Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge 2006

Embargo: None, immediate release

Underberg – Abbey Miedema will be setting out to notch up a unique achievement on the Umzimkulu river this weekend, by winning the tough Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge women’s title on her first attempt.

The plucky Capetonian, who won another Hansa Powerade Dusi title in January with Alexa Lombard, says she is excited at the prospect of learning the technically demanding river, and racing against some of the best female marathoners in the country.

“Everyone says it is a fantastic river, technical but fun, and in a beautiful part of the country. I have been threatening to do it for years, but somehow it has never worked out, as there has always been another event that I have been committed to,” says Miedema.

She will spend two days tripping the river, and learning the channels and sneaks through the demanding Valley of a Thousand rapids that makes up the first ten kilometres of the two-day race.

“I will be going cautiously, as it is my first time racing this river, and one cannot afford to swim. Unlike much of our paddling in the Cape, this is a proper river, and it needs to be treated with respect,” she added.

Miedema will have a tough task ahead of her if she plans to wrest the women’s title away from a class field that will include on form Johannesburg paddler Carol Joyce, Lorna Oliver and Vicky Chiazarri.

Defending champion Alexa Lombard, a club-mate of Miedema’s from Peninsula Canoe Club in Cape Town, will not be racing this year, as she has committed to her sprint training regime.

The race was thrown wide open last year, when Lombard took two unexpected swims in Black Murray rapid, leaving the door open for Kirsty van der Merwe to snatch the overnight lead. However Lombard was too strong on the longer, and flatter second stage, and won the title from Carol Joyce and van der Merwe.

Miedema will be traveling to the race with boyfriend Martin Dreyer, who after dominating the Dusi this millennium, is also setting off on his first attempt at the Drak Challenge.

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