WITH this year’s FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon just under two months away, a number of exciting combinations have surfaced in the steady flow of entries being processed at the race’s Natal Canoe Club headquarters at Camps Drift.
Six-time FNB Dusi champion Andy Birkett seems to be a clear favourite when he teams up with two-time race winner, Hank McGregor. The pairs pedigree is unrivalled and with Birkett hunting down a seventh title, which will equal Dusi Duke Martin Dreyer’s achievement, it will be difficult to look past these two.
The title is by no means a given though with a number of crews eyeing the prize scalp of the World Marathon K1 gold and silver medallists. Amongst those crews is one of the only other winners of the three-day race, Sbonelo Khwela.
He, Ant Stott and Thulani Mbanjwa will be the only other previous winners of the Dusi at the sharp end of A Batch.
Khwela and Siseko Ntondini will pair up as one of the most exciting duos at the 2018 edition of the Dusi. The pair recently won the Ozzie Gladwin Canoe Marathon, presented by Parklane Super Spar, and just cemented their reputation as threatening gold medallists.
Another pair that was well in the running for a podium before they were struck down by illness in 2016 were the Houston brothers, Andrew and Alan.
The Mooi River raised youths will once again be another tough nut to crack and should they manage to remain healthy throughout they will be a duo that could push for a top three finish.
