27 February 2006

Len Jenkins scooped his second Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge title on Sunday after his fascinating duel with Hank McGregor ended with a dramatic accident in the biggest rapid on the course.

McGregor and Jenkins finished the first stage together, and were neck-and-neck when they approached the massive rapid at Glenhaven. Jenkins managed to negotiate the rapid successfully, but McGregor hit a submerged rock and capsized, hurting his left leg in the subsequent swim.

Jenkins took full advantage of the opportunity, and raced away to win by a comfortable four-minute margin from Brett Bartho, a further two minutes back.

'It was a classic race'
"It was a classic race," said McGregor. "We were pushing really hard. Someone was going to make a mistake and it just happened to be me."

Shaun Bigg's race effectively ended when he broke a paddle at the substantial Tokolosh Rapid at the start of the Underberg Gorge, when he was chasing hard in third place. He struggled on through the big rapids of the Gorge paddling with his hands, until he was able to get a spare paddle, and finished forty-fourth overall.

Fifteen-year-old Johannesburg star Grant van der Walt completed an upset win in the junior category, finishing tenth overall, and four minutes ahead of established Maritzburg College star Cam Schoeman.

Stephen Bird was another of the day's casualties on the full Umzimkulu River, and he fell back to finished as the third junior home.

Broken paddle
Carol Joyce took the women's title in style, after her nearest challenger Abbey Miedema was sidelined by a broken paddle at Glenhaven Rapid. Miedema had reeled in a minute of Joyce's 90-second overnight lead when she broke her paddle. "That's river racing, and that's why we do it", said a philosophical Miedema afterwards. "Hats off to Carol, she raced really well."

Lorna Oliver was rewarded for her consistency with second place, and Danica Vorster snatched the last place on the podium.

Gary Clarke and Ross Poacher were the first K2 crew home, with Lance and Sue Chapman winning the mixed doubles race.

The tough conditions took a heavy toll on the field, particularly on the 28-kilometre first stage, where 68 craft were destroyed by the rocks in the demanding Valley of a Thousand Rapids, roughly 10 percent of the record field.

RESULTS

Men

	Two-time South African K2 champions Len Jenkins and Hank McGregor (Photo: Canoeing South Africa)

	Biggs, Pretorius: Umko Champs McGregor, Lombard snare awards Records galore at Dusi 2006 Canoeing pioneer Lembethe dies Champs retain SA K2 title 10 years: a canoeing success Canoeing, rafting & kayaking in SA Three world-class canoe marathons

	Canoeing South Africa  Drak Challenge 2006