Lasty Kedisa (25yrs) from Boro was crowned the Okavango Delta’s Fastest Poler at the Nkashi Classic 2023 on 26 August 2023. Five years ago at the inaugural Nkashi Classic Lasty took second, beaten by Ralf at Matlapana in Maun.
In 2022 when the races returned, after the drought and pandemic hiatus, he once again fell short of the Championship by four seconds as Bokspits from Seronga lifted the trophy.
This year Lasty came determined to win. He completed the 1.5km long course in 11min 24sec. Lasty rose to the Leaderboard by just a second faster than Gorate Moagi (36yrs) from Jao and no one managed to topple him. Maikutlo Barumolang (51yrs) from Etsha 13 came third with a time of 11min 26sec. The champion walked away with P40,000, which includes P10,000 for his Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust (OKMCT).
Great prizes for the polers and giveaways on the day for the crowd. Pre-registered polers will compete with a limited number of 'wild card' entries on the day.
For more information, please email
info@nkashi.co.bw or visit our Facebook page
here.
**For all Nkashi event rules, please read
here. These rules must be read before any competitor enters.**
**How do I compete in this the Nkashi Classic?**
Make sure you come to one of the race heats and set your fastest time. Heats will be run for 2 days in several locations. Polers can arrive throughout the day at any of the heats. Entrance is free to all. You will be able to register, select your racing category, and then be given one chance to set your fastest time on the race course. The top qualifiers from all of the heats will then compete in the finals in August. Details of the Nkashi Classic 2024 will be confirmed later in the year.
The basic criteria which competitors must meet include:
• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Must have and present a valid Omang or another form of identification at registration.
• Must be able to swim
• Must be able to pole a mokoro efficiently
• Must be medically fit to compete
The full competition rules have been posted above and are available on the website and Facebook events page and all polers are requested to review them before racing.
Each poler can only compete in one of the four categories, which include:
• Male (age 18 - 54)
• Female (age 18-54)
• Veteran (age 55 and over, any gender)
• Doubles (2 polers, any gender aged 18 and older)
The polers will only know if they have qualified for the final after the heats have been completed in mid-July.