Mtolo and Msia claim Non-Stop Dusi title
The duo, who cruised home to a fifth successive win in the demanding race, were pushed hard by the experienced pair of Sbonelo Khwela and Banetsi Nkhoesa.
DESPITE the extreme heat on Friday last week, Msawenkosi Mtolo and Thabani Msia looked surprisingly untroubled by the challenges and claimed the Non-Stop Dusi title.
The pair were all smiles and enjoyed some lively back-and-forth banter with their supporters at the finish line at Kingfisher Canoe Club.
The duo, who cruised home to a fifth successive win in the demanding race, were pushed hard by the experienced pair of Sbonelo Khwela and Banetsi Nkhoesa.
The fast pace early on, combined with the shortened overall distance due to the new start at Bishopstowe Hall, meant the winning time of 07:44:24 was a new record.
Also read: Birkett with Fenn and Solms with Behn claim Dusi titles
However, the fast pace also meant Khwela and Nkhoesa were forced to retire soon after Inanda Dam.
That allowed recently crowned Dusi Champion Matt Fenn from East London to slot into second overall and win the K1 category, also in a record time of 08:08:12.
He was followed home by Benjamin Mntonintshi and Wongama Makasi (08:16:43) and then Mpilo Zondi and Jabulani Lucky (08:32:05).
Multiple Dusi winner Martin Dreyer and his wife, Jeannie, claimed a remarkable fifth overall (08:52:29) to win the mixed doubles category.
Also read: Umgeni Park paddler makes Dusi history
The two race winners agreed the early morning duel had been difficult.
“The guys pushed the pace so hard early in the morning,” said Msia. “Sbonelo was trying to open a gap on us. We didn’t want to fight with him. We knew our game plan – where we must push and where we must rest.”
Reflecting on their milestone fifth title in succession, Mtolo said it was a special moment.
“We never thought we would make it to five. In 2019, we wanted to get a look and a feel for the race. We weren’t chasing a position. But we told ourselves that when we come back, we want to win, and in 2020, we managed to win,” he said.
In fact, they have won every year ever since then.
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