7 August 2013
The Hansa Fish River Canoe Marathon is shaping up to be an intriguing showdown
between a number of top crews. They include the proven combination of Hank
McGregor and Grant van der Walt and the new pairing of Andy Birkett and Cam
Schoeman.
For decades the Hansa Fish has hosted more SA River Championship title
deciders than any other race for a few simple reasons: it is a test of stamina and
endurance (the first stage is a tough 48km long), has enough technical challenges in
trees, big rapids, swirlies, wave trains and weirs, and a fair dose of flatwater racing
where traditional marathon racing tactics come to the fore.
The race takes place in Cradock in the Eastern Cape on 27 and 28 September.
McGregor and Van der Walt have won the K2 title three times already and
McGregor will be aiming for a fifth consecutive doubles title. Three-time Dusi Canoe
Marathon champ Birkett and former K2 Marathon world
champion Schoeman have
also shown plenty of promise together.
Marathon World Championships
Birkett and Schoeman committed to paddle together in the second half of the
year after a successful South African Marathon Championships, which earned them
national selection for the Marathon World Championships, which take place in
Copenhagen the week before the Fish.
The Natal Canoe Club pair was in action in Spain over the weekend, finishing fifth
in the iconic 18km Sella Descent on Saturday and then picking third in an equally
competitive K2 race on Sunday.
The result came as little surprise to their supporters, as they had been flying in
training prior to the start of the Spanish campaign.
“We are going really nicely together,” Birkett said in a statement. “Cam is so
strong in the boat and he just doesn’t know the meaning of giving up.”
“We both enjoy the Fish, and we are looking forward to seeing how we go,”
added Schoeman, who finished sixth in the K1 championship race last year.
Looking ahead to the Fish Canoe Marathon challenge, Birkett said: “We race the
K2 race in Denmark on the Sunday, and then we fly out on Monday, get back on the
Tuesday. There’s just time to grab some clean clothes and head down to Cradock for
the start on Friday morning.
“But it will be the same for a couple of other crews as well,” he added.
Defending the title
The title has been won by McGregor and Van der Walt for the last three K2
championship races, with McGregor and Len Jenkins winning the K2 crown in 2006.
McGregor and van der Walt had planned on challenging for the K2 title at the
World Championships, but their chances were dashed after they had a disastrous
South African trial and didn’t make the team. That setback has, however, given them
an opportunity to be better prepared for the Hansa Fish.
“We are going to high-tail it
out of Copenhagen after our K1 races on Saturday
afternoon and head for home,” said McGregor. “It is going to buy us an extra critical
24 hours over the other guys to recover, shake off the jetlag and get down to
Cradock for the Hansa Fish.”
It’s a race where McGregor and Van Der Walt are at their best because they are
relaxed and thrive in the vibe of the unique two-day race in the Klein Karoo.
“It’s got to be the best race in the country,” McGregor said. “You can tell
because it is the one race on the calendar that everyone is willing to drive to.
“It is also the fairest race of the year,” he added.
McGregor first won the Fish K2 title with Len Jenkins in a record-breaking effort
in 2006. In 2008 he was back but with teenager Grant van der Walt in the boat and
they stroked their way to the first of three K2 titles on the trot.
“Hey, if we can win it again this year it will be four consecutive K2 titles for
Grant (van
der Walt) and I, and five in succession for me, which no-one has ever
done before,” said McGregor.
Looking ahead to fierce competition, McGregor said: “The top paddlers are
always there and the racing is guaranteed to be super-competitive. The guaranteed
water release makes a huge difference as well.”
SAinfo reporter
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Article source: http://www.southafrica.info/news/sport/canoeing-fish-070813.htm