Dusi Canoe Marathon

Summary

The Dusi Canoe Marathon is a marathon canoe race[1] held over three days between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, South Africa. It is run along the Msunduzi and Mgeni Rivers over a total distance of 120 kilometres (75 mi). The race attracts between 1600 and 2000 paddlers each year, making it the biggest canoeing event on the African continent.[2] It is organised by the Natal Canoe Club. The clubhouse is located on the banks of the Msunduzi River, at the exact start point of the race.

Dusi Canoe Marathon
DateFebruary
LocationPietermaritzburg/Durban, South Africa
Event typeCanoe Marathon
Distance120 kilometres (75 mi)
Established1951
Official siteThe Dusi Canoe Marathon
A paddler shooting Mission Rapid during the Dusi Canoe Marathon

The Dusi Canoe Marathon is held over a period of three days, with each day having a defined beginning and end. The average finishing time for top teams is under nine hours.

The race begins at the Natal Canoe Club at Camps Drift in Pietermaritzburg. The first stage is 42 kilometres (26 mi) and includes 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) of portaging. The 46 kilometres (29 mi) second stage to Inanda Dam includes the confluence of the Mgeni and Msundusi Rivers and an 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) flatwater paddle across the dam. The third stage to Blue Lagoon in Durban is the shortest, 36 kilometres (22 mi), however it still contains a 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) flatwater paddle across the lagoon. The finish of the race is at the Kingfisher Canoe Club.[2]

Competitors may enter the K1, K2, White Water, Touring or Touring Canadian (open canoes paddled by one or two paddlers using single blade paddles) Classes. Touring class kayaks may have rudders and this class includes all K3s, K4s and plastic kayaks. SUPs form part of the Touring Class.

History edit

The first recorded trip down the Dusi by boat was recorded in the Natal Witness in 1893. Two Pietermaritzburg men, Paul Marianni and William Foley, covered the distance in seven days, arriving at Blue Lagoon on 10 January 1893.[3] It was not until 1951 that a race along the river would formally be held between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. The first ever Dusi Canoe Marathon was organised by Ian Player and began on 22 December 1951. The race was held with a non-stop format and no time limit. Of the eight paddlers that entered the race: Ian Player, Miles Brokensha, Ernie Pearce, John Naude, Basil Halford, Willie Potgieter, Fred Schmidt and Denis Vorster only Player finished the race in a time of 6 days, 8 hours and 15 minutes.[4] The canoes used in the first race were made from wood and canvas and weighed 32 kilograms (71 lb). The paddlers also had to carry all the supplies they needed in order to complete the race.[citation needed]

The first three-day race was held in 1956 with changes being made to the format over fears for paddler safety when paddling at night.[citation needed]

The Dusi Canoe Marathon was started by Ian Player in the early 1950s and this book tells the story of how it all began. The first edition of Men, Rivers and Canoes was published in 1964, and reissued in 2007 in South Africa ISBN 978-0-9802501-2-1[5]

Previous Winners edit


Men
Year Class Overall Time R
1952 K1 I PLAYER 152:15:00
1953 K1'S I PLAYER F SCHMIDT 86:00:00
1954 K1's I PLAYER F SCHMIDT 36:41:00 *
1955 K1's E PEARCE R TEMPLETON 27:28:00 *
1956 K1's E PEARCE R TEMPLETON 19:44:30 *
1957 K1's E PEARCE R TEMPLETON 14:55:00 *
1958 K2 R GOULDIE D ANTROBUS 17:20:20
1959 K1's H FISHER G ROWE 12:32:14 *
1960 K1's G ROWE H FISHER 15:45:17
1961 K1's G ROWE H FISHER 12:18:00 *
1962 K2 D ANTROBUS P GLADWIN 11:24:36 *
1963 K1's G ROWE H FISHER 11:30:19 *
1964 K1's H FISHER G ROWE 11:10:05 *
1965 K2 D COBBLEDICK C MASON 13:33:47
1966 K2 J POTGIETER C CRAWLEY 13:20:00
1967 K2 C MASON K RODGERS 10:30:35 *
1968 K2 J POTGIETER C HOUGH 10:02:32 *
1969 K2 W VAN RIET R VAN RIET 15:36:03
1970 K2 W VAN RIET R VAN RIET 11:11:26
1971 K2 W VAN RIET R VAN RIET 11:06:08
1972 K2 E CLARKE G Pope-Ellis 09:28:48 *
1973 K2 E CLARKE G Pope-Ellis 10:56:03
1974 K2 G Pope-Ellis E CLARKE 10:55:30
1975 K2 G Pope-Ellis P PEACOCK 10:12:25
1976 K2 G Pope-Ellis P PEACOCK 08:23:12 *
1977 K2 G Pope-Ellis P PEACOCK 09:15:00
1978 K2 G Pope-Ellis P PEACOCK 08:33:59
1979 K2 T BIGGS R STEWART 08:43:16
1980 K2 G Pope-Ellis P PEACOCK 09:05:07
1981 K1 G Pope-Ellis 09:47:19
1982 K2 D BIGGS T BIGGS 08:43:22
1983 K2 G Pope-Ellis TJ CORNISH 09:32:39
1984 K1 G Pope-Ellis 09:56:44
1985 K1 J EDMONDS 10:26:38
1986 K2 G Pope-Ellis TJ CORNISH 08:18:02 *
1987 K1 G Pope-Ellis 08:48:23 *
1988 K2 G Pope-Ellis TJ CORNISH 08:07:08 *
1989 K1 J EDMONDS 08:34:51 *
1990 K2 G Pope-Ellis TJ CORNISH 08:43:39
1991 K1 J EDMONDS 08:17:54 *
1992 K2 N EVANS M PERROW 08:01:33 *
1993 K1 K WHITE 09:40:07
1994 K2 J EDMONDS KJ WHITE 08:47:09
1995 K1 K WHITE 08:43:28
1996 K2 N EVANS M PERROW 08:15:33
1997 K1 M PERROW 08:26:30
1998 K2 A STOTT KJ MURRAY 08:03:09
1999 K1 M DREYER 08:49:46
2000 K2 M DREYER M PERROW 07:56:35 *
2001 K1 L  JENKINS JNR 08:09:09 *
2002 K2 M DREYER D  BRUSS 07:44:56 *
2003 K1 M DREYER 08:31:31 *
2004 K2 M DREYER A STOTT 07:45:50
2005 K1 H MC GREGOR 08:16:58
2006 K2 M DREYER H MCGREGOR 07:40:25 *
2007 K1 A STOTT 08:03:22 *
2008 K2 MJ DREYER M MBANJWA 07:33:24 *
2009 K1 A STOTT 08:38:54
2010 K2 AJ BIRKETT JA GRAHAM 07:42:04
2011 K1 AJ BIRKETT 08:06:08
2012 K2 AJ BIRKETT JA GRAHAM 07:43:02
2013 K1 L KIME 08:00:29 *
2014 K2 AJ BIRKETT S ZONDI 07:43:50
2015 K1 AJ BIRKETT 07:55:35 *
2016 K2 AJ BIRKETT L KIME 07:52:09
2017 K1 AJ BIRKETT 08:32:55
2018 K2 AJ BIRKETT H MCGREGOR 08:12:22
2019 K1 AJ BIRKETT 08:09:48
Woman
Year Class Overall Time R
1986 K2 M LOEWENSTEIN J BENTEL 12:03:08 *
1987 K1 M LOEWENSTEIN 11:51:50 *
1988 K2 M LOEWENSTEIN J BENTEL 12:32:03
1989 K1 M LOEWENSTEIN 11:46:38 *
1990 K2 M LOEWENSTEIN J BENTEL 12:20:31
1991 K1 M LOEWENSTEIN 10:34:44 *
1992 K2 M LOEWENSTEIN J BENTEL 10:27:07 *
1993 K1 M LOEWENSTEIN 12:25:40
1994 K2 N RENNIE W  WHITE 11:27:31
1995 K1 A MANFRONI 11:47:20
1996 K2 D  GERMIQUET W WHITE 10:02:13 *
1997 K1 W WHITE 10:32:49 *
1998 K2 D GERMIQUET W WHITE 09:52:11 *
1999 K1 D GERMIQUET 10:44:42
2000 K2 D GERMIQUET W WHITE 09:42:05 *
2001 K1 A MANFRONI 10:18:09 *
2002 K2 J WALDER A MANFRONI 09:31:06 *
2003 K1 A MIEDEMA 10:12:06 *
2004 K2 A LOMBARD D KAMSTRA 09:27:52 *
2005 K1 A MIEDEMA 09:36:02 *
2006 K2 A MIEDEMA A LOMBARD 09:02:12 *
2007 K1 A MIEDEMA 09:25:36 *
2008 K2 A MIEDEMA A LOMBARD 08:46:03 *
2009 K1 A MIEDEMA 10:18:51
2010 K2 A MIEDEMA R KIME 08:56:04
2011 K1 R KIME 09:37:33
2012 K2 A ULANSKY R KIME 08:41:59 *
2013 K1 R KIME 09:07:16 *
2014 K2 A ULANSKY R KIME 08:51:19
2015 K1 L O DONOGHUE 09:40:21
2016 K2 A SOLMS A ADAMOVA 09:09:19
2017 K1 A SOLMS 10:16:03
2018 K2 J PEEK C PEEK 09:45:23
2019 K1 C MACKENZIE 10:00:11
Junior Boys
Year Class Overall Time R
1961 K TRUNDELL J MASSEY 17:33:49 *
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966 D HAYTER R COLLINSON 19:36:20
1967 M VAN WIERINGEN J KEARNEY 12:41:01 *
1968
1969 R RUDGE R TODD 21:40:39
1970 D CULVERWELL B BERRIMAN 14:17:44 *
1971 M TOCKNELL H SANDBERG 13:15:39 *
1972 A ALBERTYN 12:42:03
1973 R PENNEFATHER 15:35:39
1974 C ST LEGER R WIMBUSH 17:41:36
1975 C ST LEGER 14:14:12
1976 J TAYLOR A RENNIE 11:29:38 *
1977 G DIXON S DIXON 13:27:46
1978 L PARK 09:59:22 *
1979 C JAMIESON S DIXON 10:25:58 *
1980
1981 R STARR 11:34:39
1982 B YELLAND 10:46:44
1983 B YELLAND C HACKLAND 11:01:34
1984 G ROCKETT 12:12:28
1985 M ELLIS 12:59:09
1986 K2 KJ WHITE GJ TARR 09:57:16 *
1987 K1 A HACKLAND 10:45:55
1988 K2 DH RAW C CARLYLE 09:51:09 *
1989 K1 W VOLEK 09:49:36 *
1990 K2 D REDMAN D BRAUTESETH 10:37:53
1991 K1 G REDMAN 09:05:48 *
1992 K2 D BRUSS E NEL 09:14:53 *
1993 K1 T MC LAREN 11:45:31
1994 K2 S FISHER GJ BEHN 09:48:28
1995 K1 A STOTT 10:10:07
1996 K2 A STOTT J CALLISTER 09:07:09 *
1997 K1 B IRVINE 09:12:14
1998 K2 S BRUSS S BIGGS 09:13:56
1999 K1 L JENKINS JNR 09:03:41 *
2000 K2 P TERREBLANCHE M  RASMUSSEN 08:50:04 *
2001 K1 S RUBENSTEIN 08:52:47 *
2002 K2 D WOODHEAD J BIGGS 08:52:02
2003 K1 J BIGGS 09:10:38
2004 K2 D CHAPLIN M  WORRALL 09:05:02
2005 K1 N STUBBS 09:30:47
2006 K2 S BIRD C SCHOEMAN 08:12:20 *
2007 K1 A BIRKETT 09:10:11
2008 K2 B BIGGS A BIRKETT 08:20:36
2009 K1 K MHLOPHE 09:40:15
2010 K2 G SHUTER I KRUGER 08:41:26
2011 K1 M HAW 09:10:59
2012 K2 M HAW J SPEED 08:24:19
2013 K1 T WILSON 08:43:36 *
2014 K2 D STAMP M CELE 08:30:55
2015 K1 A HOUSTON 08:53:29
2016 K2 M ZONDI M KEELING 09:37:11
2017 K1 S LITTLE 09:49:48
2018 K2 H MACKENZIE D EVANS 08:49:53
2019 K1 D EVANS 08:35:54
Junior Girls
Year Class Overall Time R
1991 K1 L OLIVER 18:45:22 *
1992 K2
1993 K1 L OLIVER 18:40:43 *
1994 K2 K OLIVER T OETTLE 20:35:29 *
1995 K1 J BARRINGTON 13:47:55
1996 K2 S JOYCE E OETTLE 12:57:25 *
1997 K1 E OETTLE 12:25:41 *
1998 K2
1999 K1 C JOYCE 12:27:37
2000 K2 L SYMONS J COHEN 11:08:35 *
2001 K1 NJ WOODS 13:36:02
2002 K2 NJ MORPHEW K MARCH 11:22:53
2003 K1 K MARCH 11:58:18 *
2004 K2 K CORNISH C LANGENHOVEN 11:32:38
2005 K1 K HOWE 13:38:23
2006 K2 K HOWE V CHIAZZARI 11:48:01
2007 K1 R KIME 10:14:54 *
2008 K2 K JOHNSON L HENDRIE 14:39:29
2009 K1 T HAW 12:18:35
2010 K2 T HAW B PETERSEN 10:11:49 *
2011 K1 B HAW 11:07:59
2012 K2 B HAW J PEEK 09:48:27 *
2013 K1 B HAW 09:49:07 *
2014 K2 C PENNEFATHER C PEEK 10:36:47
2015 K1 C PEEK 10:10:48
2016 K2 C PEEK K PURCHASE 09:43:51 *
2017 K1 C MACKENZIE 11:05:50
2018 K2 C MACKENZIE A PECKETT 10:33:06
2019 K1 A PECKETT 10:29:37

Source:[6]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Reddy, Sheldon. "The greatest canoe race on earth". doitnow.co.za. DO IT NOW Magazine. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  2. ^ a b "About The Dusi Canoe Marathon". dusi.co.za. Dusi Canoe Marathon. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  3. ^ Nick Tatham. "The mysterious duo of Marianni and Foley". Dusi Canoe Marathon. Gameplan Media. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  4. ^ "FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon". Dusi Canoe Marathon. Gameplan Media. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  5. ^ Men, Rivers and Canoes. Echoing Green Press, Second Edition 2007. 2007. ISBN 978-0980250121.
  6. ^ "Previous Winners – Dusi Canoe Marathon". Retrieved 16 October 2019.

External links edit

  • Canoeing South Africa
  • Natal Canoe Club
  • MyRiver River Information