McGregor's stunning Non Stop win
Brad Morgan
6 February 2006
Powerhouse paddler Hank McGregor pulled off a feat many thought impossible when he won the Stihl Non Stop Dusi in a K1 boat, while up against a number of top K2 crews. The 2003 world marathon champion's K1 win was worth R10 000, while he pocketed an additional R10 000 for the overall victory.
McGregor covered the 120 kilometre distance in just seven hours 58 minutes and 39 seconds, finishing only 11 minutes off the race record set in 2000 by the Edmonds' brothers, John and Andrew.
Graham Bird and Stu Rawlinson came home in second spot in 8:07:01. Taking third were Michael Mbanjwa and Michael Stewart.
Drama
For top contenders Loveday Zondi and Thomas Ngidi, the race was filled with drama as Ngidi fell out of the boat at the same spot that nearly claimed the life of Tim White in the Hansa Powerade Dusi two weeks ago.
He was swept downriver for almost a kilometre before coming to rest on a rock. Ngidi
lost feelings in his legs at one stage and it is suspected he suffered a lower spinal injury. A helicopter ambulance was summoned to take him to hospital. At the time of the accident, he and Zondi had been in second place.
Reflecting on McGregor's win, race organiser Ray de Vries hauled out the superlatives to describe McGregor’s achievement, saying: "Never in a million years would we have believed that a paddler in a single boat (K1) could beat a doubles (K2) in this, the toughest canoe race in the world."
Graham Bird, beaten into second place, described McGregor’s performance as "phenomenal".
'The Comrades is a joke!'
McGregor himself, when asked to compare the Non Stop Dusi and the world famous Comrades Marathon after the race, said: "The Comrades is a joke!" Not too many people would agree with that sentiment, but his point was well made.
Debbie Germiquet and Alice Rawlinson, the first all-women's pair to contest the race
turned in a sparkling performance to claim thirteenth position in 9:50:24.
It was a double of sorts for Germiquet, who in January claimed the mixed title with her husband in the Hansa Powerade Dusi. Rawlinson finished second in that race.
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