Hi ,

We are approaching 50 days to go until the 2025 Berg River Canoe Marathon, but there is a much more pressing deadline for anybody looking for a bargain entry: Friday is the last day to get the discounted entries before the prices go up.

There is already an exciting field of entrants with a total of 25 race wins among the various competitors already committed for the start on July 2 in Paarl.

Heading the list is 13-time race winner Hank McGregor and we can expect a fascinating battle for the men's title between him and defending champion Tom Lovemore. Among the other past winners is three-time winner Jannie Malherbe, who is unlikely to be going for a fourth victory but will be aiming to become the first person to finish 52 Berg River Canoe Marathons. Another notable former men's winner is Graham Monteith who will be tackling the Berg for the 29th time.

The women's field is stacked with past winners: Last year's champion Stephanie van der Heyde will be joined on the start line by her three predecessors, Nicky Birkett (2021), Jenna Nisbett (2022) and Christy Shrimpton (2023), as well as three-time winner Bianca Beavitt (2015-2017).

Meanwhile watch out for the start of the river racing season on May 17 - and a chance to win a new boat (see details below).

The following are the 2025 entry fees:
(Discounts end 9th May)

Seniors: R3 300
(Discounted fee until May 9: R2 500)

Junior, U23 & Student: R2 100;
(Discounted fee until May 9: R1 300)

Development Senior R2 000;
(Discounted fee until May 9: R1 500)

Development Junior R1 200;
(Discounted fee until May 9: R1 000)

NB: No shirt guaranteed for entries after June 13
R200 late-entry surcharge after June 13

To help with your preparation, a series of four pre-Berg events, starting with the Paarl to Skooltjie race on May 17, will give potential paddlers an opportunity to get a preview of most of the route. These races are a great opportunity to test your fitness and preparedness to tackle The Berg.

The other pre-Berg events are Wellington to Hermon (May 31); Hermon to Gouda (also WP K1 Championship – June 7); and Gouda to Bridgetown (June 21).

Together with the Berg River Marathon (July 2-5) and the recent West Coast Canoe Challenge, these races all form part of the Berg River K1 Series which will be offering a new kevlar Salt K1 as a lucky draw.

Anyone who completes four days of racing will go into the draw. With nine racing days in the series – five one-day races and the four-day Berg River Marathon – paddlers are able to earn two entries into the draw to win a kevlar version of the same boat which was paddled to victory by Tom Lovemore in 2024.

For more info on the series CLICK HERE

The 2025 Berg River Marathon will take place on July 2-5.

Entries are via the Canoeing SA entry portal HERE

For more info please visit the RACE WEBSITE

#TheUltimateCanoeRace

#BergRiverMarathon2025

Thank you

The 2025 Berg Committee