Saturday saw Andy Birkett become the first man to win the Dusi Canoe Marathon 16 times when he and Matt Fenn claimed the K2 title while Christie Mackenzie and Saskia Hockly were crowned ladies champions.

The day belonged to Euro Steel’s Birkett who produced a vintage display with his younger protege Fenn in the back of the boat. The pair begun the day with an advantage of over six minutes and they were flawless all the way to the ocean.

Birkett now becomes the most decorated paddler in the history of the race surpassing the late Dusi King Graeme Pope-Ellis to his sixteenth win in 17 years – a dominance and longevity not seen in many sporting codes.

Not only was it a sixteenth title, but it was just the second time that Birkett has won the Dusi twice with the same K2 partner. His first two K2 wins came with Jason Graham and now 2024 and 2026 have been with training partner and friend Matt Fenn.

“I get goosebumps thinking about it and he’s done something that no one has ever done and it’s so special to be a part of that,” Matt Fenn said about Birkett’s achievement. “I have appreciated the last three days of him keeping me in the boat!

“To be a two-time Dusi champion with Andy is very special, I never thought I would even be a one-time Dusi champion!”

Birkett has always shunned records and achievements and he was at his humble best when reflecting on the race and what he and his partner achieved.

“If you get caught up in what you are trying to achieve and what you are trying to do you forget to enjoy yourself,” Birkett said. “That is ultimately why we are here and I have thoroughly enjoyed the last three days with Matty and it’s reignited the love for the race in me.

“The last three days have been great and hats off to Sbonelo (Khwela) and Msawe (Mtolo), they kept us honest and in a proper race for the first two days.

“I love this event and it’s so unique in that it’s almost an adventure race and you never know what you are going to get and the strategy and preparation is so important which is probably why I enjoy it,” he added.

The women’s race came down to the final few kilometres as both Mackenzie and Hockly and Solms and Groenink played an intriguing game of cat and mouse throughout the stage.

Ultimately it came down to the power of the marathon duo of Mackenzie and Hockly who outsprinted Solms and Groenink to the line to claim a maiden K2 win.

“This is one that has eluded me for a while and Saskia didn’t let me forget that the whole time on the flat water at the end today,” Mackenzie said. “It was awesome having her in my boat and she has been so strong over the past three days, and I loved racing with her.

“I can’t believe that it’s only Robyn’s (Groenink) second- or third-year paddling, she is an incredible athlete! Kudos to Abby (Solms) as well, she is such a star driver and an incredible competitor.

“Saskia and I had to dig really deep over the last three days, we couldn’t let up once and had to fight right to the line,” Mackenzie mentioned.

For Hockly, who competed in just her third Dusi this year, felt like it was the perfect three days of racing.

“To win the Dusi with my best friend is just a dream come true and we paddle so well together. Any race that I do with Christie is so much fun. There’s positivity the whole way and only positive criticism if there is any.

“To win a first senior Dusi title is very special.”

It was a procession for the men’s race as to the silver medal with Plastrading’s Sbonelo Khwela and Msawenkosi Mtolo repeating their result from 2026. Despite not winning the race, the pair were happy with their efforts.

“We came into this racing knowing how difficult this year’s race was going to be,” Khwela said. “We came with the mentality of being the first black K2 to win the Dusi so there was a lot of motivation.

“Second place is not the worst position, and we are happy with how we performed over the three days. Msawe drove incredibly well and congratulations to him for all his hard work in the boat.”

Runners up in the women’s race went to Solms and Groenink who produced three solid days of paddling despite a number of mishaps on day three.

The racing came down to the line after the pair decided to shoot the Pumphouse Weir and rapid while Mackenzie and Hockly portaged around. This gained them valuable time and meant it was a sprint into the finish.

Sandile Mtolo and Bongani Ntinga managed to fight off Thabani Msia and Siyanda Gwamanda to claim the third spot on the podium in the men’s race while Under 23 pair of Amy Hullett and Sarah Jones ended third in the women’s race.

The junior race saw some fantastic finishes with the top three Under 18 boats all finishing inside the top 15. The first Under 18 boat of Siyabonga Ndlovu and Sbonelo Dube were a stand-out performance on over the three days finishing seventh overall.

Amy Hullett and Sarah Jones finished as the top Under 23 women’s crew after the three days of racing.

Keegan Vogt and Ryley Smith produced a fine display as well to finish second Under 18 and tenth overall while James Gotte and Melokuhle Ntombela were fifteenth overall and third Under 18.

The first mixed doubles crew across the line was the Hackland pair of James and Abbey.

CREDIT ANTHONY GROTE/DUSI CANOE MARATHON FOR THE IMAGES EXCEPT FOR THE WINNING PICS. PLEASE CREDIT GRAHAM DANIEL

2026 Dusi Canoe Marathon – Day Three Results

Overall
1 Andy Birkett/Matthew Fenn 1:53:31 2:51:30 2:19:11 7:04:13
2 Sbonelo Khwela/Msawenkosi Mtolo 1:53:54 2:57:28 2:23:28 7:14:51
3 Bongani Ntinga/Sandile Mtolo 1:56:09 3:02:37 2:20:13 7:19:00
4 Thabani Msia/Siyanda Gwamanda 1:56:51 3:01:56 2:24:57 7:23:45
5 Benjamin Mntonintshi/Siseko Ntondini 1:59:45 3:03:51 2:29:16 7:32:52
6 Andrew Houston/Alan Houston 2:01:20 3:02:16 2:29:38 7:33:15
7 Siyabonga Ndlovu/Sbonelo Dube (U18) 2:02:27 3:09:33 2:28:07 7:40:08
8 Thulani Mbanjwa/Shaun Rubenstein 2:00:42 3:10:38 2:29:50 7:41:12
9 Hlelani Radebe/Wandile Luthuli 2:03:27 3:08:32 2:30:41 7:42:41
10 Keegan Vogt/Ryley Michael Smith (U18) 2:10:45 3:11:45 2:28:01 7:50:32
11 Jacques Theron/Piers Cruickshanks 2:09:04 3:13:26 2:29:24 7:51:55
12 Mthobisi Cele/Zamokuhle Meyiwa 1:59:42 3:03:55 2:51:56 7:55:34
13 Ross Leslie/Jack Edmonds 2:10:30 3:12:18 2:37:19 8:00:09
14 Mpendulo Mthethwa/Sanele Mbanjwa 2:02:58 3:14:05 2:43:05 8:00:09
15 James Gotte/Melokuhle Ntombela (U18) 2:10:40 3:19:12 2:35:41 8:05:34

Women
1 Christie Mackenzie/Saskia Hockly 2:15:00 3:18:44 2:34:29 8:08:14
2 Abby Solms/Robyn Groenink 2:12:38 3:21:07.88 2:35:36 8:09:22
3 Amy Hullett/Sarah Jones (U23) 2:35:17 3:54:19 2:55:05 9:24:42
4 Jessica Behn/Jenna Goddard (U23) 2:52:11 4:12:02 3:11:20 10:15:35
5 Hilary Bruss/Bridgitte Hartley 2:25:53 4:58:50 2:52:05 10:16:49
6 Rachel van Deventer/Tayla Isaac (U23) 2:42:57 3:58:13 3:37:48 10:18:59
7 Shannon Parker-Dennison/Caitlyn Odell 2:53:31 4:37:16 3:21:31 10:52:18
8 Lorna Oliver/Debra Lewis 3:02:21 4:30:42 3:23:25 10:56:30
9 Nispho Mthembu/Lesedi Bobo 2:56:25 5:15:51 3:23:48 11:36:04
10 Tessa Salmon/Olivia Mckenzie (U16) 3:02:42 5:05:26 3:35:54 11:44:04

Under 23 Men
1 Siyabonga Ndlovu/Sbonelo Dube (U18) 2:02:27 3:09:33 2:28:07 7:40:08
2 Keegan Vogt/Ryley Michael Smith (U18) 2:10:45 3:11:45 2:28:01 7:50:32
3 James Gotte/Melokuhle Ntombela (U18) 2:10:40 3:19:12 2:35:41 8:05:34

Under 18 Men
1 Siyabonga Ndlovu/Sbonelo Dube 2:02:27 3:09:33 2:28:07 7:40:08
2 Keegan Vogt/Ryley Michael Smith 2:10:45 3:11:45 2:28:01 7:50:32
3 James Gotte/Melokuhle Ntombela 2:10:40 3:19:12 2:35:41 8:05:34

Under 23 Women
1 Amy Hullett/Sarah Jones 2:35:17 3:54:19 2:55:05 9:24:42
2 Jessica Behn/Jenna Goddard 2:52:11 4:12:02 3:11:20 10:15:35
3 Rachel van Deventer/Tayla Isaac 2:42:57 3:58:13 3:37:48 10:18:59

Under 18 Women
1 Tessa Salmon/Olivia Mckenzie (U16) 3:02:42 5:05:26 3:35:54 11:44:04
2 Keira Hunter/Libby Ross 3:19:24 5:17:16 3:34:08 12:10:50