After slipping in as a last-minute entry Hank McGregor won his 13th Berg River Canoe Marathon title this weekend.
This year was the 16th time the 45-year-old took on the gruelling 240 km race from Paarl to Velddrif. He took his first title in 2000 at age 22, and had eight consecutive wins from 2005 until 2012.
Asked if he will be back for another race next year, McGregor said: “Who knows? I may be back next year. I always say I am never coming back, but always seem to find my way back to Paarl and make it to Velddrif.”
Sixty-three paddlers made the epic trek on the river. This year, the race was dedicated to Berg legend Giel van Deventer, who passed last year.
Day 1 saw the participants leave Paarl last Wednesday and make their way to Zonquasdrift. After overnighting the paddlers set off from there, paddling the 46 km to Bridgetown.
On day 3, Thursday, paddlers took on the 75 km stretch to Zoutkloof. The home stretch started on Saturday morning with paddlers making their way to the well-known Carinus Bridge.
In the women’s race Christy Shrimpton (21) led the pack from Paarl to the West Coast. Three-time winner Bianca Beavitt took second place and Ansune Basson came in just over an hour later.
Final leading results:
Men
1. Hank McGregor 17:10:16
2. Jeremy Maher 17:12:52
3. Tom Lovemore 17:14:12
4. David Evans 17:21:33
5. Daniel Jacobs 17:44:30
6. Ant Lake 17:44:43
7. Dyllan Farrell 17:54:05
8. Kenny Rice 17:59:28
9. Jacques Theron 18:02:36
10. Ron Benjani (Israel) 18:36:27
Women
1. Christy Shrimpton 20:36:07
2. Bianca Beavitt 21:07:10
3. Ansune Basson 22:17:28
