As the Breede River Canoe Marathon heads into its second day, both the men’s and women’s races are set for thrilling finishes.
Men’s Race: A Nail-Biting Battle
The men’s race is shaping up to be an intense competition.
At the end of Day 1, Hank McGregor and Uli Hart are leading, but only by a slim margin of one second.
They’re just ahead of the teams of Ron Benjano and Nicholas Notten, and Clinton Cook and Thomas Lovemore.
This tight lead means that Sunday’s stage promises a dramatic and closely fought contest among these three strong crews.
Women’s Race: Defending Champions in Control
On the women’s side, the defending champions Kira Bester and Melanie van Niekerk have shown their dominance.
They finished Day 1 with a solid 66-second lead over their closest rivals, Candice Starr and Stephanie von der Heyde.
Their performance in the first stage from Robertson to Bonnievale was impressive, and they’ve set themselves up nicely for the next stage from Bonnievale to Swellendam.
Bester was pleased with their performance: “The water level was great, and our plan worked out as expected.
We stuck with the other teams until Sliding Weir and then made our move.
By the time we reached Secunda Weir, we had a gap of about 200 meters.”
Champions’ Outlook
Bester is cautiously optimistic about their chances for a successful title defense.
“Tomorrow, we start in elapsed time, and having a group of paddlers around us will be helpful.
It looks like Candice and Stephanie might not have the same support.
But it’s a river race, and anything can happen.
Having a cushion starting the final day is reassuring, though,” she added with a laugh.
Men’s Race: Strategy and Competition
For the men, the final stage will be crucial. With the elapsed time start, the top crews will begin together, making for a strategic and potentially fierce competition.
McGregor and Hart, who finished Day 1 in the lead, will have the advantage of both skill and experience.
However, Benjano, Notten, Cook, and Lovemore are formidable opponents, ensuring that the final sprint is likely to be highly competitive.
Day 1 Results Snapshot
Men’s Results
- Hank McGregor / Uli Hart – 02:08:26
- Ron Benjano / Nicholas Notten – 02:08:27
- Clinton Cook / Thomas Lovemore – 02:08:27
- Paul Marais / Mark Keeling – 02:09:56
- Murray Starr / Daniel Jacobs – 02:09:58
Women’s Results
- Melanie Van Niekerk / Kira Bester – 02:21:07
- Candice Starr / Stephanie Von Der Heyde – 02:22:13
- Tayla Isaac / Rachel Van Deventer – 02:36:25
Mixed Results
- Joanne Conradie / Jermaine Pietersen – 02:28:22
- Bianca Beavitt / Crispin Thompson – 02:29:01
- David Marsh / Tamsin Lovelock – 02:29:32
The next stage promises more excitement and a final showdown that will decide the champions of the Breede River Canoe Marathon. Stay tuned for the thrilling conclusion!
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