After competing in races in different parts of the world, Bridgitte Hartley is back home to compete at the 2018 Hansa Fish River Canoe Marathon this weekend, with hopes of bagging her first SA K1 River Marathon Championship title.
Hartley’s international journey this year began with a bronze medal at the ICF Sprint World Championships in August. She then went to the Nelo Summer Challenge and the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in Portugal.
She returned home to win the VKB Liebensbergvlei Marathon, after which she jetted off to Ireland where she finished third in the Irish Coast Paddling Championships.
Although the Fish is only a few days away (starting on Friday), the three-time Olympian has some recovery time on the cards.
‘I’m definitely going to take a couple of days off!’ she said. ‘It has been non-stop and I want to avoid being ill going into Fish.
‘I want two or three days away from paddling to recharge and get myself prepared for the trip to Cradock,’ said Hartley.
Hartley, who finished second at the 2016 Fish behind Abby Solms, is looking to stamp her authority on river marathon racing. The 2018 Fish gives her the perfect opportunity as she searches for a first major marathon scalp.
‘I’m going to head down to Cradock early so I can get in a few days’ worth of tripping on the river. I’m no river guru but last year in a K2 we managed to navigate ourselves down the river fairly well with only one swim at Cradock Weir.
‘I have a lot of confidence from last year’s race, so I hope that I can take that into this year’s event,’ Hartley added.
Having a bit of time in her riverboat in Free State a few weeks ago was important for Hartley, who only had that preparation time for the Hansa Fish.
‘I felt that I needed to race at the Liebenbergsvlei considering I have been in a sprint boat, marathon boat and a surfski over the past five weeks!
‘It’s going to feel a little bit strange but I’ll give myself enough time to prepare,’ she added.
The Fish River often provides high drama with the race including some of the most exciting rapids in South African river racing. One of the most infamous is the Keith’s Flyover Rapid 10km into the race and Hartley has made her decision about the daunting obstacle.
‘I don’t think that I’m going to be shooting Keith’s this year,’ she said. ‘I feel that I’m strong enough to gain back the time on the flat water that I might lose portaging around Keith’s.’
The women’s race is expected to be one of the most open, with the likes of Jenna Ward and Christie Mackenzie battling for the title. Hartley understands that 2017 K2 winner Ward will be a serious threat.
‘Jenna is always an incredible competitor and will be tough competition.
‘She has had a good year with a fourth at the World Marathon Championships and she is in some good form going into the Fish.
‘It’s going to be a great race and it’s exciting to see that there are a number of paddlers that could win the race,’ Hartley concluded.
PHOTO: Three-time Olympian Hartley on a portage, by Anthony Grote/Gameplan Media.