Cradock abuzz for 37th Fish challenge

Paddlers from every corner of the country will converge on Cradock for the 37th edition of the Hansa Fish River Canoe Marathon which starts from Grassridge Dam on Friday and finishes at the Cradock Sports Grounds on Saturday.

This year the race will double as the South African K1 River Marathon Championships.

Seven-time race winner Hank McGregor will be a formidable opponent.

Chasing McGregor will be his Euro Steel teammate and K2 partner Andy Birkett.

Birkett has won the last two K2 Fish’s, but he is still missing that K1 crown.

Among the other men’s contenders are Jasper Mocké, who paddled to a third at the recent ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships, and Stuart Maclaren. A dark horse could be U23 ace Alan Houston.

It could be a two-horse race to the finish for the women, with Bridgitte Hartley and Euro Steel teammate Jenna Ward fighting it out for the title.

Young Christie Mackenzie might come into the fold, but she could be fighting for a minor spot on the podium.

The 48km and 36km stages will test all the paddlers with exciting rapids and weirs to negotiate throughout, with close on 1,000 paddlers entered.

With most larger rapids on the opening day, it will be important for paddlers to negotiate the likes of the Keith’s Flyover and Soutpansdrift rapids successfully to ensure they get to the overnight stop below Knutsford unscathed.