A focused Sbonelo Zondi stormed home first despite a drama filled day two of The Unlimited Dusi Canoe Marathon. Photo: Darren Goddard/Gameplan Media
Sbonelo Zondi’s fairytale continued on the second day of The Unlimited Dusi Canoe Marathon as he bagged a second stage win on Friday to take a one-minute lead into the final stage of the 2013 event.
The race lead changed hands no less than four times on a day of tense racing on a very full uMngeni river, with the defending champion Andy Birkett tumbling down to fourth after a dramatic accident midway through the stage.
Zondi, a product of the Computaform Change a Life Academy, remained calm throughout despite seeing his 20-second overnight lead disintegrate within the first two kilometres.
He caught back up only to lose his lead again to Birkett at Gauging Weir. He again regained his position at the front when Birkett was forced to stop at the Marianni Foley causeway to replace his rudder.
Birkett then suffered a potentially race-ending mishap at the notorious Thombi Rapid where a nasty swim and then further rudder wheel trouble cost him vital minutes, allowing Team Best 4 Kayak Centre team-mate Lance Kime through into second while Hank McGregor, who started the day fifth behind Thulani Mbanjwa, also passed Birkett for third.
“I’m obviously very happy with my result from today,” said Zondi. “Andy (Birkett) started just behind me and caught me not long after the start but I just tried to stay calm and keep going.
“Andy was opening a gap at Gauging Weir but when I saw him change his rudder I knew I had to go for it and I put the hammer down all the way to the finish.
“Thombi (Rapid) was very big and I came close to falling out but managed to hang on and just kept going.
“Tomorrow is going to be a very big day and I will try my best to try keep my gap over Lance Kime.”
Having been gifted an opportunity by Birkett shortly after the confluence of the uMsundusi and uMngeni Rivers and with renewed energy and motivation Kime set about closing the gap between himself and race leader Zondi as best he could before the day two finish line at Inanda Dam.
As he headed under the bridge at the headwaters of the dam, Kime started his grind some two minutes back and a spirited effort from the under 23 youngster saw him slowly reeling in a tiring Zondi, eventually finishing a little over a minute behind and with plenty to play for in what promises to be an enthralling third and final day.
