The South African surfski team dominated the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships at Madeira Island on Friday with victories in five out of the six major championship races, while five and six SA paddlers finished within the top ten overall in the men’s and women’s events respectively.<\/p>\n
The South African women were completely dominant, with Kira Bester winning overall for the U23 gold, and Michelle Burn finishing second to claim the senior title. Georgia Singe was the top junior in an impressive seventh overall to complete a clean-sweep of titles in the major championship events.<\/p>\n
Other South African women to finish within the top ten overall were Melanie van Niekerk (fourth and second senior); Saskia Hockly (fifth and third U23) and Jade Wilson (ninth and fourth U23).<\/p>\n
In the men’s race, German Gordan Harbrecht became the first European to win the World Championships when he beat defending champion Cory Hill from Australia with South African legend Hank McGregor third.<\/p>\n
Matt Fenn was fourth overall to claim the men’s U23 title, while Sam Mocke is the new junior world champion.<\/p>\n
Other South African men in the top ten were former World Champions Kenny Rice (fifth) and Nic Notten (sixth) and Uli Hart (10th and third U23).<\/p>\n
The new Women’s World Champion said she really had to work hard for her title, both on the water and in the preparation for the event.<\/p>\n
“I actually can’t describe the race in a quick way because it was as long as hell and the conditions were so diverse,” said Bester once she had a chance to reflect on her victory. “Basically there was a downwind, then there was a headwind, then there was a flat section, a bumpy section and they kind of chopped and turned the whole time, so it was a very very difficult course.<\/p>\n
“Even though it was a short distance, it felt like an aeon and it was very, very, very challenging.”<\/p>\n
Bester stayed further inshore than her rivals on the race from Machico to Funchal, and when the two groups met after about nine kilometres of the 21km race, she had a small lead over Burn.<\/p>\n
“That was not the plan at all. I actually wanted to put in a much bigger gap prior to us coming back together. I thought that the initial downwind section was going to last a bit longer, so I’d kind of like planned my game-plan around the fact that maybe the downwind would carry on to about 13 kilometres and I could rest a bit. That was a bit problematic for my plan because I pushed so hard and then didn’t have much left.<\/p>\n
“It ended up being good, but I think a deeper line would have been a better choice, because I could have avoided the tidal currents, but I’m obviously very happy with how the race turned out.<\/p>\n
“It’s an incredible feeling to have won because it is kind of the pinnacle of all my hard work coming together and paying off. I have sacrificed so much to get here and you don’t know whether it’s actually going to pay off in the end.<\/p>\n
“It’s not just the sacrifices of myself, it’s the sacrifices from all the people around me that have supported me and motivated me to be consistent and push through on the days that I don’t want to go to training.<\/p>\n
“So it’s an achievement for all the people that backed me \u2013 my family, my team, my coaches and basically my whole club. It’s a really awesome feeling, but I want it to be not just my achievements. I wanted it to be achievement for all those that have backed me since day one.”<\/p>\n
Not surprisingly South Africa hold a huge lead in the medal table after Day 1 with their age-group paddlers Simon Willmot (Masters 65-69 \u2013 Gold), Mat Carlisle (Master 65-69\u2013 Silver), and Russell Seymour (Master 55-59 \u2013 Bronze) adding three age group medals to take the tally up to 14. Spain is second with eight, followed by Germany and hosts Portugal.<\/p>\n
Image: Kira Bester won the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships and in doing so also successfully defended her U23 title. (Bruce Viaene)<\/em><\/p>\n Men Women Senior Men: Hank McGregor \u2013 BronzeSELECTED RESULTS<\/h3>\n
\nOverall
\n1 Gordan Harbrecht (GER) 01:27:31.69
\n2 Cory Hill (AUS) 01:28:24.62
\n3 Hank McGregor (RSA) 01:28:34.35
\n4 Matthew Fenn (RSA \u2013 U23) 01:29:19.20
\n5 Kenneth Rice (RSA) 01:29:33.76
\n6 Nicholas Notten (RSA) 01:29:59.99
\n7 Bernardo Pereira (POR \u2013 U23) 01:30:35.11
\n8 Hector Henot (FRA) 01:30:49.56
\n9 Pierre Vilella (FRA) 01:31:35.50
\n10 Uli Hart (RSA \u2013 U23) 01:31:50.92
\nU23
\n1 Matthew Fenn (RSA) 01:29:19.20
\n2 Bernardo Pereira (POR) 01:30:35.11
\n3 Uli Hart (RSA) 01:31:50.92
\nJun
\n1 Sam Mocke (RSA) 01:35:59.74
\n2 Heath Clarke (RSA) 01:36:07.27
\n3 Terry Michael (GBR) 01:40:29.13<\/p>\n
\nOverall
\n1 Kira Bester (RSA \u2013 U23) 01:43:39.79
\n2 Michelle Burn (RSA) 01:44:01.56
\n3 Katriana Swetish (USA \u2013 U23) 01:45:16.51
\n4 Melanie van Niekerk (RSA) 01:45:16.84
\n5 Saskia Hockly (RSA \u2013 U23) 01:47:00.39
\n6 Judit Verges (ESP) 01:47:31.57
\n7 Georgia Singe (RSA \u2013 Jun) 01:47:48.22
\n8 Chloe Bunnett (ESP) 01:49:25.92
\n9 Jade Wilson (RSA \u2013 U23) 01:50:56.41
\n10 Amaia Osaba (ESP) 01:51:37.66
\nU23
\n1 Kira Bester (RSA) 01:43:39.79
\n2 Katriana Swetish (USA) 01:45:16.51
\n3 Saskia Hockly (RSA) 01:47:00.39
\nJun
\n1 Georgia Singe (RSA) 01:47:48.22
\n2 Holly Smith (RSA) 01:56:56.97
\n3 Lara Cellier (ESP) 01:58:46.54<\/p>\nSouth African medal winners:<\/h3>\n
\nU23 Men: Matt Fenn \u2013 Gold
\nU23 Men: Uli Hart \u2013 Bronze
\nJunior Men: Sam Mocke \u2013 Gold
\nJunior Men: Heath Clarke \u2013 Silver
\nSenior Women: Michelle Burn \u2013 Gold
\nSenior Women: Melanie van Niekerk \u2013 Silver
\nU23 Women: Kira Bester \u2013 Gold
\nU23 Women: Saskia Hockly \u2013 Bronze
\nJun Women: Georgia Singe \u2013 Gold
\nJun Women: Holly Smith \u2013 Silver
\nMaster 65-69 Men: Simon Willmot \u2013 Gold
\nMaster 65-69 Men: Mat Carlisle \u2013 Silver
\nMaster 55-59 Men: Russell Seymour \u2013 Bronze<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"