Dawid Mocke continued his dominance as he paddled his way to another Pete Marlin title over the weekend, while local girl Nikki Russell secured her third title in four years.
The much anticipated annual Dischem Automall Pete Marlin downwind Surfski race once again brought some of the country’s best making for an intense battle on the water.
“All thumbs up! We had a fantastic event this year,” said race organiser Charl van Wyk.
“The success of this event largely depends on the weather and we had perfect conditions which helped us have a wonderful race.”
While about 150 paddlers took part, the race was in the end a close one with the top five paddlers all finishing within two minutes and 13 seconds.
Mocke cruised home in a time of 1hr 15min 41sec to successfully defend his title.
“Dawid is a great competitor and this race is all about having the elite paddlers here going all out for the win and it is a big attraction for the others to compete alongside some of the best in the country,” said Van Wyk.
A big challenge came from his brother Jaspe, who took second place, 19 seconds behind him, while KwaZulu-Natal’s Barry Lewin finished third in a time of 1:16:33.
Tom Schilperoort came in fourth while Stuart Maclaren finished fifth to become the fourth Western Province paddler in the top five.
The first Eastern Cape paddler home was East London’s Bevan Manson who did well to come in eighth overall.
In the women’s division former champ and local favourite Russell was on top of her game to claim her third Pete Marlin title.
“Nikki was runner-up last year, so she was eager to come and win and we are very happy that the local girl took the win,” said Van Wyk.
Russell had previously triumphed in 2012 and 2013 and reclaimed her title comfortably, arriving home in a time of 1:30:47, three minutes and 17 seconds ahead of her closest challenger, Durban’s Jenna Ward who finished second.
Donna Tutton rounded out the podium places finishing third, while Chloe Bunnett took fourth and East London paddler Dayne Loots finished fifth.
The doubles race was then held on Sunday and the paddlers who had raced each other the day before now teamed up.
Mocke made it double delight as he teamed up with Schilperoort to claim his second win of the weekend as they were the first duo to arrive in a time of 1:15:50.
Thirty seconds later Lewin and Steve Woods came in to claim the runner-up spot while Jaspe Mocke and Dominic Notten rounded out the podium in a time of 1:16:52.
The first Eastern Cape duo in were Jordan Zeelie and Luke Mcnish, fifth overall, while just behind them the East London local duo of Manson and Matthew Tebbut came in sixth overall.
On the women’s side the top two singles ladies teamed up to take the doubles title as Russell and Ward finished first in a time of 1:30:04.
Tutton and Loots chased hard but had to settle for second two minutes and 42 seconds later, with Bunnett and Kirstin Scott finishing third.
The mixed doubles race was won by Anna Clifford and Mark Lewin, while local paddlers Shane and Joy Roach finished second, followed by Dee Kotze and Sandile Manjenjalo.
“In all it was a very successful weekend. Safety was a highlight and it was great that everything went to plan,” said Van Wyk.
Mocke came, saw and pulled it off yet again
The much anticipated annual Dischem Automall Pete Marlin downwind Surfski race once again brought some of the country’s best making for an intense battle on the water.
“All thumbs up! We had a fantastic event this year,” said race organiser Charl van Wyk.
“The success of this event largely depends on the weather and we had perfect conditions which helped us have a wonderful race.”
While about 150 paddlers took part, the race was in the end a close one with the top five paddlers all finishing within two minutes and 13 seconds.
Mocke cruised home in a time of 1hr 15min 41sec to successfully defend his title.
“Dawid is a great competitor and this race is all about having the elite paddlers here going all out for the win and it is a big attraction for the others to compete alongside some of the best in the country,” said Van Wyk.
A big challenge came from his brother Jaspe, who took second place, 19 seconds behind him, while KwaZulu-Natal’s Barry Lewin finished third in a time of 1:16:33.
Tom Schilperoort came in fourth while Stuart Maclaren finished fifth to become the fourth Western Province paddler in the top five.
The first Eastern Cape paddler home was East London’s Bevan Manson who did well to come in eighth overall.
In the women’s division former champ and local favourite Russell was on top of her game to claim her third Pete Marlin title.
“Nikki was runner-up last year, so she was eager to come and win and we are very happy that the local girl took the win,” said Van Wyk.
Russell had previously triumphed in 2012 and 2013 and reclaimed her title comfortably, arriving home in a time of 1:30:47, three minutes and 17 seconds ahead of her closest challenger, Durban’s Jenna Ward who finished second.
Donna Tutton rounded out the podium places finishing third, while Chloe Bunnett took fourth and East London paddler Dayne Loots finished fifth.
The doubles race was then held on Sunday and the paddlers who had raced each other the day before now teamed up.
Mocke made it double delight as he teamed up with Schilperoort to claim his second win of the weekend as they were the first duo to arrive in a time of 1:15:50.
Thirty seconds later Lewin and Steve Woods came in to claim the runner-up spot while Jaspe Mocke and Dominic Notten rounded out the podium in a time of 1:16:52.
The first Eastern Cape duo in were Jordan Zeelie and Luke Mcnish, fifth overall, while just behind them the East London local duo of Manson and Matthew Tebbut came in sixth overall.
On the women’s side the top two singles ladies teamed up to take the doubles title as Russell and Ward finished first in a time of 1:30:04.
Tutton and Loots chased hard but had to settle for second two minutes and 42 seconds later, with Bunnett and Kirstin Scott finishing third.
The mixed doubles race was won by Anna Clifford and Mark Lewin, while local paddlers Shane and Joy Roach finished second, followed by Dee Kotze and Sandile Manjenjalo.
“In all it was a very successful weekend. Safety was a highlight and it was great that everything went to plan,” said Van Wyk.
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