2023 Dusi Canoe Marathon pre-race favourite Christie Mackenzie tightened her grip on the women’s title race when she powered to a stage win at Inanda Dam on Friday, 17 February.
The second stage of the Dusi is often the make-or-break day for many title contenders, with big water and tough portages, as well as a long flatwater stretch on Inanda Dam to deal with, however, this year’s race threw an extra portage at paddlers for their safety.
The women’s race has ballooned into a potential procession as Mackenzie’s overnight lead of over thirteen minutes was extended to a mammoth 26 minutes at the end of the second stage.
With a significant lead under her belt, Mackenzie feels that she doesn’t need to take any risks going into the third and final stage on Saturday.
“To be able to opt for a portage around Hippo rather than risk shooting it was something I wouldn’t have been able to do if I didn’t have my buffer from Thursday,” Mackenzie said.
“It is nice to have a bit of time so I can make my own decisions going into day three, because I don’t know what it holds, but I’m sure the organisers will make good calls if we need to portage anything.
“I’ll race my own race and see how I feel as I approach the different rapids and hopefully have a good day.
“I feel that being a more mature racer will help me keep a cool, calm head on Saturday.”
The race for second in the women’s division was a topsy-turvy affair as Hartley and Jordan Peek traded places until the former put the hammer down on the flat water into the finish to claim back-to-back second place finishes.
Peek ended third and consolidated her bronze medal position.
Shannon Parker-Dennison is the leading women in the Under 23 women’s race and is comfortably ahead of Tinyiko Mahwayi in second.
Emma Hatfield holds a slender lead in the Junior women’s race over Rachel van Deventer, while Lesedi Bobo is in third.
The third and final stage of the Dusi Canoe Marathon will take paddlers 36km from Msinsi Resort at Inanda Dam to Blue Lagoon.
Photo 1 Caption: It’s a one boat race in the women’s race as Euro Steel’s Christie Mackenzie continued her brilliant form to claim another stage title at the 2023 Dusi Canoe Marathon’s second stage on Friday. Photo: Anthony Grote / Gameplan Media
With editing by gsport
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