Dusi Canoe Marathon favourites Andy Birkett and Christie Mackenzie took the stage honours in contrasting races after day one of the 2023 edition of the famous race.
With the race starting at the Bishopstowe Country Club, the race began with a portage that allowed Msawenkosi Mtolo to take an early lead, with Birkett back in fifth overall.
However, by Geoff's Road portage, Birkett was in the front of the race alongside Mtolo. The pair were together for the remainder of the stage until Birkett opened a small gap at the Cabbage Tree portage to eventually finish a minute ahead of Mtolo.
Despite the reduced distance, Birkett didn't feel like the stage was any less taxing."It was a shorter stage, being two hours as opposed to three, but nonetheless, it was a tough stage," Birkett said."It was a very quick stage, and guys like Msawe (Mtolo) took off at the start, which was a shock to the system, but I enjoyed it out there and stuck to my plan and then got a gap at Cabbage Tree.