Jeppe resident participates in the Dusi River Race
A Jeppe resident not only participated in the Dusi River Race but also sponsored a few paddlers as a contribution to developing the youth.
In a country where many potentially talented young people do not always get opportunities, a Jeppe resident stepped in to sponsor a group of paddlers for the Dusi River Race.
Jennie Dallas of the Gauteng Canoe Unit explained that the Dusi River Race was first established in the 1960s by Ian Player, the brother of retired South African professional golfer Gary Player.
In more recent years, Dallas said the race covers 120km over three days, with numerous ‘take-outs’ where the river is not navigable.
Paddlers are required to carry their boats and walk up and down hills, through valleys and even through herds of cattle to rejoin the river and continue the race.
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This year’s event took place from February 19 to 21.
Benjamin Cockram, a Jeppe resident, sponsored several paddlers from underprivileged backgrounds, particularly from the Dusi Valley area.
“I sponsored a few paddlers from the Dusi Valley area, including the one who came second. We’ve been supporting these guys for years. If I had a child or young paddler with such talent, I would also support them,” Cockram said.
He added that his contribution is also about giving back to a sport that brings joy to many, while helping to develop and nurture young talent.
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“It would be a tragedy if someone with this ability could not participate or enjoy this challenge due to a lack of finances and proper equipment,” he said.
Cockram has taken part in the race 21 times, completing 18 due to a few mishaps over the years.
He shared that a friend who was already a paddler encouraged him to take up the sport while he was still at school.
“For a youngster in the 1980s, with all the options available to us, paddling on rivers was as exciting as it could get. It has been a wonderful gift in my life, and I’m still doing it now at 56,” he said.
Day one of the Dusi begins in Pietermaritzburg and heads towards the Valley of a Thousand Hills. Day two takes paddlers to Inanda Dam, with several challenges along the way, while day three finishes at Blue Lagoon in Durban.
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While some paddlers withdrew due to injury or boat damage, such incidents are not unusual on the demanding river.
For Cockram, day one proved to be the most challenging.
He explained that paddlers from Johannesburg do not have regular access to the river, making it difficult to train and adapt to its changing flow. The heat also added to the challenge.
“At the end of day one, I was completely exhausted. I couldn’t even walk to my car; I had to lie down under a tree and rest for a while. But that tough first day helped condition me, and days two and three were much better,” he said.
In this year’s race, Cockram and his partner, Troy Clark, won their age category. They finished 59th overall in the K2 (two-man kayak) division and placed first in the 55-59 category with a time of 10 hours and one minute.
Cockram said he often takes part in the Dusi, whether he has a partner or not, as it is a challenging river that requires experience and familiarity.
“The Dusi is a wonderful adventure. If anyone is interested, I would recommend joining a canoe club and getting into the sport. The younger you start, the easier it becomes,” he said.
