8 November 2005

Len Jenkins and Michael Mbjanwa announced their arrival as a class K2 crew by winning the Remax/Men's Health Vaal Marathon on the weekend.

The KwaZulu-Natal duo, who have only been paddling together for a few weeks, pipped the Gauteng pair of Graham Bird and Stu Rawlinson in a sprint finish at the Vaal Waterfront.

Jenkins and Mbanjwa had a slim lead after the 33-kilometre first stage from the barrage to Smilin Thru resort, and raced most of the 42-kilometre second day with Bird and Rawlinson, Hank McGregor and Martin Dreyer, and Cape stars Gert and Chris van Deventer.

"I can't believe how well we went," Jenkins said afterwards.

'Black magic'
"Michael has so much power and speed that we really flew. There is some real black magic in this boat," he joked.

"The race was flawless," Jenkins added. "This is a killer combination. Michael has benefited hugely from the training he has been under with the national sprint and marathon squads, and is a very powerful paddler now."

Jenkins and Mbanjwa made their race debut at the regional Ozzie Gladwin race a week before the Vaal Marathon, easily winning the race, but they didn't feel that comfortable in the boat.

For the two-day marathon on the Vaal River, which enjoyed excellent water releases for both days, they opted for a more stable and familiar K2, and were able to combine well throughout the race.

Fast portage
They led the bunch home after the first stage and made their move within the first hour of the final stage, at a compulsory portage around a weir. Jenkins and Mbanjwa were very fast out of the boat and ran the portage hard, which yielded a lead of a hundred metres over Bird and Rawlinson.

It took another hour of hard work for Bird and Rawlinson to reel in the leaders, only to lose the end sprint at the finish at the Vaal waterfront.

"Mbanjwa and Jenkins are both going well," said Bird. "Both are coming off excellent bases, with Michael's time in the national sprint and marathon team, and Jenkin's excellent results on the Tracker, Breede and Fish marathons."

Women's race
The women's race was dominated by the classy duo of Alexa Lombard and Donia Kamstra, who a month ago won the silver medal in the women's K2 race at the World Marathon Championships in Perth.

They powered away from challengers Carol Joyce and Laura Thompson, and the crew of Michelle Eray and Jeanette Walder early on the first stage, to romp home by a gaping 15-minute margin.

The junior title went the way of the form under-16 stars Grant van der Walt and Michael Stead, while Kayleigh Champion and Jessica Beth Schoeman overcame a major disaster to win the girls' title. They seriously damaged their kayak, and had to spend several hours repairing it to ensure they finished the race.

The race was the first time that the crews that have committed to racing the Hansa Powerade Dusi in January showed their hands. While Jenkins and Mbanjwa will have earned a psychological advantage from the weekend's win, much will be expected of the duo of six times champ Martin Dreyer, and K1 title-holder Hank McGregor.

Results

Men

	Michael Mbanjwa and Len Jenkins celebrate their success (Photo: Canoeing South Africa)

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