Fish Hoek High scholar Georgia Singe was the toast of Team South Africa at the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships after claiming the junior K1 silver medal as well as silver in the U23 K2 with Holly Smith for two of SA’s 5 medals in Metkovic, Croatia at the regatta concluded on Sunday, 22 September, 2024.
The champs started in an almost perfect fashion for Team South Africa when the 2023 junior K2 gold medallist Georgia Singe claimed the junior K1 silver medal after a tight battle with Portugal’s Maria Gomes on Thursday.
From the Newsroom Archive 2023
In rainy conditions, Singe used her quick portaging to comfortably come out of every run in front, but had no answer to Gomes’ potent finish sprint and had to settle for second after Germany’s Caroline Heuser faded out of the race for silver.
Singe and Gomes were the dominant pair in a five-boat front group, with the Portuguese powering into each portage in front, while Singe was always first to re-enter the water after her slick portages, but neither were able to make a decisive break until the lead group was reduced to three on the final run.
Other South Africans in action on the opening day were the short course entrants, but both Bridgitte Hartley and Pippa McGregor were eliminated in the heats, finishing 13th and 12th respectively and just outside the time needed to join the 20-paddler finals.
Team South Africa took their tally to three silver medals on Friday in the opening event on Friday when Singe and Holly Smith finished second in the junior K2 race.
From the Newsroom Archive 2023
The eventual race winners, Panni Kadler and Panka Zatyko from Hungary, broke away at the first portage and were never threatened again, with the SA duo part of a three-boat chasing group.
At the second portage the South Africans led into the portage and were able to make a break with the British crew of Annabel Hutchinson and Mollie Ball, to effectively decide the three medallists.
In the women’s U23 race, Saskia Hockly surprisingly struggled to settle in the front group and eventually withdrew after she was dropped with two laps to go, while Jade Wilson swam soon after the start and also withdrew.
Saturday started with big hopes for 2023 bronze medallist Christie Mackenzie and Nicole Birkett in the women’s K1 event, but Birkett had a mechanical issue and was forced out, and then Mackenzie was unwell and also did not complete the race.
From the Newsroom Archive 2022
Saskia Hockly and Christie Mackenzie left their best for the final day of the World Championships when they overcame the disappointment of pulling out of their respective K1 races to claim a fifth silver medal for Team South Africa.
After both were forced to withdraw from the U23 and senior K1 races respectively earlier in the week, the two 2023 bronze medallists were determined to rescue their regatta with a good result in the doubles race on the final day, and things turned out perfectly for them with a solid second-position finish.
Hockly and Mackenzie were always in contention in the women’s K2, and perfectly placed to capitalise when the second Hungarian crew of Panna Sinko and Panna Csepe suddenly veered left out of the lead bunch with a broken rudder.
At the time, the South African duo were contemplating a medal finish but faced a very tricky three-way battle against two top-quality Hungarian crews. However, once the Sinko – Csepe team were ruled out of the medal race, and with at least a silver virtually guaranteed, the two-way battle turned into a much more comfortable collaboration until the final battle for the finish line.
From the Newsroom Archive 2022
The confident Hungarian crew of Zsoka Csikos and Emese Kohalmi always seemed to hold the ability to dominate when they needed it, and so there was no surprise when they broke away midway through the final lap to powered away for a solid 31-second victory over the two South Africans. Sweden’s Melina Andersson and Ella Richter finished third.
Earlier in the race, the second South African crew of Jade Wilson and Nix Birkett lost contact with the leaders at the first portage, and although they managed to regain contact with the chasers after the lead group split, they lost time at almost every portage and eventually had to settle for a brave fifth overall.
Hockly and Mackenzie’s silver meant the combined South African team finish the regatta with very creditable five silver medals to finish tenth on the medal table, and the star of the week was undoubtedly Georgia Singe who ended with silver in both the K1 and K2 with Holly Smith.
Original Copy: Gameplan Media, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Fish Hoek High scholar Georgia Singe was the toast of Team SA at the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships after claiming the junior K1 silver medal as well as silver in the U23 K2 with Holly Smith in Metkovic, Croatia, at the regatta concluded on Sunday, 22 September, 2024. Photo: Garry Bowden / ICF / Gameplan Media
Photo 2 Caption: Holly Smith (pink paddles) and Georgia Singe (extreme left) battle for position at a turn in the junior K2 race. Photo: Garry Bowden / ICF / Gameplan Media
Photo 3 Caption: Holly Smith (front) and Georgia Singe power through one of the portages on their way to SA’s third medal. Photo: Garry Bowden / ICF / Gameplan Media
Photo 4 Caption: Saskia Hockly pictured during a run in the U23 K1 race, before withdrawing with two laps to go. Photo: Balint Vekassy / ICF
Photo 5 Caption: Christie Mackenzie and Saskia Hockly (obscured) showing strong form running one of the portages. Photo: Garry Bowden / ICF / Gameplan Media
Photo 6 Caption: Christie Mackenzie (right) and Saskia Hockly cross the line for SA’s fifth silver medal at the World Champs. Photo: Garry Bowden / ICF / Gameplan Media
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