Podium finish for Maphanga at Dusi

Florida Lake Canoe Club coach was the top West Rand finisher at the 2015 Dusi Canoe Marathon that took place this weekend.

Shaun Maphanga finished as the third Sub Veteran podium position holder, came in the top 50 overall in 37th, and as the 35th K1 (single canoe) in a time of 9 hours 14 minutes over the 3 days.

On day one, Maphanga was edging into the top 20 but lost ground after the heavy running day, and a few swims on the bigger rapids of day two.

Fleurhof resident Nkosi Mzolo from the Soweto Canoe and Recreation Club racing team finished in 55th position in 9 hours 39 minutes, as the 52nd K1, a top 50 finish and silver medallist.

This year’s Dusi marathon took place on 19 to 21 February from Pietermaritzburg to Durban with a distance of 120 kilometres.

The storage dam levels were below expected levels for this time of the year despite thunderstorms in recent weeks. For paddlers, this meant the luxury of water releases from the dams that have been synonymous of the modern Dusi were reduced.

“While the leaders of the race train regularly on the river without water releases and are familiar with all the treacherous channels and islands, it was the out of towners who struggled to find their way on a low level river. With numerous portages, harking back to the tough pioneering days of the early Dusi’ marathon races before dams were built and boats were made of wood and canvas in the 60’s and 70’s. This made it the toughest Dusi’s in recent years,” said Gauteng Canoe Union spokesperson Jennie Dallas.

Day 1 ran through the centre of Pietermaritzburg, on the low level Mngeni River, to end in the Dusi Valley of 1000 Hills. Local residents were able to line up along river banks and cheer for the paddlers.

Day 2 started from the Dusi Bridge in the valley, towards Inanda Dam, where the Msundusi and the Mngeni Rivers meet. There was not too much water coming in from the Mngeni and the rapids were treacherous as the fast flowing current swerved around boulders at top speed requiring quick reflexes to avoid boat wraps.

The final day 3 from Inanda to Durban, the shortest section under 40 kilometres, is usually the fun part of the race with good water from Inanda dam. This time it was tougher than usual with no release and strong resistance on the approaches to Blue Lagoon in Durban in the shallows, against the incoming tide.

Daryn Koertzen from the Krugersdorp based Crocodile Canoe Club finished in 207th place overall, as 169th single with a time of 11 hours 15 minutes.

Florida Lake Canoe Club’s father and son team, Hardus and Emile Theunissen finished in position 282 overall.

Terence Vrugtmann from Constantia Kloof who was doing his first Dusi teamed up with Michael Benci from Florida. The men attended Krugersdorp High School and La Salle College respectively and graduated from active scouts, to rangers and adventure racers.

They finished the endurance marathon in position 78 in double canoe with a time of 11 hours 54 minutes over the three days. They finished in position 302 overall.