Mother of all Dusis for Ant Stott

ANT Stott, a multiple winner of the Dusi Canoe Marathon, has a new partner for this year’s race – his mother Beth!

This has come as a surprise and no one is more stunned than Beth (63) herself.

Beth is probably better at answering phones and doing admin work than taking on rapids and the like.

Ant knows that. “He said I can just sit in the boat and enjoy the ride, he’ll do all the work,” she said.

Originally, Ant’s father Roger was going to climb in the boat, but then injured his shoulder bodysurfing.

“He suggested I ask mom,” said Ant.

The funny thing is that Roger’s shoulder has made a remarkable recovery since Beth agreed to do the big race!

Beth is pretty excited about the Dusi. “I’ve usually been a seconder and never actually been on the river in a boat,” she said.

If seconding is hard work, how much more so the actual paddling and running.

“At first I said ‘no ways’ and said I would ‘sleep on it’ but I must admit the chance for some adventure is quite exciting,” she explained.

Most would suggest Beth is in good hands, but over the years accident-prone Ant has come a cropper a few times, breaking paddles, boats and bones.

It’s perhaps safer to suggest he’s in good hands as Beth will no doubt tell him if “he’s going too fast”!

“There is huge pressure on me this time around!” laughed Ant. “My whole family is going to be watching closely and checking to see that mom doesn’t suffer a single scratch or bruise throughout our three days in the boat together!”

The recent TWK Agri Dash ‘n Crash race provided Beth with a good opportunity to get to grips with the first eight kilometres of the Dusi route. However her vastly experienced son has his sights set much further downstream.

Meanwhile, a bunch of eager locals will also be in the mix.

The core training group consists of Willie Kunz, Rudi Bense, his son Dylan, and Shadrack Mkhize.

They’ve put in some seriously long hours, particularly early on Saturday mornings.

“While Shadrack and myself slogged it out on the Mzimkhulu River, Rudi and Dylan slipped away on a few weekends to go and do altitude training at the Lowveld Crock, Ithala Challenge, Mooiriver and Drak,” said Willie.

“The challenge will be if the ‘ballies’ Rudi and myself can keep up with the youngsters. Graham Christensen is the dark horse in the club as he silently slipped into the batch that has completed 25 Dusis to date. His partner is Michael Brett,” added Willie.

Simon Heaver and Patrick McNeill have a fairly late start and will want to escape from the ‘fish and chips’.