ANDY Birkett, the 15-time winner of the Dusi Canoe Marathon, has confirmed he will tackle this year’s race with Matt Fenn.

This year the Dusi is a K2 race and Birkett will partner with Fenn, who he won the race with in 2024.

While he isn’t one to chase individual records, Birkett could become the first person in the 75-year history of the Dusi to win the race 16 times.

This year will also be the first time that Birkett has the same partner as the previous K2 race since he won twice with Jason Graham, in 2012 and 2014.

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Traditionally, the start of the Dusi season begins with the Ozzie Gladwin, followed by the 50 Miler, Inanda Dam to Durban, and Campbell’s to Dusi Bridge, all taking place before the iconic three-day race in February.

The other coveted event is the N3TC Drak Challenge at the end of January, however that has been cancelled due to an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease.

Looking ahead to the race, Birkett and Fenn are starting to get themselves in the Dusi frame of mind.

“We’ve started getting excited for Dusi; we’ve had to get our running started. Having paddled together two years ago it means that things will be a little more straightforward this year. You put so much work into the first race that you do together, and we’ve already done a lot of that work. We obviously have to train but we sit straighter in the boat and we know how one another races,” Birkett said.

Entries for the Dusi Canoe Marathon are open at dusi.co.za.

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