Experienced paddler Richard Tandy was the East Rand Kayaking Club’s (ERK) highest finisher at the Dusi Canoe Marathon in the KZN Midlands last month.
Tandy completed the three-day event 78th overall in the K1 race after clocking a combined 10:02:58, finishing fifth in the sub-masters (45-49) category.
The race started on February 20 in Pietermaritzburg and ended two days later at the Blue Lagoon in Durban after the paddlers had covered 120km.
Single kayaks
Tandy covered the 35km distance from Bishopstowe Hall to Second Saddle on the opening day in 02:44:45 and clocked 04:06:58 on day two after paddling for 43km. He arrived at the Blue Lagoon from the Inanda Dam in 03:11:06.
His teammate, Jonathan Nel, was 83rd overall and 36th in his category after completing the race in 10:15:12, while Liam Stewart clocked 10:51:11 for 94th overall and 48th in his category.
Tye Wood finished the event 103rd overall and 53rd in his category in a time of 11:26:29, and Leon Maritz was the 13th sub-grandmaster (54-59) after covering the three days in 14:46:58.
Doubles
In the K2 race, Michael Stewart and Jack Heenan placed 29th in 10:39:11, while Mike Barry and Patrick Reeves clocked 10:45:56 for ninth in the masters’ category and 32nd overall.
The Gauteng Canoe Union (GCU) media liaison, Jennie Dallas, congratulated the ERK members for their hard toil, adding that the event was enjoyable.
“A successful and challenging but enjoyable tough river race finished with much satisfaction, providing an awesome three-day journey through KZN’s most iconic waters and landscapes,” she said.
Andy Birkett won his 15th title after clocking 07:12:50. He covered day one in 01:49:47 and clocked 02:57:49 on the second day. He finished the last day in 02:25:13 to secure the title and tie with ‘Dusi King’, Graeme Pope-Ellis, for the most Dusi wins.
Christie Mackenzie won the women’s title after clocking 08:32:25. The 25-year-old completed the first day in 02:13:28 and clocked 03:30:14 on day two. She finished matters in 02:48:42 on the last day.
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