Kira Bester claimed world championship silver and South Africa’s women filled six of the top ten places at the Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships in La Vila Joiosa, Spain, on Saturday, 10 October 2026.
Bester, the 2024 and 2025 world champion, narrowly missed a hat-trick of world titles when she finished second to Australia’s Jemma Smith in Friday’s women’s race.
The women’s race was a clash between the two paddlers who have dominated the event over the past four years. Jemma Smith, the back-to-back world champion of 2022 and 2023, took a shallower line closer to shore in the 20km race and emerged a comfortable winner, while Bester led home the group that took a deeper line between La Vila Joiosa and El Campello.
Great Britain’s Rosie Edwards finished third and first U23, with five more South Africans in the top ten. Jade Wilson was fourth, Michelle Burn fifth, Melanie van Niekerk eighth, Saskia Hockly ninth and second U23, and Georgia Singe tenth and third U23. In the junior women’s race, Isabella Strydom claimed silver behind Spain’s Andrea Jimenez.
In Saturday’s mixed doubles, Jemma Smith claimed her second title of the weekend, partnering Cory Hill to edge out two South African crews. Jade Wilson and Hank McGregor finished second, with Georgia Singe and Uli Hart completing the podium, while Kira Bester and Kenny Rice just missed out on a medal in fourth.
South Africa struck gold in the younger mixed doubles categories. Holly Smith won the U23 title with crew partner Samuel Mocke, ahead of compatriots Nicola Harcus and David Coetzer, while Hanna Solomon won the junior event with Keegan Vogt, and Isabella Strydom added bronze alongside Ryley Smith.
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Michelle Burn completed a standout regatta by winning the women’s 40 to 44 age-group title while finishing fifth overall.
South Africa topped the official medal table with six gold medals, ahead of hosts Spain, and won the points-based Nations Cup ahead of Australia.
Select South African Results at the Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships in La Vila Joiosa, Spain, on Saturday, 10 October 2026
Women’s Singles (SS1)
1. Jemma Smith (AUS) 1:21:08
2. Kira Bester (RSA) 1:23:37
3. Rosie Edwards (GBR) 1:24:33
4. Jade Wilson (RSA) 1:24:40
5. Michelle Burn (RSA) 1:24:50
6. Rebecca Cole (NZL) 1:24:56
7. Judit Verges (ESP) 1:25:24
8. Melanie van Niekerk (RSA) 1:25:59
9. Saskia Hockly (RSA) 1:26:12
10. Georgia Singe (RSA) 1:26:16
Women U23
1. Rosie Edwards (GBR) 1:24:33
2. Saskia Hockly (RSA) 1:26:12
3. Georgia Singe (RSA) 1:26:16
Junior Women
1. Andrea Jimenez (ESP) 1:29:15
2. Isabella Strydom (RSA) 1:31:16
3. Diana Hernandez (ESP) 1:35:26
Women 40 to 44
1. Michelle Burn (RSA) 1:24:50
Mixed Doubles (SS2)
1. Jemma Smith / Cory Hill (AUS) 1:07:15
2. Jade Wilson / Hank McGregor (RSA) 1:07:19
3. Georgia Singe / Uli Hart (RSA) 1:07:25
4. Kira Bester / Kenny Rice (RSA) 1:07:31
5. Sara Sotero / Bernardo Pereira (POR) 1:07:54
6. Margaux Bouteloup / Pierre Vilella (FRA) 1:07:57
7. Estefania Fernandez / Walter Bouzan (ESP) 1:08:23
8. Lanee Marin / Angie Le Roux (FRA) 1:08:46
9. Ryan Lark / Rosie Edwards (GBR) 1:09:16
10. Holly Smith / Samuel Mocke (RSA) 1:09:18 (1st U23)
U23
1. Holly Smith / Samuel Mocke (RSA) 1:09:18
2. Nicola Harcus / David Coetzer (RSA) 1:10:14
3. Sara Mengual / Josep Cifre (ESP) 1:10:55
Junior
1. Hanna Solomon / Keegan Vogt (RSA) 1:10:44
2. Andrea Jimenez / Julian St Mary (ESP) 1:11:36
3. Isabella Strydom / Ryley Smith (RSA) 1:11:54
Original Copy: Tim Whitfield for Paddlesport SA, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: South Africa’s women delivered a commanding team performance, with Kira Bester taking silver, six finishers in the women’s top ten and mixed doubles podium places in three categories, at the Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships in La Vila Joiosa, Spain, from Friday, 9 October to Saturday, 10 October 2026. All Photos: Paddle Worldwide
Photo 2 Caption: Michelle Burn completed a standout regatta by winning the women’s 40 to 44 age-group title while finishing fifth overall.
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