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15-time Dusi winner Andy Birkett
Andy Birkett’s 2025 Dusi Canoe Marathon win pairs him with Grame Pope-Ellis for most number of Dusi wins, a whopping 15.
The 34-year-old world champion finished the race in an overall time of 7 hours 12 minutes and 5o seconds.
Dusi veteran Sbonello Khwela and Matthew Fenn finished in second and third place respectively. Over the years, Birkett has taken on this race with aplomb in both the K1 and K2 versions.
The ever-humble Birkett says the Dusi is always special win or lose.
“Not just the race but the prep is so exciting. After we finish racing, I have a sleep at home and I drive back into the valley. I try and find all the sneaks and all the routes for tomorrow and I find it so exciting and it’s enjoyable. As far as I’m concerned, as long as I’m enjoying it, I’ll still be racing.”
Meanwhile, Christie MacKenzie took top honours in the women’s race.
The 25-year-old maintained a comfortable lead overall. However, she admits to changing her strategy on the last day.
“Yeah so I tried to play conservative today, I portaged Tops Needles which is the first big rapid of the day. I also ended up portaging Island and Pump Weir so yeah played it on the conservative side and happy because I was feeling tired today and I just wanted to take it easy on the rapids and put as much effort in on the flats.”
