Photos: Anthony Grote/Gameplan Media
Inanda Dam – The podium in the 2015 Dusi Canoe Marathon’s ladies contest is definitely not settled as there was some movement below the podium on the second stage of the race as Jenna Ward used her flat water experience to put pressure on current second place occupant Cana Peek with Laura O’Donoghue extending her advantage at the top to over half an hour with one stage to go.
The consistency of O’Donoghue over the first two stages of the 2015 edition of the three-day epic has meant that she has kept her distance from the chasing girls and the three-time runner up enjoyed keeping the pace with the paddlers around her.
“It was quite nice starting with the guys and I just tried to stay with them and work with them,” she said. “It was nice having a gap because if I got tired or something went wrong I knew that there was time but I still tried to race as hard as I could to keep up with the guys.”
The Euro Steel athlete has been dominant from the start of the race and stage two was no different however she cannot help but feel that the race will be a lot more interesting if a few of the other top lady competitors were there to battle it out for the title.
“It is unfortunate that a couple of the girls are not racing or not racing competitively and people say that it will be easier for me so obviously I want to prove to everyone that I have trained really hard for the race and am here to race well.
“it is unfortunate because I think it would have been an exciting race,” O’Donoghue mentioned.
A lady has never ended in the top 40 of the Dusi in the past and with O’Donoghue nine places outside the top 40 she is not putting too much pressure on herself to re-write the record books when she gets to Blue Lagoonon Saturday.
“I think I am 43rd of 44th at the moment and tomorrow will be really tough to keep tht because a lot of the men will be coming through strongly so I am going to paddle as hard as I can to Durban!” an upbeat O’Donoghue exclaimed.
The story of the race so far is Under-18 Cana Peek who continues to surprise as she ended the second stage in second place. The Epworth pupil is still astounded by her achievement and the situation still has not quite hit home.
“I still don’t really know what I am doing and I am just here to have fun and just enjoy the moment while it lasts, I felt like a celebrity!” a youthful Peek said after the second stage. “I had a few little hiccups today, I got spun out and had a few rudder problems but besides that I had a flawless day and I am still trying to come to terms with the reality that I am still in second place!”
The mover of the day, Jenna Ward, knew that the second stage of the race was going to be her strength due to there being less running and the Under-23 Marathon bronze medallist made a statement when she rose three places to third.
“My paddling definitely helped me today because it is my strongest point so just getting through day one was important and trying to keep the gap as small as possible is what I was trying to aim to do.
“I had to be careful down the rapids because there a lot of places where you can go wrong and I tried to keep it as safe as I could in the rapids and push it on the flat water especially on the dam section,” Ward mentioned.
Saturday’s third and final stage of the Dusi Canoe Marathon takes place from Msinsi Resort, Inanda Dam to Blue Lagoon, Durban. Racing gets underway at 05h30 however the leaders start at 10h45 and the leading men are expected at the finish around 13h00. More information can be found at www.dusi.co.za
SUMMARY OF RESULTS – DUSI CANOE MARATHON
STAGE TWO – DUSI BRIDGE-INANDA DAM
Women
1. Laura O’Donoghue 3:36.36 6:49.34
2. Cana Peek (U18) 3:51.14 7:21.36
3. Jenna Ward (U23) 3:42.22 7:25.53
4. Jordan Peek (U23) 3:50.25 7:28.36
5. Hilary Bruss 3:50.30 7:32.33
6. Jane Swarbreck 4:06.31 7:47.23
7. Donna Tutton 4:01.58 7:58.10
8. Natasha Bulbring 4:08.27 8:01.55
9. Christie Mackenzie (U16) 4:16.12 8:14.20
10. Marion Young 4:29.49 8:35.06
Under-23 Women
1. Jenna Ward 3:42.22 7:25.53
2. Jordan Peek 3:50.25 7:28.36
Under-18 Girls
1. Cana Peek 3:51.14 7:21.36
2. Christie Mackenzie 4:16.12 8:14.20
3. Jamie-Lee Robertson 4:37.19 8:45.14
Under-16 Girls
1. Christie Mackenzie 4:16.12 8:14.20