March 4, 2012: It was my rock star moment … when The Unlimited crew flew me (with a gang of journalists and photographers) into a remote part of the Valley of a Thousand Hills to follow the action in The Unlimited Non Stop Dusi Canoe Marathon 2012.
As we swooped above Inanda Dam and over ridges and into valleys, the helicopter – expertly flown by the BAC Aviation crew – seemed like it would be more in place in a Vietnam movie, and I was keenly awaiting the soundtrack to China Beach or Apocalypse Now … but no, this was definitely Africa in all its glory, and we were on our way to a quite magnificent section of the Dusi route.
Dusi Canoe Marathon report and pictures here
Trying to get my breath back after that scenic showstopper, there was a quarter of an hour before race leader Andy Birkett came through Hippo Rocks on his way to another clear cut victory in his K1. Lance Kime and Kwanda Mhlope impressed in second while the legend Thulani Mbanjwa and partner Sibonelo Zondi steamed through in third at that point.
See our picture gallery below
A total of 118 boats sets off from Pietermaritzburg at 5.30am, including 30 K1s. Birkett’s winning time was eight hours, 11 minutes and 15 seconds.
While there were a few thrills and spill on show, the story of the day was definitely Robyn Kime’s outstanding 14th place finish … as she knocked more than an hour off the ladies record in her K1, finishing in nine hours, 43 minutes and 42 seconds.