DURBAN – There were no surprises on the opening day of the 2024 Euro Steel SA Surfski Championships presented by Fenn, with the two favoured crews grabbing the doubles titles on a flat sea off Durban on Saturday.
Hank McGregor and Josh Fenn powered away from the opposition over the final 100 metres to claim the men’s title, while Kira Bester and Melanie van Niekerk broke away early in some “bumpy” swells they found to claim the women’s national title.
The singles races will take place on Sunday. With the arrival of some wind predicted overnight, paddlers are expecting a 23km downwind race from Durban to Umdloti on Sunday.
The men’s race turned into a five-way battle as the relatively flat conditions on the 15km course from Durban Underwater Club to Umhlangha and back nullified the advantage of the downwind specialists.
The finish saw McGregor and Fenn outsprint Uli Hart and Matt Fenn in the dice to the beach, with Ron Benjano and Mark Keeling claiming the bronze medal. The father and son crew of Dawid and Sam Mocke, and former World Champion Kenny Rice and Nic Notten rounded out the top five.
“It was a super, super tough race,” said McGregor after claiming the win. “A bit of bump (waves) picked up after about four or five kays so we pushed the pace hard and managed to break everyone up a bit.
“We got to near the turning point and our teammates from Euro Steel, Uli (Hart) and Matt (Fenn), were right there so we kept the pace a little bit slow and everybody caught up. Then it was like a marathon dice for the last like four kays. We have all paddled against each other a lot so everybody knows everybody, so it was like a paddle with good friends and some good banter.
“The we managed to have enough on the tank right at the death, so I’m happy with the win – another win with Josh is always a great paddle, so I’m really stoked.”
Josh Fenn summed up his race succinctly as he caught his breath after the sprint finish: “I’m hurting,” was his brief description, before revealing it had not been all banter and laughs as they approached the finish.
“There was a bit of a challenge from one of the other crews a few hundred metres out and we did not win that, so I actually thought we didn’t have it, but Hank’s power at the end managed to get us all the way.”
In the women’s race, Bester and Van Niekerk powered away when the water became a bit choppy and were never seriously challenged again. The finished up a minute ahead of the chasing group of Jenna Nisbet and Bridgitte Hartley, Jade Wilson and Nix Birkett and the first juniors in fourth overall, Holly Smith and Georgia Singe.
Bester and Van Niekerk did however have a nervous moment when they struggled to find the turning buoy at halfway.
“We sat in the group until the bumps started and we saw a bit of an opportunity there,” said Bester “We went as hard as we could and got away, but then struggled to find the buoy – we went in and out looking for it but finally found it, and then it was just a tough grind back.”
One of the niggling issues for all paddlers was the switching of the doubles and singles races as the organisers made sure the singles event is in the best conditions.
Van Niekerk was happy they had a relatively easy paddle on the opening day.
“We went steady enough not to burn our matches for tomorrow’s race,” she said. “It was nice and comfortable and a lot of fun.
“But a key thing about today was that you have to think about tomorrow, but I am stoked because if the wind blows I am happy. I think tomorrow will be Kira, Michelle (Burn) and Saskia – I think that’s the people with the most technical ability.”
The women will start at 8.40am on Sunday and the men will set off 10 minutes later.
LEADING RESULTS
MEN
1 Hank Mcgregor / Josh Fenn 1:01:21
2 Ulvard Hart / Matthew Fenn 1:01:23
3 Ron Benjano / Mark Keeling 1:01:26
4 Dawid Mocke / Sam Mocke 1:01:34
5 Kenneth Rice / Nicholas Notten 1:01:51
Juniors
1 Jared Shrimpton / Ryley Michael Smith (1st U16) 1:02:57
2 Heath Clarke / Keegan Vogt 1:04:03
3 Ty Haynes / Troy Jacobs 1:07:21
WOMEN
1 Kira Bester / Melanie Van Niekerk 1:07:39
2 Jenna Nisbet / Bridgitte Hartley 1:08:27
3 Jade Wilson / Nix Birkett 1:08:28
4 Holly Shirley Smith / Georgia Singe (1st U18) 1:08:37
