Sarah Malherbe will captain New Balance’s 7-member women’s team on Saturday, 14 January 2012 when they take on the much loved Totalsports Challenge presented by New Balance and REHIDRAT® SPORT (starting in Gordon’s Bay and finishing in Kleinmond).  Malherbe will take on the 1.5km ocean swim discipline.

Claire Horner will captain My Training Day/JAG’s 7-member women’s team on Saturday, 14 January 2012 when they take on the much loved Totalsports Challenge presented by New Balance and REHIDRAT® SPORT (starting in Gordon’s Bay and finishing in Kleinmond).  Horner will take on the 50km road bike discipline from Gordon’s Bay to Kleinmond.

The Totalsports Challenge presented by New Balance and REHIDRAT® SPORT returns to Kleinmond on Saturday, 14 January 2012.  Attracting the largest gathering of professional athletes across the field, top 7-Member Women’s Teams to look out for on the day will include Team New Balance, Team My Training Day/JAG and Team Totalsports.

According to New Balance Team Captain, Sarah Malherbe, being part of a team adds a dimension of camaraderie and spirit to the race.  “The Totalsports Challenge is a fantastic event.  It is such a great way to mix disciplines, be pushed out of your comfort zone, find new inspiration and meet new people from other sporting communities.  The paddlers are a big draw card,” laughs Malherbe.  “I just love the mad chaos of dashing between transitions, the exquisite scenery, the awesome vibe and the beach run.  We’ll definitely go into the event with the aim of winning.  One must always set high goals”.

Athletes forming part of the New Balance 7-Member Women’s team will include:
·           Angie Austin ~ 12km Surf Ski
·           Sarah Malherbe (Team Captain) ~ 1.5km Swim
·           Martha Koekemoer ~ 50km Road Bike (Gordon’s Bay to Kleinmond)
·           Alae Brand ~ 13km Road Run
·           Roben Henderson ~ 13km K1 Canoe
·           Marleen Lourens ~ 25km Mountain Bike
·           Theresa Fourie ~ 9km Beach Run

For Claire Horner, Captain of My Training Day/JAG 7-Member Women’s Team, the best part about the Totalsports Challenge is that it attracts top athletes from all sporting disciplines.  “We get to watch other athletes in their different disciplines as opposed to just being at one race where everyone is doing the same thing.  Competing as part of a team forces you to race harder as you don’t just have yourself to let down, you have six other members in the team.  We’ll definitely be going for a win.  We have a strong women’s team.  Jodie Swallow, a long distance triathlon World Champion, will give us a good lead in the road run discipline.  We also have Robyn Woodward who has recently returned from Kona, so her running is in top form at the moment for the beach run.  Sam Sanders has just recently qualified for the Olympic cross country mountain bike team, she’ll be extremely competitive on the day,” says Horner.  Team My Training Day/JAG will be racing to raise money for the JAG Foundation.

Athletes competing as part of My Training Day/JAG 7-Member Women’s team will include:
·           Donia Kamstra ~ 12km Surf Ski
·           Marie Rabie ~ 1.5km Swim
·           Claire Horner (Team Captain)  ~ 50km Road Bike (Gordon’s Bay to Kleinmond)
·           Jodie Swallow ~ 13km Road Run
·            Amy Hare ~ 13km K1 Canoe
·            Sam Sanders ~ 25km Mountain Bike
·            Robyn Woodward ~ 9km Beach Run

EVENT INFORMATION:
DATE               : Saturday, 14 January 2012
VENUE            : Start – Gordon’s Bay (Beach Front)
End – Kleinmond (Beach Front)
START             : 06h00 – Totalsports Challenge
07h45 – Totalsports Terra Firma Challenge
DISTANCES   : Totalsports Challenge  – 12km surfski, 1.5km swim, 50km road bike (from
Gordon’s Bay to Kleinmond), 13km road run, 13km K1 canoe, 25km mountain bike and finally a 9km beach run
Totalsports Terra Firma Challenge – 50km road bike (from Gordon’s Bay to Kleinmond), 13km road run, 25km mountain bike and 9km beach run.
FORMAT        : Totalsports Challenge  – compete individually or in teams of two, three or seven (male, female or mixed)
Totalsports Terra Firma Challenge – compete individually or in teams of two or four (male, female or mixed).

WHAT’S UP FOR GRABS AT EACH EVENT ~ awesome lucky draw prizes compliments of Totalsports and New Balance.

The Totalsports Challenge presented by New Balance and REHIDRAT® SPORT will celebrate its 10th anniversary on the day.

For further information or to enter online visit www.totalsports.co.za or contact Top Events on (021) 511 – 7130.

If you only do 1 event a year…. this is it! The 2011 CompliMed Gateway Gauntlet presented by THULE is back on Saturday the 22^nd of October 2011. This amazing Running or Mountain biking event will not only blow your socks off… but it will be the only MTB event and Running event in AFRICA that starts and finishes inside a shopping centre. Ride where you can never ride again!! The unique race routes are specially opened up for this race, giving competitors access to ride through and over areas that would usually send security running!

There are 3 main events, catering for all levels of riders. This first race of the day will be the Urban Assault Running event. Runners will be exposed to different running surfaces, Tar, cobbles, Gravel, Dirt, Single Track, and blow up obstacles. This event is not very technical and will be an awesome event to compete in. The Second event will be the “Mall Crawlers” MTB event. This event is a 2 lap MTB race of 14km in total. Once Competitors have completed their first lap, they will ride over the 4×4 course, through Expo Xplore and back onto the route to do their second. The 3^rd and Final “Main” event will be “The Gauntlet” This event consists of 4 laps, totaling 28km. This event requires some stamina and competitors will get to know the course well, opting for different lines each lap. The routes will consist of flat out tar sprints, coupled with grinding and sharp dirt track turns, sprinkled every now and again with some short technical sections. Natural obstacles will be used to give the runners or riders an intense adventure with a somewhat technical accomplishment. However don’t despair, chicken runs will always be available for the faint hearted.

CompliMed Director Brett Daniel, said ”We are extremely excited about the prospects of being associated with the CompliMed Gateway Gauntlet event,  for one, this event will be our very first marketing and branding campaign of this magnitude and secondly, CompliMed has been given the opportunity to host an incredibly unique MTB and trail running event, that starts and finishes inside the Gateway shopping complex! Although CompliMed Gap cover is well known by those who work in the healthcare industry, we as CompliMed believe that the time is now right for us expand our brand into the marketplace further. CompliMed Gap cover products compliment our client’s healthcare cover, which has benefits for the whole family. Therefore, being involved in an ‘outdoor’ family event is exactly where we want to be right now!

“We are thrilled to have CompliMed onboard with this exciting event. The commitment from CompliMed has given the event the boost it’s needed to reach its full potential. The 2011 route and course layout is going to be amazing and the new Urban Trail Running event, is going to be fantastic for any type of runner” said Event director Damian Bradley from B-Active Sports.

ROAD CLOSURES: There will be two road closures in place from 6am until 12:30pm. Gateway Boulevard and Centenary Boulevard will be closed for the athle4tes safety. Gateway will be fully accessible through alternative routes.

The first 200 entries get a free race t-shirt and if you are in the first 100 entries, you could win a THULE back pack worth R1600.00. For race information, course difficulty ratings , accommodation & to enter go to www.thegauntlet.co.za

Andrea Hewitt soared to her second consecutive victory in the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series today in Yokohama.  After a virtuoso performance at last weekend’s Grand Final in Beijing, Hewitt followed that up with another stunning display for her third career WCS win and second in as many weeks.

“To back up Beijing here in Japan is really cool,” said Hewitt. “Each lap got hotter and hotter and harder and harder and I probably slowed down as well, but I managed to hold on so I’m so happy.”

Emma Moffatt came across for silver while Hewitt’s teammate Kate McIlroy made it two on the podium for New Zealand after breaking through for her first podium finish at the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series.

A hot, humid day welcomed the women for the start of the race.  With air temperature officially at 28 degrees and rising, it was a real fight from the start.

Out of the 1.5km swim, British junior Lucy Hall led the women out of Yokohama Bay with World Champion Helen Jenkins just behind her, reminiscent of Lausanne last month.  The pair headed out on the 8-lap bike course together, only to see their lead dwindle as the chase group pulled even by the third lap.  The new lead pack of 25 women included most of the big pre-race contenders including Hewitt, Moffatt, Lisa Norden, and Emma Jackson.

The chase group of about 22 women included Nicola Spirig, Vanessa Fernandes, Kate Roberts, Under23 World Champion Agnieszka Jerzyk and Ai Ueda, Japan’s top hope and one of the best runners on the circuit.  Slowly but surely, this group chipped away at the one-minute lead.  By the seventh of eight laps, the chase pack joined the leaders, resulting in a big group of 48 women heading into T2 together.

First into transition and onto the run course was Spirig, followed closely by McIlroy.  But it didn’t take long for Hewitt to power to the front.  As the temperatures soared above 30, the humidity played a bigger role in the race.  Early in the first of four laps, Hewitt and Moffatt pushed to the front while Spirig quickly dropped off and Jenkins surged to third place.

Setting a torrid pace, Hewitt soon dropped Moffatt and emerged as the woman to beat in this race, while a battle ensued for silver and bronze.  At one point, Jenkins had pulled ahead of Moffatt, but it was short-lived, as World Champion Jenkins couldn’t keep up.

Clutching a comfortable lead, Hewitt had enough time to high-five the Japanese fans as she approached the finish line, stopping the clock at 1 hour, 59 minutes and 17 seconds.

“Today was about a run race,” said Hewitt, who blazed to the day’s fastest split of 34:30. “A big group came off the bike together, so I went out as hard as I could on the run and ran the first part with Emma Moffatt.  After that, when I was alone, I was just looking forward.  I didn’t want to look back; I was just going for the finish line and going as hard as I could.”

Moffatt finished up 13 seconds back of Hewitt to secure silver.  McIlroy won the battle for bronze over Ireland’s Aileen Morrison, Jackson and Jenkins, who faded to sixth place.

“I wanted to go out solid without making myself pass out for the last couple of laps. I just tried to keep that control for the first few laps and use whatever I had left for the last two. I kept telling myself “only two more laps to go in the season and I’m done”, and it seemed to work. Andrea obviously had a bit more in the tank and had a really good race,” said Moffatt.

“It’s a really awesome way to end the season. I’ve had a really up and down season with injury. I got outsprinted last weekend in Beijing, when I was running in third for most of the race, and I was determined not to let it happen here, so I went with 300 or 400 metres to go and managed to hold them all off. I’m really happy and it’s amazing to have a New Zealand one, three,” said McIlroy.

Fernandes finished up in 26th place in the first major race of her comeback.

OMO the well known and much loved South African brand has partnered up with one of SA’s most exciting family outdoor adventure series’ “The Muddy Buddy Series”. Omo joins TIB Insurance to present the family orientated Muddy Buddy Series, which is taking place near you.

“The Muddy Buddy series is a great event that shares the same theory -  encouraging families and teams to come together, be active, have fun and get dirty together, so it was without hesitation that we chose to get involved” Says assistant Brand Manager Nazia Essack from Unilever.

“The much anticipated TIB OMO Muddy Buddy family orientated adventure Series kicks off on the 25th of September at Kearsney College with the second event taking place on the 9th of October at Umhlanga College. The different venues will give athletes exciting and different routes for each event and some exciting changes and surprises are in store for competitors.

For the new comers to the series, the Muddy Buddy concept brings together the novel idea of an African adventure mountain bike race and a unique trail run combined into one formidable yet rewarding event with a twist. The unique concept of the event is that all the disciplines must be completed while in 2 person teams. This encourages team work, team building and sharing of great South African memories! Now remember that twist……. well let’s not forget there is a formidable obstacle course and the MONSTER mud pit which your team will have to navigate before the elusive finish line. Competitors are encouraged to dress up in fancy costumes and outfits, as there will be judges looking for the best dressed Teams and the best Team names!

The main component of each event is not only to produce winners, but for the teams to have as much fun as possible. There will not only be prizes for the 1st placed Teams in each race, but there will be loads of prizes for the best dressed teams, best team names and the muddiest teams on the course!” Showers will be available… and we hope to see you there!

Each team of 2 will start with an off-road trail run, once they have both finished the trail run they both head off to do the exciting MTB course. Once the MTB is complete the teams then heads back
into the transition area and steadies themselves for the last phase of the adventure… the mud pit and the obstacle course…. remember, the team mates have to stay within 10m of each other
throughout the entire event.

It is here at the muddy pit and the obstacle course that team’s strengths, wits and intelligence come into play!  Only 100m from the finish the teams will need to conquer a formidable obstacle
course, once completed, they only have the famed Monster Mud Pit tackle. Each team needs to overcome these challenges and make their way to the finish line in order to qualify for a
coveted Muddy Buddy Medal!

Each finisher will receive a unique “Wilbur the Warthog” medal once they cross the finish line, as well as ice cold refreshment. If you haven’t done a Muddy Buddy event yet, go to our Facebook page and have a look at the pictures and get yourself entered. You definitely won’t be disappointed!! Remember all pre entries will receive an exciting goodie bag, so enter soon.

Adventurers Riaan Manser and Dan Skinstad spent five months and eight days in Iceland where they travelled 1,729km to become the first Africans to circumnavigate the island in a kayak.

Manser says the journey took much longer than anticipated and actual time spent in the water amounted to 147 days. “The unpredictability of the weather in Iceland took us completely by surprise,” he says.

Manser, who was named Adventurer of the Year in 2006 for being the first person to cycle around the perimeter of Africa and in 2009 for circumnavigating Madagascar in a kayak, and Skinstad, who suffers from mild cerebral palsy, took on the Iceland challenge for different reasons.

“I was keen for an adventure that involved a cold place (after my Africa and Madagascar experiences), as well as an adventure that involved a partner – I knew getting to grips with sharing the kayak with Dan every metre of the way and learning to work as a team would be a challenge for me,” he says.

At a crossroads in his life, Skinstad chose to join Manser on the journey in an attempt to harness his inner strength and face his physical and mental challenges head-on.

The two men set out on their journey from the town of Húsavik in June on the north east coast of the island. Their clockwise journey took them down the east coast of Iceland, along the rough and windswept south coast of the island, up the West Fjörd region and back to Húsavik.

In addition to coping with the cold and the numerous mental and physical challenges, the adventurers experienced many hair-raising events along the way – like the time they capsized in Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon or had to avoid gigantic and highly aggressive skua birds at Ingólfshöfði.

Other experiences were pure inspiration – such as paddling alongside whales or the time Manser climbed to the top of the highest peak in Iceland, HvannadalsNvukur, to get a bird’s eye view of the island.

On crossing the finish line on 3 September, Manser experienced a bout of “coming home nerves” – a knot in his stomach made up of the thrill of completing yet another arduous challenge and the excitement of seeing his and Skinstad’s supporters back in South Africa.

“I have to say I am enormously proud of how well Dan has done. I never gave him special treatment and accepted him as an equal – in all the physical aspects. In addition, I am enormously grateful to our fans, who appreciate the effort this journey has taken, and to Lucozade and our other sponsors, whose support took the journey to a new level and ensured we could tell our story locally and internationally,” says Manser.

Schloms and King snatch dramatic Hansa Breede title

Swellendam – Lance King and Heinrich Schloms snatched victory in the Hansa Breede marathon with an controversial tactical move just a few hundred metres from the finish using a sneak channel they had discovered the day before to outsmart the other three crews in the tussle for the crown.

Ant Stott and Graham Solomon and the duo of Pierre-Andre Rabie and Andy Birkett had been the dominant forces in the four-boat vanguard that hurtled down the Breede swollen by the arrival of the water that had teased the bear record field with its late arrival.

As the lead headed into the final turn to the finish at the Kambati resort, King and Schloms swung into the small channel that spirited them into the lead and allowed them to pin back their ears and claim the title from Edgar Boehm and Ali Glass who had seen King and Schloms veer into the channel and followed.

Pre-race favourites Stott and Solomon had to reluctantly settle for the minor placings after being outsmarted by the homework King and Schloms had done after they had completed the first stage.

“It was a real hassle but we came down to the finish after we had done day one and checked out all the channels really carefully, because so often the title is decided in the channels right at the finish,” said King. “Turns out it was well worth the hassle!” he added.

The win is a significant one for both paddlers. It is a first major title for Schloms, who for eight years has been the bridesmaid of the Breede with a string of second placings. “At last! A big one to my name,” he said at the finish.

For King, who has won this title once before, the victory was particularly sweet as it ends his Cape winter season on a high after his challenge in the four-day Berg was fraught with disasters. “Looks like I have managed to get rid of my bad mojo,” he said.

For Stott and Solomon, who were using the outing as a hard training session for the world marathon championships in Singapore in October the final result was a bittersweet one.

“What happened out there was totally unsportsmanlike and no way to win a race,” said Solomon, who explained that King had yelled at the bunch to take the left channel with such urgency that the front two had followed his directions, before King peeled off into the right hand channel that ultimately set up their victory.

Fish Hoek junior lifesavers Craig Flanagan and Dom Notten excelled to tale the junior title with a solid top ten showing overall, while the fascinating mixed doubles race also fell to members from the same club better known for their surfski and lifesaving abilities.

International surfski Tom Schilperoort and young Samantha Murray spent the entire 73km, two-day race locked in a ferocious tussle with Simon van Gysen and Amy Hare. They were locked together as they took the final turn into the finish setting the stage for a thrilling dice to the line which Schilperoort and Murray took by 10cm.

“The racing was unbelievable,” said Schilperoort. “It was Samantha (Murray)’s first major river race and her first Breede. She paddled incredibly,” said Schilperoort of his Fish Hoek clubmate.

Louw van Riet and Kirsten Penderis took the final place on the mixed doubles podium after overtaking Chris de Waal and Lisa Scott on the final stage.

The women’s title fell to the KZN sisters Abby and Alex Adie, who started the day with a five minute penalty for setting of on the first stage in A batch instead of the seeded women’s B batch. On the second stage the siblings stretched their lead over the storming under 16 schoolgirls Kirsten Flanagan and Jodi Cleworth.

The first female crew across the line was Alexa Cole and Jackie Barnes in an excellent 17th overall. They had elected to forego their rights in the women’s race but insisting on being seeded in the men’s

More information and results are available at www.breedemarathon.org
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
STAGE TWO HANSA BREEDE RIVER CANOE MARATHON
1.Lance King/Heinrich Schloms 4:11.15
2.Alasdair Glass/Edgar Boehm 4:11.16
3.Ant Stott/Graeme Solomon 4:11.35
4.Pierre-Andre Rabie/Andy Birkett 4:11.37
5.Steve Farrell/Nick Burden 4:23.21
6.Stu McLaren/Lance Kime 4:23.23
7.Trentle Lamble/Andrew Birkett 4:27.21
8.Diaan du Toit/Hennie du Plooy 4:33.04
9.Scott Johnson/Stuart Laing 4:33.30
10.Tom Schilperoort/Samantha Murray 4:33.31 (1st MD)

WOMEN
1.Abby Adie/Alex Adie 4:50.07
2.Kirsten Flanagan/Jodi Cleworth 4:52.19
3.Kim Burgman/Angie Gafney
4.Robyn Henderson/Jean Wilson
5.Kerry Louw/Kirsten Wessels

MIXED DOUBLES
1.Tom Schilperoort/Samantha Murray 4:33.31
2.Simon van Gysen/Amy Hare 4:33.31
3.Ian Trautmann/Natascha Bracale 4:44.23
4.Chris de Waal/Lisa Scott 4:45.28
5.Louw van Riet/Kirsten Penderis 4:53.37

JUNIORS
1.Craig Flanagan/Dominic Notten 2:27.21
2.Luke Stowman/Divino Pietersen 2:33.20
3.Michael Farringer/Daniel Louis Buys U16 2:35.08
4.Kenny Rice/Nicholas Notten U16 2:36.34
5.Danie Botes/Michael Pretorius 2:40.21

OVER 2 000 riders will be taking to the hills between Pietermaritzburg and Durban on the weekend of September 17 and 18 for what has become one of the country’s favourite mountain bike races.

When the Sunday Tribune Jeep Hill 2 Hill was launched in 2006 the aim was to give riders a target of a big race and the 100km race from Hilton to Hillcrest has certainly achieved that.

“We launched the Sunday Tribune Jeep Hill 2 Hill as a tough race which riders would have to think about before entering,” said a race spokesman this week. “We were all passionate mountain bikers, but aside from the likes of the big stage races with high entry fees, there was not many other races in KZN which provided a Comrades- or Dusi-type challenge – something more than just another weekend race.

“That is what we wanted for Hill 2 Hill. It had to be tough, but manageable. Then there were very few races of more than 50 or 60km and it was our aim to make this an event which people would set as a goal for their mountain biking year.”
On September 18 this will be the sixth Hill 2 Hill and the event certainly has found its niche in the MTB calendar.
The list of riders who have challenged themselves at the event reads like the who’s who of SA MTB with three-time winner Burry Stander, Kevin Evans, defending champion Max Knox, David George, 2009 winner Brandon Stewart among the Elite riders who have raced over the hills of KZN.

But the event is not about the winners. They may get the publicity, TV time and media attention, but it is the riders who take 10 hours and overcome cramp and fatigue that make up the ethos of the race. It is the riders who average around 10 kilometres every hour and who literally leave blood, sweat and tears out on the course who are the real heroes of the event.

No other one day event in the province attracts as many riders to a single race and while the likes of Eston and Karkloof have as many entrants, the bulk of the field there opt for the easier, family-orientated rides. The Hill to Hill is unique in that the 100km race has always been “sold out” before the shorter and easier 40km race.

There are still a handful of places available for the 100km event, with more spots open for the shorter 40km race from Cato Ridge to Hillcrest. Registration takes place on Saturday September 17 an there will also be a 20km fun ride on the Saturday which will enable rider of the long race to turn over their legs the day before the big race with their family members so everybody can be part of the Hill 2 Hill action.

This year for the first time at Hill 2 Hill, Saturday’s registration is also a chance for riders to check out their basic health. Pharos Medical Plan “nurses station” at registration will allow riders to get there glucose, blood pressure and cholestrol checked for free.

For more information go to www.hill2hill.co.za, and entries are taken at www.roag.co.za.

Hank McGregor continued his incredible run of form in the paddling world as he comfortably claimed the top step of the podium in the senior men’s K1 race along with another national title at the SA flatwater marathon champs held at Shongweni dam on Saturday 13 August.

Against the exquisite backdrop of the Shongweni Msinsi reserve there was action aplenty on the water as the country’s leading K1 paddlers battled it out for the prestigious national titles and at the same time looked to catch the eye of national selectors ahead of the World champs in Singapore in October.

McGregor, contempt to sit at the back of the initial four man lead group, eased his way to a comfortable lead midway through the race and was so relaxed and in control of proceedings he even took the time to stop and have a drink on his final portage before heading to cross the finish line in first place ahead of Grant van der Walt.

“It was a really good day out for me today,” said McGregor. “Whilst it may not have been the toughest challenge it’s a national title nonetheless and so I’m really happy about that!”

“I was a little bit tired having just gotten back from Australia this week so I took my time to ease into things early on and then managed to finish nice and strong and get the win which is great.”

“Hopefully Grant and I can carry on with things tomorrow in the K2 and it would obviously be really nice if we could make it two from two this weekend but things should be a lot more competitive tomorrow,” he added.

Having started in the same batch as the senior men Brandon van der Walt showed just what kind of form and condition he is in as he managed to sit with the unstoppable McGregor for the majority of the race and hence crossed the line some three hundred metres ahead of Cam Schoeman.

“I’ve been putting in a lot of training here at Shongweni over the past eight weeks and that really paid off today. I’m really chuffed with the win and to have beaten my brother is especially satisfying!” beamed younger brother Brandon van der Walt.

“Things are going really well at the moment, even better than how I’d hoped they would, so hopefully I can just keep it going and continue my good form,” he added.

Michelle Eder and Alexa Cole battled it out for the senior ladies title with the pair alternating turns at the front before Eder’s slow last take out saw Cole really put the hammer down on the final portage and she opened up an unassailable lead. Jenna Starr claimed the U23 women’s title.

“I only decided to take part in the champs a couple of weeks ago so to have come here and won today is really great,” said Cole.

“Obviously it would been great to have had a bigger, stronger women’s field here today but quite a few of the other top ladies are overseas at the moment so there’s not much you can do about that, I just tried to focus on my own race out there,” she added.

Earlier in the day it was the turn of the juniors and after an early breakaway and then a solid performance throughout it was local paddler Donavan Wewege who made the national title his own ahead of Western Cape’s Dom Notten and Jordan Zeelie from Port Elizabeth.

“Previously I’ve been a slalom paddler but when I got back from worlds last year I decided to give this a go and so to have won today is really great,” said Wewege.

Having secured the SA Schools surfski title earlier in the year Amanzimtoti youngster Kerry Segal put in a superb performance in the closing stages of the junior girls race to edge out Emma Horner and claim her third national marathon title in as many years.

“Emma went the front early on and tool up the pull. When I tried to head to the front she pulled harder so I was then very happy to sit back and let her pull and I had a really good final take out and that’s when I decided to attack,” said a visibly satisfied Segal.

Sunday sees the turn of the K2s which promises to be even closer and more exciting. Racing gets underway from 08h00 at the Shongweni dam.

More info can be found at www.canoesa.org.za.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS
SA FLATWATER MARATHON CHAMPS

C1 RESULTS
SUB-MASTERS
1.Radoslaw Olszewski 1:45.48

K1 RESULTS
U8 BOYS
1.Jarryd Walker 33.31
2.Gower Shaw 36.24
3.Matthew Millward 36.35

U10 BOYS
1.Luc van der Westhuyzen 29.38
2.Warren Thiel 29.46
3.Ryan Davies 29.48

U10 GIRLS
1.Rebecca Meihuizen 30.02
2.Amy Pickett 32.14
3.Casey Robertson 34.03

U12 BOYS
1.James Horner 48.14
2.Peter Meihuizen 49.48
3.Andrew Shuter 49.55

U12 GIRLS
1.Justine Williams 51.11
2.Caroline van der Linde 53.57
3.Jermaine Goeieman 54.29

U14 BOYS
1.David Meihuizen 1:44.11
2.Bradley Ruiters 1:44.12
3.Siyanda Shange 1:44.15

U14 GIRLS
1.Bianca van Zyl 1:27.57
2.Jamie-Lee Robertson 1:30.48

U16 BOYS
1.Michael Farringer 1:50.05
2.Kenneth Rice 1:50.07
3.Dugan Afonso 1:51.10

U16 GIRLS
1.Kirsten Flanagan 1:38.30
2.Jordan Peek 1:44.55
3.Kerry Shuter 1:44.58

U18 BOYS
1.Donavan Wewege 1:46.11
2.Dominic Notten 1:46.35
3.Jordan Zeelie 1:46.36

U18 GIRLS
1.Kerry Segal 1:55.04
2.Emma Horner 1:55.14
3.Catherine Atkinson 2:01.38

U23 BOYS
1.Brandon van der Walt 2:01.58
2.Cam Schoeman 2:03.13
3.Thomas Ngidi 2:12.34

U23 GIRLS
1.Jenna Starr 2:12.55

SENIOR MEN
1.Hank McGregor 2:21.38
2.Grant van der Walt 2:22.22
3.Alex Roberts 2:34.29

SENIOR WOMEN
1.Alexa Lombard 2:17.59
2.Michelle Eder 2:18.58

SUB-VETERAN MEN
1.Dave Hamilton-Brown 1:44.23
2.Warren Valentine 1:44.24
3.Wayne Wilson 1.44:25

SUB-VETERAN WOMEN
1.Angela Scruby 1:44.56

VETERAN MEN
1.Ian Trautmann 1:48.04
2.Shane Millward 1:48.05
3.Wayne Volek 1:53.43

VETERAN WOMEN
1.Dayne Loots 1:42.55
2.Robyn Henderson 1:49.49

SUB-MASTER MEN
1.Eugene van der Westhuizen 1:49.31
2.Malcolm Stothard 1.49.34
3.Derek Hauptfleisch 1:49.55

SUB-MASTER WOMEN
1.Debbie Lewis 1:44.59

MASTER MEN
1.Nicholas Oldert 1:47.50
2.Theo Smit 1:48.19
3.Hennie Roos 1:49.41

MASTER WOMEN
1.Hilde Lapere 1:41.44
2.Katarzyna Lapacz 1:49.33
3.Sally Peckett 1:51.00

SUB-GRANDMASTER MEN
1.Rob Welsh 1:33.40
2.Tim Cornish 1:33.59
3.Gary Atkinson 1:34.56

SUB-GRANDMASTER WOMEN
1.Beth Burton 1:25.03
2.Minnie Kretzschmar 1:29.23
3.Terry Everson 1:29.28

GRANDMASTER MEN
1.Rob Maclean 1:33.42
2.Enslin van Riet 1:34.59
3.Trevor Smith 1:36.47

GREAT-GRANDMASTER MEN
1.Len Jenkins Snr. 1:41.06
2.Vincent Buttrick 1:46.35

Port Owen – Hank McGregor romped home to a record eighth victory in the Windhoek Berg River Canoe marathon, while Michele Eray completed a peerless domination of the women’s race to win her maiden title in the tough four day race from Paarl to Velddrif.

“I am super stroked,” said McGregor. “I have raced all over the world and there is no doubt at all that this is the toughest race on the planet.”

“To win against the field of legends that has been assembles this year is a real privilege for me,” said McGregor. “It’s right up there with the best of my wins.”

McGregor started the 62km final stage from Zoutkloof to the coastal resort of Port Owen in Velddrif with a ten minute lead, and dominated a four boat bunch that finished together to wrap up the victory.

The win was particularly sweet for McGregor because after asserting his authority on each of the first three stages, he elected to race away on his own to truly stamp his authority on the race when he would have been fully justified to paddle in a bunch and preserve his lead.

“I guess I was out to prove a point by pushing it at the front,” said McGregor. “It wasn’t always like that. On the final stage I found myself sixty metres behind the guys, and they were pushing the pace, and I had to grind back onto the bunch.”

Maties student Pierre-Andre wrapped the race of his canoeing career with a well-deserved second, and heaped praise on the eight times champion.

“Hank didn’t just win it, he won it in style,” said Rabie, who’s flawless race was tribute to his determine training and diligent work scouting the river.

Lance King finished the four day race on a high, racing on the front bunch to wrap up third place, erasing the nightmare of the closing stages on day two when a mistake in the trees above Misverstand dam that saw his separated from his kayak and paddle and tumbling from second to a distant sixth.

“It was about time I had some good karma after the dramas of the first two days,” said a clearly relieved King, who has finished second in the two previous editions of the race. “This was the toughest Berg I have ever been involved in,” he added.

Plettenberg Bay based Olympian Michele Eray raised the bar of female Berg racing with a rampant twenty minute victory over double defending champion Robyn Kime. On each of the stages she started the day alongside Kime and lightning fast sprinter Jen Hodson, before gradually whittling away her adversaries and then, not unlike McGregor, racing away alone.

“I was out to see how far up the field against the men’s field that had the benefit of racing together in groups with paddlers of similar ability,” said Eray.

“The changes to the women’s rules are a huge step in the right direction, but maybe there are ways we can tweak the race structure to get the women more involved with the guys who paddler as fast as we do.”

“The win is massive for me,” she added. “I had set my heart on winning this race, and to do it in the 50th anniversary is really special. It was brilliant racing against such a strong women’s field as well.”

“Mich (Eray) was brilliant throughout the whole race,” said Kime.

Jen Hodson eventually finished well off the pace in third, after a gutsy performance after entering the race two weeks beforehand, after her sudden retirement from sprinting. “I played with the big girls and they beat me up!” she said.

The team race was thrown wide open on the final stage with the sudden withdrawal of Hank McGregor’s team mate Marc Holtzhausen. The Durban stalwart who paddled a heroic third stage eventually could not continue due to severe pain from the blisters on both hands.

With three team members counting towards the lucrative team prize, the pressure fell on Mynhardt Marais, who was well off the front bunch’s pace. Marais finished sixteenth over, but when combined with McGregor and Rabie’s podium finishes it was just enough to get his team home against the potent Trueb Kitchens team and the Gauteng Veterans.

The race’s 50th anniversary was celebrated by a record field of over 350 paddlers, and enjoyed four days of unseasonable warm clear days on a medium level Berg river.

In amongst the finishers were a number of paddlers from the inaugural race in 1962, including former champions Willem van Riet and Jannie Malherbe. The boat that won that inaugural race, dubbed “Kelkiewyn” was also successfully paddled to the finish by Lionel “Lonkie” Ekermans.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
WINDHOEK BERG RIVER CANOE MARATHON
DAY FOUR TIMES AND OVERALL TIMES
1.Hank McGregor 4:22.27 16:59.25
2.Pierre Andre Rabie 4:22.32 17:09.40
3.Lance King 4:22.31 17:13.24
4.Heinrich Schloms 4:24.11 178:19.29
5.Jacques Theron 4:24.12 17:19.29
6.Graeme Solomon 4:22.32 17:22.12
7.Robbie Herreveld 4:24.10 17:26.10
8.Edgar Boehm Jnr 4:36.13 17:40.47
9.Tom Schilperoort 4:24.13 17:46.59
10.Mike Stewart 4:38.42 17:51.36
11.Donnie Malherbe 4:36.07 18:01.15
12.Nick Longley 4:48.00 18:06.04
13.Paul Marais 4:36.11 18:07.51
14.Graham Monteith 4:40.13 18″13.32
15.Ian Trautmann 4:38.40 18:20.02
16.Mynhardt Marais 4:40.12 18:23.12
17.Andrew Birkett 4:36.10 18:25.28
18.Gert van Deventer 4:58.46 18:26.06
19.Chris de Waal 4:38.41 18:28.38
20.Ernst van Riet 4:47.17 18:28.43

WOMEN
1.Michele Eray 4:54.03 19:06.02
2.Robyn Kime 4:56.10 19:26.00
3.Jen Hodson 5:16.46 20:01.28
4.Hillary Pitchford 5:20.21 20:22.54
5.Jean Wilson 5:19.27 20:40.45

More information can be found at www.windhoekberg.co.za
Not For Sale to Persons Under the Age of 18. Drink Responsibly.
ENDS

The 2011 SPAR Women’s Challenge (Pretoria leg) in association with Jacaranda 94.2, was officially launched at the Irene Country Lodge on Wednesday 1 June 2011. As always the race and entire campaign has a firm focus on social upliftment and community, and a share of the proceeds will be donated to various charitable causes. The 2011 challenge offers a phenomenal event for all women runners, from advanced to amateur. The event includes both a 10km and a 5km race for those interested in shorter distances, and will be hosted at Super Sport Park in Pretoria on 27 August 2011. The 10km race forms part of the SPAR Women’s 10km Grand Prix Challenge, a series of five 10km races hosted across the country. The Pretoria leg is the second last of the series, which is currently being led by defending champion – Irvette van Blerk.

SPAR North Rand has once again shown great innovation and has introduced various new initiatives to the 2011 edition. These include a ‘Takkie Drive’ which encourages all runners to bring an old pair of functional sneakers to the race, to be donated to charity. Through lucky draws, a few fortunate donors will be rewarded with a brand new pair of New Balance Rainbow Running shoes for their support. The main attraction of the day is that Global Nissan are giving away a brand new Nissan Micra, the multi-award winning compact city car, to one lucky runner.

Other charitable organisations which will benefit from the event include the Chrysalis Foundation, a Pretoria based foundation providing counselling and support to young women aged 14-18 who have been victims of abuse, Help-net, who provide a safehouse for children who find themselves in abusive circumstances, and The Good Morning Angels Jacaranda 94.2 initiative, who received a donation last year of R50,000 from SPAR North Rand, to donate to a worthy cause . A percentage of the race entry fee will be donated to these organisations, so all participants will be having fun whilst assisting the less fortunate.

SPAR North Rand’s Managing Director, Mario Santana, speaking at the recent launch of the event explained, ”Our focus for the 2011 event is strongly on quality versus quantity. Our race has grown considerably in volume over the last few years, with 22,000 entries at the 2010 event, and this year’s focus will be on the internal beauty of all women, regardless of aesthetics. But most importantly, we invite all women to come and celebrate their beauty and enjoy the day with us”. The SPAR Women’s Challenge, which has affectionately become known as ‘South Africa’s most beautiful’ road race, is more about the thousands of ordinary women from all backgrounds and walks of life, who are beautiful in their own right through the considerable contributions they make to their families, their work and their various communities in general.

This year’s launch event saw even more beauty with the likes of performances by singer Adeline Mocke, and personal stories of inspiration told by Hettie Britz – who related her story of survival and courage. Attendees were treated to a video clip interview with Martha Mokabe- a domestic worker turned Comrades runner, who discussed the positive lifestyle change road running has given her. Rugby fans were also delighted with Springbok and Sharks hooker, Bismarck du Plessis’ attendance at the launch.

The race is all about having fun, so ladies – with only eight weeks to go we hope you are training hard, but if not, come join us and enjoy the vibe and spirit regardless. Annie Malan, patron of the race, had this to say, “ To love the world is to love yourself first – enter this race – it’s a tiny step for women, but a beautiful step into your own beautiful dreams”.

The first 22,000 entrants to the Pretoria race this year will receive bright green T-shirts. These brightly coloured T-shirts have become synonymous with the SPAR Women’s challenge over the years. All finishers will also receive a medal and goodie bag.