The South African surfski team dominated the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships at Madeira Island with five wins out of six major championship races. The South African women were dominant, with Kira Bester winning the U23 gold, and Michelle Burn finishing second to claim the senior title. Georgia Singe was the top junior in seventh overall to complete a clean-sweep of titles.
Other South African women to finish within the top ten overall were Melanie van Niekerk, Saskia Hockly and Jade Wilson.
In the men’s race, German Gordan Harbrecht became the first European to win the World Championships when he beat defending champion Cory Hill from Australia with South African Hank McGregor third. Matt Fenn was fourth overall to claim the men’s U23 title, while Sam Mocke is the new junior world champion.
Other South African men in the top ten were former world champions Kenny Rice (fifth) and Nic Notten (sixth) and Uli Hart (10th and third U23).
The new Women’s world champion said she really had to work hard for her title, both on the water and in the preparation for the event.
“I can’t describe the race in a quick way because it was as long as hell and the conditions were so diverse,” said Bester. “Basically there was a downwind, then there was a headwind, then there was a flat section, a bumpy section and they kind of chopped and turned the whole time, so it was a very very difficult course.
“Even though it was a short distance, it felt like an aeon and it was very, very, very challenging.”
SELECTED RESULTS
Men
Overall
1 Gordan Harbrecht (Ger) 01:27:31.69
2 Cory Hill (Aus) 01:28:24.62
3 Hank McGregor (SA) 01:28:34.35
4 Matthew Fenn (SA – U23) 01:29:19.20
5 Kenneth Rice (SA) 01:29:33.76
6 Nicholas Notten (SA) 01:29:59.99
10 Uli Hart (RSA – U23) 01:31:50.92
U23
1 Matthew Fenn (SA) 01:29:19.20
2 Bernardo Pereira (Por) 01:30:35.11
3 Uli Hart (SA) 01:31:50.92
Juniors
1 Sam Mocke (SA) 01:35:59.74
2 Heath Clarke (SA) 01:36:07.27
3 Terry Michael (GBR) 01:40:29.13
Women
Overall
1 Kira Bester (SA – U23) 01:43:39.79
2 Michelle Burn (SA) 01:44:01.56
3 Katriana Swetish (US – U23) 01:45:16.51
4 Melanie van Niekerk (SA) 01:45:16.84
5 Saskia Hockly (SA – U23) 01:47:00.39
6 Judit Verges (Spain) 01:47:31.57
7 Georgia Singe (SA – Jun) 01:47:48.22
U23
1 Kira Bester (SA) 01:43:39.79
2 Katriana Swetish (US) 01:45:16.51
3 Saskia Hockly (SA) 01:47:00.39
Juniors
1 Georgia Singe (SA) 01:47:48.22
2 Holly Smith (SA) 01:56:56.97
3 Lara Cellier (Spain) 01:58:46.54
South African medal winners
Senior Men: Hank McGregor – Bronze
U23 Men: Matt Fenn – Gold
U23 Men: Uli Hart – Bronze
Junior Men: Sam Mocke – Gold
Junior Men: Heath Clarke – Silver
Senior Women: Michelle Burn – Gold
Senior Women: Melanie van Niekerk – Silver
U23 Women: Kira Bester – Gold
U23 Women: Saskia Hockly – Bronze
Jun Women: Georgia Singe – Gold
Jun Women: Holly Smith – Silver
Master 65-69 Men: Simon Willmot – Gold
Master 65-69 Men: Mat Carlisle – Silver
Master 55-59 Men: Russell Seymour – Bronze
Story/photo courtesy Canoeing SA