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One of the first K2 entries to be received for the February 4 Stihl Non-stop Dusi was that of Loveday Zondi and Thomas Ngidi. The participation of the men will add a definite competitive edge to the event. Zondi finished second and Ngidi came in fifth in 2005's race.
Their entry came on top of that of Stu Rawlinson and Graham Bird, who came a credible third in last weekend's Dusi Canoe Marathon. With Dusi winners Martin Reynolds and Hank McGregor and second-placed Ant Stott and Wayne Thompson not available for the 120km event, the chairperson of the race organising committee, Nigel Tatham, said that the race could be fought out between the Zondi-Ngidi and Rawlinson-Bird pairings.
 
"Recent good rains in the catchment areas of the Dusi and Umgeni Rivers have helped to fill the dams on the route of the Non-stop Dusi. With water releases promised for the race by Umgeni Water, the rivers should be in good shape for the race."
Tatham said: "The record for the race is seven hours 47 minutes, which was set in 2000 by brothers John and Andrew Edmonds. Their record compares favourably with Bruce Fordyce's Comrades Marathon record of five hours 24 minutes over 87km. The Non-stop Dusi has no rules, except that paddlers have to beat the cut-off times at two checkpoints.
| The record 'for the race is seven hours 47 minutes' |
The race starts from Camp's Drift, Pietermaritzburg, at 5.30am. Paddlers can traverse the river valleys all the way to Blue Lagoon by whichever route they wish. This year K1 paddlers may also enter the race. To get your entry form, telephone Mary at 033 394 9994.
- This article was originally published on page 22 of The Mercury on January 27, 2006
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