World series champion Dawid Mocke reclaimed the fourth annual Dragon Run mantle on Saturday, November 27, winning the 24 kilometre open-sea race for the third time.
David Mocke
The South African won the race from Clearwater Bay via the Nine Pins to Stanley main beach in 1:33.30. Australian Jeremy Cotter, who took second last year as well, was right on his tail in 1:34.07. Fellow Aussie David Rhodes rounded out third place in 1:34.20.
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| Jeremy Cotter |
David Rhodes |
Indeed, Australians edged out their South African competitors in the battle over the top ten rankings in the race that attracted more than 100 paddlers. Australia’s Ben Allen was fourth, Bruce Taylor took fifth, Cory Hill ranked seventh, and Michael Booth came in ninth.
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| Ben Allen |
Bruce Taylor |
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| Cory Hill |
Michael Booth |
However, it was a Mocke family event, with Dawid’s brother, Jasper, taking sixth while Nikki Mocke won the women’s event and took 19th overall. Fellow South Africans Herman Chulapsky slid in at eighth and Sean Rice was 10th.
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| Nikki Mocke |
Herman Chulapsky |
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| Sean Rice |
As in previous years, the race started in Clearwater Bay and proceeded SE to the beautiful and rugged Ninepins Islands, then SW past the spectacular Cape D’Aguilar (home of the Hong Kong Marine Reserve) and then to the finish line at the world-renowned tourist destination of Stanley, the home of the famous Stanley Market. We had 10-12 knot winds, which made for beautiful surfing conditions accessible to beginners and perfect for the pros
We handed out US$14,750 in prize money, recognising the top eight international surf ski men and top two international surf ski woman. And we also gave a trophy to the fastest outrigger, who once again was Karel Tresnak Jr.
And we recognized our top local paddlers as well.
Rene Appel, for the fourth consecutive year was the top local surf ski paddler, clocking in at 01:52:53. Camille de Carmejani-Vesc was the fastest surf ski woman, completing the course 2:13:46. Steve Taylor was first amongst the local competition in the OC-1 male division, finishing 2:13:33 and Makino Messan was the top OC-1 woman paddler in 2:39:55.
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| Steve Taylor |
We also want to congratulate Naomi Kobara of Japan who was the fastest overall OC-1 woman, finishing the course in 2:34:05. And we tip our hats to. Japan’s Shun Kobayashi who was the second OC-1 paddler in 2:02.44 while his countryman Kenny Kaneko was third in 2:044.55. They were just minutes behind Hawaii’s Karel Tresnak Jr who won the OC1 division in 1:56.46
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| Shun Kobayashi |
Kenny Kaneko |
Once again, running alongside ‘The Dragon Run’, we held a ‘short course. This year it covered approximately 10 kilometers in the Stanley/Tai Tam Bay, which offers more protected conditions. We are proud to announce that one of our local students from the Hong Kong Sea School, Chu Wai Kin, won the event. His school mates, Li Yin and Chan Man Chun came in second and third respectively. Dubai’s Thea van Der Westhuizen, who raced a surf ski, was the first women to finish the course, and fourth overall was George Christopoulus, who was the first OC-1 male.
This race is possible thanks to our sponsors, the local paddle community who volunteer their time and dip into their pockets to buy raffle tickets and their family who support them when they go missing to the sea on the weekends. We thank you all.
And for those of you who are thinking of racing next year, remember it’s not just about the competition. Many of the paddlers eased the pain by lifting a pint or ten at Wagyu in Central after the race. The next day several hiked to Big Buddha, others went shopping, or lounged on a junk. Some even paddled.
See you in 2011.
