In the ‘50s and ‘60s communication during the annual Hansa Powerade Dusi was a problem until Ozzie Gladwin, a Natal Canoe Club member, rigged a radio from the second world war into the back of his Chevy.
Families, friends and supporters of paddlers in the Dusi were kept up-to-date through Ozzie’s hourly reports from the Valley of a Thousand Hills.
To mark the contribution that Ozzie made to the Hansa Powerade Dusi, a race held in late October at Albert Falls is named after him.
Natal Canoe Club are restructuring the races that they hold each year and the good news is that the Powerade Ozzie Gladwin will have some added attraction come race day on Sunday October 29.
“We are thrilled to get TV for the first time ever” said Paul Firman chairman of the organising club.
“We have secured a 15 cumecs of clean water released, courtesy of Umgeni Water, for the race and we already have had calls from paddlers up country expressing their delight.
“Our plan is to revamp a few of the races we have and we are starting with the Ozzie Gladwin. We have contracted the services of Dusi promoter, Ray de Vries, to take the race to the next level. We will make a statement soon regarding the Lance Park memorial race that the club puts on.
“The Natal Canoe Club is the home of the Hansa Powerade Dusi which is now the worlds’ largest canoe marathon and every activity that we have will be geared around the Dusi and it’s sponsors” said Firman.
The Powerade Ozzie Gladwin takes place at Bon Accord at Albert Falls on 29 October at 09h00.
Entries are available at the usual venues, leading canoe shops and online at www.kncu.co.za
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