| Ref:drak0608 |
Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge 2006 - Jenkins, Joyce wins |
| 25 February 2006 |
Embargo: None, immediate release |
| Written by: | Dave Macleod |
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Underberg - Hank McGregor and Len Jenkins may
be friends off the water, but they produced a titanic struggle on the first
stage of he Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge canoe marathon on Saturday. Jenkins came back from a poor start to work his way through the very strong field, and caught McGregor and Shaun Biggs, who were setting a blistering pace at the front as they picked their way through the notorious Valley of a Thousand Rapids. Once Jenkins and McGregor were together they quickly shook off Biggs, and the pair diced all the way to end of the 28km first stage. "It was a great race with Len (Jenkins)", said McGregor. "The first day is all about not making mistakes, and getting to the line in one piece. I am really looking forward to he second stage. I think we will give the big crowd of supporters and spectators a really exciting race", he added. Jenkins was surprised by his ability to stay with McGregor, despite his lack of training since the Dusi. "I managed to stay with Hank, after we broke away above Black Murray rapid. We worked together for a while, and I am chuffed to be able to stay with him at the end, and win the endsprint", said Jenkins, who won the SAK1 title on the Drak Challenge two years ago. Biggs said that he was battling fatigue from the heavy load of the training he is doing with the K4 sprint crew. "But there are three of us together in the chasing bunch - myself, Mike Harris and Brett Bartho, so he two guys at he front should watch out", he added. Johannesburg ace Carol Joyce took firm control of the womens race with a flawless display on he medium/full river, to set up a handy two and a half minute cushion of Abbey Meidema. "I got ahead from the first rapid, and then just put my head down. I never saw any of he other girls the whole day", said Joyce, who was runner up in this race last year to Alexa Lombard. The challenge from Miedema was blunted when the Capetonian had to stop and empty her kayak just below the demanding Black Murray rapid."I had a great day,but had to spin out to empty, which cost me time that I couldn't afford. But Carol (Joyce) paddled really well today, and will be hard to catch tomorrow", said Miedema. Fifteen year old Gauteng rising star Grant Van der Walt stunned the event by finishing thirteenth overall, and almost a minute ahead of the established schoolboys stars Stephen Bird, and Cam Schoeman, both of whom are two years older than Van der Walt. The full river took its toll on the new record field of 870 paddler, spread between K1 and K2 craft, as the tight rocky rapids in the opening ten kilometres punished crews that strayed off line. The second stage, from Swartberg Road to the finish at Early Mists farm close to Coleford resort, is 38km long, and includes some long stretches of flatwater in between the Underberg Gorge, and the Lower Gorge, five kilometres from the finish. SUMMARY OF RESULTS 1.Len Jenkins 1:23:49 2.Hank McGregor 1:23:50 3.Shaun Biggs 1:26:24 4.Brett Bartho 1:26:25 5.Mike Harris 1:26:26 6.Barry Lewin 1:28:03 7.Clint Pretorius 1:28:59 8.Mark Mulder 1:29:00 9.Ryan Louw 1:29:36 10.Sven Bruss1:29:37 11.Piers Cruikshanks 1:29:50 12.Russell Willis 1:29:51 13.Grant van der Walt 1:31:13 14.Jeffrey Smith1:31:35 15.Martin Dreyer 1:31:58 16.Stephen Bird 1:32:03 17.Cam Schoeman 1:32:04 18.Gareth Edmonds 1:32:05 19.Trenton Lamble 1:32:42 20.Rhys Vorster 1:32:49 Women 1.Carol Joyce 1:38:53 2.Abbey Miedema 1:40:26 3.Lorna Oliver 1:43:28 4.Hillary Pitchford 1:45:15 5.Debbie Germiquet 1:45:16 6.Kirsty van der Merwe 1:46:29 7.Angelique Mulder 1:50:12 8.Sydney Olwagen 2:13:16 | |
| Photographs: | Photographer: |
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Len Jenkins powers throught BlackMurray rapid on the first stage of the Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge. Pic : ActionPhoto |
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Hank McGregor in hot pursuit of Len Jenkins through Black Murray rapid on the first stage of the Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge. Pic ActionPhoto |
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Women's race leader Carol Joyce masters the tricky Black Murray rapid, on the first stage of the Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge. Pic ActionPhoto |
| For more information, please contact: | |
| Dave Macleod, Gameplan Media | Tel (031) 764 3017 or dave@gameplanmedia.co.za |
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