Strong SA team for World Champs
CANOEING South Africa have named a team of 73 boats to compete at the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships and Masters Cup events at Camps Drift in Pietermaritzburg from September 4-12.
With all the fancied paddlers securing their berths in the team by virtue of finishing first or second in the national championship races that doubled as the one-off trial for the worlds, the South African team is exceptionally strong, and features several World Championship title-holders and medallists.
The senior men who grabbed four medals at last year’s world title decider at Brandenberg in Germany are all back, albeit with some changes to the K2 crews.
Hank Mcgregor and Andy Birkett, who bagged the historic 1-2 for South Africa last year, have retained their places in the men’s K1 team, and will both also feature in the K2 team as well.
Mcgregor will set out to defend his K2 title with his Cape-based partner Jasper Mocké, after winning the national title last weekend.
Andy Birkett however, will be racing with classy schoolboy Jean van der Westhuyzen, the winner of the junior world title with Louis Hattingh two years ago.
Hattingh has been sidelined by an injury to his left hand suffered during a mishap while woodworking and will not be able to partner Birkett, with whom he won a bronze medal in Germany last year.
Jenna Ward will also have a new partner in her boat, after sensationally winning silver with young Kyeta Purchase in the women’s K2 while both being under 23 years old.
Ward and her training partner Nikki Russell were sublime in their victory in the women’s K2 title decider at Camps Drift last weekend and will take a lot of confidence into the worlds next month.
Purchase will be racing the Women’s Under 23 K1 race with Kerry Segal.
Daveyton-raised Alex Masina was the surprise package in the juniors boys trial, winning the national title emphatically. The teenager, who is now based in Pietermaritzburg to further his canoeing training, was desperately unlucky not to secure a K2 place in the team with the on-form Stewart Little after they broke the rudder off their boat during the Boy’s K2 race.
The large South African team includes K1 and K2 craft for the two day Masters Cup that precedes the World Championships, where the Veteran and Masters classes traditionally see a very strong medal haul by South African paddlers. K1 Junior girls: Mackenzie Women U23: Kyeta Purchase, Kerry Segal Senior women: Bridgitte Hartley, Melanie Van Niekerk Junior boys: Alex Masina, Ulvard Hart Men U23: Jean Van Der Westhuyzen, Nicholas Notten Senior men: Andy Birkett, Hank Mcgregor K2 Junior gilrs: Christie Mackenzie/sabina Lawrie, Amy Peckett/caitlin Mackenzie Senior women: Jenna Ward/nikki Russell, Hayley Nixon/michelle Burn Junior boys: Callam Davis/hamish Lovemore, David Evans/hamish Mackenzie Senior men: Hank Mcgregor/jasper Mocke, Christie Mackenzie, Caitlin Andy Birkett/jean Van Der Westhuyzen SA Masters Cup team K1 Women Sub veterans: Melissa Van Rooyen, Debbie Gillet Veterans: Marion Young, Megan Kelly Sub masters: Mandy Hoddinott, Anna Clifford Arwidi Masters: Lis Hart, Robyn Henderson Sub grand masters: Liz Russell, Hilde Lapere. Grand masters: Beth Burton, Minnie Kretzschmar Men Sub veterans: Wayne Jacobs, Ant Stott Veterans: Jacques Theron, Piers Cruickshanks Sub masters: Graeme Solomon, Lee Mcgregor Masters: Rob Hart, Bruce Pender-smith Sub grand masters: Colin Wilson, Hennie Roos Grand masters: Mat Carlisle, Theo Smit Sub great grand masters: Allan Hold, Rob Maclean. Sub great great grand masters: Willem Deyzel K2 Women Sub veterans: Melissa Van Rooyen/nicky Irvine, Lyn Bennett/debbie Gillet Veterans: Kim Peek/marion Young Sub masters: Robyn Henderson/mandy Hoddinott, Lisa Scott/lis Hart Masters: Merrill King/sonja Bohnsack, Sylvia Nel/katarzyna Lapacz Sub grand masters: Beth Burton/liz Russell, Solly Peckett/sharlene Mcgilvray Grand masters: Minnie Kretzschmar/carrol Evans, Cally Henderson/jacquie Button Men Sub veterans: Matt Gunning/alex Roberts, Willem Landman/elton Du Preez Veterans: Kelvin Herman/duncan Boyd, Daan Du Toit/hennie Du Plooy Sub masters: Gustav Smook/michael Stewart, Stuart Roberts/mike Stevens Masters: Rob Hart/garth Watters, Bruce Pender-smith/eric ildebrandt Sub grand masters: Bruce Wenke/linton Hope, Theo Smit/ronald Pronk Grand masters: Chris Visser/mat Carlisle, Markus Burri/rob Welsh Sub great grand masters: Allan Hold/geoff Thompson, Andre Hawarden/rob Maclean