Kira Bester emerged from the event as the new women’s national champion after winning in the race from Simon’s Town to Fish Hoek to claim the South African SS1 Ocean Racing Championship in benign surf conditions and fog at False Bay in Cape Town, on Friday, 25 April, 2025.
Bester made great use of the swells on the run in to the finish, to power away to a convincing three-minute victory over Eastern Cape’s Jade Wilson, while Georgia Singe, Nix Birkett and Saskia Hockly completed the top five.
The paddlers are now preparing for round two of the national championship weekend with Sunday’s Prescient Freedom Paddle doubling as the SS2 Championships.
The annual 27km race around Robben Island on Freedom Day has grown into one of the country’s major paddling events and this weekend’s race takes on extra significance by being named as the doubles championship event.
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Defending national champions Bester and Melanie van Niekerk will always be the crew to beat, but with flat conditions expected, Hockly and Pippa Mcgregor or Jenna Nisbet and Birkett are likely to be in contention.
Sunday’s mixed doubles race looks like a chance for Ulvard Hart and Georgia Singe to give South African fans a chance to see a World Championship Mixed Doubles combination in action, as they participate in the Prescient Freedom Paddle as part of their training to defend the world title they won last year.
Sunday’s race around Robben Island will start at 9.30am from the Oceana power Boat Club.
Leading Women’s Results for the South African SS1 Ocean Racing Championship on Friday, 25 April, 2025
1. Kira Bester 1:38:26
2. Jade Wilson 1:41:12
3. Georgia Singe 1:43:12
4. Nix Birkett 1:43:14
5. Saskia Hockly 1:43:50
6. Melanie van Niekerk 1:44:40
7. Holly Shirley Smith 1:45:06
8. Jenna Nisbet 1:45:35
9. Pippa Mcgregor 1:47:13
10. Stephanie von der Heyde 1:48:51
Original Copy: Tim Whitfield for Gameplan Media, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Kira Bester was too strong for her opposition on Friday at the South African SS1 Championships from Simon’s Town to Fish Hoek. Photo: Graham Daniel / Gameplan Media
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