ANDY Birkett ended a three year spell of coming second by finally bagging the Ozzie Gladwin title, outduelling his Dusi Canoe Marathon partner Sbonelo Khwela, while Laura O’Donoghue raced away from a strong field to claim a dominant victory in the women’s race on Sunday.
The men’s race was a fascinating showdown between Birkett, Khwela and another former Dusi winner, Thulani Mbanjwa.
“This is a very different race to the Dusi. It is not exactly a Dusi-style race because the portage here, although we find it hard at this stage of the season, is quite an easy portage compared to some of the portages on Dusi. There is still a lot of work to do to prepare for those portagesm,” Birkett said.
Laura O’Donoghue was a convincing winner of the women’s race, more than five minutes up on Mt Edgecombe resident Jenna Ward, who finished second.
“I’m very chuffed. It’s a confidence booster for the start of the season,” O’Donoghue said.
“There were three of us in a group and on the run I managed to break away and put in in front. I was waiting for the girls to catch me the whole way, so I had to work really hard and I was really tired at the end.”
RESULTS MEN
1. Andy Birkett 2:01:47.09
2. Sbonelo Khwela 2:01:54.45
3. Thulani Mbanjwa 2:02:23.50
4. Mhlonishwa Hlongwane 2:05:42.72
5. Lucas Mthalane 2:07:00.00
RESULTS WOMEN
1. Laura O’Donoghue 2:17:26.63
2. Jenna Ward 2:22:42.81
3.Cana Peek 2:25:18.21
