THE Bishopstowe to Dusi Bridge race on Sunday (February 8) threw up some surprises with newly formed pair of Sandile Mtolo and Bongani Ntinga and Abby Solms and Robyn Groenink winning the men’s and women’s races respectively.

The race was the final chance for paddlers to race in Dusi conditions as it covered the whole of the day one route.

It also gave paddlers a good idea of what to expect at the start of the three-day race on February 19.

Also read: uMdloti duo aim for Dusi podium

The results come amidst a shake-up of K2 combinations for the Dusi, as brothers Msawenkosi and Sandile Mtolo are no longer paddling together.

Another change has come as Ntinga and Sbonelo Khwela will also not be paddling together like they had done previously.

This has led to the formation of the pair of Sandile Mtolo and Bongani Ntinga and the reunification of the 2024 Dusi runner-up pairing of Msawenkosi Mtolo and Khwela.

Mthobisi Cele and Zamokhule Meyiwe finished in third place overall while Siyabonga Ndlovu and Sbonelo Dube finished fourth overall.

Also read: Birkett and Fenn team up again for Dusi 2026

In the women’s race Dusi race favourites Christie Mackenzie and Saskia Hockly finished second.

Solms and Groenink were in good form, ending the race in seventh place overall and just under two minutes ahead of Mackenzie and Hockly who had been the dominant women’s pair throughout the Dusi build-up.

Hana Newlands and Tayla Norton finished in third place.

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