who finished fourth in the Junior Boys’ K2 title decider, with compatriots Josh Smith and Luke Le Roux a short way behind them in seventh.

Speaking on their achievements in Portugal, Saskia said it was a special moment winning a medal with her sister.

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“It really is something to be proud of. Not many people can say they raced with their sister and podiumed.”
The Hockly sisters stuck to their game plan for the event, even when they found themselves under pressure right from the start.

“We had three main goals,” said Valma Jean. “To get onto the front bunch, to not mess up the first portage, and then to see if we can get onto the podium. We really had to put our heads down to catch up to the Hungarians at the start, but once we did catch up, they slowed the pace right down. They didn’t make us pull for three laps, which was very chilled,” she added. “We were able to get our heart rates down.”