Sport | Other Sports
Jacobs and Eray make big splash
Australian Tim Jacobs and South African Michele Eray claimed top honours in the 'Dubai Shamal' surf ski race held at Mina Seyahi on Tuesday.
- By Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:25 December 2, 2008
- Close to 150 paddlers were in action at Mina Seyahi on Tuesday to compete in the Dubai Shamal, a surf-ski race that helped launch the Sea Dubai Watersports festival. The festival will continue until December 13.
- Image Credit: Supplied picture
Dubai: Australian Tim Jacobs and South African Michele Eray claimed top honours in the 'Dubai Shamal' surf ski race held at Mina Seyahi on Tuesday.
Chasing Jacobs home was South Africa's Clint Pretorius and Jeremy Cotter of Australia in second and third respectively. And in the women's, it was Eray being followed by Alexa Cole and Kirsty Holmes.
Jacobs was delighted with his effort that fetched him a large share of the $130,000 prize booty.
The race helped launch the Sea Dubai Watersports Festival that kicked off under the patronage of Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Culture and Arts Authority.
Among the star-studded field that participated in the Dubai Shamal were Olympians Tim Brabants of the UK, Australian Ken Wallace, Norwegian Eirik Vermaas Larsen and Ben Fouley.
"To finish ahead of such an international field is a great result for me," beamed Jacobs.
With nearly 150 paddlers in contention for the honours, the early leaders were Cotter and Hank McGregor.
Murray Stewart joined them at an easy looking pace while Steve Woods and Bronkhurst followed closely.
But McGregor and Cotter took a 70 metre lead from the following pack with Kirsty Holmes in the early leaders among the women. But this situation did not last long as Jacobs nudged ahead past the 5 km gate.
"I knew that I would have a chance if I kept up the early pressure," Jacobs stated.
That ploy paid off as the Australian maintained his placing to finish nearly 100 metres clear of Pretorius. The South African lad was thrilled at his second place, terming his Dubai Shamal success the best race of his career.
"This is probably the hardest race I have done, but it is also the most satisfying," he said.
"My idea was to stay among the top group all the while so that I could give myself a chance during the downwind," Pretorius said.
Disappointed at finishing fifth, South African Dawid Mocke was angy with the bad start. "I don't want to take anything away from Tim [Jacobs], but things could have been a lot better if the start had been organised properly," Mocke said.
Meanwhile, Jacobs is next headed for a couple of local surf ski races back home in Australia as part of his preparations for the World Cup race to be held in Perth in January next year.
The Sea Dubai Watersports Festival will continue till December 13 with the hosting of the 22-foot traditional dhow sailing race today at Mina Seyahi. Among the sponsors for this event are Emirates airline, Dubai Duty Free, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi and the Westin Hotel.
Results
Men: 1. Tim Jacobs; 2. Clint Pretorius; 3. Jeremy Cotter; 4. Caine Eckstien; 5. Dawid Mocke.
Women: 1. Michele Eray; 2. Alexa Cole; 3. Kirsty Holmes.
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