Where is the water?
2005-07-07
DESPITE an early and wetter winter, some paddlers are still cautious regarding participation in this year’s Isuzu Berg River Canoe Marathon.
Among the wary paddlers is top contender and one of the favourites, Graeme Solomon.
Solomon has not yet entered the race which starts in Paarl on Wednesday morning.
The Peninsula paddler is one of the heavier canoeists around and had a difficult time in the low water level conditions of the Berg over the last couple of years.
This has given Gauteng contender and winner of the race in 2003 and 2004, Jacques Theron, the edge in the past.
Theron however will not be back to defend his title this year, giving a lack of fitness and work pressure as reasons.
If it does not rain within the next few days, Solomon might well decide against competing.
This will increase the chance of victory for the other hot favourite, Hank McGregor.
The feisty Durban paddler, who won the world marathon championships in 2003, entered together with his father Lee (54), and makes no secret about the fact that they will be “hunting as a pack” in this year’s race.
“We are both going really well at the moment. My Dad’s confidence is really high after a great SA marathon championship in Plettenberg Bay last month, so I am sure that he will be right there with me throughout the race,” said McGregor.
The duo stunned the national champions by finishing second in the men’s K2 race, and securing their place in the senior squad for the world championships in Perth.
Hank won the famous four-day 210km race from Paarl to Velddrif as a junior, and then claimed the senior title in tough, low conditions in 2000.
In 2003 he lost a torrid scrap to Theron, and finished in the runner-up berth.
“I will be watching guys like Simon van Gysen and others like the Van Deventer brothers very closely.
“But I am also sure that if we get rain just ahead of the race that Graeme Solomon will enter. Solly is a big guy, and doesn’t enjoy paddling on a low river,” McGregor added.
Solomon had taken part in recent the qualifying races for the Berg and won the section-race from Wellington to Herman on Saturday. In the women’s section the competition will definitely be fierce with top paddlers Alexa Lombard, Abbey Madiema and Kim Rew all having entered.
Lombard has been the queen of the Berg for the last four years.
“I haven’t really been focusing on the Berg much, because my priority has been the SA Marathon Championships, and sorting out my place in the team for the world champs in Perth in October,” said Lombard.
The petite blond was in sublime form in Plet, and proved once again that she is peerless in flatwater marathon racing.
“Rivers are another story, though. This is such a long race, and there are so many places where you can gain 30 seconds here and there by knowing the river well,” she said.
Almost 200 paddlers have entered thus far, says race organiser Jurie Wessels.
“It’s somewhat disappointing, but 30% of the entrants are first time paddlers of the Berg. This proves that the mystique and allure of the Berg still captures the imaginations of canoeists,” said Wessels.
He added that late entries will still be accepted until Monday evening.
* In an effort to make the Berg more paddler friendly, the Western Province Canoe Union launched an action in the dry season to reduce the number of tree blocks and tree-obstacles.
The main focus was placed on the troublesome section between Wellington en Zonquasdrift, but attention was also given to sections downstream of the Gouda Bridge.
Adding to this, the hyacinth that has choked the river on the final stage, has also been swept clear.
In recent years the hyacinth has resulted in the final stage to Velddrif being shortened by 18km to cut out a stretch of the river from the start of the final day at Zoutkloof to Kersefontein.
However, the good early winter rainfalls have resulted in several surges of floodwater that successfully dislodged the hyacinths and opened the river for the paddlers.
“We have paddled that entire stretch, and the river is clear all the way,” reports a delighted André Collins, a veteran of over 30 editions of this famous race.
This means that the final stage will definitely be held over the entire 50km from Zoutkloof to Velddrif.
“All we need is rain in the week ahead of the race and we should have good water for the race,” he added.
On Tuesday, the race will be preceded by an 18km time-trial for the top 60 contenders to decide seeding positions.
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