|
This Saturdays WCCU canoeing event, the 18 km Marina Mini marathon, held on Zandvlei and through the canals of Marina da Gama, was a low-kept affair, given that the Berg River canoe marathon starts next Wednesday as well as it not being the best weather.
However, Western Cape paddlers are nothing if not tough and so a cold NW wind was of little consequence as nearly 30 racing canoes (mainly K2's) lined up to contest Mark Torrington's (PCC Chairman) new racing course that consisted of 3 laps of the standard PCC 5 km time trial course, plus two 100m long portages around the back of the 'Duckpond' to add a bit of spice to the event. Also, as it was a 'mini-marathon', canoe marathon racing always has compulsory portages.
The start was as is expected in any canoe race, with the paddlers going out at high speed, paddles flaying and spray flying in the keen wind. Rob Hart and his partner, new-comer to paddling, Tina Gallagher, headed the leading bunch almost all the way to the northern turning buoy before the 'old firms' of Mike English/Rob MacLean (Pen) and Ian Glass/Shaun Butler (Pen), closely tracked by Greg 'Dodge' Barnard (Pen - who was enjoying a terrific slip!) in his K1, led the fleet around the buoy and headed for the Marina canals.
And so the 1st lap continued, with these three canoes setting the pace to the first portage. Here, English/MacLean hit the slipway running and got away initially, but Glass/Butler caught their tail slip after the put-in (with Barnard on theirs) and so the 3-canoe bunch paddled out into the main vlei to begin the 2nd lap. Lap 2 was a repeat of lap 1, except at the portage, when English slipped, allowing Glass/Butler to get away. Barnard also dropped back and after the put-in, lost contact with the K2's as English/MacLean fought back to pick up the slip of the leading K2 once both canoes were in the main vlei and heading for the turning buoy.
The race ended in a final end-sprint, with English/MacLean pipping Glass/Butler over the line to finish in 1 hour 19 minutes 49 seconds, Glass/Butler being 1 second off the pace.
The Women's event was won by Lis Hart and Romy Findley (Pen), mixed doubles by Rob Hart and Tina Gallagher (Pen) from the sister/brother crew of Marissa and Michael Pretorius (Mil - also first Junior crew home), with newcomers Peter and Binny Ridgeway (Temp.) being the 3rd mixed double canoe to complete the course. The Ridgeway's were also the first Sub Masters home.
Angus Hemp and Charles Melck (Pen/Mil), paddling in the Super Grand Masters (over 65 years) continued to show their class by finishing in 1 hour 40 minutes 20 seconds.
Greg Barnard (Pen) was the 1st K1 in, followed by Kevin Hill (Paarl) and Roelf van der Merwe (WHR).
Overall results.
1. Mike English/Rob MacLean - Pen - 1:19:49.
2. Ian Glass/Shaun Butler - Pen - 1:19:50
3. Greg Barnard -Pen - 1:21:57
4. Kevin Hill - Paarl - 1:25:41
5. Rob Hart/Tina Gallagher - Pen - 1:27:13
6. Roelf van der Merwe - WHR - 1:27:17
7. Adam Whittington - Mil - 1:27:37
8. Dave Hitchcock - Pen - 1:31:02
9. Marissa Pretorius/Michael Pretorius - Mil - 1:32:28
10. Charl du Plessis - WHR - 1:33:32.
Women
1. Lis Hart/Romy Findlay - Pen - 1:33:43
Juniors.
1. Marissa Pretorius/Michael Pretorius - Mil - 1:32:28
2. Rory Rice/Dylan Basson - Temp - 1:50:04.
Mixed Doubles.
1. Rob Hart/Tina Gallagher - Pen - 1:27:13
2. Marissa Pretorius/Michael Pretorius - Mil - 1:32:28
3. Peter Ridgeway/Binny Ridgeway - Temp - 1:42:32.
Sub Veterans.
1. Greg Barnard - Pen - 1:21:57
2. Roelf van der Merwe - WHR - 1:27:17
3. Febbie Malherbe - Mil - 1:46:23
Veterans
1. Rob Hart/Tina Gallagher -Pen - 1:27:13
2. Adam Whittington - Mil - 1:27:37
3. Dave Hitchcock - Pen - 1:31:02
Sub Masters
1. Peter Ridgeway/Binny Ridgeway - Temp - 1:42:32
Masters
1. Ian Glass/Shaun Butler - Pen - 1:19:50
Sub Grandmasters
1. Mike English/Rob MacLean - Pen - 1:19:49
Grand Masters
1. Angus Hemp/Charles Melck - Pen/Mil 1:40:20   
|
.jpg)