McGregor and Ward win series opener

DURBAN’S globally renowned winter surfski season got underway on Sunday with the Bay Union Season Starter, race one of the four leg Bay Union Surfski Series, which saw regular front runner Hank McGregor and top step of the podium novice Jenna Ward get their 2014 campaign underway in ideal fashion with victory in the men’s and women’s races respectively.

Challenging surf conditions greeted the over two hundred strong field in front of Marine Surf Lifesaving Club at Addington Beach however a deep water start and a revised course sent the paddlers on their way smoothly and got the widely anticipated season of ocean paddling underway.

“I’ve been doing a fair amount of distance training recently ahead of next week’s Molokai so it was nice to be able to come here today and get the win in a slightly shorter format,” said McGregor. “With me going to be in Hawaii I’ll miss the next couple of weeks’ races so it’s really nice to leave South African shores with a win under the belt,” he added.

The women’s race was a tightly fought affair between U23 rising star and Mt Edgecombe resident Jenna Ward and in form fellow paddler Nikki Russell enjoyed a ding-dong tussle throughout.

With Russell having lead the way for the first of the 6km loops, Ward then surged to the front midway through the second lap and never looked back as she claimed her maiden surfski race victory of her career.

“It’s awesome to get my first win!” said an ecstatic Ward afterwards. “Obviously Michelle (Burn) didn’t paddle today but I haven’t ever really beaten Nikki before and she was going really well towards the end of the Varsity College Marine Surfski Series, so I’m really stoked.”