IN what were both exciting finishes, Andy Birkett and Bridgitte Hartley bagged their maiden K1 Hansa Fish River Canoe Marathon titles and with it the South African K1 River Marathon Championship crowns at the Cradock Sports Grounds on October 6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both races were far from sewn up with Hartley going into the second day with a two-and-a-half minute lead while Birkett had to overturn a one-second deficit over the 36km that make up the second stage of the Hansa Fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Euro Steel\u2019s Birkett and teammate Hank McGregor went toe-to-toe throughout the entire 84km and there was a feeling that the race was going to come down to an end sprint again, as it did two years ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This time it was Birkett who ended on the right side of the result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am super stoked for sure but it shows that there is very little between myself and Hank,\u201d Birkett said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe probably came past me three times in the last 2km and I did the same. Luckily for me that when I went past him it was closer to the finish line!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was awesome racing and I have huge respect for Hank. He is a phenomenal athlete and we have had some great tussles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt has been a long season for me but it has been great!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two could not be separated throughout the race and Birkett knew that there was a strong possibility that the race would end in a sprint to the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI thought that if neither of us made any mistakes then there would definitely be an end sprint, mainly because there has been nothing between us throughout the race. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI knew there would be a lot of pressure coming into Cradock,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In one of the surprise results of the day, Spanish ace Kiko Vega had a barnstorming paddle on Saturday to finish in third place overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clinton Cook relinquished his third place overall and slipped into fifth while Brandon van der Walt finished in fourth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hartley\u2019s first major river triumph has come at the end of a strong season for the three-time Olympian and to have a Fish title to her name is the realisation of a career-long dream<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can finally tick this off the bucket list,\u201d an elated Hartley said. \u201cI think that I have wanted to win this race ever since I put my foot in a canoe!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just incredible to be able to come away with a win \u2013 especially in a single!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To have a title as prestigious as a Fish title to her name, Hartley believes that it has been the culmination of a lot of hard work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI threw myself into a Dusi after paddling flat-water for years, and that was so challenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe K2 Dusi was also tough but a little bit easier and then slowly but surely I did more and it always seemed that I would end second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo to finally take a win feels incredible!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seven-time winner, McGregor, had to settle for second place after an exciting end sprint. However, he loved every minute of the tussle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was a fantastic two days of racing and it was a win for both us to be out there fighting it out,\u201d Euro Steel\/Fenn Kayaks\u2019 McGregor said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI managed to catch Andy slightly unawares after the Cradock Weir but then coming into the finish he got the jump on me and he deserves the win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was a great race and I was honoured to paddle with him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Euro Steel\u2019s Jenna Ward made a real fist of the ladies\u2019 race as she pushed as hard as she could on the second day; however, interestingly, catching Hartley was not her main priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t really keep up with the splits and didn\u2019t worry too much about Bridgitte; I was worried about the big group of girls behind me!\u201d she said with a smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo have a race where the top five girls all finish within a few minutes of each other is incredible and is great for our sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLuckily for me I was able to hold them off and to get my first second place finish at the Fish makes me happy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the ladies\u2019 top five, Varsity College\u2019s under 23 star, Christie Mackenzie, finished in third while Robyn Owen and Nikki Birkett finished fourth and fifth respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Varsity College\u2019s Stewart Little and Christie Mackenzie won the under 23 men\u2019s and women\u2019s titles while Maritzburg College\u2019s David Evans and Epworth\u2019s Amy Peckett wrapped up the under 18 boys\u2019 and girls\u2019 crowns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more info go to www.fishmarathon.org.za<\/span>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" IN what were both exciting finishes, Andy Birkett and Bridgitte Hartley bagged their maiden K1 Hansa Fish River Canoe Marathon titles and with it the South African K1 River Marathon Championship crowns at the Cradock Sports Grounds on October 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