With a last-minute change to the start venue, this
year’s Dusi Canoe Marathon will have a different look as the paddlers compete
for one of the most coveted titles in river paddling from Thursday to Saturday.
Anthony Grote
With rain predicted for the opening day on Thursday,
paddlers will set off from the Bishopstowe Country Club and not the traditional
start at Camps Drift Canal as organisers heed calls from environmental groups
to avoid the Msundusi River through Pietermaritzburg.
The Mngeni River has also taken on a different shape. Following April’s floods,
the river has changed significantly and paddlers will need to keep their wits
about them from the Confluence to Blue Lagoon as many landmarks and reference
points have been washed away.
A change in start venue won’t change the excitement of the race as a number of
paddlers try to dethrone the Dusi Chief Andy Birkett, who is lining up a tenth
consecutive Dusi title. Considering his Dusi record is second only to Graham
Pope-Ellis, Birkett’s form suggests that he will add to that tally and move a
step closer to matching the Dusi King’s incredible record.
The Euro Steel ace won twice overseas in 2022 and then started 2023 with a win
at the N3TC Drak Challenge to show he is in top form. He is already considered
an all-time great in river racing circles, but the unassuming star from East
London should further cement his place in the hall of fame with a win this
week.
Heading into the three-day odyssey, the usual suspects are lining up to
challenge Birkett with Team MyLife duo of Msawenkosi Mtolo and Thulani Mbanjwa
just a couple of the names that will provide Birkett with a stern test.
In the Euro Steel stable, Dave Evans, who won the K2 title with Birkett in
2022, will be hoping for a podium finish this year, while Nqobile Makhanya is
another paddler looking to put his stamp on the K1 race at the Dusi.
A training partner and Euro Steel team mate of Birkett’s, Matt Fenn, has come
to the fore as a potential podium finisher after a strong KZN river season that
included a win at the SMG 50 Miler and a third at the Drak Challenge.
Banetse Nkhoesa, Siseko Ntondini and Scott Little will also be names to watch
out for during the race as they look to upset the more established stars over
the three days of racing into Durban.
In the women’s race, Euro Steel’s Christie Mackenzie will start as the
overwhelming favourite. Mackenzie has been in good form in the pre-Dusi races
and will be hunting down a third consecutive K1 crown this year.
Despite Mackenzie’s favourites tag, Euro Steel team-mate Jordan Peek will
provide a threat to the triple crown quest. Peek, who has a K2 winners medal,
has mentioned how she would like to add the K1 title to her list of Dusi
achievements.
The ever-green Bridgitte Hartley also comes into the conversation for potential
women’s title. Olympic medallist Hartley has improved dramatically from a
running and river tactics perspective, and will be hoping to pounce on any
mistakes from other paddlers.
The 2023 Dusi Canoe Marathon is a race for the die-hards and with a healthy
number of paddlers entered into this year’s race it still remains one of the
premier races in the country.
Bishopstowe Country Club outside Pietermaritzburg will host the start of the
2023 Dusi Canoe Marathon on Thursday, 16 February.
The 2023 Dusi Canoe Marathon takes place from 16-18 February
