German paddler in Drak win
26 February 2007
German wild water world champion Max Hoff wrapped up and emphatic victory in the two-day Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Canoe Marathon on Sunday, in the process becoming the first foreigner to win a South African national canoeing title.
Hoff, who hails from Cologne, raced alone over the 18-kilometre final stage from Callaway to Early Mists farm, adding a further two minutes to his three-minute overnight lead.
An intense scrap
The chasing pack of Jacques Theron and Hank McGregor was caught by another German, Florian Wohlers, which resulted in an intense scrap for second place for much of the final stage.
Theron took advantage of a momentary lapse by McGregor in the lower gorge to wrap up the silver medal, while McGregor just managed to
hold off Wohlers in a thrilling end sprint for the bronze medal.
Johannesburg teenager Grant van der Walt continued his meteoric rise by racing to fifth overall, and was the first junior home by 10 minutes.
Miedema in charge
In the women's race, Abbey Miedema won her first Drak title with a dominant display that resulted in a 10-minute victory margin over Laura Thompson, with Epworth schoolgirl Robyn Kime finishing third.
Miedema's victory also completed a rare hat-trick of SA K1 river titles for the Cape Town-based athlete, following her three successive Dusi titles.
Hoff's victory was made more remarkable by the fact that he had never paddled on the river before, and purchased his race kayak in Pietermaritzburg the day before the race.
He and three fellow German wild water internationals were at a training camp in Port Edward when they heard about the race. A few SMS messages to South African friends resulted in their
late entries being accepted, and kayaks and equipment being arranged at the eleventh hour.
'Fantastic experience'
"What a fantastic experience," Hoff said at the finish. "It was scary because I didn't know whether the two guys behind me were catching up to me or not. So I had to just go as hard as I could.
"On the long straight sections I kept looking back to see if they were getting closer, but I never saw them," Hoff added.
"Hats off to him," Jacques Theron said after the race. "Hank (McGregor) and I worked together over the first 10 kilometres of the final stage to try and catch him. But when we got to the bridge and learnt that he had opened up another minute-and-a-half on us, it was pretty depressing.
'Wouldn't miss this race for anything'
"I know I could have done better, but that's the way it goes," said McGregor. "It feels like it has been a long season. But I wouldn't miss this race for
anything."
Weighing in at 93 kilograms, the hefty German should have been disadvantaged by the low river conditions, which suited the lighter paddlers better, but he proved that theory wrong.
Because of the low water conditions, the organisers were forced to shorten the event by 15 kilometres to eliminate the notorious Valley of a Thousand Rapids, which was impassable.
The race was started at the Trout Hatcheries, with a 35-kilometre first stage ending at Callaway Bridge, which resulted in a short 18-kilometre stage to the finish at Early Mists farm.
A record field of 945 paddlers, mosty in K1s, entered the event.
Results
1. Max Hoff (Ger) 3:06.23
2. Jacques Theron (Sow) 3:11.39
3. Hank McGregor (Dra) 3:12.22
4. Florian Wohlers (Ger) 3:12.24
5. Grant Van Der Walt (Dab) 3:15.28
6. Jasper Mocke (Us) 3:15.52
7. Piers Cruickshanks (Dab) 3:16.14
8. Daryl Bartho (Kin) 3:18.38
9. Michael Mbanjwa (Erk)
3:19.10
10. Shaun Griffin (Ukn) 3:21.01
Source: Canoeing South Africa
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