Two very different races on two different rivers that only a few take on – so only they can appreciate the amazing feeling of finishing a One-Hop and/or a Non-Stop.
The ‘Dusi in a Day’ started as an informal event in the mid-eighties when paddlers first completed the course in a single push, just for fun. The event was formalised as the ‘Non-Stop Dusi’ in 1997, with the first official winners being John and Andrew Edmonds. (A month earlier that year, Mark Perrow had beaten John into second place to become the first Vaalie to win a K1 Dusi title.) Anyway, back in the day we used to have lots of Dabs paddlers at the Non-Stop, including mad men like Giles & Snowy, and more recently the likes of Kevin & Daryn, but this year the only paddlers from our pond were Benjie & Wongama, who came third – for the third year in a row. The race was won by a new pairing of Siyanda Gwamanda & Zamokuhle Meyiwa in a cracking time of 7hours 40. Mat Fenn gave his English Rose her first taste of the Dusi, and they finished in a fine fourth place, but a bitbehind the winners. Rosie wasn’t the only girl there, Robyn Groenink (who won this year’s Dusi with Abby Solms) also paddled, but only 10 boats finished this year’s race. It seems we are getting soft…
That was on Friday. Then on Saturday it was the ‘One Hop’, a trip of either the 36km to Riverside or 64km to Old Buck from St Josephines in memory of Mark (Hophead) Perrow who died tragically in the Umkomaas valley 6 years ago.
The river was medium to low at 1.3m, making it a bit toughfor the heavier crews, but all who went had a fantastic time – none more so than Umko novice Elandrie – who had this to say: “Ya, it was amazing. I absolutely loved every second. Hard work but really, really cool. And beautiful!” Well done E3 – and well done to Amy Hullet (podium Dusi girl and multiple Lowveld Croc winner) who drove Luke, with some of the old hands happily following her good lines. Go girls, go!
Beers were well earned by all. The good thing is that they are sold all over the valley; but they soon put some to sleep…
Then on Sunday it was the Mbanjwa’s Kraal to Josephines race which includes the notorious Approaches and No’s1 to 8,but still at a low (rock garden) 1.3m. This was also a fairly informal event, without timekeepers, and mostly just atripping session for the guys to check out the river before next weekend’s race. The Dabs crews started early and got off at Nyala Pans, to get on the road home a little earlier – or at least that was the plan. Unfortunately one of our crews had an epic. They wrapped at No 4 and then spent hours walking out – up out the valley instead of going down river. Some said using an old Kevlar Zeus on any level Umko to look after your new boat is not a great idea. Sorry boys. (Carrying cash and a phone on that river is a sensible idea). Amazingly Puc and Skid found them by pure chance, so at least they didn’t have to spend the night in the valley. But MJ, Belkie and Pat had to stay down there as MJ had an epic on the way down, when his bakkie (it’s not a bakkie – it’s a Hilux) dropped a prop shaft,(what a good ad) so they had to wait for it to be fixed. Epics are part of what we do – and we are thankful these weren’t worse.
Well done who to all who went, and all the best to those who are off to the Radical Test – the Sthil Umko Marathon – thisweekend. Will Hank & Wayne take a 6th title, or will there be a new crew on the top step? (Last year they were chased all the way by Mat Fenn & Brad Boule, while Clint and Luke were unlucky the year before when they chose to use an old boat). And will it be high like last year or low like two years before? Most are hoping for something in-between, but that’s the thing about the Umko, you get what comes. Enjoy! So, will you be there – or are you soft?
Till next time – Go Dabs!