Fischer out runs all in Mulanje

She was the winner in 2015 and in 2016 and she has won again in 2017 after racing through Chambe Plateau before returning to Likhubula Valley in Saturday’s 21^st edition of the 23 kilometre Mount Mulanje Conservation Trust (MMCT) Porters Race in which more than three hundred athletes took part.

Doreece Fischer claimed the top prize in female category when she raced 2 hours, 47 minutes and 23 seconds to win the championship for the third time in a row at the just ended Mount Mulanje Porters Race.

However, she failed to break her own record of 2 hours and 40 minutes she set last year when she defeated the rest of the female participants.

In male’s category, after finishing on second position to Leo Chakhaza last year, Charles Musowa defied all odds as he returned to the top of the summit when he raced 2 hours, 8 minutes and 32 seconds to claim the top prize.

Unlike previous years, Musowa was competing with new faces as Chakhaza was absent from the event as he is currently undergoing military training at Malawi Defence Force (MDF) in Salima.

However, Musowa matched Chakhaza’s previous record of completing the routine in 2 ours, 8 minutes and 32 seconds.

Guest of honour at the event was Director of Tourism in the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture Isaac Katopola who hailed the organizers for such a great event.

He said Porters Race is very instrumental in promoting culture, conserving Mount Mulanje and promoting sports as talented athletes are used in other competitions.

And speaking on the part of the organizing team, Kondwani Chamwala hailed this year’s event saying despite all the hiccups, the organizers are very happy with the way the event was organized.

He also hailed the corporate world for the support rendered towards the event.

Winners in this year’s event were given various prizes by different sponsors depending on their finishing positions.

MMCT partnered with TNM, Malawi Gaming Board, Carol Mula, Tourism Association of Malawi (TAM) and United Purpose (UP) formerly known as Concern Universal.

Porters Race 2017 winners

Men’s category

1. Charles Musowa, 2 hours, 08 minutes, went away with cash amounting to K220 000 and a medal courtesy of TNM Limited
2. Evance Nyazule, 2 hours, 12 minutes, 06 seconds, went away with cash worth K170 000 courtesy of Malawi Gaming Board
3. Boniface Pangani, 2 hours, 12 minutes, 33 seconds, went away with cash amounting to K120 000 courtesy of Carol Mula
4. Dyson Chitwanga, 2 hours, 13 minutes, 45 seconds, went away with K75 000 cash courtesy of TAM and UP
5. Dines Allan, 2 hours, 15 minutes, 59 seconds, went away with cash amounting to K50 000 courtesy of Carol Mula

Women’s category

1. Doreece Fischer, 2 hours, 47 minutes, went away with cash amounting to K220 000 and a medal courtesy of TNM Limited
2. Pilirani William, 2 hours, 58 minutes, went away with K170 000 courtesy of Malawi Gaming Board
3. Violet Joza, 3 hours, 2 minutes, went away with cash amounting to K120 000 courtesy of Carol Mula
4. Mercy James, 3 hours, 25 minutes, went away with cash worth K75 000 courtesy of TAM and UP
5. Tereza Master, 3 hours, 40 minutes, went away with cash amounting to K50 000 courtesy of Carol Mula.

Apart from the top prizes, winners were also given chitetezo mbaula by United Purpose.

315 athletes took part in this year’s event, with 73 being males, 71 being females, 122 porters and 49 international athletes.