Dusi Canoe Marathon

The Dusi Canoe Marathon community is heartbroken at the passing of John Oliver on Friday.

John – and his instantly recognisable beard – has been an integral part of South African canoeing for many years: firstly in a boat as a paddler, then on the river banks as a valuable part of KZN's officials team, and in more recent years as a timekeeper and official on a national basis.

His knowledge, expertise and incredible dedication to South African canoeing through some difficult years, means his passing will leave a hole that will be tough to fill at most of the major canoeing events around the country, including the Dusi.

For many officials, sponsors, suppliers, competitors and seconds at the Dusi, John was a valuable friend and he will be deeply missed on a personal level.

Go well John and thank you for all you did for the Dusi and for SA Canoeing.

Our thoughts are with Kirsten, Lorna, Ben and Kevin.

Photo: Jon Ivins

The entire Dusi community, from officials; sponsors, suppliers and partners; to competitors and seconds, wish John Oliver all the best during this difficult time. The doyen of South African canoeing officials is currently in hospital and we wish him and his family strength. John, we hope you recover quickly and fully.

Msawenkosi Mtolo and Thabani Msia make it win number five

Mtolo and Msia can't stop winning the Non Stop

Pietermaritzburg - It was hot and humid, but MyLife's Msawenkosi Mtolo and Euro Steel's Thabani Msia looked surprisingly untroubled by the challenges that the 2024 Non-Stop Dusi had thrown in their path when they cruised into the finish at the Kingfisher Canoe Club in Durban early on Friday afternoon.

The fast pace early on, combined with the shortened overall distance due to the new start at Bishopstowe Hall, meant the winning time of 7:44:24 was a new record.

Recently crowned Dusi Champion, Matt Fenn from East London, slotted into second overall and win the K1 category, also in a record time of 8:08:12. He was followed home by Benjamin Mntonintshi and Wongama Makasi (8:16:43), and then Mpilo Zondi and Jabulani Lucky (8:32:05). Multiple Dusi winner Martin Dreyer and his wife Jeannie claimed a remarkable fifth overall (8:52:29) to win the mixed doubles category.

To read more go to https://natalcc.co.za/?p=1412

PROVISIONAL RESULTS
1 Msawenkosi Mtolo and Thabani Msia 7:44:24
2 Matthew Fenn (1st K1) 8:08:12
3 Benjamin Mntonintshi and Wongama Makasi 8:16:43
4 Mpilo Zondi and Jabulani Lucky 8:32:05
5 Martin Dreyer and Jeannie Dreyer (1st MD) 8:52:29
6 Raymond Radebe (2nd K1) 8:58:46
7 Thomas Ngidi (3rd K1) 8:58:49
8 Phineas Zulu and Ryno Armdorf 9:28:24
9 Stuart Roberts (4th K1) 9:38:16
10 Ric Whitton (5th K1) 9:53:41
11 David Evans and Rob Evans 9:53:44
12 Dave McKenzie and Helen Buley (2nd MD) 10:02:30
13 Simon Chubb (6th K1) 10:16:29

2024 Non Stop Dusi Canoe Marathon Champions: Msawenkosi Mtolo and Thabani Msia

It is their fifth win in five, and in a new record time.

Msawenkosi Mtolo and Thabani Msia win their fifth Non Stop Dusi Canoe Marathon in a new course record time of 7 hours 44 minutes 24 seconds, albeit on a slightly shorter course with the start at Bishopstowe Hall.

New Dusi Champ Matt Fenn 2nd in 8:8:12 and first K1

Benjamin Mntonintshi and Wongama Makasi third 8:16:43

The 2024 Non Stop Dusi Canoe Marathon got underway at Bishopstowe early this morning and we have an early three-boat group dicing for the lead.

Banetse Nkhoesa and Sbonelo Khwela led at Geoff's Road and at Finger Neck the top three were together in the following order: Msawenkosi Mtolo and Thabani Msia, Benjamin Mntonintshi and Wongama Makasi and Banetse Nkhoesa and Sbonelo Khwela.

The first single is recently crowned Dusi winner Matt Fenn.

The top ten at Finger Neck are:
1 Msawenkosi Mtolo and Thabani Msia
2 Benjamin Mntonintshi and Wongama Makasi
3 Banetse Nkhoesa and Sbonelo Khwela
4 Matthew Fenn
5 Mpilo Zondi and Jabulani Lucky
6 Raymond Radebe
7 Thomas Ngidi
8 David Evans and Rob Evans
9 Martin Dreyer and Jeannie Dreyer
10 Phineas Zulu and Ryno Armdorf

ONE DAY ...

One day to go until it's time for Dusi in a Day ... and Msawenkosi Mtolo and Thabani Msia line up as the reluctant favourites to make if five in a row.

Hopeful late entrants can still get an entry at registration this afternoon (Thursday) at Camps Drift from 2-5pm, or at the start tomorrow (Friday) from 4-5am. The racing starts at Bishopstowe Hall at 5.15am.

Read more about Mtolo's and Msia's attempt to make it five from five at https://dusi.co.za/2024/03/07/mtolo-msia-ready-to-conquer-dusi-in-a-day/

No Guts, No Story

Make sure you have a story to tell. Head to https://paddler.canoesa.com/ and enter the Non-Stop. Pre-entries close at 6pm tonight.

DO IT ... AND GET THE T-SHIRT

There's water guaranteed, and there's a T-Shirt you can wear with pride.

Enter the 2024 Non-Stop Dusi Canoe Marathon and you will get a T-Shirt that proves you are tough enough to take on one of sport's real challenges.

Pre-entries for the Non-Stop close at 6pm tonight at https://paddler.canoesa.com/, so make sure you are on the start line on Friday morning.

Water releases from both Henley and Inanda Dams for Friday's Non-Stop Dusi have been confirmed. Entries are open at the CSA entry portal at https://paddler.canoesa.com/

WATER RELEASE CONFIRMED

Paddlers in Friday's Non-Stop Dusi Canoe Marathon will have water releases from Henley and Inanda Dam to make their tough journey just a little easier.

The organisers have negotiated water releases from the two major dams feeding the route and there will be water on both the Dusi from Henley and the Mgeni from inanda.

Entries are open at the Canoeing SA entry portal at https://paddler.canoesa.com/

Are you taking on the Dusi in a Day challenge?

DUSI IN A DAY - ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?

Friday will see a hardy bunch of canoeists tackling the 2024 Non-Stop Dusi Canoe Marathon. Who will make it, and who will find the Dusi an a Day too tough.

Entries at the Canoeing SA entry portal at https://paddler.canoesa.com/

1 WEEK UNTIL RACE DAY

Are you tough enough for the Dusi in a Day? The "easy" three-day Dusi Canoe Marathon has come and gone, and now the hard men and women of canoeing are limbering up for the "real" challenge, the Non-Stop Dusi Canoe Marathon.

Next Friday a small group of paddlers will set off from Bishopstowe Hall to try and reach Durban's Blue Lagoon on one day. Will you be there?

Entries open via Canoeing SA entry portal at https://paddler.canoesa.com/ and full rules at https://natalcc.co.za/?page_id=1295

Are you tough enough to handle The Dusi in a Day?

If you think you are, you can find out next week when the Non Stop Dusi Canoe Marathon takes place from Bishopstowe Hall to Blue Lagoon - in one day.

Entries at https://paddler.canoesa.com/

Race rules and details at https://natalcc.co.za/?page_id=1295

READY FOR THE NEXT CHALLENGE?

The Dusi is done ... now it's nearly Non-Stop time

The Non-Stop Dusi Canoe Marathon will take place on Friday, March 8th starting at Bishopstowe Hall and finishing at Blue Lagoon in Durban.

Entries are now open via Canoeing SA entry portal at https://paddler.canoesa.com/

Full rules at https://natalcc.co.za/?page_id=1295

THE AWESOME FOURSOME

There were hundreds of notable achievements at this year's Dusi Canoe Marathon, but arguably four of the most memorable were from Lyle Wheeler, Lorna Oliver, Gudgie Dixon and Tony Evered-Hall.

Iconic KZN canoeist, Lyle Wheeler, paddling with his son Billy, completed his 53 Dusi, keeping him comfortably ahead of the chasing pack as the person with the most Dusi finishes to his name.

Lorna Oliver holds the corresponsing record for women. She completed her 36th Dusi with Debbie Lewis and is pictured here with (from left) Dusi Boss Steve Botha, Debbie, Lorna and her sister Kirsten Oliver. Kirsten and Lorna are daughters of John Oliver, long-time official for SA Canoeing.

For Natal rugby player Gudgie Dixon completed his 50th Dusi in a row, and after Lyle, is just the second person to ever achieve 50 finishers in the famous KZN sporting event. He paddled with Rowan Ainsworth and dedicated his 50th to long-time friend and second, Beans Bateman, who passed away recently.

Tony Evered-Hall's Dusi story is remarkable for many reasons. Not only did he become the oldest ever finisher at 80 years and 9 months, beating Hugh Raw's record by a few months, but his finish epitomises the spirit of the Dusi. After wrapping their boat on Day 2, and being rescued from a near drowning by his son and partner Mark, they fixed their boat and limped home on Day 2 and then continued on to reach Durban on Day 3.

Dusi Canoe Marathon 2024 - Day 3 - Prizegiving

Dusi Canoe Marathon 2024 - Day 3

Lyle Wheeler finished his 53rd Dusi to keep himself comfortably on top of the standings as the paddler with the most finishes. This year he partnered his son Billy and they finished in a total time of 13:53:55

At 80 years and nine months old, Tony Evered-Hall on Saturday became the oldest finisher in the history of the Dusi Canoe Marathon, Tony, paddling with his son Mark (55), finished their 10th Dusi together for Tony to become the oldest ever finisher at the race, beating Hugh Raw who was 80 and four months in 2021.

It was Tony's 16th Dusi, but it nearly ended in tears on Friday when they had a scary swim and wrapped their boat early in the stage and had to fix it before limping to the finish.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝘂𝘀𝗶 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻

Pietermaritzburg – Andy Birkett and Matthew Fenn, and Abby Solms and Jessica Behn did exactly what was expected on Saturday and duly wrapped up their 2024 Dusi Canoe Marathon titles – but for the men's winners, the stage from Inanda Dam to Durban nearly turned into a disaster.

For Birkett it was his 14th victory and takes the "Crown Prince" of the event to within one win of the remarkable record of 15 titles "Dusi King" Graeme Pope-Ellis achieved in the 1970s and 80s.

For Solms, this is her fourth victory and puts her up as one of the most successful women's Dusi paddlers in the history of the race. The late decision for the winner in 2016, 2017 and 2022 to team up with the matric schoolgirl proved to be a master stroke.

To read more: https://dusi.co.za/2024/02/17/birkett-fenn-and-solms-behn-wrap-up-dusi-wins/

LEADING DUSI RESULTS
(listed under: Pos Names (Day 1, Day 2, Day 3) Total
Men
1 Andy Birkett / Matthew Fenn (2:28:02; 2:26:37; 2:24:55) 7:19:35
2 Msawenkosi Mtolo / Sbonelo Khwela (2:27:36; 2:32:19; 2:25:53) 7:25:49
3 Bongani Ntinga / Sandile Mtolo (2:32:44; 2:35:12; 2:19:41) 7:27:38
4 Banetse Nkhoesa / Siseko Ntondini (2:32:48; 2:35:11; 2:22:33) 7:30:32
5 Scott Little / Jeremy Maher (2:35:16; 2:34:23; 2:23:00) 7:32:40
6 Thulani Mbanjwa / Kwandokuhle Mzolo (2:35:29; 2:34:13; 2:26:47) 7:36:29
7 Alan Houston / Dirk Van Den Berg (2:42:07; 2:37:10; 2:28:43) 7:48:00
8 Lindokuhle Maphumulo / Minenhle Ngubane (2:43:14; 2:40:26; 2:26:55) 7:50:36
9 Thabani Msia / Nqobile Makhanya (2:39:31; 2:38:34; 2:36:59) 7:55:04
10 Ross Palframan / Murray Behn (2:42:25; 2:49:11; 2:24:31) 7:56:07

Mixed
1 Hank Mcgregor / Pippa Mcgregor (2:54:11; 2:47:18; 2:28:19) 8:09:50
2 Bradley Boulle / Emma Hatfield (3:00:52; 2:53:25; 2:37:26) 8:31:45
3 Dave Mckenzie / Helen Buley (3:16:32; 3:05:54; 2:50:20) 9:12:47
4 Abbey Hackland / James Hackland (3:24:14; 3:19:35; 2:55:56) 9:39:46
5 Menzi Mthembu / Maritsa Gouws (3:48:00; 3:34:13; 2:59:57) 10:22:11

Women
1 Abby Solms / Jessica Behn (3:00:14; 2:54:20; 2:38:27) 8:33:02
2 Bridgitte Hartley / Hilary Bruss (3:09:37; 2:55:16; 2:42:44) 8:47:38
3 Jenna Nisbet / Nix Birkett (3:16:28; 3:02:10; 2:39:57) 8:58:37
4 Amy Hulett / Neriyah Dill (3:23:01; 3:14:05; 2:56:28) 9:33:35
5 Shannon Parker-Dennison / Nosipho Mthembu (3:27:02; 3:17:24; 2:57:17) 9:41:44

DUSI CHAMPIONS 2024: Andy Birkett and Matthew Fenn

DUSI CHAMPIONS 2024: Jessica Behn and Abby Solms