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sean's blog
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1st at Euro Challenge 2011!!!! by Orka paddles, 8 May 2011
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| Euro Challenge 2011
Posted by Alexa Lombard on Wednesday, May 4, 2011
In 2009 Sean Rice headed off to the Euro Challenge, and his first overseas race, he exceded all his expectations and came third since then his paddling career has just got better and better, A year later he moved up another rung on the podium finishing 2nd to Dawid Mocke. The big question this year was could he again climb the podium and finish at the top. After some great results at the end of 2010 there was no reason why he could not.
However this year standing in his way were some of the best paddlers from around the world, Dawid Mocke, Hank MaGreggor, & Jasper Mocke from South Africa, Tim Jacobs, Australia's top paddler and K1 Marathon Legend from Spain Manual Busto, as well as many other top European paddlers all keen to put in a good showing at Europes biigest Surfski race.
The 26km race starts and finishes in the town of La Villa Joyosa, goes past the famed holiday destination, of Benidorm before returning around an island, with the last leg a solid 8km to the finish.
From the gun the 4 South Africans set about dominating the race with a breakaway soon after start. The first Hot Spot after 1.5km was taken by Rice afterwhich himself Jasper Mocke, Hank McGregor and a Spanish double combination broke away.Defending champion Dawid Mocke , and Jacobs were unable to maintain the pace 6kms into the race and fell back, frantically trying to stay there. The second Hot Spot after 14km was again won by Rice.
At the 2nd Hot Spot and the beginning of the Downwind leg Rice broke away from the leading pack and by the Island was a full minute clear and maintained his lead until the finish to claim the title for the first time in 3 outings.
Dawid Mocke amazing charged from 6th place to finish second a mere 39 seconds behind Rice. En route the current World Champion had to catch and pass Jacobs, McGregor and younger brother Jasper. This brought the group together again and a remarkable battle for the remaining two podium positions ensued. With Hank finishing 3rd, Jasper 4th and Tim Jacobs 5th.
In the ladies race newly crowned SA round the cans Surfski Champion Tarryn Brown excelled in her first big race overseas to win by 3min from Choloe Bunnett in 2nd and Angie Mouden in 3rd.
The Surfski world now focuses there attention on Hawaii and the 56km Molokai Challenge crossing between the islands of Molokai and Ohau on the 15 May.
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