KZN#36

EADP stars shine at
marathon world champs
Durban - The recently
hosted ICF Canoe
Marathon World
Championships in Pietermaritzburg
was a success
on more than one front as
the Elite Athlete Development
Programme athletes
accounted for six of the
eight medals won by Team
South Africa over the four
days of racing last week.
The event was always
going to put defending men's
K1 and K2 champion Hank
McGregor in the spotlight
and the veteran did not disappoint,
retaining both the
singles title and doubles title
with Jasper Mocké for a third
time in four years.
Andy Birkett was also
impressive in his performances
as he too grabbed
two podium spots in the senior
men's K1 and K2. He paddled
to a second successive
silver medal in the K1 race
and took home bronze in
the men's K2 with Michaelhouse
schoolboy Jean van
der Westhuyzen.
The brave challenge from
the senior and under 23
women was strong, even
if it didn’t yield a medal for
Bridgitte Hartley and Kyeta
Purchase in their respective
K1 races.
The South African junior
K1 men's and women's divisions
were very impressive
with young Alex Masina and
Christie Mackenzie both bagging
richly deserving bronze
medals.
"I must admit, it still hasn't
quite sunk in yet!" Alex
Masina mentioned recently.
"Every night I lie there and
keep on rethinking it and
smiling at what happened.
"But with that said, now
that the event is over and I
have won a medal I want to
work harder and get better
for next year.
"I have the motivation to
keep on improving and with
the help of the Natal Canoe
Club and the EADP I can
continue to get better."
It has been a busy year
for Masina, who was also
involved in the South African
team that took part in the ICF
Junior and Under 23 Sprint
World Championships in
Romania where he took part
in the Under 18 boys 500m
and 1000m races.
Masina, who was raised
in Daveyton, is now based
at Natal Canoe Club and utilises
one of the Elite Athlete
Development Programme's
satellite stations at the clubhouse.
Having his training
facility so close to his school,
Maritzburg Christian School,
is something he appreciates.
"To have a training base
that has all I need is such a
bonus. It means that I can
concentrate on training hard
and racing hard and everything
else is taken care of.
"I appreciate all of the hard
work that the EADP and NCC
have put into getting me fit
and strong as well as ready
for all of my races.
"To be able to relax and
know that everything is
looked after means that I can
focus completely on being
race ready and at my peak,"
a grateful Masina added.
Dennis Jackson, Prime's
High Performance Director,
was quick to praise all of the
paddlers that represented
South Africa and the EADP.
"We are immensely proud
of the EADP results this past
weekend," Jackson said.
"Picking up six world
championship medals is the
best haul at the Championships
that the EADP paddlers
have received in the
four years that the program
has run.
One of the stars of the show! Elite
Athlete Development Programme's
Alex Masina provided one of the
highlights of the week when he won
bronze in the junior men's K1 race
at the ICF Canoe Marathon World
Championships in his hometown of
Pietermaritzburg last week.Anthony
Grote/ Gameplan Media
"Hank’s continued domination
of the sport is an
amazing feat and shows
what can be achieved with
training and determination
over a prolonged period.
"Also very encouraging
were the youngsters that
have come through with
medals (Christie and Alex)
as well as Kyeta who placed
seventh U23 with still three
years remaining in that age
group.
"Andy also showed that
he too will one day take the
top step of the podium. This
shows that the future is looking
bright for paddling in SA
and particularly in KZN.
"Well done to all the athletes
and to the dedicated
coaches for such amazing
results," he concluded.
For more information visit
www.eadp.co.za
Kzn Lifestyle Magazine • Issue 36
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