Brackenhurst paddler displays competence in Berg River Canoe Marathon
Brackenhurst’s Deon Vermaak finished well during the annual Berg River race.
Paddlers raced in the annual Berg River Canoe Marathon over three days from July 3.
It was, as usual, in mid-winter in the Western Cape, where temperatures can be freezing as the paddlers race the 240km event from Paarl to the west coast fishing town Velddrif.
The first Berg River was in 1952 when three Paarl adventurers Bennie le Roux, Apie le Roux and Sam du Toit set off in an outboard-motor-driven boat, and had taken four full days to reach Velddrif.
The Berg River Canoe Marathon was founded in 1962 when 35 pioneers set off on a flooded Berg River from Paarl for the first edition of this four-day race.
Fuelled by enthusiastic support from Die Burger newspaper, the four-stage journey caught the attention of the South African public, as only 19 paddlers made it to the finish. Currently, the race is a three-day event.
Knysna’s Tom Lovemore secured his first Berg River Canoe Marathon win when he swept across the line ahead of the leading bunch at the finish of the 57km stage four in a sunny Velddrif.
Alberton’s Vermaak finished the three days in 07:49, 07:11, and 08:25 – an overall total of 23:26 on the river, to finish as the sixth sub-master age category finisher, and 70th overall finisher.
“It is a tough race! Spending six to seven hours in a boat for three consecutive days is gruelling, but it is a fantastic race taking you through a beautiful part of the country,” said Vermaak.
