McGregor reaffirms Marathon Champ status

WORLD marathon champion Hank McGregor entrenched his status as the continents premier paddler by mastering the icy Highveld weather and a large and very powerful field as he claimed his eighth South African Marathon K1 title as he outsprinted Jasper Mocké and U23 World Champion Andy Birkett to win a tightly contested affair, and then teamed up with Mocké to add the K2 title on Sunday.

“It is tough racing at altitude for us coastal guys,” he explained. “You can’t just go out like a bull in a china shop and you need to conserve your energy and keep the heart-rate down so I am really happy with my performance this weekend.”

The triple World Marathon Champion was up against a tough field and explained that he knew his tactics were going to have to be spot-on in order to beat a star-studded field of paddlers and with that win he has secured his place in the South African team for the World Marathon Champs in Oklahoma City in September.

K2 Race (senior men)
McGregor paired up with fellow surfski ace and Dusi Canoe Marathon partner Jasper Mocké in the K2 event which they won beating Durban North brothers, Grant and Brandon van der Walt, who came in a close second. That win meant that McGregor has now won five K2 SA Marathon titles and he feels that the impressive performances by South African paddlers on the national stage have led to a great interest in marathon paddling.

“We have got a strong history of bringing home World titles and medals from marathon events and I think that this helps to get people interested. Not only the youth are getting involved but the masters have also become more involved.”

Women’s K1
The women’s K1 title was won by Olympic bronze medallist Bridgitte Hartley, who powered her way to the win on the back of a solid Sprint World Cup campaign in Europe. She dominated proceedings with a mammoth four minute gap between her and second place finisher Nikki Russell.

U23 men and women
Runner-up to Andy Birkett at the 2013 World Marathon Champs Brandon van der Walt proved too strong in the U23 category as he beat fellow Western Province paddler Stuart Maclaren and Mt Edgecombe resident Jenna Ward won the girls U23 category from Brittany Petersen.

U18 boys
The U18 division was also a tightly contested affair with Kwazulu-Natal pair of Louis Hattingh and Bryan Leroux fighting it out for the K1 title with former sneaking in the win.

Lerouw got his gold medal in the K2 event with Western Cape paddler Stuart Bristow and Trodd did the double when she won the under-18 girls K2 title with Donna Hutton.

South African Marathon Championships results

K1: senior men
1. Hank McGregor (KZN) 2:17.28
2. Jasper Mocké (WP) 2:17.29
3. Andy Birkett (KZN) 2:17.29

K1: senior women
1. Bridgitte Hartley (KZN) 2:11.44
2. Nikki Russell (KZN) 2:15.25
3. Hayley Arthur (KZN) 2:21.16

Men U23
1. Brandon van der Walt (WP) 2:01.35
2. Stuart Maclaren (WP) 2:01.36
3. Ivan Kruger (WP) 2:01.46

Women U23
1. Jenna Ward (KZN) 1:56.14
2. Brittany Petersen (KZN) 2:01.21

Boys U18
1. Louis Hattingh (KZN) 1:47.30
2. Bryan Leroux (KZN) 1:47.34
3. Stuart Bristow (WP) 1:48.28

Girls U18
1. Julia Trodd (KZN) 1:41.42
2. Bronwyn Martin (AUS) 1:43.52
3. Martine Beukes (WP) 1:45.20

K2: senior men
1. Hank McGregor/Jasper Mocké 2:09.25
2. Brandon vander Walt/Grant van der Walt 2:09.27
3. Andy Birkett/Greg Louw 2:09.43

K2: senior women
1. Abby Adie/Laura O’Donoghue 2:10.44
2. Hayley Arthur/Jenna Ward 2:10.45
3. Melanie van Niekerk/Brittany Petersen 2:13.59