National champions Hank McGregor and Michelle Burn delivered powerful individual performances to win the iconic Pirates Umhlanga Pirates surfski classic titles on Saturday in mild ocean conditions.
McGregor, who is starting to taper for the ICF Surfski World Championships in three weeks time, was peerless in the conditions that offered little in terms of downwind help for the paddlers, and was under no pressure to claim the win, which also wraps up his victory in the five-leg winter surfski series.
The only person who could challenge him for the series spoils, Gene Prato, was second, more than a minute behind McGregor, with Bevan Manson making up the balance of the podium.
“It was a solid race in great conditions and I am happy to take the win,” said McGregor.
“I managed to get a bit of a gap going to the Umhlanga turn can. On the way back we regouped and it was every man for himself on the way home,” the Team Fenn/Euro Steel racer said.
“Surfski paddling is on the up and it is great to see such a big turnout, with a strong field and lots of youngsters keen to put their hands up,” he added.
McGregor started the day by taking the innovative short sprint through the backline to claim the cash hotspot in which the women were given the advantage of starting before the men.
Michelle Burn, who is also targeting a serious challenge at the world surfski champs in Lanzarote, showed her form is peaking at the right time with a juggernaut solo performance that saw her finish fifth overall.
She said that she had used the 26km race as a final hard session before she starts her tapering for the world champs, but added that she has been blindsided by the event being two kilometers longer than advertised.
“I know two kays doesn’t sound like a lot but when 26 becomes 28 kilometers you feel pretty tired afterwards!” she said.
“On the way to Umhlanga the bunch I was with dropped off the faster guys and I realised they weren’t going to get back so I went on my own and put in two kays of really hard paddling to catch up to the second bunch,” said Burn.
As a test of her preparations for the surfski world champs Burn was excited by her form.
“I am feeling so good. I have such a great training group in Umhlanga with the Hockly girls under Matt Bouman. It is good to have a group all motivated by the same thing,” said Burn.
Brandon Van Der Walt and Tracey Van Greunen combined well to take the double ski crown from the distant Lee Furby and Barry Painting.
Completing a red-letter day for the family, Hank McGregor’s wife Pippa won the women’s doubles title with Jordan Peek.
Hank McGregor confirmed at the finish that he would be paddling the 46km Scottburgh2Brighton marathon with Pippa at the end of the month.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
PIRATES UMHLANGA PIRATES
1 Hank McGregor 2:06:37.58
2 Gene Prato 2:07:48.55
3 Bevan Manson 2:08:26.92
4 Nic Burden 2:17:54.16
5 Michelle Burn 2:18:02.82
6 Quinton Rutherford 2:19:04.07
7 Brendon Waters 2:19:06.29
8 Joshua Simpkins 2:19:34.37
9 Brad Pearse 2:20:18.19
10 Joe Terblanche 2:21:13.31
Women
1 Michelle Burn 2:18:02.82
2 Jenna Nisbet 2:31:10.31
Doubles
1 Brandon Van Der Walt/Tracey Van Greunen 2:10:41.83
2 Lee Furby/Barry Painting 2:13:06.32
3 Murray Behn/Jack Edmonds 2:13:19.19
4 Shane Millward/Carl Folscher 2:13:49.14
5 Gary Behn/Gavin Dundas-Starr 2:14:54.99
6 Bryce Hatton/Marc Stanton 2:16:03.45
7 Benjamin Bradford/Ben Biggs 2:16:06.86
8 Gary Waud/Glenn Hilliar 2:19:53.54
9 Dave Harker/Justin Swart 2:20:51.81
10 Grant Smith/Peter Manning 2:21:14.78
Women
1 Jordan Peek/Pippa McGregor 2:24:52.07
2 Hayley Nixon/Hilary Bruss 2:28:57.27
3 Chelsey O’Brien/Julia Mcalister 2:48:38.27
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