Berg winners make history
2005-07-21
FORMER World Marathon Canoe Champion Hank McGregor decimated the four-pronged Western Cape attack to clinch the 2005 Isuzu Berg River Canoe Marathon title on Saturday.
The Durbanite crossed the finish line at Velddrif in an overall time of 17 hours 10 minutes and 33 seconds, a massive eight minutes ahead of his nearest competitor, Graeme Solomon.
The u.21 star, Simon van Gysen, lost the sprint to the line with Solomon by a solitary second to finish third overall.
“I’m really stoked with the win,” said McGregor. “The Berg was one of my goals this year. The Duzi was first, this second and then the World Marathon Champs in October.
“I’ve got two out of three so far. Hopefully I can keep the record going.”
This is the first time in history that anyone has won both the Dusi and the Berg in the same year, two of the most difficult K1 races in the country.
“It’s unfortunate that I won’t be doing the Hansa Powerade Fish Marathon (because of the World Marathon Champs) because I’d like to claim the triple.”
McGregor wins a cheque for R20 000 for his unwavering efforts. “I’m really happy with my second place,” said Solomon, who only entered the race two days before the start.
“Obviously I would have liked to win, but if you had said to me before the race that I’d finish second I would’ve taken it, considering the amount of homework I’ve done.”
A visibly drained Alexa Lombard also re-wrote the history books in the women’s race as she continued her impeccable form to win her fourth Berg River Canoe Marathon crown, and finish the race in 18th position overall, the highest placing a female paddler has ever achieved in the 44 year running of the event.
Lombard’s overall time was 18h:37m:40s, half an hour ahead of Abbey Miedema in second place. Kim Rew finished in third a further 20 minutes back.
“I am very sore right now,” Lombard admitted as she sat shivering at the finish. “I think the last four days are catching up with me now.
“It’s been my goal for the last five years to make the top 20 overall, even though I once thought it to be unattainable, so I’m absolutely over the moon right now.”
Lombard takes home the ladies’ purse of R8000 as well as an additional R4000 for finishing within eight percent of the winner’s time.
The overall results are: (Men) 1. Hank McGregor 17:10:33, 2. Graeme Solomon 17:18:49, 3. Simon van Gysen 17:18:50, 4. Paul Marais 17:21:38, 5. Russell Willis 17:23:37, 6. Gert van Deventer 17:26:37, 7. Pieter-Willem Basson 17:45:12, 8. Mike Harris 17:59:12, 9. Chris van Deventer 18:00:10, 10. Greg van Heerden 18:02:04. (Women) (18) 1. Alexa Lombard 18:37:40, (28) 2. Abbey Miedema 19:08:33, (40) 3. Kim Rew 19:53:43, (68) 4. Carol Joyce 20:57:01, (98) 5. Stephne Rabie 22:17:33, (108) 6. Jo-Anne Hay 22:45:09, (111) 7. Alison Stoner-Harper 22:52:55, (130) 8. Elize Marie 23:33:02, (144) 9. Bronwen Hobbs 24:06:44, (146) 10. Karen Triegaardt 24:08:44. (Juniors) (17) 1. Lance King 18:30:32, (22) 2. Dane Sanvido 18:58:52, (32) 3. Pierre-Andre Rabie (PRL) 19:23:34, (79) 4. Brett Dorman 21:21:12, (112) 5. Beaucrim
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