Photos: Anthony Grote/Gameplan Media
Inanda Dam – It was a memorable 61st for birthday boy Nigel Briggs as the man out to become the seventh person in the history of the Dusi Canoe Marathon to complete 40, charged across the line at the end of the 120km event’s second stage.
The legendary ‘Dusi King’ Graham Pope-Ellis holds the record for the most Dusi finishes by an individual while 2015 participants Lyle Wheeler, Neil ‘Tups’ Tupper, Rob Bourne-Lange and Gudgie Dixon have already surpassed the 40 mark.
For Briggs though the achievement is now one step closer with just Saturday’s shortest stage standing between him and joining the prestigious club.
Five time Marathon World Champion and two time Dusi winner Hank McGregor (Jeep Team/Kayak Centre) and wife and paddling partner Pippa, came within a whisker of a major milestone of their own.
The pair, paddling in the mixed doubles category, started the day in a remarkable 50th position after the sublime opening stage effort on Thursday and just when they thought it couldn’t get any better, it did.
The pair crossed the line at Inanda Dam in an incredible 27th position overall, second K2 and first mixed double, all the while finishing the day in 3:16.22, just five second outside the class’ second stage record.
“There’s a reason over 1400 other paddlers tackle the Dusi each year and I feel like for the first time I am getting to experience what the Dusi is all about!” exuded McGregor.
The McGregor’s fellow mixed doubles competitors Abby Adie (Natal Canoe club/Kayak Centre) and her father Graham also enjoyed their second stage outing.
“We’re having a lot of fun out on the river!” exclaimed Adie. “It really helps knowing all the lines!”
All backmarkers were forced to battle strong headwinds and large swells across the 11km Inanda Dam grind in 2014 however none more so than the four brave stand up paddleboarders tackling the task for the very first time.
While Mother Nature was far kinder this time around the task was still a mammoth one and the nine SUP competitors had to dig deep to overcome the challenge.
KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport and Recreation’s Elite Athlete Development Programme’s Nokukhanya Shange showed great mental toughness to overcome her aches and pains of Thursday’s first stage to reach Inanda Dam in 5:10.28.
The young Umzinyathi Canoe Club ace has represented South Africa at continental champs level previously and used every ounce her international experience to continue her quest to become the youngest ever black female to complete a K1 Dusi.
Hugh Raw and Ian Ross, who are doing the 2015 Dusi Canoe Marathon in original canvas canoes, continued in their quest as the 74 and 72 year-old pay tribute to the race’s late great founder, Dr. Ian Player.
FNB Business’ Mike Vacy-Lyle had another strong outing on Thursday, narrowly missing out of breaking the five hour mark as he reached the finish line in 5:01.10.
“FNB Business’ involvement and interest in the Dusi Canoe Marathon affirms our commitment to providing an experience for participants through a sport that is well-entrenched in the community and has grown in popularity in South Africa,” said Vacy-Lyle.
“Our strategy is to support local and community events that focus on healthy lifestyle, family involvement and impact the environment we operate in positively,” he added.
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