As entries poured into the race HQ ahead of the 61st Berg River Canoe Marathon from 6 to 9 July, former winner Robbie Herreveld added his name to the entry for the race that he dominated in the nineties.
Herreveld was part of a strong Johannesburg contingent that held sway over the Berg, and won it six time in successive from 1991 to 1996, a reign bettered only by Hank McGregor who won eight back-to-back Berg titles.
Herreveld has relocated to the Cape West Coast where he now lives at Port Owen in Velddrif, the finish of the Berg Marathon, and trains with the West Coast Canoe Club.
Herreveld had entered the 60th Berg in 2021 but was forced to sit the race out as he dealt with a Covid infection. The popular paddler is back in 2022 for what will be his twelfth Berg, and admits that he is not as fit as he used to be for the tough four day outing.
“I am going out to enjoy the race, the goal being to finish each of the four days as best I can,” said Herreveld.
“I Haven’t done as much training as I would have liked or the river tripping, or any pre-races, but I am looking forward to meeting up with my fellow paddlers.
“Wow, what a phenomenal field there is,” he added. “I am just looking forward to just enjoying the race, the river and the vibe.”
Herreveld still runs his Johannesburg-based kayak store as well a local factory building specialised tour kayaks. And running tours for keen paddlers.
He raced his first Berg as a 17 year old and rocked the race by winning the first of his six titles at nineteen.
