Msawenkosi Mutolo and Sbonelo Kwela competed in the opening round of the 2024 Dusi Canoe Marathon, living up to the pre-race hype.
On Thursday, the pair held a slim lead as they crossed the river from Bishopstow Hall to the new Day 1 finish at Mpaya Bridge.
A massive jump in the final few kilometers from the old Dusi Bridge finish line to the new finish line left 13-time race winners Andy Birkett and Matthew Fenn in a dangerous situation, just 26 seconds behind the leading team. It means falling. Looking ahead to days two and three, a smart bet would be to bet on a 14th win for the former world champion and his young Eastern Cape partner.
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first day drama
The women's race appeared to be following a similar trajectory to the men's race, with Abbey Solms and her schoolgirl partner Jessica Behn building a solid lead early on the first day, but Bridget Hartley and Hilary・Brass started to bite into the following.
Also read: K2 pairing hungry for glory in Dusi Canoe Marathon
But while Solms and Behn opted for the traditional run option, the decision to paddle around the tough Cabbage Tree portage late in the race suddenly meant significant time loss for Hartley and Blass. The gap had narrowed to just over a minute before deciding whether to portage or paddle, but by the final third of the 36km stage, the gap had increased to more than nine minutes.
This gap will make things difficult for Hartley and Blass. Even though they may feel they can make up time on the second day, the second day is now very much a paddler's stage with only one major portage, but seeing it difficult. Take back less disadvantages.
Also read: Andy Birkett closes in on Dusi King title
In third place in the women's race is the crew of Jenna Nisbet and Nix Burkett, who will likely enjoy the fast-flowing Umgeni River and deep waters of Inanda Dam on Friday. They are six minutes behind Hartley and Blass and will be hoping to close the gap on Friday as they make the dash for Durban on Saturday.
“Today was a really brutal day,” Solms said with a big grin on his face at the size of the lead.
“Three little portages at the end that we don’t normally do on the first day were very interesting. We had to think ahead and keep something in the tank for them, but here I think we came into our own and put the hammer down.'' “
Mutolo and Kwela start Dusi Canoe Marathon
In the men's race, Mutolo and Kwela pulled away from the portage start at Bishopstow Hall, and by the time they reached the river two kilometers later, the pair had only Bongani Ntinga and Sandile Mutolo behind them. A combination of Vanetse Nkesa and Siseko Ntondini is also on the cards, with Birkett and Fenn already 30 minutes behind.
Birkett and Fenn were in second place at the Guinea Foul portage midway through the stage, but with a 90-second lead, Mutolo and Kwela look to build on their lead heading into the days and everything is going to plan. 2 and 3 are starting to look like this.
However, Burkett's slow start (he feared he was being “too conservative”) began to pay off as the two Eastern Cape paddlers closed the gap and were comfortably within 30 seconds of the lead. Heading to the second stage.
close race
Ntinga and Mutolo held off Nkoesa and Ntondini to take third place, four seconds behind, with Scott Little and Jeremy Maher rounding out the top five in the under-23s.
“It was a tough day, but I think I ran a good race,” said Mutro, relaxing after the finish line.
“I wasn't worried at all,” Kwela said, addressing the story. “I knew the other players were strong, but I told myself we needed to run at our own pace.
“It was a long day and the important thing is that I didn't see Andy in the race before Dusi so I didn't know what he was hiding.
He added: “I'm happy with the result. It's not that big of a difference, but there's another race tomorrow.
“We wanted to make a bigger difference, but unfortunately we didn't get as much as we wanted, but anything can happen.”
In mixed doubles, multiple world champion Hank McGregor and his wife Pippa took control, leading Eurosteel teammates Brad Buhl and Emma Hatfield by a margin of 6 minutes 41 seconds. There is.
The second stage takes paddlers to the confluence of the Umgeni River within two kilometers of the start. From there, the nature of the river changes dramatically, and several large rapids must be overcome before reaching the steep Gumeni Portage. Afterwards, he descends through three major rapids: Gumtree, Tombi and Kaba, followed by the headwaters of Inanda Dam and his 12km flat channel, before stopping for the night at Musinshi resort.
Key Results DUSI Canoe Marathon Day 1
male
1 Musawenkosi Mutolo / Sbonelo Kwela 2:27:36
2 Andy Birkett / Matthew Fenn 2:28:02
3 Bongani Ntinga / Sandile Mutolo 2:32:44
4 Vanetse Nkesa / Siseko Ntondini 2:32:48
5 Scott Little / Jeremy Maher 2:35:16
6 Thulani Mbanjwa / Kwandokule Mzolo 2:35:29
7 Sanele Mbanjwa / Smilo Mthethwa 2:35:35
8 Thabani Muthia / Nqobile Makhanya 2:39:31
9 Benjamin Muntoninssi / Mpendulo Mthethwa 2:39:34
10 Mvelo Ngidi/Siyanda Gwamanda 2:41:49
mixture
1 Hank McGregor / Pippa McGregor 2:54:11
2 Bradley Boole / Emma Hatfield 3:00:52
3 Dave McKenzie / Helen Bouley 3:16:32
4 Scott Rogers / Michaela Geitenbeek 3:20:44
5 Abbey Hackland / James Hackland 3:24:14
woman
1 Abbey Solms / Jessica Behn 3:00:14
2 Bridget Hartley / Hilary Blass 3:09:37
3 Jenna Nisbett / Nix Burkett 3:16:28
4 Caitlin O'Dell / Rachel Van Deventer 3:22:59
5 Amy Hewlett / Nelya Dill 3:23:01