Triple defending women’s champion Robyn Kime broke her own day two record to extend her lead in the 2013 The Unlimited Dusi after an eventful day two between Dusi Bridge and the Inanda Dam on Friday.
Despite the cool conditions, the competition was hot on the water as fortunes fluctuated throughout.
Kime race almost came to a halt at Hippo Rapid when she got it all wrong and wrapped her boat in the pool below the rapid.
“It was one epic incident,” she said. “I took the day very conservatively, but I often swim at Hippo. There’s only one place you can break your boat at Hippo, but I found it.
“My boat was almost folded in half. I managed to save it before it totally broke and was very surprised when my boat simply popped back into shape.
“I thought ‘that’s it, it’s gone’.”
Abby Adie held onto second spot and despite the race leader’s adventure at Hippo Rapid still lost a little time to Kime. Nonetheless, she enjoyed the greater premium placed on paddling after her struggles while portaging on the opening day.
“Today was brilliant,” said Adie. “I had just one little incident of spinning out at Marianni Foley, where I hooked an eddy.”
Bianca Haw, in third place after the first day, entered the Inanda Dam accompanied by Jen Theron and Hilary Pitchford, but former sprint star Theron used her strength on the flat water to pull clear of Haw. She couldn’t shake Pitchford, however.
“The dam is what I’m good at – it’s so boring and flat. I worked really, really hard to get her (Bianca) off of the bunch, but I couldn’t drop Hilary, so the race is on tomorrow,” she said.
