STUDENT TAKES THE HONOURS AT DUSI MARATHON

UKZN student Mr Andrew Birkett and his partner Mr Jason Graham are the winners of the 2010 Dusi Canoe Marathon. They beat pre-race favourites Mr Ant Stott and Mr Michael Mbanjwa in the men's K2 category. Their overall winning time was 7:42:04.

Mr Birkett, a second year BCom student on the Pietermaritzburg campus, is also a recipient of the Prestige Full Tuition Sports Scholarship. He has paddled five Dusis and has also competed successfully in the Jeep Msinsi Multisport Series.

Another UKZN student, Mr Ben Biggs finished 4th with partner and former UKZN canoeist Mr Shaun Biggs.

The Dusi Canoe Marathon race is currently held over a period of three days, with each day having a defined beginning and end. The first day is 45 km which includes roughly 15 km of portaging with the canoe, with shorter portaging sections on day two and three. Day two is also 45 km and ends with a 10 km stretch on flat water on the Inanda Dam. Day three is 35km of clean cold water let out from the dam. There are several sections with large rapids, particularly on day two and three.

Other notable UKZN results:

Men: U-21:
1st Mr Michael Patrick and Mr Christopher Birkett 8:27:2,
3rd Mr Matthew Gilson and Mr Darren Berriman 9:04:13.

Ladies:
K2 – 6th Ms Kelly Howe and Ms Alex Adie 10:29:31