Solms in Drak seventh heaven
Andy Birkett scooped his fourth N3TC Drak Challenge title as he out-sprinted reigning world champion Hank McGregor at the end of a riveting 65km canoe marathon that also entrenched Abby Solms as the race’s most successful paddler when she won her seventh title.
From the first stage start at Castleburn on Saturday, it was clear the title race was between McGregor and Birkett, respectively the world’s No 1 and No 2 marathon paddlers, with McGregor delivering one of his fabled sprints at the end of the first stage to secure the overnight lead.
With the duo still inseparable with less than a kilometre to go, McGregor looked to be holding all the cards, as the Euro Steel teammates approached Wake Up Rapid.
“We were together the whole way — a game of patience and waiting for the other person to make a mistake,” said Birkett.
“About 600m from the finish I managed to come past Hank going into Wake Up Rapid, and then held him off after he made a few attempts to come past me. I managed to hang onto it to the finish,” he said.
Birkett ascribed the win to luck, which seems to have favoured him during his fourtitle domination of this popular race through the foothills of the Southern Drakensberg. “Something seems to happen in my favour every year just before the finish,” Birkett said.
In the women’s race Solms became the most-decorated paddler in the race’s 24-year history by becoming the first athlete to win seven titles.
Starting the tough 39km final stage with over two minutes on Olympic ace Bridgitte Hartley, she managed to hold her off on the long flat stretches on the long final stage where she feared Hartley would attack her.
“I was under serious pressure from Bridgitte, and the splits I was getting stayed at around a lead of 3min 20sec. That only changed when she took a swim in one of the last big rapids,” said Solms.
“I haven’t had to paddle as hard as that for a long time,” Solms added.