Several champs in Drak field
The 2014 winner, 2013 Under-23 Marathon World Champ and four-time Dusi Canoe Marathon victor Andy Birkett (Euro Steel) has settled into his familiar pre-Dusi training camp venue in the magnificent Drakensberg mountains while Cartime Fast Drak – the Drak Challenge in a single day – winner Lance Kime (Euro Steel) is also eagerly preparing for his title challenge.
2010 and 2012 Drak champ, Hank McGregor (Team Jeep/Kayak Centre), has not made his way up from the coast yet however having opted for a social mixed doubles Dusi this year, the five-time Marathon World Champion is in the paddling form of his life and keen to clinch a third Drak title.
Birkett and Kime’s fellow Dusi 2015 ‘Fantastic Four’ members Sbonelo Khwela (Euro Steel/Red Bull) and Thulani Mbanjwa (Build it/Williams Hunt) are two other big names expected to take to Saturday’s start line and continue their improved Mzimkulu form of late.
Having both traditionally struggled on the bigger, technical waters of the Mzimkulu, Mbanjwa put in a stellar effort in 2014 which saw him finish ninth overall amidst a strong men’s field while Khwela was the next best behind Kime in December’s Fast Drak.
While biggest names in river marathon racing in the country are jotted down in many pundits’ top ten predictions, Kime’s close friends and training partners Andrew Houston, Owen Gandar, Murray Haw and Murray Starr have all quietly thrown their hats into the top ten ring as well.
While Kime looks to add to his 2013 Dusi victory at the iconic Pietermaritzburg to Durban clash in February and Houston has already been labelled by some as the 2015 Dusi dark horse, all five will be hoping for a strong showing at this weekend’s Drak Challenge.
Grant van der Walt (Varsity College), the third former Marathon World Champion on the start list, claimed his maiden senior title at the 2013 edition of the Drak Challenge and the annual Underberg race is one the former winner looks forward to greatly each year.
His pedigree is unquestionable, as his 2013 win demonstrates, however whether Van der Walt will be able to resume the top four tango that he enjoyed with Birkett, McGregor and Kime last year is yet to be seen after the young star recently entered the working world which has heavily shaped the amount of time he has spent in the boat recently.
A fascinating men’s 2015 N3TC Drak Challenge top ten contest awaits, one that many will have a keen eye on this weekend.
The N3TC Drak Challenge 2014 starts on 24 January at Castleburn Bridge outside Underberg and finishes on 25 January at Early Mists Farm close to Coleford.
(File Photo: Gallo Media)
Twitter - @SportswaveAndre