FILE PICTURE: Hank McGregor paddles down Tops Needle rapid during day 3 of The Unlimited Duzi 2013 from Inanda Dam to Blue Lagoon Beach on February 16, 2013 in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. Photo by Anthony Grote / Gallo Images
He outsprinted Jasper Mocké and under-23 World Champion Andy Birkett to win a tightly contested affair, and then teamed up with Mocké to add the K2 title in icy Highveld weather conditions.
“It is tough racing at altitude for us coastal guys,” McGregor said.
“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 said he knew his tactics were going to have to be spot-on in order to beat a star-studded field of paddlers.
“It was a really high quality field and so I knew that tactically I had to be on point and I think I managed to outsmart the others which gave me the edge.
“I felt really comfortable throughout the race and it was a case of everyone gunning for positions with World Champs places up for grabs.”
The win secured his place in the South African team for the World Marathon Champs in Oklahoma City in September.
“I have been doing a lot of surfski training recently and so marathon hasn’t been the main focus for me but with the Worlds in September I will be focusing a lot more on marathon paddling and portaging as well.”
McGregor paired up with fellow surfski ace and Dusi Canoe Marathon partner Mocké in the K2 event which they won with the Van der Walt brothers Grant and Brandon coming a close second.
The win meant McGregor had now won five K2 SA Marathon titles and felt the impressive performances by South African paddlers on the national stage had 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.”
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.
Runner-up to Birkett at the 2013 World Marathon Champs Brendon van der Walt proved too strong in the under-23 category as he beat fellow Western Province paddler Stuart Maclaren and Jenna Ward won the girls under-23 category from Brittany Petersen.
– Sapa
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