Dusi canoe marathon set for #55
8 December 2005
After a thrilling Landrover 50-Miler, and with K2 prize money doubled for the 2006 Hansa Powerade Dusi, the organisers are being swamped with entries for the 55th edition of South Africa's famous canoe marathon.
"Umgeni Water really looked after us on the weekend," said Cameron Mackenzie, chairman of the organisers. "There was stacks and stacks of clean water which made for a terrific 50-Miler and set the scene for a great 55th anniversary of the Hansa Powerade Dusi come 19 January.
"Umgeni Water is a supporting sponsor of the Hansa Powerade Dusi and we have a very good working relationship with them," Mackenzie said. "The results of this great relationship were perfectly evident this past weekend."
With prize money doubled for the K2 (doubles) in the 2006 Dusi, partner selection has been playing on the minds of competitors hoping to take home the R80 000 on offer for first place.
The last few months have shown three crews to be
fiercely competitive; Len Jenkins has teamed up with Michael Mbanjwa, Loveday Zondi with Shaun Biggs, and multiple winner, "the old man of the Dusi", Martin Dreyer with Hank McGregor.
The past weekend showed just how much experience comes into play when Dreyer and McGregor won the 50-Miler having trailed the other two crews for two days. Jenkins and Mbanjwa had a minute in hand at the start of the second and final day, but came to grief shortly before Graveyard Rapid, having paddled with a bent rudder from the start of the race.
"It is sad that our race ended that way as we are really combining well," said a disappointed Jenkins.
"Michael and I are going to be spending the whole of December together, ensuring that we are in tip top condition, and are 100% prepared for what is going to be our greatest Dusi yet," he said.
With the promise of rains in December, the organisers of the Hansa Powerade Dusi have requested paddlers to join the mailing list on the Hansa Powerade Dusi Canoe Marathon website to get up-to-date reports on water levels, as well as safety and security conditions in the valley.
"Safety and security of paddlers is our top concern, and during the holidays the only way that we can communicate with them effectively is via the website and mailing list," Mackenzie said. "I appeal to paddlers not to trip the river on their own, and rather go with a group of people. This goes for seconders as well."
The Hansa Powerade Dusi 2006 takes place from 19 to 21 January, starting at Camps Drift in Pietermaritzburg and ending at the Blue Lagoon in Durban.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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