Strong SA team named for canoe marathon world champs
Team South Africa has a strong legacy at the world champs and this year is no different with 21 team members vying for podium spots.
CANOEING South Africa has announced a strong South African team that will head to this year’s ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in Ponte de Lima, Portugal from September 26 to October 2.
The 21-paddler-strong team will do battle across the junior, U23 and senior ranks at the event where South Africa has a strong legacy, matched by an expectation of podium performances across all age groups.
Saskia Hockly, Christie Mackenzie, Jenna Nisbet, and Uli Hart are all back in the national side this year after their medal-winning finishes’ last outing.
Hamish Lovemore, who was once again the stand-out paddler at the national trials held at the recent national championships, has decided to race in the U23 K1 race as well as the senior K1.
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Matt Coetzer and Josh Simpkins will return in the junior boys K2 race, hoping to reach a podium finish this time. They will both race the K1 race after the KZN duo finished first and second respectively at the national championship at Hazelmere Dam. They’ll be joined by the Western Province pair – Josh Smith and Luke Jean le Roux – in the Junior Boys K2 race.
Saskia will team up with her younger sister Valma Jean in the junior girls K2 while Tannah Smith races in the K1 and then pairs up with Neriyah Dill in the K2.
Christie Mackenzie will be out to at least reproduce her efforts from 2021 in the U23 Women’s K1 race alongside Jade Wilson, who makes her U23 K1 debut.
In the senior division, Bridgitte Hartley will look to continue her form while Jenna Nisbet will take on the short course with Nikki Birkett who finished second at the national championships and will race the long course alongside Hartley.
Having just raced the U23 race, Lovemore will have his work cut out for him when he races in the senior men’s race with former world champion Andy Birkett back in the K1 fold.
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In the K2 senior races, the 2016 world champion crew of Hank McGregor and Jasper Mocké will wind back the clock as they compete together with Andy Birkett and Nick Notten in the senior men’s K2 division.
2021 K2 bronze medallist, Jenna Nisbet, and Pippa McGregor will race in the women’s K2 race while a new U23 combination of Christie Mackenzie and Jade Wilson will also race in the senior women’s K2 race.
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