Shaoxing – The aftershocks from the withdrawal of twelve-time world champion Hank McGregor continue to ripple through the South African marathon canoeing team in action at the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in the Eastern Chinese city of Shaoxing with the news that McGregor’s initial replacement Nicky Notten couldn’t complete his visas requirements to get to the event in time for Saturdays K1 race.
The Capetonian was offered the place in the K1 and K2 teams to replace McGregor after a superb showing at national champs that doubled at the trials, and initial signs pointed to him being able to arrange the visas in time to make the flight to China.
“The harder we looked, the less we saw,” said a disappointed Notten after discussions with embassy officials couldn’t secure the visas in time for the intercontinental rush to Shaoxing.
“I was filled with optimism when Canoeing South Africa offered me the place, and it genuinely looked like we could sort the visas out. Every hurdle we saw we tried to jump straight over it!”
“It was a massive honour to offered the place, and the great thing is that there would have been no pressure or expectation on me. But it became clear as the visa issue became more complicated, that it was not meant to be.
“What has excited me is the overwhelming support and response from the canoeing community when it was announced,” he added.
Once it was clear that Notten would not be able to make it to China to fill McGregor’s boots, Andy Birkett withdrew from the K2 race, leaving the selectors to fill a boat in both the senior men’s K1 and K2 races.
The K1 race will be contested by Birkett and Clinton Cook, who stepped in at the eleventh hour to race the new short course event, while the vacant K2 spot will be taken by Cook and Bryan le Roux.
