Hansa Powerade Drak Challenge Media Release

 No: drak0712

25 Feb 2007

Day Two of Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge SA K1 Champs 2007

Underberg - German wild water world champion Max Hoff wrapped up and emphatic victory in the two day Hansa Powerade Drakensberg canoe marathon on Sunday and in the process became the first foreign man to win a national canoeing title.

Hoff, who hails from Cologne, raced alone over the 18 kilometre final stage from Callaway to Early Mists farm, and managed to add a further two minutes to his three minute overnight lead.

The chasing pack of Jacques Theron and Hank McGregor was caught by another German Florian Wholers, which resulted in an intense scrap for second place for much of the final stage.

Theron took advantage of a momentary lapse by McGregor in the lower gorge to wrap up the silver medal while McGregor just managed to hold of Wohlers in a thrilling end sprint for the bronze medal.

Johannesburg teenager grant Van Der Walt continued his meteoric rise to stardom by racing to fifith overall and the first junior by ten minutes.

In the women’s race Abbey Miedema won her first Drak title in a merciless and relentless display of domination that resulted in a ten minute victory margin over Laura Thompson, with Epworth school girl Robyn Kime finishing third.

Miedema’s victory also completed a rare hat trick of SA K1 river titles for the Cape Town based athlete following her three successive Dusi titles. 

A strikingly large number of junior paddlers fared well in the race, which suited lighter athletes, topped by a remarkable fifth place overall by Johannesburg teenager Grant van der Walt, and the third overall in the women’s race by Pietermaritzburg schoolgirl Robyn Kime.

Hoff’s victory was made more remarkable by the fact that he had never paddled on the river before and purchased his race kayak in Pietermaritzburg the day before the race.

“What a fantastic experience,” said an elated and visibly relieved Hoff at the finish. “It was scary because I didn’t know whether the two guys behind me were catching up to me or not. So I had to just go as hard as I could.”

“On the long straight sections I kept looking back to see if they were getting closer, but I never saw them,” he added.

“Hats off to him,” said a gracious Jacques Theron after the race. “Hank (McGregor) and I worked together over the first ten kilometres of the final stage t pry and catch him. But when we got to the bridge and learnt that he had opened up another minute and a half on us, it was pretty depressing.”

“I know I could have done better, but that’s the way it goes,” said a philosophical Hank McGregor. “It feels like it has been a long season. But I wouldn’t miss this race for anything.”

Weighing in at 93 kilograms the hefty German should have been disadvantaged by the low river conditions which suited the lighter paddlers better. The race was run in low river conditions as a result of dearth of rainfall for the past fortnight on which the Umzimkulu depends solely on its water.

Hoff and three fellow German wild water internationals were on a training camp in Port Edward when they heard about the race. A few sms messages to South Afrcian friends resulted in late entries being accepted, and kayaks and equipment being arranged at the eleventh hour.

The race organisers were forced to shorten the race by 15 kilometers to eliminate the notorious Valley of a Thousand Rapids which was impassable in the low river conditions.

The race was started at the Trout Hatcheries with a 35 kilometer first stage ending at Callaway bridge, resulting in a short 18 kilometer stage to the race finish at Early Mists farm.

A record field of 945 paddlers entered the event mostly in K1’s and participated in a full program of events throughout the weekend.

Summary of Results
Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge SAK1
Men
1.Max Hoff (Ger) 3:06.23
2.Jacques Theron (Sow) 3:11.39
3.Hank McGregor (Dra) 3:12.22
4.Florian Wohlers (Ger) 3:12.24
5.Grant Van Der Walt (Dab) 3:15.28
6.Jasper Mocke (Us) 3:15.52
7.PiersCruickshanks (Dab) 3:16.14
8.Daryl Bartho (Kin) 3:18.38
9.Michael Mbanjwa (Erk) 3:19.10
10.Shaun Griffin (Ukn) 3:21.01
11.Martin Dreyer(Whr) 3:21.38
12.Jonothan Niemand (Sow) 3:21.58
13.Douglas Bird (Mms) 3:23.11
14.Alex Roberts (Dab) 3:23.40
15.Michael Stewart (Erk) 3:23.59
16.Marco Magni (Dab) 3:24.07
17.Barry Lewin (Kin) 3:24.32
18.Mark Mulder (Kin) 3:24.34
19.Brett Bartho (Ukn) 3:24.48
20.Martin John Fraser-Mackenzie (Kny) 3:24.53

Women
1.Abbey Miedema (Whr) 3:29.56
2.Laura Thompson( Nat) 3:39.34
3.Robyn Kime (epk) 3:39.52
4.Hilary Pitchford (Ukn) 3:42.33
5.Kirsty Van Der Merwe (Ghr) 3:42.43

Junior Boys
1.Grant van der Walt (Dab) 3:15.28
2.Matthew Cullen (Mar) 3:25.07
3.David Firth (Mic) 3:25.38
4.James Dillon (Mic) 3:29.01
5.Ben Biggs (Nat) 3:29.22

Junior Girls
1.Robyn Kime (Epw) 3:39.52
2. Abie Adie (Epw) 3:52.16

ENDS

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