The 16th edition of the Drakensberg Challenge canoe marathon gets under way in Underberg this weekend amidst much anticipation from the large field and speculation about the level of the Umzimkulu River following steady rains in the region.
The level of the river started rising after good rains fell on Thursday, continuing on Friday, with the weather forecast hinting at regular rain and thunderstorms throughout the weekend.
Dusi champ Ant Stott will start the race as the strong favourite to win an unprecedented sixth title in a race he labels as his favourite outing of the year. However, the popular 30 year old will have to keep the irrepressible Johannesburg teenager, Grant Van Der Walt, and the tenacious Hank McGregor at bay.
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A joker was thrown into the pack with the late entry of defending champion Len Jenkins, who has been conspicuous by his absence since running away with the title in low river conditions in 2008.
Add to this mix the class of Mike Arthur, Shaun Biggs, Jacques Theron, Piers Cruikshanks, Cape paddler Ernest van Riet and the Eastern Cape Louw brothers, Ryan and Greg, and the competition for the podium places will be very intense.
The womens race is sizing up to be even more absorbing, with a dozen female stars eager to take over the title vacated by the departure to Canada of Abbey Miedema.
Robyn Kime, Hillary Pitchford, Abi Adie and her twin sister Charlotte come into the race as the summers star performers and serious title contenders.
However, no less than three Olympians have added their names to the seeded womens batch, spearheaded by former champ Carol Joyce, Dubai Shamaal champ Michele Eray, and Beijing hero Jen Hodson.
Another former winner Alexa Cole, will also be on the startline and despite her protestations that she will be paddling socially as she is in the area preparing for the Sani2C mountain bike race the following weekend, she is always a ferocious competitor.
Martin Dreyer's Change a Life Academy that stole much of the thunder at the Hansa Powerade Dusi where they claimed seven of the top eighteen positions, will also be well represented and will be hoping for more of the same generous support from spectators and fans at the race that they lapped up during the Dusi.
The two day race starts on Saturday morning with a 24km stage from Castleburn Bridge to the Swartberg Road bridge outside Underberg, with the 38km final stage ending at Hopewell Farm close to Coleford resort on Sunday.
The race relies entirely on rainfall in a small catchment area in the Garden Castle area for much of it's water as there are no dams on the river that could provide water releases.
The race was first held in flood conditions in 1994 when the field was decimated, with only 20 percent of the boats reaching the finish.
Since then it has been raced in widely differing river conditions each year depending on the rainfalls in the days prior to the race.
Ten days ago heavy rainfall in the area triggered a flash flood, with the river rising inside an hour to a torrential 175 cubic metres per second.
There is no doubt the race could not be run at that level, said race boss Tex Turton.
We monitor the river and the weather very closely, and we will never compromise the safety of the paddlers.
The race supports to Sani SPCA by selling off places in the early Drak Batch, and also sees the local Round Table and Rotarians heavily involved in the many events that take place around the weekend.
The weekend's programme includes the popular inter-club golf day at the nine-hole Underberg Country Club, where the traditionally fierce rivalry over the massive trophy occupies much of the pre-event banter.
The entry has already exceeded last years entry as paddlers from every corner of the country look forward to the unique blend of scenic river pools and technically demanding rapids on the clean waters of the river that runs through Underberg. - Sapa
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