ABBY Solms and two-time defending champion, Andy Birkett, bagged the top positions during stage one of the 2016 N3TC Drak Challenge last Saturday.
Despite the region being gripped by a severe drought, a week of rains left the Mzimkulu River at an excellent medium level for the race.
With a 10-second margin separating Andy Birkett and Euro Steel team-mate, Hank McGregor, the margins remain slight with a number of paddlers breathing down their necks.
“We knew before the race that there was a lot of depth in the field and today’s result shows that,” said Andy. “The first eight boats were all probably within a minute or two of each other and I think that is great for paddling and it is nice to race where there is a strong field and it is not just a two-horse race.”
As the trio of Andy Birkett, Hank McGregor and Len Jenkins got away from the chasers, a mishap between the two more experienced paddlers gave Birkett a window to get ahead.
“In one of the lower rapids we were all together and I managed to just put the hammer down and get a boat length which I turned into a 10-second lead – which isn’t really a gap.
“I wouldn’t count 10 seconds as an advantage, but it is more of a personal achievement managing to finish day one with a lead,” a circumspect Birkett added.
The N3TC Drak Challenge has become a race dominated by Abby Solms and the first stage of the 2016 race was no different, even though she was under early pressure from a number of strong starters.
“I was surrounded by quite a few of the girls early on in the race, but then I edged ahead and didn’t look back,” Solms said. “That was the motto of the day for me – just get ahead and go hard and don’t look back.”
Despite having substantial knowledge of the route and the rapids, the water level still meant that she had to keep her wits about her. “There are too many rocks to make silly mistakes so I just kept my eyes forward on the top section, and I had the advantage of an empty river with no guys in front of me so I didn’t have to slow down at all. I love the top section so much and I loved today, it was so fast and technical,” she added.
Stage one N3TC Drak Challenge results:
Overall
1. Andy Birkett 1:35.07
2. Hank McGregor 1:35.20
3. Len Jenkins 1:35.54
4. Owen Gandar 1:36.11
5. Andrew Houston (U23) 1:37.05
Women
1. Abby Solms 1:42.37
2. Jenna Ward (U23) 1:49.15
3. Donna Tutton 1:50.45
4. Cana Peek (U18) 1:54.31
5. Tamika Haw 1:59.57
Men U23
1. Andrew Houston 1:37.05
2. Damon Stamp 1:39.03
3. Siseko Ntondini 1:40.04
Women U23
1. Jenna Ward 1:49.15
2. Cathrine Atkinson 2:02.00
3. Lauren Felgate 2:03.47
Boys U18
1. Jean van der Westhuyzen 1:37.39
Girls U18
1. Cana Peek 1:54.31
