Howard completes tough Dusi
One pair was cheerfully rescued by helicopter where they were stranded on an island having lost their broken boat
MIKE Howard of Kempton Park added another successful notch on his belt after finishing the 2014 Dusi, one of the world’s toughest canoe endurance races.
Howard, who is over 70 and an advent canoer, took on the Dusi, 120km of gruelling cross country and wild white water rapids, over a three-day race from February 13-15.
While the majority of paddlers raced in double canoes, Howard took on the challenge in a single boat, finishing as the fourth Great Grand Master and in 773rd position out of 775 boats that completed the race.
Ekurhuleni Kayak Club’s top finisher was as expected Michael Stewart, who partnered with a Cape-based paddler, Brandon Collyer, previously from Germiston, to finish in a top 50 silver Dusi medal position in 39th place, and an overall time of 9 hours 20 minutes.
Numerous paddlers from the East Rand area successfully finished the race, although one pair was cheerfully rescued by helicopter where they were stranded on an island having lost their broken boat, which washed away in the strong current.
