Friday, 27 May 2011 16:11
Berg River Canoe Marathon - the richest purse in SA canoeing
The Windhoek Berg River Canoe Marathon has become the richest purse in South African canoeing as the race gears up to celebrate its fiftieth anniversary from 13 to 16 July, and now also offers equal prize money to men’s and women’s race winners.
As part of the drive to commemorate the fiftieth running of the race, prize money has been racked up in most categories, and in particular in the team competition, where a record R120 000 has been allocated in prize money, with R60 000 being shared by the winning four-paddler team.
Daily stage prizes of R5,000 have also been introduced, while the daily bridge prizes have been hiked to a hefty R4,000 per day, adding significant spice to each stage’s racing over the four stages between Paarl and Port Owen.
The new prize structure means that should one athlete dominate the race and win every stage, daily bridge prize and the time trial, that athlete will pocket a massive R88 000.
“It’s going to be a massive race, and the prize money is just adding more and more excitement to it,” said defending champion Hank McGregor, who will be sizing up his eighth victory in the famous 243km race to the West Coast.
The race organisers and sponsors have boldly equalised the prize money for the winners of the men’s and women’s races in a move that is sure to draw enthusiastic approval from the elite female racers, and at the same time fan the flames of the age-old debate on the appropriate split in prize money between men and women.
“The hike in the team prize money is going to have a big impact on the race and will have an effect on the tactics used throughout ,” he added. “Instead of being every man for himself, the team will have to look after its members to ensure the best overall result. It’s going to make the racing very interesting.”
“It is a great idea to split up the previous year’s podium for the team competition,” said McGregor, referring to the rule that prevents the paddlers that finished in the first three places last year – McGregor, Lance King and Heinrich Schloms – from being in the same team. “Suddenly the results in the top twenty or thirty are going to become very interesting,” he added.
McGregor also noted rumours that a number of elite racers who have skipped the Windhoek Berg in recent years were reported to be out training hard and over long distances in obvious preparation for the race.
“It’s being billed as the race of the Legends, and it certainly looks like it is going to turn out that way,” said McGregor. “Just about everyone who has won the race in the past will be taking part, and you can say what you want, you learn so much when you win this race that the experience counts a massive amount.”
The Windhoek Berg River Canoe Marathon takes place from 13 to 16 July 2011, preceded by a time trial on 12 July.
More information can be found at www.windhoekberg.co.za
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