LOCAL paddlers Hamish Lovemore (Durban North) and Saskia Hockly (Mount Moreland) cruised to convincing KZN S1 Surfski Championship wins at the Bay Union King of the Bay event on Sunday.
Lovemore and Hockly made the most of the conditions which suited flatwater specialists perfectly, and they claimed the men’s and women’s provincial singles titles respectively in the long-course race which started at Stella Canoe Club at the headwaters of the harbour.
In the men’s race, Matthew Coetzer finished second, just four seconds ahead of Barry Lewin, with Brent Chiazzari and Brad Pearse rounding out the top five.
Also read: Hockly and Burn shine at surfski challenge
“It was long and lonely and flat,” Lovemore said. “It was a nice group of four across the harbour, and once we got into the sea, we started to work the bumps a bit. I managed to get a nice lead just before the turn and then put my head down on the way home and ground it out. My speciality is flatwater paddling, so for me, it does not get much better than these dead, flat conditions.”
For Hockly, the win was a lot closer as she only managed to get ahead on the dice to the finish through the tiny waves near the shore, but the reward was huge for the U23 star who claimed her first-ever win over her mentor, friend and former World Champion, Michelle Burn.
“The conditions were so flat; if there was ever going to be a chance for me to beat Michelle, it was today, because she is untouchable in the downwind,” said a delighted Hockly on the beach after her victory. “I train on the flatwater the majority of the time, and I am a flatwater paddler, so it was ideal for me, but to be able to take my first win over Michelle at a KZN Champs is truly something special after my somewhat disappointing SA Nationals,” Hockly said.
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