McGregor takes SA K1 title
The eleven-time world champion drove the lead group on the 26km opening stage from Keimoes to Kakemas with his Durban training partner Hamish Lovemore and Underberg speedster Stew Little.
HANK McGregor romped to another national canoeing title in Upington on Saturday when he broke away from a three boat bunch 8km from the finish to win the first stage of the Orange Descent.
Racing on good water levels and in hot Northern Cape weather, the eleven-time world champion drove the lead group on the 26km opening stage from Keimoes to Kakemas with his Durban training partner Hamish Lovemore and Underberg speedster Stew Little.
At the portage around the massive Neus weir, McGregor put in a strong run on the 300 metre section that takes the paddlers to a unique 1,3 kilometre paddle down a fast-flowing canal, dropping Lovemore. Once back in the river McGregor shook off the challenge of U23 Varsity College racer Little and then fired the afterburners to race away to the finish unchallenged.
Lovemore managed to reel in Little and then overtake him to secure the second place, and with it the Canoeing South Africa silver medal, as the first leg was deciding the SA K1 River Champs for 2020.
The win means McGregor adds the SA K1 river title to the national single and double ski titles and SA K2 flatwater marathon that he won last month.
“That’s four national titles for the year, which is pretty cool. 2020 started out pretty poorly but it is ending well for me,” the Team Euro Steel star added.
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