Durban North resident Christie Mackenzie crowned Dusi queen
Incredible finish to the women's race of the Dusi Canoe Marathon.
AN incredible end sprint saw Christie Mackenzie win her first FNB Dusi Crown from a valiant Tamika Haw while Andy Birkett fought illness to claim his ninth Dusi title at Blue Lagoon on Saturday afternoon.
The ladies race was always going to be a tight tussle into Durban with neither Mackenzie nor Haw giving an inch. The pair continued to match each other stroke for stroke right to the line where Mackenzie won a thrilling end sprint.
Day three consists of a number of tricky rapids but it is always defined by the infamous Burma Road portage. It was an enthralling battle of attrition as both paddlers took turns at the front on both the water and on the portages.
“It was a pretty nerve wracking day for me to be honest,” the former Our Lady of Fatima learner said. “Before the stage I told myself that I needed to keep it conservative and avoid making mistakes because I had made so many in the first two days. I couldn’t get my splash cover on at Tops Needle and so I started to panic but after that I managed to calm down.”
What an unbelievable end sprint in the ladies race!! Christie Mackenzie takes her first title with Tamika Haw right behind!! #FNBDusi2019 pic.twitter.com/qvpR38wtNR
— Dusi Canoe Marathon (@DusiCanoe) February 16, 2019
The portage up and over Burma Road was set to be a major decider in the contest for a maiden title between the two and it turned out that neither wanted to budge and they couldn’t be separated until the final few metres.
“I have never run up Burma Road so hard in my whole life,” Mackenzie added. “When we put in on the otherside I was absolutely buggered and knew that I had to stay with Tamika because there wasn’t a lot left in the tank.”
Mackenzie’s marathon prowess came to the fore at the death when she had to take on Haw in a flat end sprint and the Under 23 star believed that should it come down to it she would have the upper hand.
“Having an end sprint with her yesterday meant that I was fairly confident that I could pull it off today. I just wanted to make sure that I was pulling coming into the finish and I got myself in a good position at the end,” a relieved Mackenzie said.
Dusi results
Overall Men
1.Andy Birkett 2:31:23 8:09:48
2.Sbonelo Khwela 2:28:29 8:11:55
3.Thulani Mbanjwa 2:35:52 8:29:07
4.Khumbulani Nzimande 2:34:01 8:32:21
5.Andrew Houston 2:34:05 8:32:25
Overall Women
1.Christie Mackenzie (U23) 3:00:38 10:00:11
2.Tamika Haw 3:00:38 10:00 12
3.Amy Peckett (U18) 3:05:29 10:28:07
4.Jenna Ward 3:08:46 10:28:09
5.Tracey Oellerman (U23) 3:22:31 11:23:11
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