Bouman beats off blue bottles
Durban - Ace paddler Matt Bouman fought off an infestation of blue bottles to
win the forth leg of the Varsity College Marine Surf Ski Series whilst
maintaining his position as series leader.
Overcast and
windy conditions at the race start on uShaka Beach looked ominous with the
shoreline bursting with blue bottles common in hot Summer conditions. Many
paddlers elected to pull out of the race to watch from the shoreline as
select paddlers took their chance in the waters.
Race organiser Barry Lewin picked
an excellent course which had paddlers going into the Easterly wind towards
North beach and coming back downwind forming exciting lines to the finish at
uShaka Beach.
Bouman and Grant van der Walt set off together through the tricky shorebreak
on uShaka beach and followed by Bouman taking a two boat lead early on.
Bouman continued to extend his lead throughout the race finishing a full two
minutes ahead of Van der Walt who claimed second position.
The influx of
blue bottles made for a race spectacle adding other elements to the regular
series race. "It was quite distracting having to continue to stop and pull
the blue bottles off to save yourself from the stings," said van der Walt. "I
was stung on my arm, face, legs and ears."
Visiting paddling star Michélle
Eray made a guest appearance taking a
break from her position assisting the Eastern Cape Canoe Union as their elite
sprint squad coach, managed
to claim the title from series leader Michelle Eder. Eray had a bad start,
but managed to get ahead of Eder mid-way through the first lap.
"It was a fantastic
race with great choice of course," said Eray. "The blue bottles caused quite
a stir, but I was lucky enough to get away with out being stung."
In the doubles race
Adam and Luke Nisbet
came in on top, with
Brain Taylor and Grant
Woolaston coming in
second place mere seconds behind. Stuart Carter took home the title for the
short singles course, followed by Andrew Atkinson in second place.
The fifth race of the Varsity College Marine Surf Ski Series takes place
next Friday evening 19 February at 5:30 from Ushaka Beach.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
SURFSKI CHALLENGE
LEG
4 OF THE VARSITY COLLEGE MARINE SURF SKI SERIES
Long Course Singles - Men
1. Matt Bouman 00:35:32
2. Gant van der Walt 00:37:40
3. Oliver Burn 00:38:20
4. Oscar Chalupsky 00:38:52
5. Gavin Searle 00:38:59
6. Mark Lewin 00:39:35
7. Brandon van der Walt 00:39:51 (Jnr)
8. Matt Carlisle 00:39:55
9. Paddy Strickland 00:41:23
10. Dean Petit 00:41:35
Long Course
Singles - Women
1. Michélle
Eray 00:41:07
2. Michelle Eder 00:41:38
3. Donna Winter 00:44:10
Long Course Doubles - Men
1. Adam Nisbet / Luke Nisbet 00:35:03
2. Brain Taylor / Grant Woolaston 00:35:06
3. Andre Pohl / Andre Botha 00:36:16
Short Course Singles
1. Stuart Carter
00:26:17
2. Andrew Atkinson 00:26:33
3. Jade Wilson 00:27:33
ENDS
