The class international team participating in the Hansa Powerade Fish River canoe marathon included the powerful Czech duo of Michala Mruzkova and Katarina Vacikova, who became the first internationals to win the race, which celebrated it’s 25th anniversary with a record entry of 1830 paddlers.
The class international team participating in the Hansa Powerade Fish River canoe marathon included the powerful Czech duo of Michala Mruzkova and Katarina Vacikova, who became the first internationals to win the race, which celebrated it’s 25th anniversary with a record entry of 1830 paddlers.
New records were established in the women’s category as the Team Hansa Powerade International crew of Michala Mruzkova and Katarina Vacikova from the Czech Republic became the first international crew in the history of the race to take home the winner’s trophy.
The Czech pairing dominated the women’s race from the start gun on day one, breaking both stage records and the overall race record by three minutes thirty three seconds.
“We’re really happy with the win,” said Mruzkova. “It’s the first time we’ve paddled K2 together and we really enjoyed this race. It’s a great event.
“We were initially afraid of the flatwater sections,” added the double Wild Water World Champ.
“The South African ladies are particularly good in that area. I think our experience in big water helped us gain time in the rapids.”
The only upset for the duo was a swim at Cradock Weir. “We thought we had made it through without a problem but we just went over at the bottom,” she said. “Katarina actually got trapped in the weir and had to be rescued.”
The women’s crew that was trying to catch the Czechs, Abbey Miedema and Michelle Eray, also swam at Cradock Weir. They went on to finished second, four minutes behind the Czech duo.
Despite the slow condition of the river, a total of nine records were broken. In the boys U18 division Stephan Bird and Cam Schoeman set a new best, in the u16 Boys by Andrew Birkett and Ben Biggs, and Kelly Howe and Vicky Chiazzari in the women’s category.
Dusi King Graeme Pope-Ellis together with David Rawlinson shattered the sub-grand masters record by fifty three minutes.
Kirsty van der Merwe and Danica Vorster reset the Women’s U21 record, and U16 stars Kayleigh Champion and Robyn Kime also set a new record.
The 25th anniversary of the Hansa Powerade Fish River Canoe Marathon will be remembered as a thrilling contest where records tumbled as some of the best local and international crews pushing one another to their optimum levels.
The record entry field enjoyed hot and dry weather conditions with good water levels over the 82km two day course.
RESULTS * = New Record
Women’s Open
1. Michala Mruzkova/ Katarina Vacikova (CZE) 5:14:18*/ 2:12:48*
2. Abbey Miedema/ Michele Eray (WP/EC) 5:18:40/ 2:14:35
3. Carol Joyce/ Nikola Mokke (GA/WP) 5:32:50/ 2:20:58
4. Kelly Howe/ Vicky Chiazzari (KZN) 5:42:06/ 2:23:01
5. Kirsty van der Merwe (GA)/ Danica Voster (KZN) 5:43:54
6. Kim Brugmann/ Tarryn Brown (WP) 5:50:53
7. Michelle Eder/ Tiffany Kruger (KZN) 5:53:19
8. Angelique Mulder/ Bianca Beavitt (KZN/WP) 5:58:13
9. Abie Adie/ Roxy Green (KZN) 5:59:51
10. Jeanette Walder/ Antje Manfroni (EC/GA) 6:25:37
U21
1. Kirsty van der Merwe/ Danica Voster (GA/KZN) 5:43:54*
2. Kim Brugmann/ Tarryn Brown (WP) 5:50:53
3. Michelle Eder/ Tiffany Kruger (KZN) 5:53:19
U18
1. Kelly Howe/ Vicky Chiazzari (KZN) 5:42:06*
2. Abie Adie/ Roxy Green (KZN) 5:59:51
U16
1.Kayleigh Champion/ Robyn Kime (KZN) 6:07.38*
2.Tracey Atkinson/ Kirsten Oellermann (EC/KZN) 6:35.47
3.Liz Sephton/ Lauren Hendry (KZN) 6:48.27
Mixed Open
1. Simon van Gysen/ Jackie Barnes (WP) 5:23:39
2. Dave Hamilton-Brown/ Sarah Saunders (GA) 5:25:02
3. Mike Harris/ Linda Boshoff (GA) 5:26:23
4. Ryno Armdrof/ Sandra Eardley (GA) 5:30:04
5. Joe Kearney/ Alexa Lombard (WP) 5:34:30
6. Brett & Nicola Irvine (EC) 5:36:18
7. Thomas Wilson/ Sydney Olwagen (GA) 5:45:40
8. Wes Bartho/ Jackie Wolhuter (KZN) 5:52:54
9. Chris Couve/ Natalie Veckranges (KZN) 5:53:40
10. Danny Biggs/ Rebecca Newson (WP) 5:55:26
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