McDougall takes inaugural SA Schools Surfski Champs
title
Durban – A stella evening of paddling ended on a high with Matt Bouman and
Michelle Eder taking home the overall Varsity College Marine Surfski Series
title, whilst youngster Terry McDougall walking away with the inaugural
Varsity College SA Schools Surfski Championship.
On Friday evening paddlers
flooded the shoreline of Ushaka Beach eager to make their mark on the final
race of the series and with mildly choppy conditions the race was left wide
open.
Bouman powered to the
finish to win his ninth race of ten starts in the current series, whist
having to make the best of the dark conditions. "As Durban gets closer to
Winter it gets darker a lot quicker and we're still out there racing which
makes is quite tricky," said Bouman.
The ace paddler will
continue training through the Winter series and aims to peak at the Dunlop
Surf Ski World Cup in May. "I've enjoyed this current series as the
competition is always tough in Durban, which is good as it pushes me!" he
added.
Michelle Eder of Amanzimtoti had a clean race and claimed her sixth series
win ranking her as the overall ladies series winner. "It was a great race, a
little hard to see out there when it got darker, but I got onto a doubles
line and went deep and managed to grab some fantastic lines on the way back
in," said Eder.
A field of 35 strong school
kids signed up to compete in the SA Schools, including participants having
travelled up from Port Elizabeth, Mossel Bay, Richards Bay and Cape Town.
"It's unbelievable to see 35 school kids doing surf ski racing," said
organiser Barry Lewin. "I have to say a big thanks to Canoeing South Africa
for such an innovative programme, which will certainly bid surf ski paddling
great things in the future!"
McDougall of Durban Boys
High School has ranked high amongst the juniors in the current series, yet
having a strong field of competing school boys forced McDougall to power on
to stay on top. "The runs were a little harder to catch and there was far
more competition in the water than I'm used to," said McDougall.
He managed to hold onto his
position claiming the title, whilst being chased by Jason Aubin and Luke
McNish both of Port Elizabeth who came in second and third consecutively.
Along with the title McDougall won himself a cash consideration as well as a
R30 000 bursary to be a part of the Varsity College Sport 'n Life Programme.
His focus is now set on
training ahead of the Discovery Sunglasses Hut Surf Ski Series as well as
competing in the Dunlop Surf Ski World Cup set for May 16.
Toti starlet Kerry Segal of
Kingsway High School took home the title in the ladies SA Schools race was
listed as the dark horse in the line up after having raced the majority of
the series in a mixed double. "I recall witnessing Kerry (Segal) take an
unbelievable time in a recent 500m K1 time trial, which is fantastic for her
U16 age group," said Lewin.
Segal enjoyed having the extra pressure of having various other female
competitors coming up from other regions. "It was a hard race, but it was
great participating in the first ever SA Schools Champs and Varsity College's
involvement has really done wonders for the surf ski paddling," said Segal.
ENDS
SUMMARY OF RESULTS - SURF SKI CHALLENGE
FINAL LEG OF THE VARSITY COLLEGE MARINE SURF SKI SERIES
Long Course Singles - Men
1.Matt Bouman 31:05
2.Grant van der Walt 33:13
3.Daryl Bartho 33:31
4.Marc Holzhausen 33:49
5.Oliver Burn 34:01
6.Brandon van der Walt 34:30
7.Matthew Collins 34:49
8.Jeffrey Smith 35:29
9.Matt Carlisle 36:02
10.David Lindeque 36:17
Long
course Singles - Women
1.Michelle Eder 37:25
2.Donna Winter 39:00
3.Danica Vorster 39:22
Long
course Doubles
1.Mark Lewin / Lynton Hope 32:57
2.Dwayne Powell / Steve Atkinson 33:12
3.Sean Wisedale / Trevor Vernes 34:15
Short
course Doubles
1.Wayne Symington / Elijah Symington 21:42
2.Simon Bundy / Andrew Blackmore 22:37
3.Waldo Bekker / B Mann 24:50
SUMMARY
OF RESULTS -
VARSITY COLLEGE SA SCHOOLS SURF SKI CHAMPS
Long course singles - boys
1.Terry McDougall 36:54 (U18)
2.Jason Aubin 37:06 (U18)
3.Luke McNish 37:35 (U18)
4.Desmond Peel 38:57 (U18)
5.Lorens Zeelie 39:16 (U18)
Long
course singles - girls
1.Kerry Segal 42:06 (U16)
2.Jenna Ward 42:15 (U18)
3.Kylie Winterburn 44:39 (U18)
