Eight-time women’s race champion, Abby Solms, used her years of accumulated experience on the river to complete a dream comeback at the N3TC Drak Challenge, winning the first stage by almost a minute from the chasing pack of Dusi team mates Christie Mackenzie and Jordy Peek on Saturday, 29 January 2022.
“I didn’t expect to be at the front,” said Solms. “I had such a good start and the rapids is my game and that where I tried to get ahead a bit.
“I was waiting for the others to catch me on the flats so I just pinned my ears back and blew a gasket coming into the finish, so tomorrow is going to be interesting!”
“The experience, knowing the lines and how to paddle in the rapids helped me,” she added.
In a stacked women’s field that saw a record number of women entered in K1s Bridgitte Hartley, Michelle Burn and Jenna Nisbet are all hovering to pounce on any mistake by the leaders.
Sunday’s final stage will take the paddlers just under 39km from the Swartberg Road Bridge to the finish at the Umzimkhulu River Lodge.
More information can be found at www.drakadventure.co.za
2022 N3TC Drak Challenge – Stage One Results:
1. Abby Solms 1:37:30
2. Christie Mackenzie (U23) 1:38:13
3. Jordan Peek 1:38:15
4. Bridgitte Hartley 1:40:55
5. Michelle Burn 1:41:00
Photo 1 Caption: Eight-time women’s race champion, Abby Solms, used her years of accumulated experience on the river to complete a dream comeback at the N3TC Drak Challenge, winning the first stage by almost a minute from the chasing pack of Dusi team mates Christie Mackenzie and Jordy Peek on Saturday, 29 January 2022. Photo: Anthony Grote / Gameplan Media
With editing by gsport
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