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 Durban - Race Two of
the Discovery Men's Health Surf Ski Series produced a thrilling finish at Dairy
Beach as Barry Lewin edged out Matt Bouman in a sprint up the beach to the
finish to claim the title in the Lab Series race on Sunday morning.
Idyllic Conditions
Racing in idyllic conditions with small surf and flat, glassy sea conditions,
Lewin lived up to his promise of testing series leader Bouman, which resulted in
an hour long clash of the titans.Lewin made his break in the 15km two
lap race shortly after the lead bunch turned at the first buoy. "I took a leaf
out of Dawid Mocke's book, and decided to go it alone at the front, as fast as
I could," said Lewin.
That
strategy worked well, resulting in a straight two horse race for the title, as
Bouman stayed doggedly on Lewin's tail as he tried to break away
alone.
The pair traded places throughout, racing as breakneck speed, and
were together as the approached the last turning buoy before returning to Dairy
Beach for the finish.
Surfing Finish
Bouman lead at that final buoy, but Lewin timed his
charge through the surf perfectly, and the pair caught the same wave into the
beach together, resulting in a neck-and-neck sprint up the beach to the finish
to decide the outcome of the race.
Lewin was able to cross the line
fractionally ahead of Bouman to take the top honours. "I am so chuffed!" said
Lewin afterwards. "I was less than my best last week, when Matt paddled
brilliantly, and I really wanted to have a go at him in this race, and it all
worked our perfectly."
 Lewin & Bouman sprint up to the finish (Photo: Craig Dutton/Gameplan Media)
Lewin will grab the vital series points for the
win, which are particularly useful in the absence of Hank McGregor, Oscar
Chalupsky, Dawid Mocke and Clint Pretorius who are in Hawaii preparing for the
Molokai Challenge next weekend.Darryl Bartho finished third, a minute
ahead of Herman Chalupsky and Steve Woods. Vets Gary Waud and Glenn Hilliar were
once again the first double ski crew home.
Ladies Race
Tiffany Kruger took the female
honours, winning comfortably over Belinda Carbutt and Danica Vorster. Kruger
finished just ahead of the leading women's double ski combination of Angelique
Mulder and Donna Winter.
 Tiffany Kruger took the ladies race (Photo: Craig Dutton/Gameplan Media)
The Mixed doubles title produced a carbon copy
result from last weekend, with siblings Wayne and Laura Thompson winning ahead
of Brett and Nicky Irvine.
Shaun Austin won the boys division, while
Under 13 star Lauren Felgate took the girls prize.
The race was held in
very calm conditions and once again attracted a big field of ski paddlers, which
savoured the smooth ocean conditions and water visibility of around fifty
metres.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
1.Barry Lewin 00:59:30
2.Matt Bouman
00:59:31
3.Daryl Bartho 1:02:29
4.Herman Chalupsky 1:03:26
5.Steve
Woods 1:03:27
Women
1.Tiffany Kruger 1:10:00
2.Belinda Carbutt
1:16:23
3.Danica Vorster 1:17:34
Mixed
double
1.Wayne Thompson/Laura Thompson 1:04:25
2.Brett Irvine/Nicky
Irvine 1:04:35
3.Michelle Eder/Oliver Burne 1:06:23
S2
1.Gary Ward/Glen Hilliar
1:02:34
2.Steve Wilson/Simon Britz 1:02:55
3.Butch Murray/Mark Germiquet
1:02:00
Women
doubles
1.Angelique Mulder/Donna Winter 1:10:19
2.Hillary Pitchford/Claire
Bush 1:11:23
The Discovery Men's Health
Series moves to next weekend. Details can be found at www.surfski.co.za
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