Hi {name},

The winter rains have finally arrived and there is a definite increase in dam levels and water flow down the Berg River – and that is good news for everyone who has entered the Berg River Marathon on July 3-6, or is still going to enter the famous event.

More good news is that there will be an international flavour to the 2024 Berg with Irishman David Horkan coming to take part in the four-day event.

Horkan is well-known in Irish canoeing circles for more than just racing. 

He has some pretty impressive results in some of the ultra-distance events. He is a previous winner of the K1 section of the non-stop 200km Devizes to Westmininster International Canoe Race and has featured on the podium a couple of times in a K2.

The Irishman is also well known as an adventure canoeist with some spectacular trips under his belt – he won the 2023 Adventure Paddler of the year from Canoeing Ireland, but was unable to physically accept the award because he was paddling in Antarctica at the time.

Horkan is hoping to finish among the top ten, but, with the Ireland rugby side taking on their South African counterparts on the final day of the Berg, we think he may have been the victim of some subtle Springbok sabotage. His trip has been sponsored by Euro Steel, and his boat has been built by Ric Whitton from Kayak Craft (co-incidentally) in the colours of the Springboks. We are not sure if the green and gold boat will make him feel like a winner, or gently let him know he cannot beat the South Africans.

Irishman David Horkan (below) will be tackling his first Berg River Canoe Marathon in a Springbok-coloured boat.

Meanwhile there have been a few pre-Berg races over the past few weeks with some interesting results.

The First Ascent Paarl to Skooltjie event, saw Thomas Lovemore and Stephanie von der Heyde claim the honours in the men's and women's races respectively. 

A week later Divieano Pietersen and Tayla Isaac emerged victorious in the Enduren Wellington to Hermon race.

Then in the Hermon to Gouda race, older paddlers would have been forgiven for thinking they had taken a trip in a time machine. First across the line was Robbie Herreveld. Yes, you read that correctly, the six-time race winner from the 1990s (that is before some of the entrants in this year's Berg were even born) just edged out Heinrich Schloms with Pietersen third. 

In the women's race, Bianca Beavitt beat Neriyah Dill with Tamsin Lovelock third.

And while we are talking about women, there has been a big increase in entries from female paddlers in the Berg and we are expecting a great battle for the women's title. After just three women battled it out for the SA Champs crown last year, this year 13 entries have been received from female paddlers.

And finally, due to a better than expected entry for the 2024 Berg River Marathon, the organisers have opted not to implement the late-entry fee increase planned for today.

The entry fees will now remain the same until entries close on July 1.

The following entry fees will be in force until July 1:
Seniors: R3 000;
Junior R2 200;
Student: R2 200;
Development Senior R2 000;
Development Junior R1 200

A group for effective comms with paddlers, seconders and spectators in the days leading up to Berg 2024 and during the race as well.

Just click the link to join:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/KaDwiPs0K7N10vm0HjxWJQ

Thank you

The 2024 Berg Committee