AT a gala dinner in Hillcrest on Sunday evening, South African paddling icons Hank McGregor and Bridgitte Hartley were named African Canoe Federation’s Men’s and Women’s Paddler of the Year for 2015, bringing down the curtain on the 2016 ICF Canoe Sprint African Championships at Shongweni Dam this past weekend.
McGregor, who did not take part in the sprint event, has excelled on both locally and internationally over the past decade, resulting in him being named the World Paddle Awards Male Paddler of the Year in 2014. He was thrilled by the award from the Confederation of African Canoeing (CAC).
“It is a great honour to receive this award and be recognized on a continental level, especially coming off the back of winning the Paddler of the Year title at the World Paddle Awards last year. It’s a proud moment for me and hopefully it helps my paddling peers, especially the youth, aspire to do their best and also realise that if they are willing to put in the hard work then the results and accolades will come,” said McGregor.
Hartley, the 2012 London Olympics K1 Women’s 500m bronze medalist, added her appreciation for the continental recognition.
“It is great to be recognised by your peers on the African continent. I hope this can serve as further motivation for the other female paddlers in Africa to keep working and driving the competitive standard of women’s canoeing,” said Hartley.
