More than 380 athletes from around the world converged on the north coast of Portugal to witness South Africa exert near total dominance by winning four out of the six medals on offer.

Reigning South African ocean race champion Sean Rice added the world title to his collection following a blistering display which saw him return to the shoreline in a time of 1hour 30min 06secs.

Australians Tim Jacobs and Cory Hill took silver and bronze with times of 1:30:46 and 1:36.36 respectively.

"That was my best race I ever raced," said Rice, who will next be in international action at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Duisburg next month, followed by the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in Copenhagen in September.

"I cannot explain.

"It's a fantastic feeling.

"I will go back home now and will start training again, after a big party of course."


Rice's compatriots secured a hat-trick of medals in the main women's race as Olympian Michéle Eray (pictured top) finished in a time of 1:43:27 to take gold by the slimmest of margins and edge-out Michelle Burn by just over a second.

Nikki Mocke completed the podium, taking bronze.

In the men's under 23 race, Australia's Michael Booth prevented another all-South African top three by finishing third behind silver medallist Brandon Van Der Walt and winner Grant van der Walt.

The women's event saw Olympian Teneale Hatton from New Zealand claim victory in a time of 1:44:06, leaving her over four minutes ahead of second placed Mouden Angie from France with South Africa's Bianca Beavitt in third.

South Africa also reasserted its dominance in the junior events.

Kenny Rice - younger brother of Sean - Nicholas Notten and Gene Prato completed another South African clean sweep in the men's race, while Kirsten Flanagan was victorious in the women's race.

Portugal's Catarina Santos took second followed by Jamie Brinkworth from Australia.

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