Inanda Dam – With a big flow of water from Nagle Dam contributing to the high river levels, Abbey Miedema took control of the Hansa Powerade Dusi Canoe Marathon on a day of high water on the second stage from Dusi Bridge to Inanda Dam.
Miedema dismantled the women’s stage record, taking more than five minutes off her own 2005 mark. The Cape based ace, who is now well placed to wrap up an historic hat-trick of women’s K1 Dusi titles, mastered the tricky full river, blemished only by capsizing at Hippo rapid, a mishap that cost her less than a minute of her lead over Laura Thompson.
Thompson’s hopes of catching Miedema were dented when she swam at the demanding confluence rapids, and she will start the final 38km stage to Durban 22 minutes behind Miedema.
Debbie Germiquet was on track to posting the days fastest women’s time, until the season Durban based paddler, who is making a strong comeback to competitive canoeing, broke her boat when she capsized at the nasty Thombi rapid.
Gutsy Epworth schoolgirl Robyn Kime is still third overall in the women’s race, but now has big-water ace Hillary Pitchford right on her tail.
“I had a great day,” enthused Miedema. “I knew we were in for big water, but when we got to Confluence, I had to open my eyes even wider. Luckily I was able to follow Len Jenkins down part of confluence, trying hard not to follow him through the big holes that he was tail-walking out of.”
On the sapping flatwater haul across Inanda dam, Miedema ended up “towing” a blown Jason Graham, and was joined by Shaun Biggs for a few moments, an irony given that the Dusi rules now strictly prohibit a female paddler from riding the wave of a male paddlers boat.
Miedema also realises that she has a good chance of taking the overall race record. She missed the first stage record by just over a minute, and a solid performance on what is expected to be another full river below Inanda Dam could well see her better her own 2005 race record.
Robyn Kime is the runaway leader in the girls race, as the Epworth star smashed Kate March’s 2003 record by more than 36 minutes.
The final stage starts at Inanda Dam at 7am and ends at Blue Lagoon in Durban. The expected 35 cumec water release will be supplemented by the heavy flow of water from above Inanda Dam that has forced the dam to overflowing.
Summary of Women’s Results:
1.Abbey Miedema WHR 6:42.27
2.Laura Thompson 7:04.55
3.Robyn Kime EPW 7:20.37
4.Hillary Pitchford UKN 7:20.50
5.Lorna Oliver NAT 7:39.18
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