Inanda Dam – Friday’s second stage of the Dusi Canoe Marathon saw momentum shifts as Andy Birkett and Matt Fenn took control of the men’s race while the women’s race is wide open going into day three.
At the sharp end of the women’s race it was a battle throughout as Christie Mackenzie and Saskia Hockly managed to erase the deficit that Abby Solms and Robyn Groenink had overnight in the second half of the Friday’s stage.
It then became a dice to the finish with Mackenzie and Hockly winning the final sprint to the line.
The result will see the two crews go off at the same time on Saturday morning and it will be fascinating to follow the duel between the two experienced drivers Solms and Mackenzie.
The action at the front of the men’s race saw the chasing pair of Sbonelo Khwela and Msawenkosi Mtolo catch the leaders early and the two boats fought tooth and nail for the lead.
It took until Isuzu Rock before Euro Steels’ Birkett and Fenn managed to get ahead and they opened that advantage to win the stage by over six minutes.
“It was a big day, and they (Khwela and Mtolo) gave us everything today,” Matt Fenn said.
“It was really nice to get a little gap on them eventually and we capitalised on that.”
A close race might not have been on the cards when Birkett and Fenn set off but it was an exciting race on the men’s front for the majority.
“If you wanted an exciting race then things went according to plan,” Birkett said. “It’s awesome racing against Msawe and Sbonelo. They two strong paddles, really professional and great in the river.
“It’s awesome being in a cat and mouse race where everyone is trying to find a little gap to get any extra time advantage.”
For the Plastrading pair of Khwela and Mtolo, it became a day of conserving their position after the lead pair put the hammer down.
“I think at the Isuzu Rock that’s where the elastic snapped,” Khwela said candidly. “But it was a clean day for us, no mistakes and I’m still happy that we managed to finish in second.
“Msawe is such a strong paddler, he pulled me the whole way to Inanda Dam today!”
On a day where they had to throw the punches, Mtolo said they gave it their best shot.
“We tried to shake Andy and Matt off as much as possible and we got a gap at Gauging Weir, but by Nqumeni portage they were back with us.
“After they shook us off, we just kept our pace consistent into the finish,” Mtolo added.
The race for third in the men’s race is going to be an exciting one as Thabani Msia and Siyanda Gwamanda managed to catch Sandile Mtolo and Bongani Ntinga to set up an exciting tussle to Blue Lagoon.
After taking the stage win today coming from behind, birthday girl Saskia Hockly was over the moon with their performance.
“I loved every moment of today,” Hockly said. “I love the big water and the minimal running.
“But just being able to go down the river with my best friend chasing down the leaders and crossing the line first in a big race is incredible.
“This has never happened to me before so I’m very stoked,” Hockly added.
Christie Mackenzie is a multiple Dusi champion, however she is yet to win a K2 Dusi and she is hoping that she’s learnt from past experiences going into Saturday.
“I’ve been in this position in both a K1 and a K2 so it’s going to be an exciting race tomorrow. The goal is always to have a fun clean race because I know if I’m having fun then I’m having a relatively clean race.”
Third place in the women’s race changed on Friday as the Under 23 pair of Amy Hullett and Sarah Jones took the honours to move onto the podium.
In the junior race it’s Siyabonga Ndlovu and Sbonelo Dube who lead the way and are currently tenth overall and first Under 18 while Keegan Vogt and Ryley Smith are chasing them with James Gotte and Melokuhle Ntombela the third junior men’s boat.
The under 16 girls pair of Tessa Salmon and Olivia Mackenzie were the fastest junior women’s boat on day two and will lead the way in the juniors into Saturday’s final stage.
The third and final stage will see paddlers take on 35km from Inanda Dam to Blue Lagoon in Durban.