Hi ,

The few hundred intrepid individuals, who have tossed their names into the Dusi hat, will have already heard the starting canon this time next week.

Many will be huffing and puffing their way up Devils Cauldron, with a rudder blade stuck in their left ear and a Christmas beetle screaming in the right one. Their partners yells of frustrated encouragement a far off noise in their 35 degree cooked head.

My Damascus moment usually arrives at the top of finger neck, when my 64 year old body starts to ask some serious questions about the wisdom of my enthusiastic, and far younger, mind.

This is the first year in well over a decade where every single dam along the Dusi course is at maximum capacity.

A release from Henley will give us a bit of a squirt from the start, and for the first day. Once we reach the Umgeni, after the second saddle, we may be in for a rollercoaster ride to Durban.

If there is a storm in the catchment area, the water has nowhere to go except straight to Blue Lagoon.

If the results of the build-up races are anything to go by, we are in for some hectic racing in both the men's and women's fields. No poppy syndrome in this one.

Having said that, if I were a bookie, I would not be betting too much against the Andy/Dave and Christie/Jordan combinations.

The weather man, and the man with his hand on the tap of the dams, could have a significant say in the outcome for much of the field.

The one of much hair, and even more patience, informed me this morning that the entry count was at 760 and climbing. Entries have been kept open until Tuesday next week.

Hopefully, the same weather man who was on duty the weekend before last, will be back at work next week.

Entrants to the Drak Challenge were either preparing themselves for a low water start, or had already thrown in the towel, when all hell broke loose.

The heavens opened and the river was at one of its fullest levels in the history of the race.

Andy Birkett made it 8 in a row when he managed to shake Hank off over the last 5kms of the race.

Abby Solms added to her impressive streak of wins to become the most decorated gold medallist of the event ever, with a two and a half minute win over Christie MacKenzie.

The ringer crew from Border Canoe Club managed to steal the golf trophy by one measly point.

Oom Giel Van Deventer, the obsessive statistician, has put together the stats of the race, since its inception. It makes for some interesting reading.

Look at all his hard work HERE and HERE.

The largest number of finishers in the race was in 2011 when 642 paddlers finished, as opposed to the 330 that finished this year.

Some good news on the international front is that the IOC have confirmed canoeing for Los Angeles 2028.

Some even better news, just in from the ICF, is that Bridgitte Hartley has been selected as the chairperson of the ICF athletes committee.

This position qualifies for a seat on the ICF Board.

South Africa now has two seats on the board, with myself being the chairman of the ICF Ocean Racing Committee.

Tim Cornish is a member of the ICF marathon committee.

Bridgitte is also a member of the CSA board, being the "athletes representative".

Such a breath of fresh air when an athlete of her calibre is prepared to plough back into the sport.

Whilst on topics international.

A small word of warning for those who are warming the top rung of the fence.

It is already the middle of February. January disappeared in a blink. You will have hardly wiped off the last easter egg stain from your chin when it will be August, and your wife will have bought the new washing machine and you won't be going to Portugal.

Just saying.

When you are 90, and hiding your own easter eggs, you won't remember how clean your clothes were in 2022. You will, however, remember the jorl you had with your mates at two world championships in one week. So, start syphoning the grocery cash now.

Until next week
Unless I am in ICU
Your SG
Copper
1111

Three Irishmen are sitting in the pub looking out of the window, watching the front door of the house of ill repute across the road.
The local Methodist pastor appeared, and quickly went inside. "Would you look at that!" says the first Irishman. "Didn't I always say what a bunch of hypocrites they are?"
No sooner are the words out of his mouth than a Rabbi appears at the door, knocks, and goes inside. "Another one trying to fool everyone with pious preaching and stupid hats!"
They continue drinking their beer, roundly condemning the vicar and the rabbi, when they see their own Catholic priest knock on the door.
"Ah, now dat's sad." says the third Irishman.
"One of the girls must have died.”