Durban – As the 2016 Varsity College FNB Marine Surfski Series heads into the business end the IT Works Surfski Challenge, Race 8 of the series, provided Matt Bouman the ideal chance to give himself the overall edge in the series as he claimed his fourth win whilst Nicole Russell asserted her dominance on the ladies standings on Friday.

The race began with a backline start due to the bumpy conditions before the south westerly wind came through which made the race slightly more interesting however it was Bouman who relished the conditions as he paddled away from race 3 winner Wade Krieger.

With the win Bouman moves ahead of Hank McGregor in the standings with one more win than the defending series champion with just two races left in the series.

With six of your best results counting, the absence of McGregor on Friday has given Bouman the edge as McGregor will need to produce positive results in the final two races if he wishes to qualify for the final standings.

The epic rivalry between the two is expected to come to a head in the final two weeks of the ten-week series. With eight races under the belt having the series come down to the final two races gives the popular surfski contest the finale it deserves.

The ladies race was another one-sided affair as Fenn Kayaks’ Nicole Russell stormed home ahead of a strong field. It was another impressive win for Russell which gives her an unassailable lead going into the final two races as she registered her sixth win of the series.

Russell, who was under pressure through the early races of the series, has come through strongly towards the end and her sixth win of the series meaning that those six results count towards her overall series result.

Hayley Nixon (Nee Arthur) was the strongest of the rest of the field as she finished second with impressive junior Kyeta Purchase staving off the challenge of friend Jenna Ward to take the finah podium spot.

The doubles race was won by Luke and Adam Nisbet who were the first boat across the line. In the junior showdown Bailey de Fondaumiere continued his good form with another win in the junior category as the rivalry with Luke Criticos continues with the latter finishing in a close second.

The popular short course was dominated by Malec Odendaal who finished just under two minutes ahead of the second single ski of Daryn Brown whilst the mixed pair of Travis Wilkinson and Rachel Wilkinson finished as the first double.

The HiQ Surfski Challenge, race nine of the 2016 Varsity College FNB Marine Surfski Series, takes place at 17h30 on Friday, 4 March at Marine Surf Lifesaving Club, Addington Beach. More information can be found at www.marineseries.co.za

SUMMARY OF RESULTS – IT WORKS SURFSKI CHALLENGE
RACE EIGHT OF THE 2016 VARSITY COLLEGE FNB MARINE SURFSKI SERIES

LONG COURSE
Overall
1.Matthew Bouman 34.24
2.Wade Krieger 36.38
3.Steve Woods 36.39
4.Jason Ekstrand 37.31
5.Gene Prato 37.45
6.Bailey De Fondaumiere (U18) 38.34
7.Luke Criticos (U18) 39.24
8.Paul Rabinonitz 39.55
9.Greg Worthington 40.55
10.Shadrack Mkhize 41.16

Women
1.Nicole Russell 41.24
2.Hayley Nixon 42.28
3.Kyeta Pruchase (U18) 43.16
4.Jenna Ward 43.38
5.Donna Tutton 44.07

Junior Boys
1.Bailey De Fondaumiere 38.34
2.Luke Criticos 39.24
3.Dante Lahore (U16) 47.12

Junior Girls
1.Kyeta Purchase 40.48

Doubles
1.Adam Nisbet/Luke Nisbet 34.17
2.Grant van der Walt/Lee Furby 35.01
3.Zoog Haynes/Linton Hope 35.58

Mixed Doubles
1.Jody Taylor/Kerry Segal 41.32
2.Yohan Keulder/Louisa van Staden 49.59

SHORT COURSE
Singles
1.Malex Odendaal 20.41
2.Daryn Brown 22.32
3.Keaton Riddle (U18) 23.32

Doubles
1.Travis Wilkinson/Rachel Wilkinson 21.45
2.Bruce Pender-Smith/Matthew Pender-Smith 22.58
3.Philip Symons/Lauren Norton 23.00

SUPs
Men
1.Brandon Read 30.52
2.Shayne Chipps 31.35
3.Grantley Read 32.25

Women
1.Jackie de Billot 34.29
2.Lande Williamson 42.43

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