Hansa Powerade Drak Challenge Media Release

 No: drak0811

24 Feb 2008

Len Jenkin's solo charge wins Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge

Underberg – Len Jenkins won his third Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge Canoe Marathon title on Sunday in a thrilling finale to the two day race on the Umzimkulu river.

Jenkins started the 38km final stage to Hopewell farm with a one minute twenty lead over Ant Stott and Grant van der Walt racing on a technically demanding medium level river. However, by halfway through the final leg Stott and van der Walt managed to get within sight of Jenkins after working together through the Underberg Gorge to erase his lead.

This provided the perfect motivation for Jenkins who responded with a breathtaking charge that saw him finish with a lead of two minutes. "I'm thrilled with my form, because I haven't been training that much, " said Jenkins. "At one stage there must have been about a minute behind me and then they got a bit excited so I started to put the hammer down and drop them," added Jenkins.

Johannesburg school boy Grant van der Walt who is the current World Junior Marathon Champion rewrote the record books with the highest ever placing by a junior paddler when he pulled away from Ant Stott to claim second place overall.

Ant Stott's third place marks a welcome return to the Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge for the five times champion. He was quick to heap prays on Jenkins for his solo effort. "I don't know how Len did it, he must be in really good form," said Stott. "He saw us and then must have thought there’s no ways I’m going to let theses guys catch me and just doubled his pace," added Stott.

Defending champion Abbey Miedema retained her title in a clinically executed gameplan that saw her finish with a five minute victory margin over Toti under twenty one star Tiffany Kruger despite a scare in the closing stages of the race. "I made one mistake in a rapid. I got my paddle stuck quite near the end." said Miedema. " I was also very tired due to how long the race was and the amount of flat water we had to get through."

Michelle Eder took her chances on the final stages well to snatch third place from Hillary Pitchford, and at one stage had raced into second before capsizing in the lower gorge. The Wykham Collegaite School girl Lindsey Davis produced another upset result as the under sixteen athlete won the junior girls title overall from established under eighteen Epworth star Vicky Chiazzari.

Grant van der Walt's younger brother Brandon also excelled in the tricky river conditions winning the under sixteen title with an impressive thirteenth place overall.

The testing river conditions took its toll on the big field. Fifty-three kayaks were broken in the infamous Valley of a Thousand Rapids that spans the first 10 kilometres of the first stage. While the attrition rate was lower on the flatter second stage there were plenty of casualties at the big rapids, like Glenhaven rapid in the Underberg Gorge.

More information is available on the race website at www.drak.co.za

SUMMARY OF RESULTS.
HANSA POWERADE DRAKENSBERG CHALLENGE

  1. Len Jenkins 03:57:47
  2. Grant van der Walt U(18) 03:59:39
  3. Ant Stott 03:59:50
  4. Michael Arthur 04:09:23
  5. Sven Bruss 04:09:37
  6. Graham Bird    04:13:15
  7. Jason Graham 04:13
  8. Shaun Griffin  04:13:50
  9. Mike Harris 04:15:02
  10. Stuart Waterworth U(18) 04:15:29
  11. Alex Roberts 04:15:52
  12. Ben Biggs U(18) 04:17:26
  13. Brandon van der Walt U(16) 04:17:27
  14. Wayne Wilson 04:18:39
  15. Steve Woods 04:22:06
  16. Marco Magrit Chni 04:22:22
  17. Andrew Birkett U(18) 04:22:42
  18. Gavin Tarr 04:23:13
  19. Trenton Lamble 04:23:47
  20. Robert Crichton 04:24:25

Ladies:

  1. Abbey Miedema 04:45:44
  2. Tiffany Kruger U(21) 04:50:29
  3. Michelle Eder 04:50:54
  4. Hillary Pitchford 04:52:52
  5. Abie Adie U (21) 04:52:53


ENDS
Photo Caption Photographer Click to download the hi-res pic
Hansa Powerade Drak Challenge 2008 Logo

 

Len Jenkins masters the water in Glenhaven rapid en route to his third victory at the Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge Canoe Marathon.

Jon Vellacott/
Actionography

Defending champion Abbey Miedema drops down Scotstons Weir in Underberg on the second leg of the Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Canoe Marathon. Miedema retained her title with an emphatic victory over Tiffany Kruger.

Jon Vellacott/
Actionography

Len Jenkins approaches Scotston's Weir during his third victory in the Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge Canoe Marathon. Jenkins took the lead at the start and raced alone throughout the two day event to claim the title for a third time.

Jon Vellacott/
Actionography

Abbey Miedema approaches Scotston's Weir on day two of the Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Canoe Marathon. Miedema completed a flawless race to claim back-to-back titles in the womens division.

Jon Vellacott/
Actionography

Len Jenkins emerges from the wild water of Glenhaven rapid on the Umzimkulu river en route to winning the Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Canoe Marathon for a third time.

Jon Vellacott/
Actionography

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