![\"2016d1hank\"](\"http:\/\/fishmarathon.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/2016D1Hank.jpg\")
<\/a>Eight-time ICF Canoe Marathon World Champ McGregor paddled a strategically sound opening stage to narrowly edge out regular rival and World Champs runner-up, Andy Birkett by one second in the dice for the finish line.<\/p>\n\u201cAndy and I are number one and two in the world in marathon racing at the moment and probably very similar in river racing strength so not having time to catch up on him tomorrow is great while leading the race is the cherry on the top,\u201d said McGregor.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was some great sportsmanship out there today and some really top class racers made it a top day on the river and I\u2019m looking forward to another tough day tomorrow,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Despite Euro Steel\/Kayak Centre\u2019s McGregor getting his nose in front, Euro Steel\u2019s Birkett was pleased with his first stage effort.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a lot of fun out there today, there was a lot of banter going around and Hank and I were even chatting right up until the finish and I just enjoyed being back on the river,\u201d said Birkett.<\/p>\n
McGregor and Birkett found themselves locked in a three-way tussle with hometown hero and Birkett’s 2015 K2 winning team mate, Greg Louw for much of the day.<\/p>\n
Louw ultimately paid the price for the day’s fast pace though as he fell off the KZN based lead duo’s tails in the final few kilometres to cross the line third.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t complain at all,\u201d said an animated Louw. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing wrong with finishing behind the world\u2019s first and second best marathon paddlers!\u201d<\/p>\n
A swim at Double Trouble Weir just 3.5km into the clash put Western Cape’s Jasper Mock\u00e9 on the back foot from the get-go however the Euro Steel\/Mock\u00e9 Paddling athlete dug deep to claw his way back into the top 10 by the end of the day while a strong showing by Seed Co.’s Under-23 ace, Andrew Houston saw him finish fifth.<\/p>\n
Czech Republic’s Jakub Adam was the first of the strong international contingent home, finishing the day in sixth place, with junior flyer Jean van der Westhuyzen \u2013 who also had to recover from a swim at Double Trouble \u2013 was the first Under-18 competitor across the line and finished in seventh place overall.<\/p>\n
While many shone on day one, the 2016 Hansa Fish ended disappointingly abruptly for others as top 20 hopefuls Banetse Nkhoesa and Alan Houston were forced to withdraw due to hyperthermia and a stomach ailment respectively after just half of the first day\u2019s racing.<\/p>\n
![\"2016d1abby\"](\"http:\/\/fishmarathon.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/2016D1Abby.jpg\")
<\/a>The women\u2019s race was just as fascinating as the men\u2019s, despite Solms going on to finish the day the nine minutes ahead of her nearest rivals.<\/p>\n