Graeme Solomon (Peninsula Canoe Club) and Hank McGregor (Stella CC, KZN) wrapped up the first stage of the Isuzu Berg River Canoe Marathon together after the 62km paddle from Paarl to Zonquasdrift raced on a fast flowing, and rising Berg river that saw the stage record shattered. With the torrential rains that have hammered the Cape Peninsula battering the paddlers all day, the pair covered the distance in a record breaking time of 3 hours and 45 minutes, after having shaken off Lance King (Milnerton CC) and Heinrich Schloms (Stellenbosch CC) earlier in the morning.An eleventh hour rule change that pre! vented the elite women from riding the slip waves of any male paddlers didnt concern Abbey Miedema, pictured above, who raced brilliantly as always to set up a four minute lead over seventeen year old Epworth schoolgirl from KZN, Abie Adie. Young paddlers are threatning to challenge Hank McGregor's supremacy, but one wonders how much Abbey has in reserve, she just needs a challenge from somewhere!
