Top-of-the-class finish for series
THE 2017 FNB Surfski Series came to an exciting end with the Varsity College Surfski Challenge and the Varsity College SA Schools Championships taking place at the Marine Surf Lifesaving Club in Durban on Friday.
Appropriately, Hank Mcgregor and Hayley Nixon claimed Race Ten win’s and by doing so they wrapped up the overall men’s and women’s titles for the second year in succession.
Euro Steel/carbonology’s Nixon had to finish well at the final race of the series to secure the title and with the threat of Bridgitte Hartley racing the final race of the series, the pressure was on. However, Nixon powered her way home to win by just over a minute ahead of Hartley in second with Kyeta Purchase in third.
It was an impressive seventh win of the series for Hank Mcgregor (Euro Steel/epic Kayaks) who just pipped Capetonian Kenny Rice to the post, while Matt Bouman rounded out the podium.
Much of the focus of the evening was the Varsity College SA Schools Championships which provided some exciting race across the Under 18 and Under 16 divisions with William Wood from Selborne College in East London taking a tight win.
“I have been working really hard for this and when I was behind after the first lap I just put my head down and made sure Hamish (Lovemore) didn’t get away from me,” Wood mentioned after his win.
“It was a proper, hard race and I felt good from the beginning but it was a really good contest throughout the race.”
The race was a ding-dong battle throughout the second lap with both paddlers not giving an inch, however it was Wood who got the slightest of gaps coming into the finish which was just enough to hand him a memorable win.
“On the final downwind leg we were matching each other run for run but I managed get a run ahead of him and he got caught just behind me which gave me the space I needed.
“I just held the gap for a bit and grew it slightly coming into the finish.
“Such a great feeling to be able to win a race that I have been working towards for so long and take back the title to East London!” a satisfied Wood added.
Junior paddler Ulvard Hart came home in third place in the boys section, with Hamish Mackenzie just behind him to take second Under 16 and fourth overall.
In the girls’ race it was Surfski Series regular Sabina Lawrie who was too strong for the rest of the girls field as she finished eighth overall and just under three minutes ahead of Christie Mackenzie in second.
Zara Wood was the third girl across the finish line and was the first Under-16 girl to finish the 8km course. Cara Waud was second Under-16 and sixth girl to finish.
On another jam-packed Friday evening at Marine SLC Luke Nisbet and Jenna Ward showed their class once again to finish third in the doubles and claim another mixed doubles win, whilst Jason Ekstrand and Clinton Cook took the overall doubles spoils.
Mthebeni Mhkize was the strongest boat in the 4km short course, however the strongest boat in the race was the visiting doubles pair of Andre and Helen Wood.
Carmel Billson was in fine form as she finished the short course as the third single ski and first female ski. She finished ahead of Siobhan Sharp in second and Jenna Nel in third.
In the stand-up paddleboard category Nick Park-ross once again showed his skills to claim the win. In the ladies SUP category, Danica Bartho finished top once again, and fifth overall.