Race leader Andy Birkett was involved in a neck-and-neck tussle with Sbonelo Khwela early on day two of the 2025 Dusi Canoe Marathon.
Birkett finished Thursday’s opening stage, which kicked off at Bishopstowe Country Club, 54 seconds ahead of Khwela in second.
But his lead soon came under threat on Friday’s longer, more taxing second stage from Dusi Bridge to the Msinsi Resort at Inanda Dam.
At Gauging Weir Khwela had narrowed the gap to just under 20 seconds.
Euro Steel’s Birkett struggled to shake his determined rival, who was right on his rudder.
“Sbonelo was chasing me down all the way,” Birkett said. “Whenever I opened up a gap, he was taking some bold lines down rapids and just before the Ngumeni portage he was right on my tail, which made for exciting racing.”
Despite the early pressure, the defending champion managed to maintain his composure to power ahead of the chasing Khwela and Matt Fenn.
“I just thought that if I can put in first after Ngumeni then I can open up a bit of a lead because I knew that Gumtree, Hippo and Thombi (weirs) were going to be big, and I had to just stay in the boat.
“Then I felt really good coming across the dam in the last hour.”
The 34-year-old Birkett, who has won every edition of the race since 2014, finished the day with a lead of over five minute over Fenn.
Birkett’s Euro Steel teammate and 2024 K2 winning partner made up three places on the day to push Khwela into third.
“I love a long day and I just tried to pace myself today knowing that I had a lot of time to catch up,” Fenn said.
“I didn’t want to blow too early and I think I did well and have a nice one-on-one battle with Sbonelo (Khwela) tomorrow.
“I’m looking forward to tomorrow, it’s going to be a paddling day and I’m really excited.”
Women’s race leader Christie Mackenzie had her own challenges but also managed to extend her lead.
“I felt really good, but I did have a little swim just before the takeout of the first saddle,” Mackenzie said.
“The river was so full that you don’t really know where the take-out was. I was pretty sure I was in the right spot, but I lost concentration and fell out.”
Mackenzie also had to negotiate her way through some hyacinth when the wind started picking up later in the morning.
“Heading onto the dam I felt really good, and the wind started picking up and it was really hard being alone.”
Despite these challenges she powered her way to a convincing stage win ahead of Nikki Birkett in second and Bridgitte Hartley in third.
Mackenzie’s nine-minute advantage in the women's race has ballooned to 19 minutes over Birkett in second while Hartley is currently just under 15 minutes adrift of Birkett.
The third and final stage of the Dusi Canoe Marathon takes paddlers 36km from Inanda Dam to Blue Lagoon on Saturday.
DUSI CANOE MARATHON RESULTS: DAY TWO
Men
1. Andy Birkett 2:57:49 4:47:37
2. Matt Fenn 2:59:51 4:53:09
3. Sbonelo Khwela 3:02:29 4:53:10
4. Sandile Mtholo 3:09:16 5:02:03
5. Msawenkosi Mtolo 3:12:32 5:05:20
6. Siyanda Gwamanda 3:11:45 5:05:21
7. Siseko Ntondini 3:11:59 5:08:45
8. Bongani Ntinga 3:11:36 5:10:57
9. Banetse Nkhoesa 3:13:54 5:10:58
10. Alan Houston 3:11:17 5:11:00
Women
1. Christie Mackenzie 3:30:14 5:43:43
2. Nikki Birkett 3:40:01 6:02:52
3. Bridgitte Hartley 3:53:01 6:17:23
4. Hilary Bruss 3:56:07 6:27:53
5. Emma Hatfield (U23) 3:54:33 6:28:50
6. Hana Newlands (U18) 4:11:13 6:43:27
7. Shannon Parker-Dennison (U23) 4:19:09 6:57:15
8. Holly Smith (U23) 4:17:43 6:59:40
9. Tayla Norton (U18) 4:31:04 7:14:01
10. Keira Hunter (U18) 4:55:46 7:51:08