Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Leading duo survive day of drama at Dusi
AT the end of Day One, with only two major portages ahead of them, the ‘ Dream Team’ of Andy Birkett and Hank McGregor must have been fancying a bit of a jaunt down the Dusi River on Day Two with a two-minute lead.
Things did not go according to plan though for the overnight leaders. Confident with their ability in the boat, the pair knew that only a mishap could cost them the lead, and a mishap, or two, or three they had.
But, to their immense credit, despite a bent rudder, McGregor attempting to abseil down Nqumeni, a swim, and a charging pack, the pair ended day two in the lead.
“Still a lot of fun,” McGregor said. “Could be disappointed, but we are same position, just that we are now 2 seconds ahead, not 2 minutes.”
The top four after Day One set off on an elapsed time start from Dusi Bridge which saw McGregor and Birkett heading off two minutes ahead of Sbonelo Khwela and Siseko Ntondini, followed by Carl Folscher and Adrian Boros with Ant Stott and Banetsi Nkoesa moving to fourth with the withdrawal of the Houston Brothers.
But, drama soon struck as the leading boat ended up looking back at a bent rudder, and as McGregor explains “it was looking straight back at us.”
The pair decided at Confluence to change the rudder after struggling to bend it back straight. With their seconds shoulder deep in the water, they sat dead still, watching as their lead leaked away; three boats passing by.
“It was a risky change, because people were worried about dropping items,” McGregor explained. “Then we watched boats come past… In year’s gone by I’ve always wanted to see Andy stranded on the banks, and it finally happened, but it was the wrong year!”
The pair were now comfortably in fourth, and instead of being two minutes ahead, they were two and a half minutes back. The drama didn’t end there either as they breached the top of Nqumeni, and bolted down the steep bank back towards the river, Birkett had a moment where his partner went missing.
“Suddenly the boat was swaying at the back and I looked around and was like, ‘Where’s Hank?!’, suddenly he emerged at the bottom of the hill apologising, saying he had just gone abseiling.”
McGregor, sporting a cut on his cheek, explained how, heading down Mine Shaft, the steepest route, he took a step into fresh air and suddenly was free falling – abseiling without equipment.
Despite the setback, the pair knew that, as the number one and two flat water marathon paddlers in the world, they could probably make a go of it on the 12 kms into Inanda Dam.
Indeed, the ‘Dream Team’ boat put the hammer down and managed their quickest km at 4:07 in their chase of the leading three boats. They managed to catch them on the dam, and eased off to ride the wake until they sprinted for the line and a second stage win.
Day Three, the final day today, is now fantastically poised as four boats will head towards Blue Lagoon with the hopes of claiming a massive title for all those still in contention.