Abby Solms and Jessica Behn in Command going into Dusi Canoe Final Stage

Former champion Abby Solms and her young Pietermaritzburg schoolgirl partner, Jessica Behn will take a five-minute advantage into Day 3 from Inanda Dam to Durban’s Blue Lagoon on Saturday, and it seems only a big mistake is going to change the order over the final 36km stage.

The K2 pairing of Solms and Behn enjoyed a clean run and paddle for the second day in succession, as they added a minute to their already substantial lead. They will set off for Durban on Saturday with an advantage of more than 10 minutes over second-placed Bridgitte Hartley and Hilary Bruss.

Jenna Nisbet and Nix Birkett’s challenge for second never materialised, and they slipped seven minutes further behind Hartley and Bruss, and are now surely simply expecting to hold their podium position.

Day 1’s pairing of Caitlyn Odell and Rachel van Deventer have been replaced in the top five finishers by Shannon Parker-Dennison and Nosipho Mthembu in fifth place, with team Amy Hulett and Neriyah Dill now just outside the medals positions, but only a grave error or setback is likely to see them on the podium on Saturday. 

The mixed doubles race is going as expected with Hank and Pippa McGregor almost doubling their lead over Brad Boulle and Emma Hatfield.

The third and final stage on Saturday sees paddlers finish their crossing of Inanda Dam, before a short portage around the Dam Wall and into some big rapids below the dam. If the water release is decent, experienced paddlers can have some fun in a stretch of river littered with significant rapids, before the final flat-water stretch into Durban’s Blue Lagoon.

Elite K2 Women’s Results after Day 2 of the 2024 Dusi Canoe Marathon

(Position, Name, Day 1, Day 2, Total)
1. Abby Solms / Jessica Behn (3:00:14; 2:54:20) 5:54:35
2. Bridgitte Hartley / Hilary Bruss (3:09:37; 2:55:16) 6:04:54
3. Jenna Nisbet / Nix Birkett (3:16:28; 3:02:10) 6:18:39
4. Amy Hulett / Neriyah Dill (3:23:01; 3:14:05) 6:37:06
5. Shannon Parker-Dennison / Nosipho Mthembu (3:27:02; 3:17:24) 6:44:27

Elite K2 Women’s Results after Day 1 of the 2024 Dusi Canoe Marathon

1. Abby Solms / Jessica Behn 3:00:14
2. Bridgitte Hartley / Hilary Bruss 3:09:37
3. Jenna Nisbet / Nix Birkett 3:16:28
4. Caitlyn Odell / Rachel van Deventer 3:22:59
5. Amy Hulett / Neriyah Dill 3:23:01

Mixed Results after Day 2 of the 2024 Dusi Canoe Marathon

(Position, Name, Day 1, Day 2, Total)
1. Hank Mcgregor / Pippa Mcgregor (2:54:11; 2:47:18) 5:41:30
2. Bradley Boulle / Emma Hatfield (3:00:52; 2:53:25) 5:54:18
3. Dave Mckenzie / Helen Buley (3:16:32; 3:05:54) 6:22:27
4. Scott Rogers / Michaela Geytenbeek (3:20:44; 3:15:26) 6:36:10
5. Abbey Hackland / James Hackland (3:24:14; 3:19:35) 6:43:49

Leading Mixed K2 Results after Day 1 of the 2024 Dusi Canoe Marathon

1. Hank Mcgregor / Pippa Mcgregor 2:54:11
2. Bradley Boulle / Emma Hatfield 3:00:52
3. Dave Mckenzie / Helen Buley 3:16:32
4. Scott Rogers / Michaela Geytenbeek 3:20:44
5. Abbey Hackland / James Hackland 3:24:14

For more information please visit https://dusi.co.za/

Main Photo Caption: Pre-race favourites former champion Abby Solms and her young Pietermaritzburg schoolgirl partner, Jessica Behn will take a 10-minute advantage into Day 3 from Inanda Dam to the likely champions medal at Durban’s Blue Lagoon on Saturday after Day 2 of the Dusi Canoe Marathon on Friday, 16 February, 2024. Photo: Ant Grote / Gameplan Media

Photo 2 Caption: Abby Solms (back) and Jessica Behn (front) get some help from their seconds as they reach the top of Ngumeni Hill on Day 2 of the Dusi Canoe Marathon on Friday. Photo: Ant Grote / Gameplan Media

Photo 3 Caption: The second women’s team of Bridgitte Hartley (front) and Hilary Bruss tackle Ngumeni Hill on Day 2 of the Dusi Canoe Marathon on Friday. Photo: Ant Grote / Gameplan Media