#Dusi2017: Andy Birkett in the lead

PIETERMARITZBURG – Andy Birkett, looking more imperious than ever, sucked out all of the drama from the first day of the 2017 Dusi Canoe Marathon, cantering to a five-minute lead over Sibonelo Khwela, with Hank McGregor in third.

Birkett, who had sported an unruly mop of dirty blonde hair for the last few years, jokingly attributed his success to his new, aerodynamic appearance, before getting serious.

“I have started working with Andrew Booyens, a running coach, and it has made such a difference. I was training with a purpose, and not just running for the sake of it. I felt the difference out there today,” he explained.

His rivals, or at least would-be rivals, can attest to that extra surge he had on the portages, where he said he paced himself perfectly. Importantly, Birkett also came into the race injury-free, which is a rare bonus for the action man.

With all those boxes ticked, he happily settled into his work, and gave as clinical a display as he ever has on the opening day. As he pointed out, he has previously gone into the second day with the tiniest of margins, so more than five minutes is a cavernous margin.

“I have started day two with a 15 second lead before, so it is nice to have that bit extra. But there are still a lot of challenges out there, and tomorrow is going to be a tough day,” Birkett warned.

Campbell's Bridge... @andybirkett1 just ahead of @sbonelokhwela. Team Eurosteel flying. pic.twitter.com/KzNN5GnKl7

— lungani zama (@whamzam17) February 16, 2017

Ever so humble, he also palmed off any comparison between his current dominance and that of the great Graham Pope-Ellis.

“No way. I am nowhere near him. We have it a lot easier than what ‘The Pope’ had to go through back in his day, so I would never compare myself to him. I haven’t even won my seventh yet,” he added.

That seventh title would already appear as his to lose, though, given his increased stamina on the run, and the machine-like manner of his paddling.

In the women’s race, Abby Solms admitted that they were all taken by surprise by the way Bridgitte Hartley sprung out of the gate, but by day’s end, Solms’ greater experience in a singles boat had seen her open up a telling lead already.

“Having a big lead takes the pressure off a bit, and I am now mixing it up with the guys. I also like to race for an overall position,” she explained.

“Bridgitte blew us away a bit at the start, with such a fast pace, so we had to push a bit. The weather also didn’t help, and it got really hot out there,” she said of the conditions.

“I’m glad I have a comfortable lead, and I need it because day three is such an unpredictable day. You just have to take everything in your stride, and keep racing conservatively,” she said of her strategy.

Hartley, who ran into mechanical issues, and also rolled her ankle at one stage, was pipped into second by young Christie Mackenzie, the Epworth Girls product who may well be the future of the women’s race.

“I feel a bit small,” she said, when asked on her thoughts on being squeezed between two canoeing greats in Solms and Hartley.

“I am just happy to be here, and I am learning for the future.”

And at the end of Day 1 of the @DusiCanoe we have two SCARC paddlers in the top 15 – well done Siseko and Loveday! #Dusi2017 pic.twitter.com/eYoJfTiXV8

— ADreach (@adreachsa) February 16, 2017

For Hartley, day one was also an educational experience, and she admitted as much. It was her first solo outing on the big river, and everything that could go wrong, did.

It was a similar day for the experienced Hank McGregor, but he was philosophical about it all.

“We do this because we enjoy it. It’s hard work, but if you don’t enjoy it, then you might as well sit on the sidelines and cross your legs.”

After a steamy day one, no one in the men’s and women’s races had any interest in sitting things out just yet. Day Two kicks off from Dusi Bridge at 6am on Friday morning.