Entries for the boldly revamped berg river canoe marathon opened recently, with the organisers offering two tiers of entries for the new team format that will govern the competitive element of the famous fourday race from paarl to the west coast fis. Boats late to start will be timed as though they started at their designated heat time or late starters can choose to change their start time at the start table the morning of the event at the putin. Entries for berg river canoe marathon now open netwerk24. The berg river canoe marathon takes place annually in south africas western cape province over a distance of some 240 km from paarl to the small harbour. The riverland paddling marathon has been run in one format or another on the beautiful murray river in south australia since june 1988. The berg river canoe marathom covers 240km from paarl to velddrift over four stages in july every year.
The berg river canooze, one of five trails that take place within the cape west coast biosphere, is a relatively easy downstream kayak from hopefield to velddrif, with farm stays en route the emphasis of this trail is on relaxation. Oellerman and van rooyen make berg womens history the. Two months on from the second lowest berg river canoe marathon in history, there were signs of winter rains rescuing the k2 breede season, but after a rise in water on the weekend the breede. With exactly three months to go to the 59th edition of the berg river canoe marathon, the ultra paddling classic is in a cautious. Berg river marathon 2017 day 3 highlights duration. Last years under 23 champion stew little, who finished runner up to andy birkett at the n3tc drak challenge in january, will be teaming up with berg river canoe marathon winner hamish lovemore for the upcoming liebenbergsvlei marathon. When the field of paddlers line up for the start of the 2019 edition of the berg river canoe marathon at market street bridge in paarl on wednesday 3 july, icon jannie malherbe is poised to paddle his way into the record books as he aims for his 47th berg medal, in the year that he will turn 80. The womens record is 14 hours, 55 minutes and seven seconds, set in 2008 by abbey ulansky. The berg river canoe marathon 8 to 11 july 2020 the. The berg river also called great berg river or in afrikaans. An illustrated history explores the role of this elegantly simple craft in history and modern culture. Heats of eight boats each start at two minute intervals beginning at 8. The majestic berg river flows between the beautiful little towns of paarl and wellingtonfamous for their worldclass wine farms. The berg river in paarl is the starting point for the internationally renowned berg river canoe marathon.
The competitiors have grown more diverse since the races beginning in 1961. The organisers of the berg river canoe marathon have announced that the 2020 edition of the four day canoeing race from paarl to velddrif in early july has. Day 1 hermon bridge 15h30 day 2 train bridge 15h30 day 3. The dams are much fuller and the rain forecasts look late but good. Start times des plaines river canoe and kayak marathon. Berg river canoe marathon in waitandsee mode businesslive. The major towns in the berg river area are velddrif. Velddrif hank mcgregor powering into the canoeing history record books by winning his seventh title in the windhoek berg river canoe. The water is fastflowing, often through narrow channels choked with trees, low branches, and submerged obstacles. Berg river canoe marathon a challenging 240 km race, the berg river canoe marathon is one of the longest and toughest competitive paddling challenges in africa, and offers participating men and women a canoeing experience like not other. Berg river canoe marathon are you tough enough to compete in one of the western capes most challenging water races.
In the history of south african canoe races it still stands as the only race. Africas larger rivers in a canoe and wrote a book on his adventures. The end of the first day is at zonquasdrift, 28 kms from us. 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. Canoe marathon history shortly after the fireworks of the start, all the paddlers make it back to the start area, jump out of their boats and speed down the designated portage line with coaches, team supporters and spectators enthusiast shouting and screaming trying to encourage their paddlers to go faster, to catch up, to get on the wash. The 54th edition of the berg river canoe marathon takes place from wednesday 15 july to saturday 18 july, preceded by the seeding time trial on tuesday 14 july. With exactly three months to go to the 59th edition of the berg river canoe marathon, the ultrapaddling classic is in a cautious waitandsee mode as the country comes to grips with the national. About 65% of the berg river area is under agriculture. Previously referred to as the murray 200100relay it took a group of adventurers with great foresight to test their mettle on that first weekend and in doing so give birth to a new and great paddling event. Only the toughest survive the berg river canoe marathon. Berg river canoe marathon this berg river canoe marathon is not for inexperienced or beginners. For questions or comments regarding ausable river canoe marathon race records, stats, or historical infodata, please contact.
The berg river canooze cwcb trails cape west coast. Race history and statistics are an important part of the ausable river canoe marathon. The organisers of the berg river canoe marathon have announced that the 2020. Berg river canoe marathon cancelled due to coronavirus sport24. The berg rivers long course actually starts in the mountains of stellenbosch, passes through paarl, wellington, gouda and piketberg and eventually spills into the. With accounts of historic canoe trips and infamous battles, detailed explanations of native american canoebuilding techniques, and more than 80 photographs, the canoe is a mustread for paddlers and history buffs alike. Berg river canoe marathon, paarl information wheretostay.
Berg river canoe marathon horizontal on white jpeg it was a moment of history as hungarian adrian boros became the first international paddler to win the berg river canoe marathon in. Since 1947, one of the greatest canoe races on earth. Graeme solomon competes in the 2018 berg river canoe marathon in paarl. That could suggest that the varsity college roommates might put in a fish entry together. Other than manmade structures we also have beautiful natural resources. The iconic 240 km canoe race from paarl to velddrif is south africas longest and one of the worlds toughest. If youve got the strength, stamina and sheer willpower for four gruelling days of paddling, be sure to get your entry in for the 2017 berg river canoe marathon now, and start preparing for the challenging watersoaked race. Giel van deventer set to extend his berg canoe marathon record. The pomegranate trees is a welcoming entrance to our guest farm. The paddlers must have departed from the bridge by that time or they will be requested to leave the river race. Thanks to their involvement, the karoo canoe club was founded in 1982, and driven by the likes of stanford slabbert, fox ledeboer, john harington and giles hobson, the first ever fish river canoe marathon was cautiously included in the national race calendar that year. With a weir, it is a popular attraction for canoeists especially for those paddling the berg river canoe marathon. The berg river canoe marathon 8 to 11 july 2020 the challenge of ultrapaddling.
The traditional or classic canoe marathon race starts in one place and finishes in another and involves all kinds of water. Another year has passed and it is nearly time for the 58 th berg river marathon. Andy birkett won the mens event and abby adie the womens. The annual canoe marathon starts in paarl, and passes bk at about kms, in hermon. Indications are that we will be back to normal racing conditions after a number of years of very low water levels and impassable sections. In keeping with the spirit of the 2010 world cup, at 10 am on saturday 19 june the charismatic peninsula canoe club chairman, mark torrington, blew his vuvuzela to signal the start of the 2010 swartland canoe marathon under perfect racing conditions. Andre collins and giel van deventer both completed their fortieth races with hitch free final stages to velddrif, where they both received heroes welcomes.
There are no rapids and all of it is downstream, and as such, geared for the whole family. Places to stay velddrif velddrif granny macs guest house. Things to do in the region around bartholomeus klip. It is a four day event with festive over night stays. There are few events that can compare with this strenuous 4day canoe river marathon that draws competitors and onlookers alike in their thousands, in the water and along the river banks from paarl to velddrif on the atlantic coast. Hungarian outpaddles locals for berg river marathon win. Berg river canoe marathon day 1 highlights berg canoe. Willem van riet as a young man took on most of southern africas larger rivers in a canoe and wrote a book on his adventures. Berg river canoe marathon day 1 produced by bigshot media.
The race, widely recognised as one of the toughest ultradistance marathon canoeing events in the world, covers 240 km over four stages from north west of paarl to velddrif on the cape west coast, taking the athletes and their support. The race also saw two paddlers race into a unique slice of berg river canoe marathon history when they became the first paddlers to complete forty of these tough ultramarathons. The riverbanks offer excellent viewing all the way down to the weir. Berg river canoe marathon day 1 highlights youtube. The organisers of the berg river canoe marathon have advised that they are taking stock of the national state of disaster declared by the south african government in response to the coronavirus pandemic and how it will affect the race scheduled for 8 to 11 july.
It is no surprise that the event draws local and international participants every year. He was so inspired after these trips that he thought it would be a good idea to start a marathon on. Jannie malherbe is poised to paddle his way into the record books as he aims for his 47th berg medal. The dusi is the longest running of the three races, having been contested for the first time in 1951, when worldrenowned conservationist ian player, the brother of golfing legend gary, was the only finisher out of a field of eight men. Bergrivier is a river located just north of cape town in the western cape province of south africa. The race record was set in 1990 by mark perrow in an incredible time of hours, 34 minutes and 32 seconds. Only the toughest survive the berg river canoe marathon brand.
Paarl evergreen giel van deventer will be lining up for his 48th berg river canoe marathon when the fourday race gets under way in paarl on july 12, extending his own record for the most. The paddlers must have departed from the bridge by that time or they will be requested to leave the riverrace. The berg river marathon is probably the most gruelling way to spend four days. A nonstop canoe race that starts at night with a thrilling lemansstyle runningstart to the river in grayling.
The berg river marathon was started in 1962 by willem van riet, who competed in the 1992 olympics as a canoeist. It has been a hobby of john cook for the past three decades. Determined to prove a point, 19 year old maties student tracey oellerman has set her sights on completing her first berg river canoe marathon from 3 to 6 july, and has convinced her former maths teacher melissa van rooyen to join her in the first ever entry by an allwomens team into. The race covers over 240 kilometres and is not for the feint hearted. After a gruelling four days, the winners of the 53rd berg river canoe marathon were announced on 19 july 2014. The main objective is to challenge paddlers on calm or flowing water.
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