Graeme Pope-Ellis

Background

Pope-Ellis grew up along the banks of the Msunduzi River on a farm in Bishopstowe, just outside Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

Education

He attended Alexandra High School in Pietermaritzburg and completed his first Dusi in 1965, aged 17. Pope-Ellis completed the Dusi Canoe Marathon, arguably the world’s most prestigious canoe race, 46 consecutive times between 1965 and 2010.

Career

Pope-Ellis has become synonymous with the race and has been affectionately named the "Dusi King". Further more during this period only once, in 1979, did Pope-Ellis fail to take top two position. Pope-Ellis has been called South Africa"s pre-eminent sportsman and is one of the best known canoeists in the world.

Pope-Ellis was also instrumental in the development of kayaks in South Africa whilst running Pope"s Canoe Centre, a successful boat-building business in Pietermaritzburg.

Pope-Ellis died on 17 June 2010 on his farm in Bishopstowe while driving his tractor. An accident occurred while ploughing his fields, causing the tractor to roll over him.

Achievements

• He also hold the record for having won the race 15 times. Pope-Ellis won his first Dusi in 1972 with K2 partner Eric Clarke and became the first person to win the Dusi in a single canoe in 1981. Between 1970 and 1990 he won a total of three Dusis with Clarke, four with Tim Cornish, five with Peter Peacock and three K1 victories. Pope Ellis has been heavily involved with the development of canoeing in South Africa and has mentored and coached a number of South Africa’s top paddlers including seven time Dusi winner Martin Dreyer and former World champion Shaun Rubenstein. Pope-Ellis also won many other canoe races, including twice winning the prestigious Umkomaas Canoe Marathon, a big water race with minimal portaging.