Hilary Bruss and Bridgitte Hartley were in a class of their own at the Fish River Canoe Marathon to cruise home to take the 2025 South African K2 title, and despite some unusual errors, the victory was never really in doubt at Cradock in the Eastern Cape, on Sunday, 13 October 2025.
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The senior women’s race was pretty much decided early on Day 1, despite Bruss and Hartley surviving a scare when Hartley fell out at the bottom of Double Trouble Weir. Bruss, remarkably, managed to roll the boat back up and retrieve her partner.
From there, Bruss and Hartley paddled away and started Day 2 with more than a 12-minute lead, which they had extended by another seven minutes by the time they reached Cradock – despite Bruss having to rescue her partner for a second time on Day 2 after Hartley repeated her solo swim at Cradock Weir.
“(The swim at Double Trouble) was the only real problem we had on the first day … we spun out at Soutpans but everything else was perfect,” said Hartley, before adding: “Then on Day 2 we shot Cradock and I fell out again … and Hilary stayed in the boat again, so we had to empty.”
“She manages to save herself by somehow tipping the boat back after I was already out. Sort of like a half roll … my eskimo rolling partner,” she added with a laugh.
“But the rest of the day went perfectly,” said the four-time race winner.
Senior Women’s Results at the 2025 South African K2 Championship
1. Hilary Bruss / Bridgitte Hartley (3:20:49, 2:22:36) 5:43:25
2. Abby Solms / Ashley Craig (3:33:14, 2:30:02) 6:03:17
3. Tayla Isaac / Rachel van Deventer (3:36:50, 2:35:18) 6:12:08
4. Jessica Behn / Amy Hulett (3:39:35, 2:35:25) 6:15:01
5. Keira Hunter / Daisy May Odell (3:44:52, 2:38:31) 6:23:23
Juniors Results
1. Keira Hunter / Daisy May Odell (3:44:52, 2:38:31) 6:23:23
2. Hannah Trower / Libby Ross (3:55:36, 2:39:22) 6:34:59
Original Copy: Tim Whitfield for PaddleSport South Africa, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Hilary Bruss and Bridgitte Hartley (right) were in a class of their own at the Fish River Canoe Marathon to cruise home to take the 2025 South African K2 title, and despite some unusual errors, the victory was never really in doubt at Cradock in the Eastern Cape, on Sunday, 13 October 2025. All Photos: Angelique Hagen / Gameplan Media
Photo 2 Caption: The 2025 SA K2 podium Rachel van Deventer / Tayla Isaac (3rd), Hilary Bruss and Bridgitte Hartley (1st), and Ashley Craig and Abby Solms (2nd).
Photo 3 Caption: The 2025 SA K2 juniors podium Keira Hunter and Daisy May Odell (1st); Libby Ross and Hannah Trower (2nd).
