No stopping the Dusi’s deadly duo

MCGREGOR, BIRKETT TWO MINUTES CLEAR

After holding back for most of the first stage, world marathon champion Hank McGregor said he and partner Andy Birkett had been rewarded for their patience, as the firm favourites surged clear on the opening day of the Dusi Canoe Marathon in KwaZulu-Natal yesterday.

While Birkett held seven Dusi titles, McGregor was less experienced with two career victories, and after making a conservative start, they had decided to “put the hammer down and go for broke” at the Cabbage Tree portage.

“We got back on the water and pushed hard all the way to the finish,” McGregor said.

“For me it’s special because I’ve never won the first day of the Dusi, and to do it today with a great guy like Andy is fantastic.”

McGregor and Birkett completed the first leg of the 124km contest in 2:41:11, nearly two minutes ahead of former winners Siboniso Khwela and Siseko Ntondini, who finished in 2:43:07.

Former world champion Adrian Boros and Carl Folscher were third in the K2 contest, one second further back.

Meanwhile, sisters Jordan and Cana Peek made a spectacular comeback after swimming at Ernie Pearce weir.

Despite losing touch with the leaders and slipping back to eighth place, they charged through the field to win the first stage of the women’s race in 3:12:32.

“After our swim I thought, ‘OK, well this makes it a little more interesting’,” said Cana Peek.

“So we just put our heads down, tried our best and caught them.”

The siblings held off Christie Mackenzie and former Olympic sprint medallist Bridgitte Hartley to take a lead of more than five minutes into today’s second leg.

Jenna Ward and Hungarian partner Vanda Kiszli were lying third in the three-day battle.