Close to 20 paddlers from Dabulamanzi Canoe Club (Dabs) took part in the 2024 Dusi Rive Canoe Race Marathon.
Alex Roberts and Michael John Robb were the first Dabs finishers – they were 17th K2 (double kayak) finishers, and 16th in males second sub-veteran age group in a total time over the three days of 08:19:00.
The Dusi marathon has taken place annually between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, in February, since the 60s when it was first explored by Ian Player, after World War II. At that time there were few dams and water releases were not available. Boats were also made of canvas and wood, unlike the lighter carbon fibre of today’s race boats. During this time, dams could not provide a water release if the water levels were low which meant the boats had to be carried and the paddlers had to run past certain sections, hence it is an endurance event – the world’s toughest canoe endurance event.
The race covered a distance of 120km, from the two provinces in the river, and also included portaging, carrying boats over the hills, and rocky sections while running, walking or crawling and dragging boats. In some cases damaged boats needed repairs.
Other Dabs paddlers, Jack de Swardt and Luke Salmon, finished right behind their mentors, as 17th males, and fifth U23 in 08:20:00 as the 18th K2. Robert Crichton and Ryan Rodda were right on their tails finishing as 19th K2 and third sub-veteran age category in 08:21:00. Bradley Boulle partnered with Emma Hatfield to finish as the 11th mixed double and as 20th K2 boat in a time of 08:31:00. Mark Garden partnered with Liam Stewart to finish in 08:38:00 as 38th K2.
Among the many other local club members who completed the challenging event were Kevin Hunt with Daryn Koertzen who finished as seventh veteran age group in 11:23:00 and 104th K2 finishers.
Neil Barrow finished in a single kayak as the 15th K1 in a time over the three days of 13:41:00 and 144th male category. Kevin Davie and Raoul Goosen were also among the many local paddlers who successfully finished the race, while Karen Field was the first lady from the club to finish with her partner Anthony van Tonder, in 14:18:00, 175th K2, 24th mixed double and 21st sub-master age category. Kevin Davie and Raoul Goosen were also among the many local paddlers who successfully finished the race along with a number of other tough paddlers.
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