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Ant Stott makes
welcome return to Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge.
Underberg – Five times
champion Ant Stott makes a return to the Hansa Powerade Drakensberg
Challenge, determined to continue his winning ways on the two day race on
the Umzimkulu river this weekend, and to join to elite club of paddlers who
have completed ten of “Draks”.
The popular 31 year old from Pietermaritzburg has missed the last two
editions of the race as he was concentrating on trying to qualify a place
for the national K4 for the Beijing Olympic Games, which ended in
disappointment.
Stott has now shifted his focus to marathon racing, and plans to make a
major impact on the major international marathon season mid-year, and
ideally try to win another medal at the World Marathon Championships.
Stott has not been beaten in his last five outings on the Drak Challenge,
and is itching to get back into the racing action on the Umzimkulu after a
two year hiatus that he admits was a frustrating but necessary sacrifice to
his K4 team mates.
“I love this race – it is one of my absolute favourites,” said Stott. “It is
a great race to win because it is only ever won by really good river
paddler. You have to look rally sharp, especially on the top section of the
first day,” he added.
As part of his preparations for this year’s race Stott and a few brave
friends tripped the 25km first stage from Castleburn to Underberg when the
river was running at the same level that it had been running at in 1994,
when the race was first held. In that year, less than 25% of the field
finished the race, and well over R1,5 million was trashed by the unknown
rapids on flooded river.
“It was hectic!” he said afterwards. Stott is a former wild water
international, and managed to get through the river unscathed. His paddling
partner Mike Arthur however too a swim in the notorious Valley of a Thousand
Rapids. Arthur capsized just above Black Murray Rapid, and had to swim
several kilometres to retrieve his kayak.
“I’d love the race to be technically demanding,” said Stott. “Whether it is
really full, or if it is medium low, the race requires solid river paddling
skills, which I enjoy. A medium river is actually quite easy, and will throw
the race wide open,” he added.
Stott starred in January’s Hansa Powerade Dusi, where he finished second
with Wayne Thompson. His preparations since then have been built around
recovering fully in time for the Drak Challenge. “I have been feeling
unusually flat, for some reason that I don’t quite understand,” said Stott.
“Lots of paddlers have been suffering the after the Dusi, but I am hoping to
be fully recovered and peak in time for the Drak.”
The Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge takes place in
Underberg on 23 and 24 February. More information is available on the race
website at
www.drak.co.za
Stott’s record in his nine Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge marathons:
2005 – 1st
2003 - 1st
2002 - 1st – K2 with Deon Bruss
2001 – 1st
1999 – 1st
1998 – 4th
1997 – 2nd
1996 – 10th
1995 – 18th
ENDS
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