Pint sized Cape racer Abbey Miedema has set her sights on victory in the Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge canoe marathon on 24 and 25 February, and in the process a rare hat-trick of victories in the SA K1 River Championships.
Miedema won the last two women’s K1 river titles on the Fish and Highlands Challenge marathons, and with the privilege of the SA K1 champs falling to the Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge this year, Miedema is enthusiastic about her chances, as she has rates this race as one of her favourites.
“It is so beautiful that it is a fantastic race, whether you do well or have a nightmare on the river,” said Miedema.
Miedema hit the headlines in January when she won her third consecutive Hansa Powerade Dusi women’s K1 title, and now wants to add a hat-trick of SA K1 river titles to her CV to go with her Dusi triple.
However she will have to erase her disastrous second stage during last year’s race that robbed her of what looked like a certain victory.
She broke her paddle and capsized shooting the notorious Glenhaven rapid halfway through the final stage when she was leading the women’s race. Carol Joyce took full advantage of the situation to win the race.
Miedema’s nightmare continued as her seconds thought they had missed her at Glenhaven, and raced downriver, leaving her without a replacement paddle. She finished seventh.
“I am out to redeem myself, after last years mishap at Glenhaven,” said a determined Miedema, who will be arriving in Underberg a fortnight before the race, to recce the river and enjoy the relaxed surroundings of the Southern Drakensberg.
The Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge will host the SA K1 River Championships in Underberg on 24 and 25 February. Entries close on 17 February. The race website is at www.canoesa.org.za/DrakChallenge
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