UNDERBERG – FOR the past nine editions of the N3TC Drak Challenge Andy Birkett has been leading the field home in the two-day race that has grown into SA’s biggest canoeing event in terms of race entries. Once again a big field packed with top paddlers will be tackling the clean waters of the Umzimkulu…
UNDERBERG – World Championship medalist and defending race champion Christie Mackenzie is focused on a repeat victory in the N3TC Drak Challenge title in Underberg this coming weekend. Having done her first race as a young teenager, it was always a box she needed to tick. After numerous top three finishes, she secured her maiden…
UNDERBERG – To win any highly competitive sporting event 10 times in succession is a massive achievement and something that should result in legendary status for reaching a pinnacle few get to conquer. However, former World Champion and multiple Dusi winner Andy Birkett is already something of a canoeing legend, so a 10th victory in…
Albert Einstein said “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change,” and with that in mind the N3TC Drak Challenge canoe race will be celebrating its 30th Anniversary on January 27th and 28th with an intelligent alteration to its traditional format. The organising committee has made a decision to swop the days for the…
Underberg – Organisers of the 30th annual N3TC Drak Challenge canoe marathon on the uMzimkhulu River are hopeful the early-season rains are an indicator of ideal conditions for the popular annual two-day event on January 27-28. With the uMzimkhulu catchment area so close to the race course, the river level fluctuates quickly and the early…
Andy Birkett completed a flawless final stage of the N3TC Drak Challenge canoe marathon on Sunday afternoon to extend his unbroken winning streak at the uMzimkhulu classic to nine consecutive victories. Racing in cool overcast conditions, in sharp contrast to Saturday’s sweltering heat, Birkett used his accumulated knowledge of the river to master the demanding…
Andy Birkett took a bold step closer to securing a ninth successive title at the N3TC Drak Challenge with a master class on a technical medium/low uMzimkhulu River to win the 26km first stage going away. The East London-based marathon world champion broke away at the front with his Border training partner Matt Fenn before…
Looming thunderstorms over the southern Berg have helped to fuel the passionate response from paddlers from across the country for the 2023 edition of the annual two-day N3TC Drak Challenge Canoe Marathon this weekend. At the sharp end of the dozens of batches that will be set off in a Le Mans-style start just above…
With the memory of the dramatic 2022 edition of the race still lingering in their memories, the big field of paddlers entered for the 2023 N3TC Drak Challenge two-day canoe marathon this weekend will have to wait and see what the stormy weather forecast for the days before the race delivers. Last year the level…
Three paddlers stand poised to joined the Super Trout club at the N3TC Drak Challenge canoe marathon on 28 and 29 January as the popular two-day race attracts another big field excited by the full uMzimkhulu River. Gary Atkinson, Jeremy Ferrow and Shane Millward have all completed nineteen Draks and should they finish the 2023…
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