N3TC DRAK CHALLENGE – 24 / 25 JANUARY 2015
REPORT/FEEDBACK ON GAUTENGERS AT DRAK!
The Drak Challenge is a popular race among Gautengers and is known to be an interesting, challenging and very enjoyable river, albeit a long drive there and back, with rain dependent water levels!
Andy Birkett and Abby Adie held on to their winning titles with winning times of 4:04 and 4:35 respectively , with erstwhile competition bringing in the follow up podium positions. Lance Kime and Hank McGregor in the mens race, with Grant van der Walt and Thulani Mbanjwa in 4th and 5th, the race was not short of famous names in South African canoeing. Laura Donaghue was the 2nd lady finisher, with Jenna Ward bringing up the third podium position in the ladies.
From Gautie land the first finisher was in 8th place – Siseko Ntondini, (SOW) as the first Under 23 in 4:23, with Under 18 Siyabonga Tyiki from the same club finished 19th overall in 4:31, as 2nd junior with Jean van der Westhuyzen being the first.
Loveday Zondi and Thando Ngamlana also SCARC team battled it out to finish in 4:37 with only seconds between them, in 27th and 28th position. Gregory Smith (VLC) and Shaun Chamberlain (DABS) achieved 2nd and 3rd Sub Veteran position, finishing 47th and 51st respectively in times of 4:48 less than a minute apart while Dave Hamilton-Brown (DABS) was the 2nd Veteran finisher 54th place, in a time of 4:51. Barry Painting(DABS) was the 3rd Veteran finisher in 4:53 (K1 59), while Peter OConnor (DABS) finished in 105 overall, as the Grand Master first finisher!
A Gautenger was in the 15th K2 finish – Mark Perrow (Dabs) who partnered with KZN’s Brian Kurz finished in 5:46, and Alexandra Jensen (Dabs) also finished the race successfully as our Gautie lady – in a time of 6:24, and as K1 278 (F27). The GP K2 finishers were Brian Whillier and Grant Thiel, as the 50th double in a time of 6:25.
With 102 K2’s and 370 K1’s finishing the race, bringing the total paddlers on the water to 574, the 10% of the race finishers were Gautengers who travelled far to enjoy and support the race!
Jennie Dallas
For GCU PR
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