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Day One Report and
photos from Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge.
Underberg
–
Len Jenkins produced a
heroic solo charge to earn a handsome lead after the first stage of the
Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge, despite capsizing in the infamous
Valley of a Thousand Rapids.
Jenkins had powered into the lead by a minute and a half over Ant Stott and
teenager Grant van der Walt. Just above Black Murray rapid, roughly ten
kilometres into the 26km first leg, he turned around to see where the
chasers were, and fell out of his canoe.
“The boat was full of water, but when I saw that Ant Stott closing in on me
I realised that I couldn’t stop to empty it, and I carried on and pumped
like crazy to try and get the water out of the boat.
His perseverance paid off, as he was able to gradually pull away and safely
mastered the rapids and the final hour flat water to the finish. He surged
away to reach the finish at Swartberg Road bridge with a minute and a half
lead, with Stott and world junior marathon champion van der Walt finishing
together.
“I am genuinely surprised at my lead,” said Jenkins. Even though I regard
myself as a recreational paddler nowadays, obviously I haven’t lost too much
speed.”
“Len was phenomenal today,” said Stott. “He was so strong. He just kept
pulling away. It is going to a tough ask to reel him in on the final stage,
because he is going really well.”
Abbey Miedema had a flawless day, trading places with wild water expert
Hillary Pitchford through the testing rapids of the first hour, before she
made a crucial break. “We took different channels, and I managed to come out
with a small lead,” said Miedema. “I seized that chance to grind out a
lead.”
Pitchford worked together with Toti star Tiffany Kruger over the final hour.
The duo will start the 38km final stage just over two minutes behind
Miedema, who is the defending womens champion.
Kruger had an eventful day on the demanding medium level river. “I was spun
out in a rapid early on, but managed to get back into the race. Then when I
had caught Hillary (Pitchford), we bumped into each other and I fell out. It
was the first time that I have paddled the top section, which is very
interesting!”
Grant van der Walt’s younger brother Brandon also excelled on the tough
river, finishing in the top twenty, and the first Under 16 paddler by more
than five minutes.
The big field was tested by the Umzimkulu river, which had dropped from the
flood level on Wednesday to a technically demanding medium/low level for the
start.
The 38km final stage starts at the Swartberg bridge overnight stop, and
passes through two testing gorges en route to the finish at Hopewell farm
close to Coleford.
“Tomorrow will be interesting,” said Jenkins. “It is much longer, with two
gorges that have plenty of big obstacles, as well as a long section of
flatwater in between that will be all about endurance more than speed.”
Stott and van der Walt have made it clear that they plan to work together to
try and catch Jenkins on the flat water section. That would set up a mouth
watering finale to was has been a riveting race.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS.
HANSA POWERADE DRAKENSBERG CHALLENGE
1.Len Jenkins 1:32.22
2.Ant Stott 1:33.45
3.Grant van der Walt (U18) 1:33.46
4.Sven Bruss 1:35.42
5.Michael Arthur 1:35.48
6.Mike Harris 1:38.09
7.Shaun Griffin 1:39.36
8.Graham Bird 1:39.37
9.Jason Graham 1:39.38
10.Stu Waterworth (U18) 1:40.14
11.Andrew Birkett (U18) 1:40.15
12.Alex Roberts 1:40.16
13.Marc Mulder 1:41.53
14.Wayne Wilson 1:41.54
15.Ben Biggs (U18) 1:41.55
16.Brandon van der Walt (U16) 1:41.57
17.Marco Magni 1:41.58
18.Gavin Tarr 1:41.58
19.Steve Woods 1:43.02
20.Wayne Thompson 1:43.32
women
1.Abbey Miedema 1:51.00
2.Hillary Pitchford 1:53.10
3.Tiffany Kruger 1:53.11
4.Michelle Eder 1:55.08
5.Abey Adie 1:55.51
More
information is available on the race website at
www.drak.co.za
ENDS |
