The South African veterans and masters added a further six K2 medals to the team haul after another solid days racing at conclusion of the Masters Cup that precedes the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships.
Lee McGregor and Hilde Lepere wrapped up rare double golds at the event, adding K2 
golds to their K1 titles, Lapere with ex-pat South African Margie Bohn, now living in Australia, and McGregor racing with Bruce Gipson.
“Today was a hard one, very long after our K1 racing the day before,” said Lapere. “We started hard and they kept our pace throughout the whole race.”
Steve Jourdan, who has managed the SA Marathon team for the last twelve years, finally bagged a medal of his own, securing a bronze in the 65-69 year age category with Cape paddler Johan van Rooyen.
“It was the first time that Johan has ever driven a K2 with a t-bat,” said Jordan. “It all came together in the end and we had a brilliant race. After a decade of managing teams and plenty of fourths to finally have a medal of my own feels very special.”
“Steve was a fantastic engine in the back, not a diesel engine but a formula one engine!” said Van Rooyen.
Gustav Smook and ex-pat Jan Malherbe, now representing Canada, won gold in the Men’s 45-49 category while Willem van Riet won his second Masters Cup medal with a solid win in the Men’s 70+ K2 race with countryman Mike Howard.
The programme on Friday shifts to the World Championships proper with K1 races in the Under 23 and Junior classes.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
MASTERS CUP K2 RACES
K2 Men 65-69
1 Svenning JØrgensen/Peter Patasi DEN/CAN1:33:21.145
2 Chris van den Berg/Richard Venniker RSA/RSA 1:35:55.969
3 Stephen Jourdan/Johan van Rooyen RSA/RSA 1:48:17.937
K2 Men >70
1 Willem van Riet/Mike Howard RSA/RSA 1:48:04.979
K2 Men 60-64
1 Lee McGregor/Bruce Gipson RSA/USA 1:25:56.062
2 Shaun Koos/Hermelindo Soto CAN/MEX 1:33:16.176
3 Borisse Prochouinene/Marian Nemec CAN/CAN 1:38:36.428
K2 Men 45-49
1. Gustav Smook/Jan Malherbe RSA/CAN
K2 Women 50-54
1 Hilde Lapere/Margi Bohm RSA/AUS 1:38:43.611
2 Sonja Gilman/Janet Perry USA/USA 1:46:36.777