Jenna leads women’s surfski title race

MT EDGECOMBE resident, Jenna Ward, is still in the hunt for the Varsity College FNB Marine Surfski Series title after finishing second in Friday’s race. In an innovative move from event organisers, the route for the ninth race of the series, the HiQ Surfski Challenge, was changed to give the paddlers the best chance of testing themselves in subdued conditions.

That proved successful for 2015 Series winner, Hank McGregor, and Nicole Russell, who were the quickest two over the long course.
Race organiser, Barry Lewin, made the decision to change the course, which was well-received by the paddlers, who have had some indifferent conditions through the series.

“We had some great conditions on Friday, but we needed to mix it up a bit to keep it exciting, so we gave the paddlers a chance to paddle straight out at the beginning,” Lewin said.

Although he has the series title wrapped up, the battle at the front of the race was once again a frantic one, with uMhlanga’s Matt Bouman doing a lot of the work in the front of the race. However, it was the experience and skill of Hank McGregor in calm conditions that managed to pip Bouman at the post to claim another victory.

It was a neck-and-neck race throughout, and although the title is his McGregor’s, competitive spirit kept him searching for another win and another edge over Bouman, as their rivalry has become synonymous with the Marine Series.

“Winning the overall series is just a bonus, and I really just go out there and race as hard as I can whenever I race. Friday was no exception.

“The vibe on Fridays is brilliant, and it’s always a great way to start the weekend. The guys go out and try their hardest, which is great for us and great for the sport,” he added.

Nicole Russell completed her hat-trick of wins as she wrapped up another victory on Friday, ahead of series leader, Jenna Ward. With only four results to count for Russell she is out of the running for the overall series title, which means that it is going to be difficult for anyone to catch Ward.

With three wins and a handful of second place finishes, Ward sneaks into the lead over Michelle Burn with the final race of the series coming up.