ERK successfully completed the Dusi

The well-known MyLife Dusi annual canoe river race took place from March 18 to March 20 and the East Rand paddlers from the ERK (Ekurhuleni Kayak Club), based in Homestead dam, enjoyed their challenge despite having fewer training races available to them due to Covid-19.

“Many of them have done the Dusi regularly for numerous years,” said Jennie Dallas, Gauteng Canoe Union PRO.

The Benoni paddlers:

• Mike Stewart: 24 Dusi

• Liam Steward: 4 Dusi

• Mike Barry: 24 Dusi

The race runs from Pietermaritzburg, on the Msunduzi River, finishing 120kms later in Durban and takes place over a three-day period.

The 2021 race covers some major grade two rapids, as well as numerous portages, where the paddlers have to take the boats out of the river and run around the more dangerous non-navigable rapids, carrying their boats until they can put them back into the river.

The portages, depending on the water level, can be up to 18km at a Dusi.

The river winds through the valley of 1 000 hills in Zululand, attracting many supporters to cheer the paddlers on as they run through rural villages, carrying their boats with only seconds on their side, in some cases providing refreshments in the hot Dusi valley sun.

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The first Dusi event was a group of ex-army paddlers, led by Ian Player (Gary Player’s brother) in canvas/wooden boats, where they were required to carry their boats around certain rapids because in 1965 there were no water releases available to enable the boats’ passage, causing damage.

“There are numerous casualties during the race where boats are broken against the rocky rapids in fast waves and currents and many boats limp, leaking across the finish line, or dragged through in pieces by their paddlers,” explained Dallas.

“Access to the river is difficult for the photographers as the river winds through the valley and some photos are taken from extravagant heights and distances.”

The 2021 East Rand paddlers were led to the finish line by the young u-23 Benoni-based paddler, Liam Stewart, who was the first club finisher this year in nine hours and 39 minutes over the three days, as the 37th K1 (single one-man kayak) and as the 10th u-23 finisher.

“His coach, mentor and father, who has frequently been a top Gauteng finisher at numerous river races, Michael Stewart, had boat admin issues (broken, damaged, requiring repairs often),” she said.

Michael took 10 hours and 30 minutes over the three days, finishing as the 96th K1 and second Master age category.

Mike Barry, also based in Benoni, was the third ERK paddler to cross the finish line in a K2, partnering with Patrick Reeves as the 50th K2 (double two-men kayak) in a time of 11 hours and 51 minutes and as 15th sub Master age category finishers.

Wayne Taylor from Benoni, with partner Grant Louw (Kempton Park), also finished the race successfully in a time of 16 hours and two minutes as the 184th K2, as 19th sub grand Masters.

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Franz Lottering from Kempton Park irretrievably damaged his boat on the second day and was unable to finish the race, which was an extremely traumatic and disappointing experience for the highly experienced white water river paddler.

Leon Maritz and Richard Tandy, based in Boksburg, thoroughly enjoyed their experiences, managing to finish despite the challenging conditions, with Tandy taking 11 hours and 53 minutes to complete the three-day event, finishing as K1 number 161 and 11th in the Veteran age category, while Maritz was the 27th Master age category finisher, in 15 hours and 23 minutes as the 235th K1 boat to cross the finish line.