DURBAN, 28 JUNE 2016 – The King of surfski, Hank McGregor (Jeep Team), continues his reign of back-to-back victories, this time winning the FNB Durban Downwind Surfski title in Durban on Sunday, 26 June 2016. This is the first time McGregor has won this title since race inception in 2014. 

The third edition of the annual race, which doubled as a World Surfski Series title event, took place in flat ocean conditions, testing paddlers’ endurance and stamina as they raced 26km from La Mercy Beach to Addington Beach. 

McGregor set the pace from the start claiming the FNB Durban Downwind title in 1h44m50. 

Last year’s winner, Matthew Bouman, placed 2nd in 1h45m54, followed by Mark Anderson in 3rd (1h48m54), Gene Prato 4th (1h49m27) and Jeep Team’s Barry Lewin in 5th (1h50m40).

Said McGregor, “I’m stoked to take the win this time around. I narrowly lost it two years ago so it’s nice to win the Durban Downwind for the first time. I was in hospital on Friday so it was a hit and miss whether I was going to race but I’m glad I was able to get out there. Conditions were pretty tough. There was hardly any assistance really so it was a hard slog for 26kms. I managed to get out in front early and then kept the guys behind me for the rest of the race. There weren’t too many tactics involved really.”

It’s been a busy month for paddling legend, McGregor, with back-to-back victories across surfski and canoe marathon paddling disciplines. On 29 May 2016, he claimed his third Maui Jim Molokai Surfski Challenge title in Hawaii. This 53km surfski ultra marathon is considered the world’s toughest surfski event. 

Just days after this victory, and still recovering from jet lag, McGregor won the world’s oldest surfski event, the Illovo Pirates Umhlanga Pirates Surfski Race, which took place in Durban on 5 June. 

He then swapped his surfski for a canoe to claim the K1 2016 South African Canoe Marathon Championship, which took place in Cape Town on 11 June. This result means he has qualified for the 2016 ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships, happening in Brandenburg, Germany, in September.

Now he’s on his way to Mauritius for the 2016 Mauritius Ocean Classic World Surfski Series race, taking place on 2 July 2016. Jeep Team team mate, Barry Lewin will also be competing in the Mauritius Ocean Classic.

2016 FNB DURBAN DOWNWIND RESULTS

1. Hank McGregor 1:44.50
2. Matt Bouman 1:45.54
3. Mark Anderson (AUS) 1:48.54
4. Gene Prato 1:49.27
5. Barry Lewin 1:50.40
6. Luke Nisbet 1:50.52
7. Bailey de Fondaumiere (U18) 1:52.35
8. Jason Ekstrand 1:53.06
9. Steve Woods 1:53.43
10. Wade Krieger 1:54.10

Other Jeep Team results

MTB

On Saturday, 25 June 2016, Jeep Team’s MTB athlete, Thinus Redelinghuys, competed in Race#4 of the 2016 USN MTB Cup Series.

The 50km race took place at the Big Red barn, near Irene, Gauteng. Redelinghuys managed an impressive podium finish, placing 2nd overall.

#JeepTeamSA 

Editors’ Notes

For more information please contact Bronwen Blunden on 079 060 1905 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

PIETERMARITZBURG, 8 JUNE 2016 – Just days after winning the world’s toughest surfski ultra marathon, the Maui Jim Molokai Challenge in Hawaii, Jeep Team’s Hank McGregor was back racing on home turf, this time claiming victory at the world’s oldest surfski event, the Illovo Pirates Umhlanga Pirates Surfski Race, which took place in Durban on Sunday, 5 June.

McGregor finished the 27km race in 1h59, followed by Matt Bouman in second place (2h05m30) and Wade Krieger in 3^rd in 2h05m55. Luke Nisbet placed 4^th in 2h07m26, with Jeep Team’s Barry Lewin in 5^th (2h07m42).

The first Pirates Umhlanga Pirates Surfski Race took place in 1957, which makes it the oldest surfski race in the world, and cements Durban’s status as the birthplace of surfski.

Said McGregor, "It was a really solid day for me and I am really happy to get another win here even though I am still battling with a bit of jet lag. There was a good following tail wind all the way to Umhlanga. The wind was against the current so you felt like you were going faster than you actually were and then on the return, we were with the current but into the wind, which made it a pretty tough day out. I managed to get quite a big lead on Matt Bouman early on, and then I turned with the doubles so that gave me a good incentive into the final leg.”

After making headlines across the country for his surfski achievements over recent weeks, McGregor’s focus now shifts to the 2016 South African Canoe Marathon Championships in Cape Town on 11 and 12 June 2016.

"We have the South African Marathon Champs, which is also the national trials for the World Champs in Germany later this year, so I will hopefully be selected so I can defend my World Marathon title,” said McGregor.

2016 ILLOVO PIRATES UMHLANGA PIRATES SURFSKI RESULTS -25km

1. Hank Mcgregor - 1:59:16.64
2. Matthew Bouman - 2:05:30.76
3. Wade Krieger - 2:05:55.09
4. Luke Nisbet - 2:07:26.23
5. Barry Lewin - 2:07:42.37

Other Jeep Team results

OCR

Jeep Team’s OCR athlete, Carina Marx, showed her mettle when she competed in Race#3 of the tough IMPI Challenge, which took place at Virginia Trails in Eston, KwaZulu-Natal, on Saturday, 4 June.

Marx raced in the IMPI Elite category, which is a 20km trail run approximately 26 to 28 obstacles. She achieved an impressive 2^nd place finish in 2h26m. Trish Bahlmann won the women’s race in 2h20m, with Catherine Robson placing 3^rd in 2h46m.

Said Marx, “The Impi Challenge took place in a stunning venue, but that was quickly forgotten by competitors as we faced the tough course consisting of cavernous tracks, kloofing, mud running and a swim through icy water. I had to dig deep to keep up with Trish [Bahlman], who is a strong trail runner, and I managed to finish just a few minutes behind her. All in all it was a great race!”

#JeepTeamSA 

Editors’ Notes

For more information please contact Bronwen Blunden on 079 060 1905 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..