Eleven-times champion Hank McGregor took control of the 61st edition of the Berg River Canoe Marathon over the new extended first- stage course, while Jenna Nisbet stamped her authority on the women’s race.
From the new start at Val de Vie, which added seven kilometres of technical flowing river to the first stage, McGregor exerted his tactical control to set up the stage win, and banked both of the days’ hotspot bridge prizes.
The 43-year-old controlled a four-boat bunch that quickly established itself at the front of the race, with Wayne Jacobs, Uli Hart and Simon van Gysen.
“It was probably one of the best day one stages in terms of water levels and weather conditions. No wind. Sunshine. It was like the Western Cape was showing off,” said McGregor after banking his 37th Berg stage win.
“The first 10 kays after the start was like one long rollercoaster,” said McGregor. “It was super fast and narrow and if you made a mistake you paid for it. The new hotspots playing for time became really important and really mixed it up for everyone, and they were all going for it,” he added.
In the women’s race, three boats quickly moved to the front of the race, with defending women’s champion Nikki Birkett shadowing the in-form Jenna Nisbet and perennial Cape performer Melanie Van Niekerk.
In the technical tight channels in the new section of river above Paarl, Birkett was caught on the outside of a tight channel and bumped a tree stump, capsizing and costing her critical time as she emptied her boat.
Nisbet seized the opportunity with both hands to take early control of the race, and comfortably won both of the women’s hotspots.
Birkett kept her cool and fell back on her favoured grind to come past Van Niekerk and eat into Nisbet’s lead through the opening stage that ended at Delsma Farm, setting up the women’s race for a fascinating duel through the trees to the headwaters of Misverstand dam on Thursday.
Photo: Hank McGregor by John Hishin/Gameplan Media