DUSI Queen Abbey Ulansky clinched a record ninth career victory on Saturday when she and her partner, fast emerging Dusi Princess Robyn Kime, held off a valiant effort from Abby Adie and Anna Adamova to clinch a hard-fough victory in the women’s race of the 2014 Dusi Canoe Marathon.
Kime and Ulansky started the day with just ninety seconds in the bank and knew they were always going to be in for a tough final stage if they were to claim a third consecutive title as a partnership.
A brave effort on the Burma Road portage in the midday heat and a strong finish saw them narrowly edge out a flying Adie and Adamová by just a single minute after 119km of racing.
““We are over the moon to make it three in a row! Robs and I have paddled together for a while and formed a great partnership and this year was more challenging for us as number one we had stronger competition and number two we have had other commitments, so we weren’t as strong as we wanted to be but we had great fun and really worked hard,” said Ulansky.
“The win really is a cherry on the top of a fantastic trip back to South Africa. We worked hard for this win, which makes it even more special, and a great compliment to visiting friends and family in South Africa,” she added.
Ulansky subsequently announced her retirement from competitive racing at the Dusi while Kime will be out of paddling action in South Africa for the foreseeable future as she embarks on a sailing and mountain climbing adventure to and around South America.
“I’ve just finished my masters two weeks ago which has made the build-up to this year’s race quite challenging,” said Kime. “Now that the Dusi is done and my studies are done I’m free and my boyfriend and I are going travelling. We are joining an expedition to South America where we sailing from Cape Town to Brazil andthen we’ll go climb some mountains in Bolivia and Peru and I’m very excited about that!” she added.
For Adie it was a bitter-sweet result as she and Adamová came so close to victory however eventually had to settled for her sixth consecutive second place.
“We tried so hard and it’s a little disappointing to have come so close and not been able to win it but we worked really hard and in the end it wasn’t quite enough,” said Adie.
Under-23 sisters Bianca and Tamika Haw hung onto their overnight third position to round out the podium while Hilary Bruss and alex Adie as well as Jen Theron and Jane Swarbreck rounded out the top five.
Camilla Pennefather and Cana Peek claimed the spoils in the under-18 girls race ahead of Sarah Harries and Julia Trodd.
2014 DUSI CANOE MARATHON
Women
1.Robyn Kime/Abbey Ulansky 2:31.02 8:50.59
2.Abby Adie/Anna Adamova 2:30.05 8:52.06
3.Tamika Haw/Bianca Haw (U23) 2:41.26 9:36.35
4.Hilary Bruss/Alex Adie 2:45.39 9:43.20
5.Jen Theron/Jane Swarbreck 2:40.19 9:46.12
6. Jenna ward/Kerry Segal (U23) 2:38.04 10.00.03
7.Carmen Donald/Debbie Germiquet 2:50.12 10:06.08
8.Jordan Peek/Brittany Petersen (U23) 2:42.27 10:07.04
9.Susan Carter-Brown/Kelly Howe 2:50.58 10:18.37
10.Camilla Pennefather/Cana Peek (U18) 2:47.21 10:36.47
U23 Women
1.Tamika Haw/Bianca Haw 2:41.26 9:36.35
2.Jenna ward/Kerry Segal 2:38.04 10.00.03
3.Jordan Peek/Brittany Petersen 2:42.27 10:07.04
