Download full results HERE

This weekends W.C.C.U. canoe race on the Berg River between Paarl and Wellington (23km), was raced in perfect weather, albeit it a low river given that there has been no rain this past week – a big difference from last Saturday, when the river was in full spate.

From the start, Lance King (Milnerton) stamped his dominance on this race – the ‘Pupil’ showing what he has learnt from the ‘Master’, Graeme Solomon (Peninsula and also now a Sub Veteran – i.e. aged between 35 and 39 years), over the preceding year or two when he grew in Solly’s shadow, to finally tip him from the top spot that he has held for more than 10 years in the Western Cape. Content initially to race with the leading bunch of Solomon and Heinrich Schloms (Paarl) – they were on their own from the Dal Josephat weir and rapid, King breaking away later to comprehensively win the race in 1 hour 32 minutes 22 seconds, a full minute and a couple of seconds from second placed Schloms (1:33:26) with Solomon on his slip for 3^rd in 1:33:29. With King stating that the Berg River Marathon is firmly in his sights for 2010, this was a good start and with the likes of Schloms and Solomon to push him it just might be the youngsters year. One shouldn’t discount Matie paddler Pierre-Andre Rabie though, absent today because he is writing exams this afternoon, who showed his mettle at the WCCU Canoe Marathon K1 Championships held 2 weeks ago, when he was second to King over the 36 km course. Once he is back on the river, along with Ernest van Riet (Maties) who was also missing in action today’s (rumour has it that he had a ticket for Newlands this evening!) and the return of former National paddler to the World Canoe Marathon Championships, Peninsula’s Simon van Gysin, great things are expected from the top men’s paddlers in the province.

The women’s section of the race was badly hit by the current university examinations, the likes of Robyn Kime (Maties) and Jackie Barnes (UCT) not being available, whilst Lindi-May Harmse (Milnerton) is overseas on National canoeing duty, but excitingly, a junior paddler in Marisa Pretorius (Milnerton) came through to win (1:55:00) by over 7 minutes from Paarl’s Helene Rabie, whilst Peninsula’s, Jemma Hofmeyer, a further 2 minutes back, was in 3^rd place.

The Paarl juniors dominated the junior boys race, with Joseph Williams winning in 1:43:13 (13^th overall) from  Michael-Lee Farringer (Bridgehouse – 1:44:29 – making him the 1^st U16 paddler home!) and Luke Stowman (also an U16 paddler) in 1:49:15).

The was also an excellent turnout of paddlers in the different age groups (118 paddlers competed in the race this morning) with one of the interesting stats. being the Sub Grandmaster division (55 – 59 years) had 15 paddlers competing, the Grandmasters (60 – 64 years) had 6 paddlers, proving to all, that this is a sport for all age groups – note that this event today had paddlers aged from 15 years to over 70 years – not too many sports can boast that.

On the water too were 4 members of South Africa’s original canoeing family – canoeing Springbok brothers Willem and Enslin van Riet, both with the 2010 Berg in their sights. Missing in action were another brother, Roelof (at rugby), his son – the already mentioned Ernest - but Willem’s son Louw just missed a top 10 today (11^th overall), his other son, ‘Lang” Willem, an Olympian in 1992 wasn’t available, but Enslin’s daughter, Desiree, has taken up paddling. Another paddling Springbok with offspring on the river today was Anthony Penderis – his daughter Kirsten was the 6^th woman home.

Next Saturday’s race on the Berg River – another K1 event, is the 28 km section to be raced between Gouda Bridge and Bridgetown – arguably the best section of the Berg River to paddle on.

Results – Paarl to Skooltjie, Berg River, 22^nd May, 2010.

Senior Men.

1.Lance King(Milnerton) 1 hour 32 minutes 22 seconds.

2. Heinrich Schloms (Paarl) 1:33:26

3. Graeme Solomon (Peninsula) 1:33:29

Senior Women

1. Marisa Pretorius (Milnerton) 1:55:00

2. Helene Rabie (Paarl) 2:02:06

3. Jemma Hofmeyer (Peninsula) 2:04:59

Juniors

1. Joseph Williams (Paarl) 1:43:13

2. Michael-Lee Farringer (Bridgehouse/Paarl) 1:44:29

3. Like Stowman (Paarl) 1:49:15

Sub Veterans

1. Graeme Solomon (Pen) 1:33:29

2. Greg van Heerden (Mil) 1:38:45

3. Daan du Toit (Mil) 1:47:02

Veterans

1. Herbert Conradie (Paarl) 1:45:01

2. Dave Hitchcock (Pen) 1:47:04

3. Rob Meintjies (Lan) 1:50:14

Sub Masters

1. Rob Hart (Pen)  1:38:46

2. Chris de Waal (Mil) 1:38:47

3. Mynhardt Marais (Paarl) 1:44:13

Masters

1. Daantjie Malan (Maties) 1:47:51

2. Paul Lange (Pen) 1:49:21

3. Ian Glass (Pen) 1:51:44

Sub Grandmasters

1. Shaun Butler (Pen) 1:45:04

2. Andre Rabie (Paarl) 1:51:10

3. Rob MacLean (Pen) 1:55:12

Grandmasters

1. Giel van Deventer (Paarl) 1:54:12

2. Tienie van Schoor (Maties) 2:05:28