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Underberg – The door has
been left open for a new name to be engraved on the Hansa Powerade
Drakensberg Challenge trophy, following the confirmation that the paddler
who has dominated the race in recent years won’t be taking part in this
weekend’s race.
Ant Stott, who has won the title five times in the last six years, and
earned the title “King of the Drak”, has made a commitment to the national
sprint squad, and his teammates in the K4, that he will be focusing purely
on his sprint training.
“I will miss it, as I really enjoy the race, and the river, but I am also
not too heart sore about not winning it. I have won it five times, so maybe
it is time for someone else to take the title,” said Stott.
Stott has been an integral member of the K4 crew that includes Matt Boumann,
Michael Arthur and Shaun Biggs, that is striving to qualifying a berth for
South Africa at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Biggs has however been
given clearance by the sprint squad coach to race the Drak Challenge, and
the talented youngster will be out to “make sure no-one wins it too easily.”
“I have not had much of a break, as I went straight into some heavy training
with the sprint squad this week, after the Umko and the Thrombi festival
last weekend,” said Biggs, who will use the Drak Challenge as the final
river race of the year.
“This is definitely my last river race for a long time, as I want to give
everything to the K4 for the rest of the year. I love the river races, but
qualifying the K4 is a priority,” he added.
Stott, who took a while to fully recover from a debilitating dose of
glandular fever late last year, made a brief break from his gym-based sprint
training to race the Hansa Powerade Dusi in January, and since then has
confirmed that he is 100% back onto the sprint training programme.
“It sounds like it is going to be a good race!” Stott enthused. “I raced
against Hank McGregor last year, and he knows the river now. If he has fully
recovered from the non-stop Dusi and Umkomaas marathons, he will be a real
challenge, along with Len Jenkins” said Stott.
Biggs has warned that Clint Pretorius, with whom he won the recent Hansa
Umkomaas marathon title, is hungry, and overdue a major win in a Grand Prix
event. “He is so strong at the moment, and has great BMT. He is ready to
take the step up this year”, said Biggs.
Stott holds the race
record of 3 hours 38 minutes set in ideal racing conditions in 2003.
With the good summer rains, and the chance of further late rains expected in
the catchment area before the start on Saturday morning, a fierce pace at
the front of the race may see that record fall.
Late entries are still
being taken for the race. Details can be found at
www.canoesa.org.za/DrakChallenge
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