Historic triumph of brother and sister Lance and Robyn Kime at the Unlimited Dusi 2013

Photo: SportsPics.co.za

The Kimes, Lance and Robyn, made history last weekend by winning the men's and women's titles at the Unlimited Dusi Canoe Marathon 2013, something never happened until this edition. Three intense days of competition, with high water which originated more capsizes among the favorites of those which are habitual, finished with the first title for Lance Kime and fourth consecutive for his sister Robyn.

At the start of the 1st stage, before the imposing Natal Canoe Club of Pietermaritzburg, the biggest names in South African canoeing were among the 60 seeded men and 14 women, with only absences for various reasons of Grant van der Walt and Michele Eray among those who might be able to win.

Since the departure it was clear that, due to the big water, nobody wanted surprises and started fighting to shoot the two first weirs, Earnie Pearce and Witness Weir, just in case of possible troubles. Len Jenkins Jr. was the first to cross his hometown followed closely by Hank McGregor, but gradually began to reach come up Birkett, Mbanjwa, Stott, Kime and company. From this point everybody missed already who was named as "Dark Horse", Shaun Rubenstein, which it turned out he had broken a pedal during the warm up and he suffered along the entire stage to keep the boat on the right line.

McGregor sets an appointment with Dusi after a great victory at the 50 Miler

Water level was perfect this year. Photo Darren Goddard (Cycho Media)

After seven years Hank McGregor was coming back to race the 50 Miler, which takes place over stages 2 and 3 of the Dusi Unlimited, the big race of the South African summer. McGregor, who lives and trains in Durban, place of arrival of both races, has always found more difficult to win at home than anywhere else in the world. The long portages are often a handicap difficult to compensate in the river. But maybe the fact that the water level was perfect this last weekend and that the organizers decided to open for paddling some sections that are of compulsory portage in the Dusi, have been factors that have played a chance for McGregor this time.

On Saturday, McGregor wanted from the very start to make clear that he was going for victory, setting a very strong pace that only could be followed by Len Jenkins, Andrew Birkett and the young Don Wewege, but it didn't take very long before Jenkins and McGregor, that in absence of Grant van der Walt were then the clear favorites, decided it was time to push a little more to let Wewege and Birkett fall back.