Rudder drama in iconic race

YESTERDAY'S opening day of the 2026 Dusi Canoe Marathon delivered plenty of drama as defending K2 champions Andy Birkett and Matt Fenn claimed the men's stage honour, while a bent rudder denied Sbonelo Khwela and Msawenkosi Mtolo a late charge.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

AND THEY ARE OFF: The field for this year's three-day Dusi Canoe Marathon, between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, sprint to be the first to get their boats in the water at the start of the first day. The Dusi, Africa's premier canoeing event, is a 120km journey that includes paddling and portaging through the Msunduzi and Mgeni Rivers to reach the finish line at Durban's Blue Lagoon on Saturday.

(I LEON LESTRADE Independent Newspapers.)

Abby Solms and Robyn Groenink took the women's stage win ahead of pre-race favourites Christie Mackenzie and Saskia Hockly.

The 27km opening stage turned into a sprint to the line in the men's race, with the lead changing hands several times. The Plastrading duo of Khwela and Mtolo were firmly in contention until the closing kilometres, when the Euro Steel pair of Birkett and Fenn broke clear to secure victory in 1:53:31.