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<\/a>McGregor went into the final day of the South African K1 River Marathon Championships with the slightest of advantages over a more than competitive Birkett and with another end sprint on the cards, it was a game of cat and mouse throughout with neither star giving an inch in pursuit of the title.<\/p>\nThe battle for the top spot came to a head in the final straight into the finish, with McGregor showing his prowess as he surged to a deserving win after what was a neck and neck battle throughout.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe tested each other out in the beginning and then once we got warm we took it easy until Gauging Weir and then we started testing each other again right up to Cradock Weir,\u201d Euro Steel\/Kayak Centre\u2019s McGregor said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople think that the race is over after Cradock Weir but it definitely isn\u2019t and I had to keep my wits about me right up to the finish.\u201d<\/p>\n
Birkett was breathing down McGregor\u2019s neck for the entire 82km clash and despite not able to bridge that gap to the eventual winner, the Euro Steel ace was happy with his performance after what has been another stellar season.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was an awesome race, the sportsmanship was great \u2013 which is what you want from a race \u2013 so I am happy with how it went.<\/p>\n
\u201cHank was just too strong for me, as much as I tried to come past him!<\/p>\n
\u201cI am really happy with my result though; it\u2019s been a long season and to come down to Cradock, finish on the podium and have a bit of a holiday too is awesome so I\u2019m stoked with how everything went over the two days,\u201d added Birkett.<\/p>\n
After ending the Eastern Cape event\u2019s local winner\u2019s drought in 2015, Cradock local Greg Louw produced another special performance to finish in third place overall \u2013 a result Louw was happy with considering the calibre of paddlers he was up against for the title.<\/p>\n
\u201cHank and Andy have been going really well having come back from Canoe Marathon World Champs recently where they finished first and second in the K1 race so I am happy with how my two days went.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt strong throughout the race, even though my preparation wasn\u2019t that good, so to get on the podium at the Fish is a great feeling,\u201d the Knysna Racing\/Merrell star mentioned.<\/p>\n
The race for fourth was an exciting affair with Jasper Mock\u00e9, Andrew Houston and Czech Republic\u2019s Jakub Adam battling it out throughout with the youngest of the three, Houston, eventually prevailing over his two rivals, claiming the Under 23 men\u2019s title in the process, with Adam edging out Mock\u00e9 for fifth.<\/p>\n
The surprise result of the race came a little further down the results sheet as former Dusi Canoe Marathon champion Sbonelo Khwela broke his K1 top ten drought at the Hansa fish to finish in sixth place \u2013 comfortably his best individual result at the Eastern Cape showpiece.<\/p>\n
Soweto Canoe and Recreation Club shining light, Siseko Ntondini produced a blistering time on day two \u2013 the fifth fastest of the day \u2013 to end eighth overall and claim the second spot in the Under 23 category while Nic Notten rounding out the age group\u2019s podium.<\/p>\n
Having also been locked in the tussle for fifth place overall up until a swim at Cradock Weir cost him dearly, Michaelhouse\u2019s Jean van der Westhuyzen was the strongest in the Under-18 age increment with Cape Town\u2019s Mark Keeling and Craig Heenan rounding out the podium in the junior boys contest.<\/p>\n
![\"abbyportageweb\"](\"http:\/\/fishmarathon.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/AbbyPortageWeb.jpg\")
<\/a>The ladies race quickly turned into the Abby Solms show as the defending K1 and K2 champion put all challengers to bed as she powered her way to victory in a confident display of tactical wizardry.<\/p>\n