The 2015 Mazars South African Surfski Championships were not without their drama however it was Dawid Mocké who managed to conquer the conditions and the rest of the field in the men’s singles whilst brother Jasper and Hank McGregor won the doubles with Dawid’s wife Nikki winning both the ladies singles and doubles titles in Cape Town this past weekend.
The Mocké Paddling star was up against a world class field that included the likes of Hank McGregor (Euro Steel/Epic Kayaks), his brother Jasper (Euro Steel/Mocké Paddling) as well as former Ocean Racing World Champion Sean Rice (Think Kayaks) however the 38 year-old held his nerve to clinch the prestigious national title.
“I really didn’t go into the race with huge expectations to be honest,” mentioned Mocké star after his win. “I have backed off a bit with my racing recently however when I saw the weather prediction I was ready and knew that they were going to suit me.”
“I must admit that everything lined up for me on Sunday – as well as for Nikki (Mocké)!”
With some of the best ocean paddlers in the world up against him, Mocké’s understated expectations were understandable.
However the competitive field was minus one early on due the dramatic withdrawal of Hank McGregor after his ski was pierced from behind, leaving him floundering someway off shore in notoriously shark infested waters and eventually having to swim/paddle himself and his craft ashore.
Despite McGregor’s absence, Mocké was still up against a number of world champions in various paddling disciplines and had his work cut out for him during the initial push to the turning can.
“It was really hectic into the wind and Matt Bouman started really well and was really strong going to the turning can which gave him a good lead when he got to the can.
“At the turn the line from there is quite deceptive and I think a little home ground knowledge helped me because Matt took a different line.
“Simon van Gysen followed me and we caught Matt about two or three kilometres into the downwind section and then I managed to get two or three good runs into the finish which got me a 50 metre gap to the line,” an elated Mocké said.
The victory was made that much sweeter because of the significance that the Fish Hoek waters have to Mocké and his family.
“There is a memorial bench set up for my late dad and I knew that he would have loved to watch the race this weekend.
“Getting a victory like this in my home waters is incredibly special and to do it on the Miller’s Run, where Jasper and I have done so much training, is incredible.
“It is definitely right up there in the top three achievements of my career!” the veteran star beamed.
The ladies race was an intense affair as it was a straight fight between Nikki Mocké and 2015 Berg River Canoe Marathon champion Bianca Beavitt (Century City/Pink Lady).
The race ended in a flat out sprint which Mocké won by a single second, handing the Mocké clan a clean sweep in the men’s and ladies divisions.
The racing in the junior divisions was also hard fought with Kenny Rice (Think Kayaks) proving too strong for the rest of the Under-23 Men’s field as he took the honours ahead of brothers Dominic and Nicholas Notten respectively.
In the Under-18 race is was Fish Hoek local Mark Keeling who blew the rest of the junior boys field away as he paddled to a commanding five minute victory over Bailey de Foundaumiere and William Wood.
The singles action was preceded by Saturday’s doubles clashes whereby Dawid’s brother Jasper Mocké triumphed with regular river and flat water marathon partner McGregor.
The pair, who won silver in the K2 event at the 2015 ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in Gyor in September, finished just ahead of the impressive Under-23 pair of Kenny Rice and Dominic Notten with Dawid Mocké and Tom Schilperoot finishing third.
Nikke Mocké’s doubles win with Rebecca Newson on Saturday started her bid for a clean sweep of the weekend’s racing.
Mark Keeling also ensured he took home two gold medals after he and De Foundaumiere claimed the junior boys doubles title.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS – MAZARS SA SURSFKI CHAMPIONSHIPS
SINGLES
Overall
1.Dawid Mocke 01:02.35
2.Simon van Gysen 01:02.56
3.Matthew Bouman 01:03.28
4.Sean Rice01:03.42
5.Jasper Mocke 01:04.01
6.Tom Schilperoort 01:04.33
7.Kenny Rice (U23) 01:05.23
8.Dominic Notten (U23) 01:06.29
9.Bevon Manson 01:06.57
10.Nicholas Notten (U23) 01:07.07
Women
1.Nikki Mocké 01:17.01
2.Bianca Beavitt 01:17.02
3.Kim van Gysen 01:22.09
4.Chloe Bunnett 01:24.04
5.Rebecca Newson 01:27.58
Under 23 Men
1.Kenny Rice 01:05.23
2.Dominic Notten 01:06.29
3.Nicholas Notten 01:07.07
Under 18 Boys
1.Mark Keeling 01:08.43
2.Bailey de Foundaumiere 01:13.54
3.William Wood 01:15.24
DOUBLES
Overall
1.Hank McGregor/Jasper Mocké 01:00.27
2.Kenny Rice/Dominic Notten (U23) 01:00.52
3.Dawid Mocké/Tom Schilperoot 01:01.43
4.Brandon van der Walt/Stuart Maclaren 01:02.25
5.Simon van Gysen/Ian Black 01:02.41
6.Nicholas Notten/Shanti Stewart (U23) 01:03.21
7.Tyron Maher/Gene Prato (U23) 01:04.03
8.Mark Keeling/Bailey de Foundaumiere (U18) 01:04.46
9.Herman Chalupsky/Oscar Chalupsky 01:05.37
10.Paul Marais/Greg Barnard 01:05.49
Women
1.Nikki Mocké/Rebecca Newson 01:12.01
2.Kim van Gysen/Alex Adie 01:15.36
3.Chloe Bunnett/Anna Notten 01:18.11
Under 23 Men
1.Kenny Rice/Dominic Notten 01:00.52
2.Nicholas Notten/Shanti Stewart 01:03.21
3.Tyron Maher/Gene Prato 01:04.03
Under 18 Boys
1.Mark Keeling/Bailey de Foundaumiere 01:04.46
2.Anders Hart/Zachery Preyser 01:08.42
3.Tristan Bernstein/Brett Evans 01:09.45