Sprint star Michael Arthur has grabbed the chance of a lifetime, and accepted an offer to paddle with French wild water world champ Arnaud Hybois in the Hansa Powerade Fish river canoe marathon.
Hybois’ partner Rudi Gerard was sidelined this week by an injury to his eye that doctors insist will not allow him to take part in the 82km two day event from Grassridge Dam to Cradock.
A despondent and frustrated Hybois made an impassioned appeal from France for an elite paddler to join him, to keep alive his hopes of a podium finish in the Hansa Powerade Fish, which takes place on 29 and 30 September.
Most of the countries top paddlers were understandably committed to partners for the race. However Arthur was available, and grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
Arthur is a key member of the SA sprint team, and finished fifth in the recent SA Marathon champs.
“It’s a great chance,” said Arthur. “Obviously we have never sat in a boat together, but Arnaud arrives in Cradock on Saturday night, and I will get there as soon as I can to settle into the boat with him. If everything works out, we could have a good race.”
Hybois arrives in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, together with his partner Rudi Gerard, who while unable to paddle, is still eager top experience the atmosphere of the race, which he has heard so much about.
The duo will jet into the Eastern Cape with Dutchmen Pascal Lucker and Peter Luethi, and Czech women Micha Mruzkovastrandova and Katerina Vacikova. They will meet up with Germans Max Hoff and Stefan Stiefenhofer, who will have driven up from Cape Town, and travel together to Cradock to begin their race preparations.
Hybois won the world wild water title in 2005, and was runner up in the worlds in the Czech republic this year. He was the top international home in last year’s Hansa Powerade Fish, with a solid top ten result.
The Hansa Powerade Fish River Canoe Marathon takes place in Cradock on 29 and 30 September
All the details can be found at the event website at www.fishmarathon.org.za
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