Andy Birkett accomplished a flawless closing stage of the Drak Challenge canoe marathon on Sunday afternoon to increase his unbroken successful streak at the uMzimkhulu traditional to 9 consecutive victories.
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Racing in cool overcast situations, in sharp distinction to Saturday’s sweltering warmth, Birkett used his collected data of the river to grasp the demanding technical medium- degree river situations and race away alone to win by greater than two minutes from a charging Under-23 world champ, Hamish Lovemore, who vaulted previous Under -3 winner Matt Fenn.
“It was such an awesome race this year,” mentioned the race winner.
“It was such an ideal degree, with sufficient water to get down every part.
“It was chilly today, in contrast to the conditions we had on the first day,” the modest East London world champ added.
The win extends his record because the race’s most profitable male paddler and now attracts him degree with Abby Solms, whose 9 wins within the girls’s division made her the race’s most profitable elite athlete.
Lovemore wrapped up the silver medal, marking his return to the favored race for the primary time since 2019, whereas Fenn was full worth for his podium end.
Hank McGregor completed fourth, with Sam Butcher in fifth.
Troubles on the ultimate stage noticed Rob Butcher drop again via the junior subject, permitting Luke Salmon to assert the Gara paddle prize for the primary Under-18 boy dwelling, with Asibabale Mpambani second.
There was deep satisfaction etched on the face of Christie Mackenzie as she added a maiden Drak victory to her spectacular CV of outcomes.
As she powered away unchallenged at the entrance of the ladies’s race, she simply navigated the brand new fast at the tip of the race to complete with a cushion of greater than 5 minutes over Bridgitte Hartley, with Umhlanga teenager Saskia Hockly finishing the stellar girls’s podium.
Underberg native Scotty Little raced into the highest ten general and was one in every of seven Under-23 paddlers to complete within the high ten.
At the opposite finish of the age classes, Colin Simpkins scrambled into the highest 100 general and within the course of completed his twenty seventh Drak, shifting him to the highest of the Drak Trouts listing, whereas canoeing icon Owen Hemmingway accomplished his twenty sixth Drak.
DRAK CHALLENGE SUMMARY OF RESULTS
MEN
1. Andy Birkett 1:32:28.22 2:23:52.84 3:56:21.06
2. Hamish Lovemore 1:34:18.34 2:24:12.23 3:58:30.57
3. Matthew Fenn 1:33:44.92 2:26:13.58 3:59:58.50
4. Hank McGregor 1:38:10.59 2:30:04.39 4:08:14.98
5. Sam Butcher 1:39:55.41 2:31:43.65 4:11:39.06
6. David Evans 1:38:11.40 2:33:34.43 4:11:45.84
7. Hamish Mackenzie 1:38:29.27 2:34:06.80 4:12:36.07
8. Bradley Boulle 1:38:30.61 2:35:13.10 4:13:43.71
9. Jeremy Maher 1:40:58.33 2:32:51.44 4:13:49.78
10. Scott Little 1:39:57.35 2:34:02.00 4:13:59.36
WOMEN
1. Christie Mackenzie 1:47:53.23 2:42:52.19 4:30:45.43
2. Bridgitte Hartley 1:51:17.33 2:45:08.05 4:36:25.38
3. Saskia Hockly 1:52:47.38 2:45:02.05 4:37:49.43
4. Nix Birkett 1:54:51.90 2:48:21.08 4:43:12.98
5. Hilary Bruss 2:03:57.14 2:57:18.66 5:01:15.80
6. Candice Murray 2:09:34.42 2:55:08.34 5:04:42.77
7. Emma Hatfield 2:02:25.55 3:02:42.92 5:05:08.48
8. Tracey Van Der Walt 2:02:52.11 3:11:30.55 5:14:22.66
9. Jessica Behn 2:08:40.40 3:11:33.32 5:20:13.72
10. Rachel Van Deventer 2:11:20.28 3:11:56.75 5:23:17.03
More info may be discovered at www.drak.co.za
