The long 4 day race that was decided after just 1 for the guys and 2 for the girls.
For day 1, the rain promised for Paarl never arrived and the first 62km stage was raced in mercifully dry but cold conditions. As is tradition, the little cannon started the long race and for the racing snakes the field was soon split by the early portage, with the contenders knowing that ‘Robbie can’t run’ and taking full advantage of this. The result was a bunch of 6 including the defending champion Tom Lovemore and 13 time winner Hank McGregor, along with Sam Butcher, Heinrich Schloms, Siseko Ntondini and Msawenkosi Mtolo well ahead of Robbie Herreveld who was in the chasing bunch. After 35km’s Hank broke away with Siseko, who then fell off at Hemon bridge leaving Hank to go on and win the stage some 5 and half minutes ahead of Robbie, Sam and Sisieko, who finished together. In the ladies things were more closely contested with Nix Birkett and Jenna Nisbet only a few seconds apart.
Day 2 is known as the short day, and this year it was shortened from 46km to just 30km, cutting out the Zonquasdrift to Gouda section in the interests of safety. With the elapsed time procedure, Hank had to solo out front, with the three chasers in theory, being able to work together towards reeling him in. But that didn’t happen, instead the aging GOAT increased his lead to almost 10 minutes while in the women Jenna inexplicably gained 8 minutes on Nix. With both the leaders having so much time in hand, much of the excitement in the race upfront was then lost, because of the format which changes from elapsed time to bunch starts for day 3 and 4, meaning all that Hank and Jenna then had to do was stay with or within 5 to 10 minutes of the other contenders to protect their large leads.
Day 3 is the long one; 72km from Bridgetown, through the mist and across Misverstand Dam and then through howling winds to Zoutkloof. Tom Lovemore, having been ill withdrew before the start, while Sam Butcher withdrew half way through the stage. Hank did what he does and pushed hard again, taking Robbie with him so the two elderly fellows (of 100 years combined) looked to have sewn up first and second while with Sam and Tom out, it also looked like Siseko with a 10 minute lead over the 4th placed paddler would be in line for his first Berg podium. In the ladies Nix worked hard to drop Jenna, but couldn’t, and so it seemed that the short day 2 had determined the winner of the long 4 day race for the ladies, while in the men’s, it was a pretty much a done deal after day 1.
Day 4 was a tough 58km; with icy cold winds and rain, and the racing snakes also had to paddle against the tide before it turned at midday to help suck the slower paddlers to the finish at the Riviera hotel in Velddrif. Hank and Siseko broke away from Robbie at the Oordraplek portage, with Siseko in search of Silver, but he had to settle for third as Robbie tenaciously held on to remain runner up for a second year in a row, while Hank claimed an incredible 14th win. Nix again worked to drop Jenna, but couldn’t break her lead, and so it was that the early days dedicated the winning results – albeit with a lot of long, hard kilometers before the end.
Well done to Ethan who was first home for Dabs comfortably inside the top 20, while a bit further back was Matt, who clearly enjoys ‘Character Building’ canoeing having finished yet another Berg. Well done Matt – only four more to 20 and ‘Legend’ status. Matt has already committed to start training this week towards next year’s Berg – yoh!
The Cockram’s were Dab’s only starters while Siseko was the only Scarcie, but special mention goes to one of Dabs’ first members; Ralph Teulings who finished his 43rd Berg having done most of his training on days 1, 2 and 3. Further back we also had other Vaalie friends. Well done to Elton Du Preez and Wayne Lotter from Centurion and also to Reiner Kruger and Wayne Taylor from CROCS. The ever happy Wayne Taylor was coming last after day 1, but he moved up a few places to finish in just under 28 hours, one place ahead of Oom Jannie Malherbe (Berg winner from 1963-1965) who at 85 years now has 52 finishes to his name.
Respect to all the finishers for the vasbyt that only Bergies can understand.
Till next time – Go Dabs!
