Dusi, Day 2: Birkett and Zondi speed up for the title

Birkett & Zondi made a solo race down the river. Photo: Twitter @AntStott

Undoubtly they were already favorites before the start of the race, but the superiority Andy Birkett and Sibonelo Zondi are showing in this year's Dusi Canoe Marathon only a few could imagine it yesterday morning at the start in Pietermaritzburg.

The beginning of this second stage, in mode of trial according to the times yesterday, saw Jasper Mocke and Hank McGregor pushing very hard from the start to try to reduce some of the disadvantage of 5'27" with the leaders. They managed to closed it to four and a half minutes, but like if Birkett and Zondi were waiting for their rivals to get tired, after the first two long portages they put the effort on the river and passing through the biggest rapids of the day, after the confluence of the Umgeni river with the Dusi, the put back the gap in five and a half minutes.

Dusi, Day 1: Andy Birkett and Sibonelo Zondi want to set the race clear from the beginning

The A batch going through Earnie Pearce. Photo: Twitter @DusiCanoe

This morning started the 63rd edition of the Dusi Canoe Marathon, which this year takes place in K2, and has been a day full of action and news.

After an early departure (6 AM local time, 5 AM CET), among the 61 seeded K2s there were three clear favorites: Lance Kime and Thulani Mbajnwa; Jasper Mocke and Hank McGregor; and Andrew Birkett and Sibonelo Zondi . But last year's winner Lance Kime and his partner (also K2 winner) Thulani Mbanjwa, didn't have much time to enjoy the race. At Witness Weir, the second obstacle of the day just three kilometers from the start, they broke their K2, seeing themselves forced to a long stop for a quick repair and losing almost every chance for the title, except unexpected catastrophe on their rivals in the next two days.

So, right from the very first kilometers, everything pointed to a McGregor/Mocke vs Birkett/Zondi race, where the first ones set a blistering pace on the water.

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.