The Berg River Canoe Marathon has become one of the Western Cape and South Africa’s most acclaimed sporting events. Run from Paarl through the vineyards of the Cape to the end at arid Velddrift on the West Coast, 240kms away, it has become a legendary race epitomising much of the spirit of the Cape. The 2024 event proved no different. Some highlights were Robby Herreveld’s performance, a winner 27 years ago, ending just a minute off the winner’s time (Tom Lovemore, from Knysna), and the completion of the gruelling and dangerous river marathon by evergreen and erstwhile multiple winner Jannie Malherbe, his 50th at the grand, young age of 85. Congratulations to Women’s winner Stephanie vd Heyde too who paddled half the last day without a rudder, making paddling a K1 almost an impossibility. For more details of the race, see www.berg.org.za.