THE landscape of the Non-Stop Dusi changed on Friday as both K1 records fell and the relatively unknown Nhlanhla Cele claimed a hard-fought victory with veteran Thulani Mbanjwa overall. However the day belonged to Laura O’Donoghue who added a new women’s K1 Non-Stop record to her maiden Dusi title she claimed two weeks ago.
Mbanjwa won the 2014 Vaal in Gauteng but the last time he stood on the top step of the podium in an event in his home province was back in 2011 when he and Sbonelo Khwela won the ‘Dusi-in-a-day’.
Despite his lack of local wins Mbanjwa remained hugely positive throughout his dry spell before enjoying one of his best Dusi build-up campaign ahead of February’s three day tussle where he finished fourth.
“It is so sweet to win a big race again” said Mbanjwa. “I have always been there and there abouts without being able to just get over the line and win but I worked so hard before Dusi and felt really fit a week before Non-Stop so I gave Nhlanhla a call and I’m so glad I did. He was so strong the whole way and I’m so happy for him too, he really deserves this result!” he added.
The result was a career highlight for 27 year-old Cele whose previously best performance was a Non-Stop third place with his brother Richard back in 2011 however his first Non-Stop win came in a dominant display as they led from start to finish.
With a maiden Dusi title under her belt after her resounding effort at the three day clash two weeks ago, O’Donoghue returned to absolutely annihilate the previous women’s K1 record set by Robyn Kime in 2012 by well over ten minutes on Friday.
“It was a pretty flawless day out there,” said a very tired yet hugely satisfied O’Donoghue afterwards. “I felt strong thoughout the day and I enjoyed it out there although from halfway I was on my own which was quite eerie. I was always going to go around Burma today and it all went well, I am just really happy to be home” she added.
First placed mixed doubles crew Ben Bradford and Natasha Bulbring dug deep in an attempt to finish inside the race’s top 10 however the pair fell just short after they wrapped their boat at Tops Needle but still ended as the first mixed doubles crew.
