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