Berg River Canoe Marathon
Encyclopedia
The Berg River Canoe Marathon takes place annually in South Africa
's Western Cape Province over a distance of some 240km from Paarl
to the small harbour of Velddrif
on the West Coast
. The two other notable South African canoe races are the Dusi Canoe Marathon
and the Fish River Canoe Marathon
.
The first Berg River
marathon took place in 1962. It is usually run over four days, often in pouring rain during the wet winter month of July, when the Berg River level is expected to be at its highest. The water is fast-flowing, often through narrow channels choked with trees, low branches, and submerged obstacles. The course of the river is due north from Paarl to Piketberg
and from there it meanders west across the coastal plain
to Velddrif.
On the day before the start of the race, seeding time trials
are held to determine the starting positions of the first 60 paddlers from a field of more than 200. It is the longest canoe marathon in the country and traverses scenic wineland
countryside, with overnight stops at Zonquasdrift, Bridgetown (which lies on the upper reaches of the Misverstand Dam) and Zoutkloof.
The Berg River Canoe Marathon also makes up the final leg of the Two Oceans Peninsula Iron Man, the first two legs being the Cape Argus Cycle Race
and the Two Oceans Marathon
. For the 2010 race the winner's purse was set at R25 000.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
's Western Cape Province over a distance of some 240km from Paarl
Paarl
Paarl is a town with 191,013 inhabitants in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Its the third oldest European settlement in the Republic of South Africa and the largest town in the Cape Winelands. Due to the growth of the Mbekweni township, it is now a de facto urban unit with Wellington...
to the small harbour of Velddrif
Velddrif
Velddrif or Velddrift is a coastal fishing town in the Bergrivier Local Municipality, Western Cape, South Africa. It is located on the estuary where the Berg River flows into St. Helena Bay.-Geography and environment:...
on the West Coast
West Coast, Western Cape
The West Coast is a region of the Western Cape province in South Africa and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west and the Swartland region on the east....
. The two other notable South African canoe races are the Dusi Canoe Marathon
Dusi Canoe Marathon
The Unlimited Dusi Canoe Marathon is a canoe race between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, South Africa. It is run along the Msunduzi River, which is more commonly referred to as the Dusi river. The 2006 race attracted roughly 2000 paddlers and two to three thousand seconders, helpers and supporters...
and the Fish River Canoe Marathon
Fish River Canoe Marathon
The Fish River Canoe Marathon is a two-day event taking place every October on South Africa's Fish River in the Eastern Cape Province over a distance of some 81km, from Grassridge Dam southward to Cradock. The two other notable South African canoe marathons are the Dusi Canoe Marathon and the Berg...
.
The first Berg River
Berg River
The Berg River is a river located just north of Cape Town in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. It is approximately 294 km long with a catchment area of 7,715 km² and outlets into the Atlantic Ocean. About 65% of the Berg River area is under agriculture...
marathon took place in 1962. It is usually run over four days, often in pouring rain during the wet winter month of July, when the Berg River level is expected to be at its highest. The water is fast-flowing, often through narrow channels choked with trees, low branches, and submerged obstacles. The course of the river is due north from Paarl to Piketberg
Piketberg
Piketberg is a town in the Western Cape, South Africa. The original spelling of the name was "Piquetberg".The town is in the foothills of the Piketberg mountains, a range of low mountains formed from Table Mountain Sandstone....
and from there it meanders west across the coastal plain
Coastal plain
A coastal plain is an area of flat, low-lying land adjacent to a seacoast and separated from the interior by other features. One of the world's longest coastal plains is located in eastern South America. The southwestern coastal plain of North America is notable for its species diversity...
to Velddrif.
On the day before the start of the race, seeding time trials
Seed (sports)
A seed is a preliminary ranking that can be used in arranging a sports tournament. It is called a seed because of the analogy with plants where the seed might grow into a top rank at the end of that tournament, or might instead wither away...
are held to determine the starting positions of the first 60 paddlers from a field of more than 200. It is the longest canoe marathon in the country and traverses scenic wineland
Wineland
Wineland may refer to:-* Vinland, land discovered by the Vikings* Wineland, California, a community in California* David J. Wineland, an American physicist...
countryside, with overnight stops at Zonquasdrift, Bridgetown (which lies on the upper reaches of the Misverstand Dam) and Zoutkloof.
The Berg River Canoe Marathon also makes up the final leg of the Two Oceans Peninsula Iron Man, the first two legs being the Cape Argus Cycle Race
Cape Argus Cycle Race
The Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour is an annual cycle race hosted in Cape Town, South Africa, usually 109 km long. It is the first event outside Europe to be included in the International Cycling Union's Golden Bike Series.The race is one of South Africa's three 'largest sporting events' in...
and the Two Oceans Marathon
Two Oceans Marathon
The Two Oceans Marathon is a 56 km / 35 mile ultramarathon held annually in Cape Town, South Africa on the Saturday of the Easter weekend. Self-proclaimed as "the world's most beautiful marathon", the race is run against a backdrop of spectacular scenery through the Cape Peninsula.The race...
. For the 2010 race the winner's purse was set at R25 000.
Men
| Year | Winner | Age | Time | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Hank McGregor | 33 | 16:59.25 | |
| 2010 | Hank McGregor | 32 | 16:04:32 | |
| 2009 | Hank McGregor | 31 | 13:22:54 | |
| 2008 | Hank McGregor | 30 | 13:20:09 | |
| 2007 | Hank McGregor | 29 | 17:12:46 | |
| 2006 | Hank McGregor | 28 | 17:39:54 | |
| 2005 | Hank McGregor | 27 | 17:10:34 | |
| 2004 | Jacques P Theron | 27 | 16:15:23 | |
| 2003 | Jacques P Theron | 26 | 16:40:33 | |
| 2002 | Jacques P Theron | 25 | 14:22:08 | |
| 2001 | Graeme Solomon | 28 | 12:36:44 | |
| 2000 | Hank McGregor | 22 | 16:13:29 | |
Women
| Year | Winner | Age | Time | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Michele Eray Michele Eray Michele Eray is a South African sprint canoer who competed in the late 2000s. At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, she finished seventh in the K-4 500 m event while being eliminated in the semifinals of the K-2 500 m event... |
32 | 19:06.02 | |
| 2010 | Robyn Kime | 20 | 17:57:15 | |
| 2009 | Robyn Kime | 19 | 15:26:07 | |
| 2008 | Abbey Miedema | 28 | 14:55:06 | |
| 2007 | Abbey Miedema | 27 | 19:41:57 | |
| 2006 | Abbey Miedema | 26 | 19:40:07 | |
| 2005 | Alexa Lombard | 25 | 18:37:41 | |
| 2004 | Abbey Miedema | 24 | 18:46:24 | |
| 2003 | Alexa Lombard | 23 | 18:56:30 | |
| 2002 | Alexa Lombard | 22 | 15:45:51 | |
| 2001 | Alexa Lombard | 21 | 13:33:06 | |
| 2000 | Jean Wilson | 31 | 18:37:18 | |