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McGregor Scoops Silver at ICF Ocean Racing World Championships In Hong Kong

This past weekend, the world’s best paddlers, including current World Surfski Series Champ, Hank McGregor, took part in the largest international surfski competition, the 2017 ICF Ocean Racing World Championships (ORWC) in Hong Kong.

The ICF ORWC downwind route traversed the Hong Kong island, starting at Clearwater Bay Second Beach, Sai Kung, and finishing some 22km away at Stanley Beach, the same course as the Hong Kong Dragon Run – a playing field South African paddlers historically perform well at.

The ten-time World Marathon champ and three-time Dragon Run winner, McGregor, was confident heading into the race, with a strong chance of coming out on top against a strong field including long-time rival and defending champion, Australian paddler, Cory ‘Chill’ Hill.

The day presented windy conditions with a 3m swell for a test of pure downwind racing skill – a tough race ideal for big wave runners. With the pressure mounting, McGregor chose a risky inside line and got swamped, losing some 60 to 70m at ‘Kissing Whales’, the final turn to the downwind sprint to the finish.

McGregor put on a brave face to make a comeback and catch Hill. Despite his valiant efforts, McGregor had to settle for second, just 25 seconds behind the Australian paddler. Fellow South African and McGregor’s World Canoe Marathon Champs K2 partner, Jasper Mocké, finished in third.

Other top South African performances over the weekend included Hayley Nixon taking the Women’s Open title ahead of Michelle Burn. Kenny Rice took the win in the Men’s u23 race, while Kyeta Purchase finished second in the Women’s u23 category; and Sabina Lawrie became the women’s Junior champ with a win in the u18 category.

Results – 2017 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships

Open Men

POS NAME COUNTRY FINISH TIME
1 Cory Hill AUS 01:31:55
2 Hank McGregor RSA 01:32:20
3 Jasper Mocke RSA 01:32:53

 

Open Women

POS NAME COUNTRY FINISH TIME
1 Hayley Nixon RSA 01:55:25
2 Michelle Burn RSA 01:55:41
3 Teneale Hatton NZL 01:56:16

 

RESULTS – SOUTH AFRICA ONLY

POS NAME CATEGORY FINISH TIME
4 Sean Rice Open Men 01:34:35
6 Matt Bouman Open Men 01:35:55
15 Bevan Manson Open Men 01:40:27
17 Herman Chalupsky Open Men 01:41:48
18 Ian Black Open Men 01:41:56
19 Stuart MacLaren Open Men 01:42:46
4 Lee Furby Master Men (40-44) 02:02:05
6 Russel Sadler Master Men (40-44) 02:05:47
4 Billy Harker Master Men (45-49) 01:56:15
5 Andre Wood Master Men (45-49) 01:58:28
3 Colin Simpkins Master Men (55-59) 02:00:40
3 Johan van Rooyen Master Men (60+) 03:31:01
4 Bridgitte Hartley Open Women 01:56:35
6 Nicole Russell Open Women 01:57:24
8 Jenna Ward Open Women 01:59:25
1 Kenny Rice U23 Men 01:33:53
5 Mark Keeling U23 Men 01:42:17
2 Kyeta Purchase U23 Women 02:04:17
4 Joshua Fenn U18 Men 01:42:12
5 Ulvard Hart U18 Men 01:48:11
1 Sabina Lawrie U18 Women 02:05:25
3 Zara Wood U18 Women 02:18:29

 

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