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Herman - Gouda K1 - 20th June 2009 |
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Written by Mark Torrington
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Monday, 22 June 2009 |
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Lance King (Milnerton) was back to his winning ways on the Berg River again on Saturday 20th June, 2009, when he wrapped up the W.C.C.U. 2009 L/D K1 River Championships on the Berg River over the 32 km section between Hermon (bridge) and Gouda (bridge). However, it was not plain sailing (paddling!) and he had to fight every inch of the way as paddlers around him upped the ante as canoeists approach the annual Berg River Canoe Marathon - now only just over 3 weeks away Rob MacLean Media Liaison - W.C.C.U. .
rom the start on a high river (the river had not dropped much since the heavy rains that fell last weekend and into the beginning of this week - an indication that the land in the Boland is saturated as well as the fact that with the new Berg River Dam full, water is being released), a 5-canoe group of paddlers made an early move after the 1st tree block (shortly after the start), with King, P-W Basson, Heinrich Schloms (both Paarl), Pierre-Andre Rabie and Ernest van Riet (both Stellenbosch) breaking away from the chasing field. It remained this way until the first of the tree blocks were encountered, about half way between Hermon and Zonquasdrift when van Riet was shaken off, although the racing was mainly in-line astern of each other after being forced to do so to get through the tree blocks without climbing out of their canoes.
This leading, diamond four formation, went under the bridge at Zonquasdrift in good time but Basson had the ace up his sleeve, when on entering the 'forest' about 20 minutes after Zonquas, he made the break to get into the narrows first making good his escape from the chasing 3-canoe chevron of Schloms, King and Rabie. Basson held the others off for approximately 40 minutes before, King and Schloms, on dropping Rabie, started to haul him in. With about 20 minutes to go, Schloms had some difficulty in a tree block which allowed King to break free and hunt down Basson, thus having the two of them making a final sprint for the line, King taking the 'chequered flag by mere metres.
The women's section was again one-way traffic for Stellenbosch's Robyn Kime, who dominated to win in 26th position overall and by 10 minutes from Jemma Hofmeyer (Peninsula) and Lisa Scott (Milnerton) a few seconds back from Hofmeyer.
There were some new names in the Junior rankings this week and although Joseph William (Paarl) again took 1st place (an excellent 16th overall), he was chased home by the U14 prodigy, Michael Farringer (Bridgehouse/Paarl) taking 2nd spot (27th overall) with Francis Steyn (also Paarl) coming home in 3rd position (35th overall) to add to Paarl Canoe Club's dominance of the junior rankings this season.
Results;
Top Ten
1. Lance King - Milnerton - 2 hours 14 minutes 40 seconds - also 1st U23 paddler.
2. P-W Basson - Paarl - 2:14:43
3, Heinrich Schloms - Paarl - 2:15:35
4. Pierre- Andre Rabie - Stellenbosch - 2:19:01 - also 2nd U23 paddler.
5. Ernest van Riet - Stellenbosch - 2:20:51
6. Nick Longley - Pen - 2:20:52
7. Eugene van der Westhuizen - Mil - 2:21:40 - also 1st Sub Master paddler (45 - 49 years)
8. Edgar Boehm jnr - Pen - 2:21:44
9. Mynhardt Marais - Paarl - 2:25:55 - also 2nd Sub Master (45 - 49 years).
10. Andrew Birkett - UCT - 2:26:03 - also 3rd U23.
Women
1. Robyn Kime - Stellenbosch - 2:37:41 - 26th overall.
2. Jemma Hofmeyer - Pen - 2:47:08
3. Lisa Scott - Mil - 2:47:28 - also 1st Veteran Lady and 4 Veteran (40-44 years)
U23.
1. Lance King - Mil - 2:14:40
2. Pierre-Andre Rabie - Stel - 2:19:01
3. Andrew Birkett - UCT - 2:26:03
Juniors
1. Joseph Williams - Paarl - 2:31:58
2. Michael Farringer - Bridgehouse/Paarl - 2:39:00
3. Francois Steyn - Paarl - 2:47:23
Sub Veterans
1. Herbert Conradie - Paarl - 2:33:09
2. Roelf van der Merwe - WHR - 2:35:42
3. Dale Lewis - Mil - 2:56:52
Veterans
1. Henri van der Merwe - Pen - 2:26:06
2. Willem an Riet jnr - Stel - 2:26:30
3. Theuns Mathee - Stel - 2:36:03
Sub Masters
1. Eugene van der Westhuizen - Mil - 2:21:40
2. Mynhardt Marais - Paarl - 2:25:55
3. Anton Truter - Mil - 2:33:08
Masters
1. Ian Glass - Pen - 2:35:19
2. Paul Lange - Pen - 2:41:05
3. Clifford Binnedell - Stel - 2:49:02
Sub Grandmasters
1. Lionel Ekermans - Mil - 2:36:23
2. Adie de Kock - Stel - 2:45:01
3. Anthony Penderis - Stel - 2:47:15
Grandmasters
1. Gerfried Nebe - Pen - 2:47:49
2. Giel van Deventer - Paarl - 2:51:38
3. Jannie Malberbe - OUT - 2:54:06.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 04 February 2010 )
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