Shaun finishes 1st in Gauteng at Berg River Marathon

Paddler Shaun Maphanga of the Florida Lake Canoe Club (FLCC) can hold his head held high after completing the enduring Berg River Marathon as the first Gauteng finisher.

The club’s groundsman, who suffered a terrible injury during Dusi last year and who has made a full recovery since then, impressed all by finishing the longest river canoe race in South Africa well under 20 hours. His exact time was recorded to be 19 hours and 21 minutes in the second sub-veteran age category.

The Berg River Marathon covers a distance of 240km over four days, from Paarl to Velddrift on the Western Cape Coast.

No more than six FLCC members set off for the 10-hour drive to get to the start line on Wednesday 10 July, and all finished successfully, even the first timers Minnie Kretzschmar and Patrick Thomas. Kretzschmar finished 116th, in a time of 26 hours 24 minutes as the seventh female contender, while Thomas finished in 117th position with a time of 26 hours and 35 minutes.

Other FLCC finishers were Craig Smith and Dennis Carlse.

FLCC spokesperson, Jennie Dallas says, “Despite us having a good marathon, the race was plagued with numerous tree blockages, constantly forcing paddlers to portage out of the river with boats, and a hyacinth blockage also forced a 3km walk around.

“Traditionally the race has a reputation for being icy cold in the Western Cape July winter with icy sleets of rain, gale-force winds, chilblained fingers. However, the unseasonably pleasant weather this year saw pleasant mild temperatures through the day; although the nights in the mountainous area were still very cold as were the pre-dawn early morning starts.”