18 July 2005

Alexa Lombard re-wrote the history books in the 2005 Berg River Canoe Marathon on the weekend, taking her fourth title and finishing eighteenth overall - the highest placing by a woman in the 44-year running of one of the world's most gruelling canoe races.

Former World Marathon Champion Hank McGregor decimated a four-pronged Western Cape attack to clinch the men's race in an overall time of 17 hours 10 minutes and 33 seconds - a massive eight minutes ahead of his nearest competitor.

'A helluva long way to paddle'
"I am very sore," a visibly drained Lombard admitted as she sat shivering at the finish. "I think the last four days are catching up with me now."

Lombard's overall time was 18:37:40, half-an-hour ahead of Abbey Miedema in second. Kim Kew finished in third a further 20 minutes back.

"I didn't want to lose anything today," Lombard said. "It's been my goal for the last five years to make the top 20 overall, even though I once thought it to be unattainable, so I'm absolutely stoked right now.

"This race is a helluva long way to paddle. I certainly couldn't have done any better. I've had to race really hard to make sure I wasn't left behind, and as a result I definitely started to feel out of my depth in the latter stages."

Lombard takes home the women's purse of R8 000 and an additional R4 000 for finishing within eight percent of the overall winner's time.

'Two down, one to go'
McGregor crossed the finish line at Velddrift Bridge ahead of Peninsula Canoe Club paddler Graeme Solomon, who completed the day and the race in second place. Under-21 star Simon van Gysen lost the sprint to the line with Solomon by a solitary second to finish third overall.

"I'm really stoked with the win," said McGregor.

"The Isuzu Berg was one of my goals this year. Dusi was first, this second, and then World Marathon Champs in October. I've got two out of three so far. Hopefully I can keep the record going."

It is the first time that anyone has won both the Dusi and the Isuzu Berg in the same year, two of the most difficult K1 races in the country.

"It's unfortunate that I won't be doing the Hansa Powerade Fish Marathon (because of the World Marathon Championships) because I'd like to claim the triple," McGregor said.

'A bit of a comfort zone'
"I started the day with a bit of a comfort zone in my three-minute lead, so today was really all about maintaining that position and not letting the local guys catch me again."

McGregor had a scare early in the day, shortly before Kersfontein Bridge, when Solomon pulled onto the river and back to portage around a tree block.

"I had to mark my opposition," McGregor explained. "We got out at the wrong spot and I watched Simon and Paul Marais go past us on the river. By the time we got back in they were about 200m ahead.

"I had to crank really hard to catch up to them. That's where I dropped Solly and from there the three of us worked together to open up a lead to the time trial. They were happy to work with me because they were looking after their own positions too."

Time trial
12 kilometres shy of Velddrift the front 23 paddlers were pulled off the river at Kliphoek where they rested for 20 minutes before the compulsory time trial finish. By that stage McGregor had stretched his overall lead to seven minutes and was undoubtedly on his way to winning his second senior Isuzu Berg River Canoe Marathon title.

The real competition developed between Solomon and van Gysen for the second and third positions. At the start of the time trial van Gysen held a 30-second advantage over his fellow clubmate, but Solomon wasted no time in hunting down the sprinter and eventually won the dice to the finish half-a-boat-length ahead.

McGregor received a cheque of R20 000 for his unwavering efforts.

Provincial rivalry
The 2005 race once again saw a fierce provincial rivalry contribute to the tactics that continue to define the Isuzu Berg.

"The Western Cape guys worked really well together to try and catch me over the four days," McGregor reckoned. "I can't blame them. I think if we had more guys from KwaZulu-Natal down here we would have done the same."

"I'm really happy with my second place," said Solomon, who entered the race only two days before the start.

"Obviously I would have liked to win, but if you had said to me before the race that I'd finish second I would've taken it, considering the amount of homework I've done.

"[Western] Province are getting stronger every year," Solomon continued. "I do this sport purely for the love and enjoyment of it, so I'd hope that we can get guys like Ant Stott, Len Jenkins and some of the big names from the other regions down here next year and increase that level of competition."

McGregor replied: "I'd enjoy having a team of four top KwaZulu-Natal paddlers down here. I reckon we'd outdo the Province guys."

RESULTS

Men

	Alexa Lombard displays sharp focus as she drives hard downriver (Photo: Canoeing South Africa)

	Hank McGregor: first person to win both the Dusi and the Berg River - two of the most difficult canoe marathons in South Africa - in the same year (Photo: Canoeing South Africa)

	Theron takes Berg River 2003 SA K4 crew star at Duisberg WC Paddlers shine at Sprint Champs Hat-tricks for Bartho, McIntosh Record five Drak wins for Stott Stott, Bruss kings of Umkomaas McGregor, Miedema take Dusi 2005 Berg River three-peat for Theron 10 years: a canoeing success Canoeing, rafting & kayaking in SA Three world-class canoe marathons

	Canoeing South Africa