PAARL - While the general population in the Western Cape may not be so excited to see the soaking wet weather arrive in the province this week, the farmers are joined by the canoeing community in sending small prayers of thanks for the steady rain.For the farmers, the annual wet season is the lifeblood of their business, while the canoeists will be hoping it means a paddling season with deep, fast-flowing water which makes for some action-packed and fun-filled weekends.
Hank McGregor won his 13th Berg River Marathon in 2023
For the organisers of the annual Berg Rive Canoe Marathon, the...
PAARL - While the general population in the Western Cape may not be so excited to see the soaking wet weather arrive in the province this week, the farmers are joined by the canoeing community in sending small prayers of thanks for the steady rain.For the farmers, the annual wet season is the lifeblood of their business, while the canoeists will be hoping it means a paddling season with deep, fast-flowing water which makes for some action-packed and fun-filled weekends.
Hank McGregor won his 13th Berg River Marathon in 2023
For the organisers of the annual Berg Rive Canoe Marathon, the...
Irishman David Horkan was in Antarctica when he was named as Ireland's Adventure Paddler of the Year.
PAARL - Irish professional canoeist David Horkan faces a task as daunting as his rugby compatriots when he tackles the 2024 Berg River Canoe Marathon on July 3-6.
The 2023 Irish Adventure Paddler of the year is expecting to complete the tough four-day canoe marathon from Paarl to Velddrif on the same day the Ireland rugby squad tackle the Springboks in the First Test in Pretoria – and Horkan is well aware his challenge is as big as the one facing his rugby compatriots."South Africa is...
Irishman David Horkan was in Antarctica when he was named as Ireland's Adventure Paddler of the Year.
PAARL - Irish professional canoeist David Horkan faces a task as daunting as his rugby compatriots when he tackles the 2024 Berg River Canoe Marathon on July 3-6.
The 2023 Irish Adventure Paddler of the year is expecting to complete the tough four-day canoe marathon from Paarl to Velddrif on the same day the Ireland rugby squad tackle the Springboks in the First Test in Pretoria – and Horkan is well aware his challenge is as big as the one facing his rugby compatriots."South Africa is...
Rene Boehm is an exception to the rule that men cannot multitask. Having turned 70 in March this year, Boehm will climb into his canoe and tackle his 40th Berg River Canoe Marathon on July3-6 -- while he is also the event's main organiser.It's the second year he has put his hand up for the task of planning the iconic four-day event, but as a paddler he has already definitely left his mark on the evnt. With a team behind him that can plan, assist and run matters while he is on the water, Boehm will be able to concentrate on achieving his milestone event."I did my first Berg in 1974 and have...
Jeremy Maher outsprints Thomas Lovemore for victory at the end of Day 1 of the 2023 Berg River Canoe Marathon. The pair are likely to be prominent in the lead group once again this year.Pic: John HishinPAARL - With 13-time race winner Hank McGregor confirming this week that he will not be taking part in the 2024 Berg River Canoe Marathon, the main protagonists look likely to fight out a battle of the ages – with an international twist.Even without the 46-year-old defending champion, the podium battle in the four-day event from Paarl to Velddrif on July 3-6 looks like being a struggle...
Jeremy Maher outsprints Thomas Lovemore for victory at the end of Day 1 of the 2023 Berg River Canoe Marathon. The pair are likely to be prominent in the lead group once again this year.Pic: John HishinPAARL - With 13-time race winner Hank McGregor confirming this week that he will not be taking part in the 2024 Berg River Canoe Marathon, the main protagonists look likely to fight out a battle of the ages – with an international twist.Even without the 46-year-old defending champion, the podium battle in the four-day event from Paarl to Velddrif on July 3-6 looks like being a struggle...
Thomas Lovemore (right) and Jeremy Maher fighting for podium places in the 2023 Berg River Canoe Marathon.
PAARL – A bunch of relative young guns will line up with the hope of starting a new era of domination at the 2024 Berg River Canoe Marathon from Wednesday to Saturday this week.The two paddlers to beat in the race from Paarl to Velddrif look like being last year's runner up Jeremy Maher and third-placed Thomas Lovemore – the two who pushed 45-year-old Hank McGregor all the way in 2023 as the veteran notched up his 13th win.At just 22 years old, Maher has been quietly collecting some...
Thomas Lovemore (right) and Jeremy Maher fighting for podium places in the 2023 Berg River Canoe Marathon.
PAARL – A bunch of relative young guns will line up with the hope of starting a new era of domination at the 2024 Berg River Canoe Marathon from Wednesday to Saturday this week.The two paddlers to beat in the race from Paarl to Velddrif look like being last year's runner up Jeremy Maher and third-placed Thomas Lovemore – the two who pushed 45-year-old Hank McGregor all the way in 2023 as the veteran notched up his 13th win.At just 22 years old, Maher has been quietly collecting some...
Tom Lovemore just outsprints 52-year-old Robbie Herreveld at the finish of the opening day of the 2024 Berg River Canoe Marathon this week.
ZONQUASDRIFT – The opening day of the Berg River Canoe Marathon on Wednesday set up a remarkable battle between six-time winner Robbie Herreveld and Tom Lovemore, one of the country's exciting young prospects aiming for his biggest canoeing victory.
Lovemore won the 62km opening stage from Paarl to Zonquasdrift, but it was a lot more difficult than the Eastern Cape resident expected. The 26-year-old looked set for an easy paddle home when his nearest...
Tom Lovemore just outsprints 52-year-old Robbie Herreveld at the finish of the opening day of the 2024 Berg River Canoe Marathon this week.
ZONQUASDRIFT – The opening day of the Berg River Canoe Marathon on Wednesday set up a remarkable battle between six-time winner Robbie Herreveld and Tom Lovemore, one of the country's exciting young prospects aiming for his biggest canoeing victory.
Lovemore won the 62km opening stage from Paarl to Zonquasdrift, but it was a lot more difficult than the Eastern Cape resident expected. The 26-year-old looked set for an easy paddle home when his nearest...
Tom Lovemore (left) and 52-year-old Robbie Herreveld worked together to build a big lead on Day 2 of the 2024 Berg River Canoe Marathon this week.
BRIDGETOWN – The wily old master and the young gun worked together to turn the 2024 Berg River Canoe Marathon into a two-horse race on the second stage on Thursday.
Six-time winner, 52-year-old Velddrif local Robbie Herreveld, and Knysna's Tom Lovemore started the second stage side by side and then worked together to build a commanding 15-minute lead over their nearest rivals in the 46km second stage from Zonquasdrift to Bridgetown.
Jeremy Maher...
Tom Lovemore (left) and 52-year-old Robbie Herreveld worked together to build a big lead on Day 2 of the 2024 Berg River Canoe Marathon this week.
BRIDGETOWN – The wily old master and the young gun worked together to turn the 2024 Berg River Canoe Marathon into a two-horse race on the second stage on Thursday.
Six-time winner, 52-year-old Velddrif local Robbie Herreveld, and Knysna's Tom Lovemore started the second stage side by side and then worked together to build a commanding 15-minute lead over their nearest rivals in the 46km second stage from Zonquasdrift to Bridgetown.
Jeremy Maher...
For the third day in a row Tom Lovemore (right) and Robbie Herreveld decided the stage win with a finish sprint at the 2024 Berg River Canoe Marathon this week.BRIDGETOWN – Knysna's Tom Lovemore will take a narrow advantage into the 57km final stage of the 2024 Berg River Canoe Marathon after he edged out local veteran Robbie Herreveld in the final dash for the line for the third day in a row on Friday.After the long 75km Queen Stage from Bridgetown to Zoutkloof, Lovemore is now a crucial three seconds ahead going into Saturday's final battle into Hereveld's home town at Velddrif on the...
VELDDRIF – Knysnas Tom Lovemore duly secured his first Berg River Canoe Marathon win when he swept across the line ahead of the leading bunch at the finish of the 57-kilometre Stage 4 in a sunny Velddrif on Saturday afternoon.And in doing so, Lovemore denied 52-year old Robbie Herreveld – who won the event six times in the 90s – an astonishing comeback victory. On the day, Herreveld was also battling the effects of a stomach ailment and could not hold on to Lovemore and a group of four other youngsters on the closing stages of the four-day event.Jeremy Maher finished with the leading bunch...
