Hard work ahead of Dusi

Liam Stewart (17), one of Gauteng’s top junior paddlers, has been hard at work training for the upcoming FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon from Thursday, February 16 to Saturday, February 18.

The infamous endurance canoe race of 120km starts in Pietermaritzburg and ends in Durban, with a number of portages (running with the boat).

Young Stewart participated in the Two Day Klip from Walkerville to the Vaal River, some 70kms, on the weekend of January 28 and January 29 while the river was in full spate after recent rainfall in Gauteng.

Despite losing his paddle at some stage and taking time to find another, Stewart finished the race as the third u-18 paddler, in a time of five hours and 55 minutes over the two days.

His father, Michael, was unable to finish the race due to an injured intercostal rib muscle, which he hopes will be healed in time for the endurance race; otherwise he will be seconding his son at his first K1 (single boat) Dusi race.

On Sunday, February 5 Liam also participated in the Dabs Dusi Jozi training race at Emmarentia Dam, hosted by the Dabulamanzi Canoe Club.

The race consisted of 18km of non-flowing water, being 18 laps around the small dam, with a 3km portage.

The paddlers now look forward to their rest before the Dusi.

The Ashton International College learner finished the strenuous race with steep competition in a time of one hour and 44 minutes as the third best placed u-18.