2015 ICF Classic Series ranking results

Tom Brennan (IRL). Foto: www.canoe.ie

The ICF marathon classic series are over for the current year with the dispute of the Shaoxing Canoe Marathon in China (site that will host the 2019 World Marathon Championships), so the global rankings of the World Series have determined the winners. After a quick look, you can already ser thta this formula is not established yet as it was conceived, although it is true that has opened a bit more the taste for travelling & competing (as we recently could check in the French Ardèche Marathon). But as usual, the big problem ...

Mruzek and Odvarko in K2 and Tomas Slovak in K1, winners of the Cesky Krumlov River Marathon

This last weekend, with a double session on Friday and Saturday, the Cesky Krumlov River Marathon was held in the Czech Republic, race included into the ICF Marathon Classic Series 2013. While the marathon was held on Saturday over a distance of 36 kilometers , on Friday there was a Sprint competition as an appetizer on the stretch of river that runs through the center of the city, just 250 meters long but with a weir shot included. The winners in this discipline were Richard Hala and Jonatan Sramek in K2 and Tomas Slovak in K1, all of them just arrived from paddling the Fish at South Africa.

Mruzek and Odvarko leading the marathon race. Pic: Jan Homolka

On Saturday, almost three hundred boats gathered on the water of Cesky Krumlov river to face the descent all the way down to the town of the same name. Many contestants, as usual, made it on RR kayaks, but every year there are more who are encouraged to do so on the increasingly popular tables SUP (Stand Up Paddle) as well as in large canoes and all kind of plastics, including canoes with a crew of nine members. Noteworthy is the participation and festive atmosphere at these Central European competitions , as with the French Ardèche or the Irish Liffey, without going any further. One aspect, leisure and tourism, that in Spain is trying to be exploited by the Miño and Cinca Descents, among others, although it is true that the basis of target audience is not comparable.

Sella Descent: Bouzán and Fiuza impose again their law in 2013 and Busto adds another title to his legend

Walter Bouzán and Álvaro F. Fiuza Sella won for the fourth consecutive time in the year of their announced retirement as K2. Along with the new victory of Manuel Busto in K1, it seems that future generations will still have to wait for their time to pass over the great figures of this river, with other great veterans like Rafael Carril, Julio Martínez and Emilio Merchán getting on the podium in both disciplines (and no sign of wanting to get off of it).

Photo: Fotoyos

 
Following the protocol of the opening ceremony, this time with speech by Angela Pumariega, sailing Olympic champion in London 2012, and the always exciting song Asturias Patria Querida in the voices of the entire audience, Walter and Fiuza made a pristine start taking an excellent position at the front, next to the boat of Kiko Vega and Luis Amado Pérez. However, it soon became clear that Walter and Fiuza didn't want to miss the opportunity they had after having got a few precious meters over other favorites like Merchán/Alonso, Martínez/Becerro or Llamedo/Ramalho, who were forced to start a nig comeback in the first kilometers after a capsize at the start.

The Devizes to Westminster race, out of the IFC World Series for 2013

A few days ago, talking about the results of the 2012 World Series Marathon, we made a first approach to what, from our point of view, it's maybe not the best organization by the ICF. Introduced in the 2010 season, the world series formed by 10 long distance classic races is not taking off among the international elite.
Then, some days ago, the ICF wrote to the Royal Canoe Club of London's about their decision of not to include by fourth consecutive year the Devizes to Westminster race in the series. According to the letter, signed by Tim Cornish, a permanent member of the ICF Marathon, the race is "too hard", which makes few international paddlers be attracted by it.
The Royal Canoe Club, organizer of the event and world's oldest canoeing club, has communicated its strong disagreement with the decision, despite being willing to pay the fee of 600 euros payable to the ICF. This was one of the points that we discussed in the previous article and, frankly, does not seem excessive royalties and an not a big amount to attract international paddlers if that money was used to finance their trips, as proposed. Still, the fact that the Royal Canoe Club had no trouble to pay the fee indicates that the decision does respond properly to a change of course (or at least a "rethought") to these international series.
But are they taking steps in the right direction? Certainly it won't be me the one who puts into question the reasons of a committee with so experienced members as Jørn Cronberg, Alan Laws, Ruud Hejselaar or Tim Cornish himself (winner in his youth of many of these important races) . But it is also true that many decisions have been controversial over the years. This time, the fact of rejecting a race for being too hard (200 km. in 4 stages for the K1s) can be seen in two ways:

Tomas Slovak and Manuela Stöberl are the new ICF Classic Marathon World Series 2012 winners

Tomas Slovak winning the Adige Marathon, in Italy

The ICF Marathon Classic World Series are completed this year with the dispute in a tight October of Cesky Krumlov (CZE) and Adige Marathon (ITA), whose winners have become the winners of the series, replacing Spaniard Kiko Vega and South African Hilary Pitchford, 2011 title holders.  Slovakian Tomas Slovak and German Manuela Stöberl, both specialists in white water descent, got enough points to be the new champions in 2012. Anyway, Tomas Slovak got two victories on a surfski from his sponsor Vajda. With the ICF Marathon Series still in their childhood, they may need some review of the criteria. In South Africa, many years ago, surfskis were banned at river descents, since being longer and watertight, buoyancy in waves and the speed they were getting was an unfairness against the traditional K1. 
The series started in early April with the Devizes to Westminster, terrific English race of 125 miles (about 180 km.) and 77 portages, raced in a single day by K2s, while K1s do it in four stages.

Deaglan O Drisceoil and Tom Brennan, winners of the Liffey Descent 2012

Two K2 boats with a very marked combination of experience and youth led the way home at the Liffey Descent today. Deaglan O Drisceoil (47) and Tom Brennan (20) won in a fine time of one hour 47 minutes and 54 seconds, while the father-and-son combination of Malcolm Banks (50) and Liam Banks (20) followed them just 16 seconds later. The K2 of Irish Peter Egan and British international paddler Jon Simmons were third, although they suffered two capsizes, one of them at Straffan weir, where there were a series of chaotic collisions that you can check at the videos linked at the end of this article. Great comeback from them.

Mickie Brennan of Thomastown Paddlers was an impressive winner in the K1 class, taking this title for the first time. Kevin Pierce of Wildwater Kayak Club was second, with Brennan’s clubmate Anthony Forristal third. But second position overall in K1 was for a well known paddler from this website: Gary Mawer, showing once again his worldclass paddling.

Interview with Hilary Pitchford, 2011 winner of the Classic Marathon World Series

In colaboration with Sportscene, we have had the great pleasure of talking with Hilary Pitchford, South African young paddler winner of the 2011 ICF Classic Marathon World Series.

The original interview in English can be read at the Sportscene webpage, and there's a Spanish version in our web by clicking on this link.

Manuel Busto, winner at the Waterland Marathon

Last weekend was held at Amsterdam, organised by the KV Viking Amsterdam (club of the great Edwin de Nijs), the Waterland Marathon, competition included in the ICF World Classic Marathon Series. In a chilly but sunny day, the channels around the dutch city were the scene for a high quality race, where some of the greatests marathon paddlers came to fight for one of the first victories of the season.

© Nico Jankowski

From the start itself, the dutch Robin Koenders took the lead and set the pace, having on the wash a bunch of paddlers including three world champions, like they are Manuel Busto, Istvan Salga and Jorge Alonso, not to mention the always strong René Olsen. Finally Koenders felt the pressure that he was putting to himself with his pace and left the lead, where the two Spaniards managed to make a smaller group by tightening the rope. Just five members kept on the fight, including Busto, Alonso, Salga and the Danish Olsen and Nicolai Blach. These last two paddlers fell off the group and were paddling behind for a few kilometres, but finally René Olsen managed to come back while Blach had to give up and faced a solo paddle to the finish line.

Dusi Unlimted 2012 final results

Finalle we got the results for the Dusi Unlimited Canoe Marathon 2012:

MEN
1.Andy Birkett/Jason Graham 2:15.17 7:43.02
2.Hank McGregor/Len Jenkins 2:20.02 7:51.58
3.Thulani Mbanjwa/Sbonelo Zondi 2:16.23 7:54.24
4.Lance Kime/Kwanda Mhlope (U23) 2:21.24 7:59.23
5.Craig Turton/Jasper Mocke 2:18.22 8:01.47
6.Shaun Rubenstein/Steve Farrell 2:27.12 8:12.27
7.Shaun Biggs/Ben Biggs 2:23.40 8:15.12
8.Piers Cruickshanks/Mike Stewart 2:25.55 8:17.28
9.Lucas Mthalane/Mmeli Cele 2:23.38 8:19.06
10.Mark Mulder/Dave Chaplin 2:26.02 8:21.57
11.Murrary Haw/James Speed (U18) 2:25.33 8:24.19
12.Matt Trautman/Kelvin Trautman 2:23.42 8:24.31
13.Shaun Griffin/Cam Schoeman 2:28.47 8:27.32
14.Brandon van der Walt/Clinton Cook (U23) 2:23.58 8:29.46
15.Greg Carter-Brown/Craig Carter-Brown 2:28.34 8:29.52
16.Jacques Theron/Shaun Price 2:28.15 8:34.05
17.Thomas Ngidi/John Ngcobo 2:26.45 8:34.07
18.Gavin Shuter/Alex Roberts 2:24.01 8:34.49
19.Jonathan Niemann/Gavin Payne 2:27.30 8:36.23
20.Skhumbuso Ngidi/Nkosikayise Cele 2:29.38 8:38.04

WOMEN
1.Robyn Kime/Abbey Ulansky 2:33.02 8:41.59
2.Abby Adie/Alex Adie (U23) 2:33.49 8:59.25
3.Debbie Germiquet/Carmen Blakeney 2:40.57 9:31.16
4.Bianca Haw/Jordan Peek (U18) 2:50.20 9:48.17
5.Tamika Haw/Jen Hodson 2:44.46 9:52.13
6.Brittany Petersen/Kerry Shuter 2:58.34 10:16.29
7.Jenna Ward/Kerry Segal 2:49.18 10:20.41
8.Mandy Rawlins/Debbie Lewis 3:01.58 10:42.58
9.Lorna Oliver/Angela Scruby 3:07.36 11:00.09
10.Diana Rietz/Nicky Taylor 3:24.41 11:54.11

Andrew Birkett and Jason Graham repeat victory at Dusi 2012

Foto: Impi Concept Events

Just finished the Dusi Unlimited Canoe Marathon 2012 after the third and last stage between Inanda Dam and Blue Lagoon, in Durban, with the victory of Andrew Birkett and Jason Graham, who didn't give a chance to their rivals and took for themselves all the options by a solid paddle.

The dawn was again cludy today, and sometimes a little bit rainy at Inanda Dam, when at 6 o'clock the leaders started their competition, heading to Durban with a solo paddle ahead. Birkett/Graham set a strong pace through the dam, trying no te let McGregor/Jenkins feeling like they had a chance today in this favorable water until the dam wall portage. There was a question pending then: would they avoid Burma Hill portage to shoot down the river through the rapids? Then they would have options, but risking a swim and severe kayak damage... Finally, all the top couples opted for the portage, taking no bigger risks. Birkett/Graham were still strong on the lead, growing the gap to 5 minutes.

Dusi Day 2: Andrew Birkett and Jason Graham, one step closer.

On the second stage of Dusi Unlimited Canoe Marathon, raced today from Dusi Bridge to Inanda Dam, leaders Andrew Birkett and Jason Graham gave an important step forward to the final victory, arriving at today's finish line completely alone and making bigger the gap with their prosecutors.

On a cloudy and humid day, but no so hot as yesterday, the start was highly intense. Birkett/Graham and Mbanjwa/Zondi started with a 3 seconds difference, while McGregor/Jenkins were on the hunt a minute and a half behind. This last couple took a very strong pace trying to close the gap with the leaders as soon as possible, but Birkett/Graham showed today their determination and didn't give a break, until being succesful at leaving Mbanjwa/Zondi behind, who saw how McGregor/Jenkins approached, but still with a minute and a half gap with the leaders.Finally, they were fighting neck to neck in the second group, but drama visited Mbanjwa/Zondi's at Gauging Weir, where they had a swim and lost about two minutes. Water level was quite high today and carrying out the kayak to the side bank was not an easy task.

Dusi Day 1 results

These are the main results of Day 1:

MEN
1.Andy Birkett/Jason Graham 2:36.56
2.Thulani Mbanjwa/Sbonelo Zondi 2:36.59
3.Hank McGregor/Len Jenkins 2:38.28
4.Craig Turton/Jasper Mocke 2:41.16
5.Lance Kime/Kwanda Mhlope (U23) 2:43.26
6.Shaun Rubenstein/Steve Farrell 2:44.34
7.Piers Crucikshanks/Mike Stewart 2:47.01
8.Lucas Mthalane/Mmeli Cele 2:47.57
9.Richard Cele/Nhlanhla Cele (U23) 2:50.07
10.Shaun Biggs/Ben Biggs 2:51.14

WOMEN
1.Robyn Kime/Abbey Ulansky 2:59.33
2.Abby Adie/Alex Adie (U23) 3:10.43
3.Debbie Germiquet/Carmen Blakeney 3:22.30
4.Bianca Haw/Jordan Peek (U18) 3:25.58
5.Tamika Haw/Jen Hodson 3:32.30

Andrew Birkett and Jason Graham win on Dusi Day 1

Photo: Impi Concept Events

This morning, at 6:00 local time, started a new edition of the Dusi Unlimited Canoe Marathon at Pietermaritzburg (RSA). With a humid, hot and stormy weather, the sprint to shoot Earnie Pearce was frenzy, as usual, with favourites McGregor/Jenkins shooting in first position, followed by Birkett/Graham and Biggs Brothers. No big problems for A batch, with only one swim. That was different at the seeded women batch, with top paddlers Robyn Kime and Abbey Ulansky falling in. The Adie sisters seized the opportunity and took the lead for the first kilometres down the river, with Kime/Ulansky starting their comeback from fourth position.

Dusi Unlimited: 1 day to go

Tomorrow, Thursday, at six o'clock local time, it's the start for another edition of the Dusi Unlimited, one of the big races of river descent in the world and included in the ICF World Classic Marathon Series. Three days, three stages to cover the 118 km. from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. Weirs, rapids, dams and outrageous portages make all together probably the most mythical race in South Africa. We will try to make these days our best to bring you daily information about it.

As we have said during the last few weeks, the favourites have been training very hard to get the optimal point of fitness to go for the title. Competed this year in K2, at the A batch of the start there will be couples like McGregor-Jenkins, Mbanjwa-Zondi, Birkett-Graham, Cruickshanks-Stewart, Brandon van der Walt-Cook, Rubenstein-Farrel, Kime-Mhlophe or Biggs brothers. Big names not only looking for a gold medal (prize for the top 10) but trying to set their names as the 2012 edition winners. Some of them already have done it, but for some others is has been an impossible goal to achieve yet, it doesn't matter how hard they have tried.

Dusi Unlimited: News at 20 days to go

Just 20 days to go for the Dusi Unlimited 2012 and people is everyday more and more keen looking for it. At the Dusi official web there's an interview with the couple many think are the reference to beat: Hank McGregor and Len Jenkins. You can read it at this link.

On the other hand, not everything is good news. Hilary Pitchford winner of the Marathon Classic World Series 2011, broke her left hand yesterday after a fall while training. Bad luck for her and all our best wishes for a quick recovery.

Río Negro regatta 2012 for Pinta and Mozzicafredo

 

The 2012 edition of Río Negro regatta is over and the same picture again at the arrival to Viedma. Néstro Pinta and Martín Mozzicafredo celebrate their eleventh victory in a row as a couple, twelveth for each in their own account. The last stage was a "copy-paste" of the six before. Pinta and Mozzicafredo won with a hard attack at the last portage, leaving behind the Scalesi brothers, second, and Percaz - Soto, third, keeping them all that same position in the final overall standings. Bad day for the other couple fighting for the podium, Orellana - di Renzo, who finally got out of the picture just for 49 seconds after more than 14 hours of paddling.

Río Negro: current overall standings

Here are the current overall standings for Río Negro Regatta after 5 stages:

K2 SENIOR VARONES		5th stage	Overall
1º	N. Pinta - M. Mozzicafredo	2:15:28	10:20:45
2º	F. Pércaz - M. Soto	2:15:32	10:26:02
3º	S. Scalesi - JM Scalesi	2:15:52	10:26:07
4º	P. Orellana - G. Di Renzo	2:16:38	10:26:32
5º	J. Algañarás - J. Siriscevic	2:16:36	10:43:43
6º	C. Penchulef - J. Penchulef	2:28:55	11:35:03
7º	R. Gajardo - C. Vega	2:32:37	11:53:06
8º	V. Silva  - F. Aguayo	2:36:17	11:58:42
9º	M. Wright  - S.  Jones	2:35:54	12:12:13

Río Negro: 5th stage

Fifth stage and fifth victory in a row for the favourites Pinta - Mozzicafredo, who go straight for their eleventh victory, twelveth for each of them as individuals. Yesterday, with the arrival at General Conesa, after a 34 km. course in a terrible fight for the lead, the couple Percaz - Soto where about to make it, but finally paid the effort with a fall down to the fifth place. Pinta and Mozzicafredo stopped the clock in 2h.15'28", followed by Scalesi - Scalesi, Algañaraz - Sericevic and Orellana - di Renzo.

In the overall standings, Pinta Mozzicafredo are comfortably in the lead, but the fight seems to be tough for the second place, which right now is for Percaz - Soto (5'17" behind), followed very closed by Scalesi - Scalesi (5'22") and Orellana - di Renzo (5'47").


In K1 Senior, Daniel Dal-Bo gave another bite to his disadvantage after the rudder break in the third stage and won the stage after a strong paddle. He becomes closer to his rivals for the title in the overall, which is lead by David Ortega and Jonathan Calvo, second.

Today's stage will bring the paddlers down to Monte Bagual.

Río Negro: 4th stage

Pinta y Mozzicafredo keep leading Río Negro regatta for their eleventh overall win in a row. Yesterday, after a short (it was cutted down to 21 km.) but tough day, deserved a new partial win, while their rivals fight each other for a second position, so first look now rather far away for them.

The main novelty in this shortest course ever at Río Negro were the compulsory portages, which, along with the strong stream, made this stage particularly tough for the paddlers

In K1, Daniel Dal-Bo made a brilliant stage, cutting down 3 minutes to David Ortega and Jonathan Calvo, so in the overall is now 8 minutes behind his rivals. We'll see if the three stages left are space enough for him to go again into the lead or he will pay for the unlucky rudder break of the third stage.

Río Negro: day off

Tuesday was the day off for all the competitors at Río Negro, time to recover from the very long three first stages and preparing the last four heading Viedma.

We already got information about some messy finish for the K2s at the third stage. It was supposed to be completed upstream after turning a buoy, but the string attaching this one was broken by the strong stream and went down out of control. The three couples that came in the leading bunch then had no turn and the officials whistled indicating the end of the race downstream, when Pinta and Mozzicafredo where leading the group. That circumstance ended with a claim from Scalesi brothers, who alleged to be controlling their reserves for a final attack upstream, and a kind of fight (literally) at the bank among supporters of ones and others paddlers.

And Daniel Dal-Bo, who was comfortably leading the K1 until Monday, lost 16 minutes due to a break in his rudder and cable, who made him stop in order to fix it and paddle for the rest of the stage in a difficult situation. Now he will need some extra effort if he wants to take back the lead at the overall, now for David Ortega 11 minutes ahead.

Today Wednesday, the fourth stage will take the paddlers from Beltrán to Choele Choel, with a 35 km. distance.