Pietermaritzburg – The 2024 Dusi Canoe Marathon is shaping up to be a tough clash between KZN and Eastern Cape paddlers in both the men’s and women’s races, with a few Gauteng wildcards thrown in.
The men’s race from Bishopstowe Country Club just outside Pietermaritzburg to Blue Lagoon in Durban on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, is showing all the signs of an intriguing inter-provincial rivalry between powerful paddlers and quick runners.
The Eastern Cape contingent is led by the undisputed current super-star of the Dusi, 13-time race winner Andy Birkett. The wily former World Champion has teamed up with young East London compatriot Matthew Fenn, to form a quality crew that will in all likelihood be the fastest boat on the water among all the leading contenders.
The all-KZN challenge will be led by Msawenkosi Mtolo and former winner Sbonelo Khwela, whose all-round paddling / running prowess has seen them dominate the pre-Dusi preparation events. They will come into the three-day classic on the back of wins at the Ozzie Gladwin, Geoff’s Road to Saddles and Bishopstowe to Dusi Bridge events.
Three wins from four races in January and February makes the pair marginal pre-race favourites, but they will be wary of Banetse Nkhoesa and Siseko Ntondini. This KZN / Gauteng crew has never been more than a handful of seconds away from the top step of the podium this year – and were able to claim the victory at the 50-Miler earlier this month when Mtolo and Khwela suffered their only defeat of the year.
The smart money will certainly be on a tight battle between these three crews, with Mtolo and Khwela favoured to build a lead on the running-heavy Day 1 from Bishopstowe to Saddles. Recent form suggest Nkhoesa and Ntondini will be in close contention and able to possibly impose themselves over the second stage to Inanda Dam on Friday.
Meanwhile, the second half of Day 2 and the paddle into Durban on Day 3 should suit Birkett and Fenn’s prowess as international-standard river paddlers. They will be hoping to use the fast-flowing uMgeni River sections on Days 2 and 3, including the deep waters of Inanda Dam, to more than make up any time lost on the long portages that litter the route of Day 1.
Other crews looking for top five finishes include a plethora of crews that have packed into the top places in recent preparation races. The KZN contingent includes Thabani Msia and Nqobile Makhanya; Bongani Ntinga and Sandile Mtolo; Lindokuhle Maphumulo and Minenhle Ngubane; and Scott Little and Jeremy Maher.
Former winner Thulani Mbanjwa will be aiming to use his vast experience from 25 Dusi finishes to help him and Gauteng’s Kwandokuhle Mzolo into the top five. The top-ranked pure-paddling crew in the event is the KZN / Eastern Cape siblings, the Lovemore brothers Hamish and Thomas, and they will be hoping their strong paddling can hide a question mark over their running ability on the long portages.
In the women’s race, three-time winner Abby Solms and her matric schoolgirl partner Jessica Behn are clearly the home-town crew to beat. They have not been beaten this season in Dusi-type events and will be confident their clichèd mix of experience and youth can keep them ahead of the chasing pack.
Two crews who will be looking to limit the damages on the long portages of Day 1 will be former Olympic sprinter Bridgitte Hartley and Hilary Bruss, and Jenna Nisbet and East London’s Nix Birkett. If either, or both, of these two boats can be within striking distance of Solms and Behn at the end of the opening stage on Thursday, they could paddle back into contention once they hit the uMngeni River early on Day 2.
The mixed doubles race should be a straight dice between the husband and wife combination of Hank and Pippa McGregor, and their Euro Steel teammates Bradley Boulle and Emma Hatfield. Both crews have done enough this season to be seeded overall on the front row for the start and so, while the McGregors are favourites for the sought-after MD title, both crews will be expecting an impressive top-20 finish.
The Dusi starts at Bishopstowe Hall on Thursday at 6am and finishes at Durban’s Blue Lagoon on Saturday morning. The overnight stops are a new Day 1 finish at Mphaya Bridge near Nagle Dam, and the Msinsi Resort on the banks of Inanda Dam.