Umzinyathi CC geared up for 2015 Dusi
Umzintathi Canoe Club's paddlers are geared up for this year's Dusi Canoe Marathon.
WITH the Dusi Canoe Marathon only four weeks away, local club Umzintathi Canoe Club’s paddlers are geared up for this year’s challenge.
The club’s safety officer, Jan de Neef, said of the club’s 400-strong membership, he is confident more than 150 paddlers will enter this year’s K1 race from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.
Last year the club saw 148 of its members completing the K2 series of the annual race and added the club was proud that one of its paddlers, Sbonelo Khwela (Eric Zondi), shared the winning trophy with his paddling partner, Andy Birkett.
De Neef said the club was hopeful that Khwela would take the trophy this year, adding that he learnt a lot from losing his lead two years ago when he fell out of his canoe. This year’s front runners for the title include Sbonelo Khwela, Andy Birkett and Lance Kime.
Another local paddler, Debbie Germiquet, is a big contender in her age category.
“She one of our strongest women’s paddlers and has won her fair share of Dusi titles in her days,” De Neef said.
Germiquet won the 2000, 1998 and 1996 K2 competitions, as well as the 1999 K1 title.
Veteran paddler, Neil Tupper, will also paddle in his forty-third race, the third highest number of Dusis completed in the country. He and more than 30 other permanent number paddlers will take on this year’s paddle. To have earned a permanent number, a paddler would have had to compete in more than 10 races.
Of the 150 hopeful Dusi entries from the club, De Neef said there will be about 15 novice paddlers as well as about a dozen development paddlers. He said those residents who would like to take up paddling as a sport are welcome to join the club, based at Shongweni Dam, for club nights and time trials every Wednesday night from 5.30pm in summer and 5pm in winter. After the time trials members enjoy a braai and refreshments (take your own meat, refreshments and sides).
There are also canoes available at the club for those who want to try out paddling before committing immediately. Contact Jan on 082 454 6886.
