The 2015 Starboard Emmarentia 10Km SUP Race took place on the 5th September at Emmarentia Dam in Johannesburg. With competitors from all around the country including Durban and Cape Town, this SUPSA sanctioned event promised to have lots of action with the countries best paddlers battling it out around the 1.05km course featuring three buoy turns per lap.
Competitors were welcomed with some drizzling rain and overcast conditions during registration, but by the time the race was ready to get started, the clouds were beginning to clear and the rain had subsided.
At the blowing of the horn, the paddlers were off with everyone furiously paddling their heart out to see which paddler would be the first to lead the pack and set the race pace. Chris Couve followed by Gunter Berger, with their hometurf advantage, managed to take pole position and set the race pace. Kimon from Cape Town, Anton from Johannesburg and Brandon and Grantley from Durban justled it out for third position with Kimon just making it around the first buoy turn first to secure third position.
As per SUPSA regulations, the Ladies started one minute after the men with Jackie from Durban, who has been having a phenomenal racing season, shooting out of the starting blocks and setting the pace amongst the ladies.
Once the pace had been set and all paddlers had found their rythm, there was not too much shuffling between places. The mutiple buoy turns per lap also served as a challenge for most paddlers not used to so may turns in an endurance race.
The weather was still playing game with cloudy and cool conditions that continued all the way until the end of the race. The 10th and final lap had
Chris and Gunter create a sizeable gap to Kimon in 3rd place followed by Brandon, Anton then Grantley. The Ladies field had Jackie leading by a sizeable gap followed by Lande and then Danielle.
Chris managed to open up a 20 seconds gap to Gunter in the final sprint for the finish taking the title for the Open Men’s with Jacky from Durban also putting in a last hard sprint to take the win amongst the Open Ladies.
Ten Thousand Rands worth of Cash Prize Money sponsored by E4 and R 15000 worth of prizes from G-Form and Starboard had not only the front runners, but most of the field going home with a prize to remember the race by.
Results:
Mens
- Chris Couve
- Gunter Berger
- Kimon Dos Santos
Legends
- Brandon Read
- Anton Nel
- Grantly Read
Juniors
- Kimon Dos Santos
- Anthony Peterson
Ladies
- Jackie de Billiot
- Lande Williamson
- Danielle Hefers
Kimon Dos Santos takes the Juniors title and an awesome 3rd place overall.
Danielle Hefers secures 3rd place in the Ladies category
This years inland race was held at Emmarentia Dam near Greenside in Gauteng.
Jackie de Billiot pushed hard and took the Ladies top spot and fantastic 9th overall
SUP newcomber Corne Ressouw had an outstanding performance and wins “Most Improved” prize of a Starboard Inflatable PFD
SUPpers gathering post race – it was all smiles!