Flawless Khwela unstoppable at Non-Stop Dusi
Sbonelo Khwela charged to his maiden K1 ‘Dusi in a Day’ title at Blue Lagoon on Friday.
DESPITE near unbearable heat and testing low conditions, a fifth Non-Stop Dusi Canoe Marathon title became a reality for Sbonelo Khwela when he dominated proceedings in the second half of the grueling 110km contest, as he charged to his maiden K1 ‘Dusi in a Day’ title at Blue Lagoon on Friday.
Having won the race on four previous occasions – all in a K2 – getting a K1 victory under the belt was not only satisfying, but also a relief for the Euro Steel/Red Bull star.
“In 2014 I tried to convince myself to do the Non-Stop in a K1 but I ended up doing it with Hank McGregor and we won. I would really like to thank my wife for convincing me to do the race in a K1 last year and then helping me to get back into a K1 for this year’s race. She kept on pushing me and saying that I am the only person that can win the race in a K1 so I am really happy that she managed to convince me again!” Khwela said.
With the Henley Dam water release topping up the uMsundusi River, Khwela played a tactical game, from the start of the race to Yellow Rock portage – shortly before Dusi Bridge, the end of the first day of the traditional three day long FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon.
The experience of the now five-time winner then came to the fore as he kept his wits about him and avoided getting suckered into the slugging match that was unfolding ahead of him.
“I knew that the K2s were going to have the better of the conditions in the first bit of the race with the higher water so I knew that I had to hold on because they were going to try and break me early on. I realised that I had to drop back and let the guys up front work hard and then I made my move at what would have been the start of day two of Dusi and from there I caught the guys one by one. When I got to Nqumeni portage I realised that I could do it so I managed to create a big gap over Banji (Thulani Mbanjwa) and Siboniso (Shozi) but then we were back together on Inanda Dam. I managed to get away from them again though and then I didn’t look back,” Khwela added.
With the late withdrawal by early pre-race favourite Abby Solms (Euro Steel), Kelly Howe and Susan Carter-Brown surged to the front of the field from the get-go and never once relinquished their lead despite the chase of Jordan and Kim Peek.
Howe and Carter-Brown add their Non-Stop Dusi victory to their 2016 FNB Dusi fifth place performance, rounding out an impressive KZN K2 river season in the uMsundusi and uMngeni valleys together.
