Fairy tale Dusi ending for Haw sisters, Birkett and Nzimande
In the men's race, Andy Birkett won his tenth title along with his K2 partner, Khumbulani Nzimande, who won his first-ever title.
THIS year’s Dusi Canoe Marathon came to a thrilling end at Blue Lagoon on Saturday as Andy Birkett won his tenth title along with a first-time winner Khumbulani Nzimande as Tamika and Bianca Haw coasted to a maiden title.
Both crews started the third and final day with solid leads in their respective races as 36 intrepid kilometres stood between them and victory.
In the men’s race the pair of Birkett and Nzimande didn’t have it all their own way despite powering across the dam stretch that starts the day.
They increased their lead (over Sbonelo Khwela and Thulani Mbanjwa) by forty seconds in the initial stages but lost that advantage when Nzimande couldn’t put his splash cover on in the Tops Needle rapid and they took on water.
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From there they had to get out and empty which cost them around a minute as they got back in and powered home.
“It’s never plane sailing on the Dusi and you will always have some hiccups along the way,” Birkett said after the win. “It’s been such an incredible journey with Khumbulani and he was so tough and showed incredible BMT to step up every day. He was so strong and I think he got fitter as the days went on.”
The ladies race saw the Haw sisters, Tamika and Bianca, maintain their significant lead in the race on a mistake-free day into Durban and a first title for the Southern Drakensberg sisters.
Younger sister Bianca, who was in the front of the boat, was ecstatic that they achieved their goal of an overall win.
“It still hasn’t quite sunk in yet that we have won,” she said. “We wanted to win the race but we wanted to enjoy it, and we did.”
The sisters went through the build-up races under the radar but Tamika knew that they had the ability when the race came about.
“We know that paddling isn’t our strongest point and the pre-races didn’t have a lot of running so we weren’t too worried. Winning the race was the focus and to have done that is really special considering it’s my tenth and Yankee’s fifth,” Tamika said on the eve of her surprise batchelorette party.
Cana Peek and Durban North resident, Christie Mackenzie were going to have to rely on some misfortune for the boat ahead of them to make up the deficit, however that was not to be.
They put in a solid day despite a swim at the bottom of Island rapid and were strong enough to hold on to second place.
A third strong day of paddling from Jenna Ward (Mount Edgecombe) and Kyeta Purchase (La Lucia) saw them stroke home to the bottom spot on the podium.
In the age group tussles the U23 men’s crown went to Thabani Msia and Mvelo Ngidi, who led the race from start to finish, ahead of Hamish Mackenzie and David Evans while Alex Masina and Bongani Ntinga claimed the bronze.
Peek and Mackenzie dominated the women’s U23 category ahead of Amy Peckett and Cara Waud while the U18 crew of Georgina Howard and Danville Park Girls’ High School learner, Saskia Hockly were the third U23 women’s boat home.
For more results, visit www.dusi.co.za.
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