THE elite challenge for next year’s FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon title took on a decidedly different complexion when eleven times world marathon champion Hank McGregor arrived unexpectedly and won the key Dusi seeding race the Steelco Ozzie Gladwin recently.

McGregor won the last FNB Dusi title with Andy Birkett in the K2 championship year, but many had expected the 41 year old Durban ace to skip the 2019 singles Dusi race.

“Never say never,” he said. “I still have to make the final call on Dusi, as I might have some surfski opportunities abroad at around the same time. I love the Dusi. There is so much hype and excitement that it is just a great thing to be part of.”

Related article: Ozzie Gladwin provides interesting early Dusi season guide

At the Ozzie Gladwin McGregor had plenty of gas in the tank as he blitzed away from Thulani Mbanjwa and U23 athlete Stew Little to claim the title.

“It was the first time I had been back in my river K1 since the Drak Challenge. I am usually in Australia for the Perth Doctor around the time of the Ozzie Gladwin, but I have been seeing another kind of doctor (his wife Pippa has just given birth to their second son) I thought I would race the Ozzie.”

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