Birkett and Solms charge to day one Dusi leads

DUSI Bridge –  The calm sunrise over Camps Drift was shattered by the 2017 FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon on Thursday, as the two pre-race hot favourites Andy Birkett and Abby Solms proved their pedigree to take commanding stage wins and over all leads going into the next two stages.

The men’s race was set up to be a humdinger with a number of paddlers’ names being thrown into the pre-Dusi hype hat however Birkett put his challengers under some serious pressure as early as the Campbell’s Farm portage.

After Birkett (EuroSteel) and Sbonelo Khwela (Euro Steel/Red Bull) opened up a gap on the chasers on the opening portage of the day at Campbell’s Farm and by the time the duo arrived at the put-in at Geoff’s Road at the end of the Guinea Fowl portage Birkett had gained a 20 second advantage and that was the last Khwela would see of the defending champion.

“I expected to come across the line today with two or three other boats,” a surprised Birkett said after the stage.

“To run away from the others today was something I really didn’t expect but with that said we had some good banter in the early stages and I love being back on the Dusi, it’s such an awesome river.”

Birkett’s efforts on the opening stage of the race were unrivalled with the 26 year-old finishing just over four minutes outside his own day one record, proof that he pushed the rest of the field.

“No one ever feels good after the opening day of the Dusi,” Birkett quipped.

“It wasn’t as bad as some years but I know that it creeps up on you when you wake up tomorrow morning. You are always going to be a little tired and sore.”

The biggest threat to Birkett’s charge for a seventh Dusi title was going to come from Sbonelo Khwela whose good form came to the fore on Thursday when he paddled away from Hank McGregor into second position.

“I have been putting a lot of effort into my paddling recently and I was happy that I could stay with the guys at the start.

“It was a good day for me but I felt on Cabbage Tree that I was running out of power but I am happy with finishing in second place overall,” a satisfied Khwela added.

Solms’ drought of K1 titles at the FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon is under threat of being broken after the Euro Steel star surged into a commanding nine minute lead over the young Christie Mackenzie in second.

One of the most impressive performances came from one of the Euro Steel internationals Jakub Adam who paddled his way to fourth overall. Adam won bronze in 2014 with Cam Schoeman but this has been his finest K1 display.

In what has become a large Under-23 category Mthobisi Cele of Martin Dreyer’s Change a Life Academy was the strongest on the opening day with Khumbulani Nzimande and Murray Starr chasing him.

Kerry Segal is comfortably placed at the front of the Under-23 Girls race with Christie Mackenzie leading the Junior Girls race ahead of the Under-16 duo of Caitlin Mackenzie and Cara Waud.

Mvelo Ngidi has got himself a two-and-a-half-minute buffer over second place Stewart Little in the Junior Boys race with Under-16 David Evans the next best placed junior paddler.

Day Two of the 2016 FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon is a 46km stage from Dusi Bridge to Msinsi Resort on Inanda Dam. More information can be found at www.dusi.co.za