Mistakes from both the men’s and women’s overnight leaders at the death handed Greg Louw and Andy Birkett and the women’s crew of Jenna Ward and Anna Kožíšková Fish River Canoe Marathon titles on Saturday.
Starting the final day with just a one-second lead, the surprise package of Stuart Maclaren and Frenchman Cyrille Carre were right in the mix until they fell out at the bottom of the Marlow Chute, just nine kilometres from the finish.
This mistake handed the advantage to the experienced Louw and Birkett duo who put the hammer down right to the finish and claimed their second consecutive title.
The winning pair, who went into the second stage as the favourites, were made to work hard for their victory as Maclaren and Carre lived up to their word of putting them under pressure the whole way.
‘We had a good, clean day today and managed to get through all the major obstacles first which we wanted to do and avoided making any mistakes,’ Merrell/Knysna Racing’s Louw said.
‘Stu (MacLaren) and Cyrille (Carre) were really strong throughout and it could have been anybody’s race right up until they had an unfortunate swim.
‘Andy and I click in a boat which means that we don’t have to have too much time together before it comes right – it’s not ideal but if you click you can make the boat move pretty quickly!’
Birkett was full of praise for his partner who navigated them through the two days without a hitch.
‘It saves you so much energy when you get yourselves into the right place at the right time when it comes to rapids and portages.
‘We were always taking out first and putting in first at the portages which, when you add up all that time, makes quite a big difference.
‘It’s also great to be able to paddle with a mate like Greg, irrespective of the result I would still be happy at the end of the race,’ Birkett said.
It was heart-wrenching for the runners-up who seemed to be mixing it up well with Louw and Birkett until they fell out at the Marlow Chute and they cut disappointed figures at the finish.
‘I don’t even know where to start to be honest,’ a gutted Maclaren said. ‘It was one of those swims where we were basically out of the boat before we hit the bottom.
‘We had their card for a lot of the day which is probably the most upsetting part. We really wanted to have a proper crack coming into the finish line, but that’s racing and we’ll definitely be back to give it another go!’
It was another solid day in the boat for the Murray Starr and Adrian Boros combination as they powered their way home to an impressive third place overall.
The women’s race followed a similar pattern despite the 61-second deficit that Ward and Kožíšková (pictured above) had to overturn at the start of Saturday’s final stage.
Throughout the day the chasing pair managed to whittle down the overnight advantage and caught the leading pair at the Marlow Causeway portage.
From there it was a straight shot to the finish and the pressure told as Hartley and Bedec capsized at the Cradock Weir which gave Ward and Kožíšková a slight gap which they took.
‘I did feel a bit of pressure going into the race considering Anna has won the last few Fish’s that she has paddled with Abby,’ Ward said with a smile.
‘It’s a great feeling for me to say that I have done a good job replacing Anna’s usual partner Abby (Solms) for now! I’ve never won the Fish so to come away with a win is massive, I’m so happy.’
It was another case of so close yet so far as Hartley and Bedec came unstuck at Cradock Weir and despite not getting over the line, Hartley was proud of their efforts.
‘Yesterday for us to shoot Double Trouble and Soutpans and make it was great,’ she said. ‘It was always going to be a challenge taking a novice down but Krisztina was incredible for a first-timer.
‘We took up the challenge and really pushed as hard as we could – unfortunately we came undone right at the end, but we gave it a good shot.’
With the drama at the front of the women’s race unfolding the Under-23 pair of Kyeta Purchase and Kerry Segal went about their business quietly and cruised home to a solid third place overall.
The age-group tussles followed a similar pattern to the opening day with a tight contest for the U23 crown, where Tom Lovemore and Kenny Rice took home the honours ahead of Jarryd Gibson and Brandon Orpwood with Mthobisi Cele and Mpilo Zondi finishing third.
Purchase and Segal claimed the U23 women’s crown in dominant fashion as the Peek sisters, Cana and Jordan, finished second, over 20 minutes behind them, while Dee Kotze and Kelly Biljoen rounded out the Under 23 women’s positions.
Alex Masina and Stewart Little were in a class of their own as they motored home to the junior boys title just over seven minutes ahead of impressive U16 pair of Hamish Lovemore and David Evans with the duo of Emanuel Zaloumis and Callam Davis having a strong day to finish third.
The junior girls title went to the dominant U16 Epworth pair of Caitlin Mackenzie and Amy Peckett who were followed home by another U16 crew in Cayleigh Shaw and Cara Waud as Tracey Oellerman and Shannon Parker-Dennison rounded out the junior girls podium.
Pictures of Louw and Birkett (main picture) and Ward and Kožíšková courtesty of Nick Tatham/Gameplan Media
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
Overall
1 Greg Louw/Andy Birkett 1hr 57min 38sec 4hr 39min 42sec
2 Stuart Maclaren/Cyrille Carre (FRA) 1:58:35 4:40:38
3 Murray Starr/Adrian Boros (HUN) 2:01:06 4:44:43
4 Jacques Theron/Bryan Leroux 1:56:55 4:46:49
5 Alan Houston/Andrew Houston 1:58:05 4:46:51
6 Siseko Ntondini/Kiko Vega (ESP) 1:57:21 4:47:13
7 Thulani Mbanjwa/Banetse Nkhoesa 1:59:07 4:47:54
8 Jakub Adam (CZE)/Simon van Gysen 1:58:22 4:48:16
9 Jasper Mocké/Sbonelo Khwela 2:00:25 4:49:11
10 Clinton Cook/Hamish Lovemore 1:59:50 4:51:40
11 Hank McGregor/Lee Furby 2:02:57 4:51:42
12 Alex Roberts/Wayne Jacobs 2:01:59 4:55:24
13 Kenny Rice/Tom Lovemore (U23) 2:03:25 4:56:48
14 Brandon Orpwood/Jarryd Gibson (U23) 2:04:53 4:59:56
15 Trenton Lamble/Steve Woods 2:04:25 5:01:10
Women
1 Jenna Ward/Anna Kožíšková (CZE) 2:08:05 5:14:27
2 Bridgitte Hartley/Krisztina Bedec 2:11:08 5:16:29
3 Kyeta Purchase/Kerry Segal (U23) 2:13:41 5:29:32
4 Kirsten Penderis/Robyn Owen 2:17:52 5:34:39
5 Nikki Russell/Christie Mackenzie 2:18:16 5:37:28
6 Caitlin Mackenzie/Amy Peckett (U16) 2:23:34 5:47:58
7 Natasha Bradford/Sabina Lawrie 2:28:17 5:54:46
8 Jordan Peek/Cana Peek (U23) 2:27:09 5:56:43
9 Cayleigh Shaw/Cara Waud (U16) 2:27:02 5:57:23
10 Robyn Henderson/Debra Lewis 2:26:09:5:58:12
Under-23 Men
1 Kenny Rice/Tom Lovemore 2:03:25 4:56:48
2 Brandon Orpwood/Jarryd Gibson 2:04:53 4:59:56
3 Mpilo Zondi/Mthobisi Cele 2:08:21 5:06:22
Under-23 Women
1 Kyeta Purchase/Kerry Segal 2:13:41 5:29:32
2 Jordan Peek/Cana Peek 2:27:09 5:56:43
3 Dee Kotze/Kelly Biljoen 2:36:11 6:29:20
Under-18 Boys
1 Alex Masina/Stewart Little 2:04:32 5:01:39
2 Hamish Mackenzie/David Evans (U16) 2:06:07 5:09:14
3 Emanuel Zaloumis/Callam Davis 2:08:42 5:13:43
Under-18 Girls
1 Caitlin Mackenzie/Amy Peckett (U16) 2:23:34 5:47:58
2 Cayleigh Shaw/Cara Waud (U16) 2:27:02 5:57:23
3 Tracey Oellerman/Shannon Parker-Dennison 2:33:05 6:10:02