Esti Van Tonder toppled the established giants of marathon paddling by winning the SA Marathon Championships title in St. Francis on Sunday, 11 October 2020.
In the blue ribbon K1 race defending champion Bridgitte Hartley and perennial marathon favourite Jenna Ward were made to sweat by sprinter van Tonder and the much-talked-about schoolgirl sensation Saskia Hockly as the race entered its critical stage.
Hockly, who looked to threaten the loftier reaches of the senior podium, despite her 16 years of age, opted to stop early and settle for the junior title instead of staying on the water for another half an hour to challenge for senior honours, largely driven by a desire to bank energy for her K2 challenge with Ward on Monday.
With Hartley off the front bunch, that left Ward and van Tonder to challenge for line honours, and van Tonder showed her 200 metre sprinting prowess by powering away to deny Ward the national title, with Hartley making up the balance of the podium.
On Monday the canals of St. Francis host the K2 races at the SA Marathon Championships on the second day of the P.W. Harvey & Carey Olsen St. Francis Paddle Fest.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS:
SENIORS AND U23:
1 Esti Van Tonder 2:04:41.07
2 Jenna Ward 2:04:41.65
3 Bridgitte Hartley 2:07:28.17
U14:
1 Holly Smith 1:28:38.90
2 Abby Raymer 1:31:08.26
U18 and U16:
1 Saskia Hockly 1:40:24.89
2 Christy Shrimpton 1:45:38.97
3 Jade Wilson 1:45:39.95
SV/V/SM/M:
1 Angie Austin 1:47:18.93
2 Kirstin Scott 1:50:47.13
3 Iwona Gancarz 1:54:41.52
Photo 1 Caption: Sprinter Esti Van Tonder (front, left) trumped Jenna Ward (right) in the end-sprint to claim the women’s title at the SA Marathon Chaps, part of the P.W. Harvey & Carey Olsen St. Francis Paddle Fest. Photo: Antje Hockley/Gameplan Media
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