Pre-race favourites Andy Birkett and Christie
Mackenzie have tightened their grips on the men’s and women’s titles at the
2023 Dusi Canoe Marathon.
With an extra portage to negotiate on Friday,
the second stage of the Dusi was a make-or-break day for many title contenders,
with big water as well as a long flatwater stretch on Inanda Dam to deal with.
Even for an eighteen-time Dusi finisher like
Birkett, there was something new to experience.
“I’ve never paddled day two with this much
water,” Birkett said.
“After the start, there was one compulsory
portage at the confluence of the Mngeni and Msundusi Rivers for about
two-and-a-half kilometres, which changed my race plan from previous years.
“Usually, I would start flat-out on day two,
but I was more conservative in my approach because I knew that with a long
portage like that, it can make you tired towards the end of the stage.
“I wanted to be fresh by the time we got to
the big rapids because when you are tired, you make mistakes.”
Msawenkosi Mtolo, who finished second behind
Birkett, made a bold charge early in the stage to make up the minute gap that
Birkett held overnight.
The pair traded blows throughout the first
half of the stage before the Nqumeni portage, where Birkett got a slight gap on
the Team MyLife star.
From there, Mtolo tried to push the pace,
which resulted in a mistake at Hippo Rapid, where he fell out of his boat and
gave Birkett a further advantage as he powered his way ahead and opened up a
significant gap on the Inanda Dam stretch.
Ultimately Birkett’s lead grew to over seven
minutes by the end of the stage as Birkett consciously made an effort to put in
a charge when he hit the flat water.
Mackenzie continues to dominate the women’s
race, with her lead growing to 26 minutes at the end of stage two.
Mackenzie now feels that she doesn’t need to
take any risks going into the third and final stage on Saturday.
“To be able to opt for a portage around Hippo
rather than risk shooting it was something I wouldn’t have been able to do if I
didn’t have my buffer from Thursday,” Mackenzie said.
“It is nice to have a bit of time, so I can
make my own decisions going into day three because I don’t know what it holds,
but I’m sure the organisers will make good calls if we need to portage
anything.
“I’ll race my own race and see how I feel as I
approach the different rapids and hopefully have a good day.
“I feel that being a more mature racer will
help me keep a cool, calm head on Saturday.”
2023 Dusi Canoe Marathon (Stage Two – Dusi
Bridge to Msinsi Resort at Inanda Dam)
Overall
1. Andy Birkett 02:57:53 04:51:53
2. Msawenkosi Mtolo 03:04:27 04:59:31
3. David Evans (U23) 03:02:14 05:00:59
4. Banetse Nkhoesa 03:04:36 05:03:24
5. Scott Little (U23) 03:06:41 05:07:42
6. Thulani Mbanjwa 03:11:05 05:12:39
7. Hamish Mackenzie (U23) 03:09:23 05:16:44
8. Nqobile Makhanya 03:11:29 05:16:45
9. Bongani Ntinga 03:11:48 05:20:11
10. Jeremy Maher (U23) 03:15:01 05:20:15
11. Thabani Msia 03:08:36 05:20:16
12. Sandile Mtolo (U23) 03:23:00 05:20:17
13. Ross Leslie (U23) 03:12:23 05:25:52
14. Hlelani Radebe 03:20:21 05:27:29
15. Matthew Fenn (U23) 03:24:32 05:28:10
16. Mvelo Ngidi 03:21:06 05:29:54
17. Sanele Mbanjwa 03:19:52 05:34:50
18. Mmeli Cele 03:20:45 05:34:52
19. Jabulani Gwamanda 03:25:49 05:34:53
20. Christie Mackenzie 03:22:01 05:34:58
Women
1. Christie Mackenzie 03:22:01 05:34:58
2. Bridgitte Hartley 03:35:07 06:01:55
3. Jordan Peek 03:42:44 06:09:56
4. Hilary Bruss 03:49:06 06:22:58
5. Nix Birkett 03:49:46 06:28:53
6. Shannon Parker-Dennison (U23) 03:55:40
06:36:56
7. Emma Hatfield (U18) 04:03:04 06:44:22
8. Rachel Van Deventer (U18) 04:00:46 06:44:34
9. Lorna Oliver 04:52:38 08:03:07
10. Tinyiko Mahwayi (U23) 04:59:48 08:13:50
Under 23 Men
1. David Evans 03:02:14 05:00:59
2. Scott Little 03:06:41 05:07:42
3. Hamish Mackenzie 03:09:23 05:16:44
4. Jeremy Maher 03:15:01 05:20:15
5. Sandile Mtolo 03:23:00 05:20:17
Under 23 Women
1. Shannon Parker-Dennison 03:55:40 06:36:56
2. Tinyiko Mahwayi 04:59:48 08:13:50
Under 18 Men
1. Smilo Mthethwa 03:32:00 05:46:39
2. Asibabale Mpambani 03:29:49 05:46:39
3. Greg Palframan 03:39:07 06:00:03
4. Robert Butcher 03:37:25 06:03:13
5. Sabelo Nyembe 03:49:21 06:16:38
Under 18 Women
1. Emma Hatfield 04:03:04 06:44:22
2. Rachel van Deventer 04:00:46 06:44:34
3. Lesedi Bobo 05:19:39 08:50:44
