Canoe · Surfski · Ocean · Sprint · SUP · 19 July 2026
McGregor wins a 15th Berg.
Dill wins the women’s race.
240 km, Paarl to Velddrif.
Four days and 240 kilometres from Paarl to Velddrif. Hank McGregor won his 15th Berg title in 18:35:54; Neriyah Dill won the women’s race in 21:13:32, after finishing second in 2024 and third in 2025. This week also: CJ Mzimba raced in Italy, Mark and Craig Willment finished the Yukon 1000 in 6 days 6 hours 48 minutes, and the St Francis Bay club took delivery of six new boats.
Top Story
Marathon · River / Western Cape
McGregor wins 15th Berg title; Dill wins the women’s race
Hank McGregor, 48, won his 15th Berg River Canoe Marathon in 18:35:54. He remains the oldest winner of the four-day race, and entered the 2026 edition late after first deciding to skip it.
McGregor led from Day 1. Jeremy Maher finished second, 12 minutes 33 seconds back, and Msawenkosi Mtolo third; all three race for KwaZulu-Natal clubs. Joshua Glyn-Cuthbert, 22, of Maties held second overall until Day 3, then finished fifth, 37 minutes 44 seconds behind. Neriyah Dill of Peninsula won the women’s race in 21:13:32, having placed second in 2024 and third in 2025.
| 1 | Hank McGregorDCP · KNCU | 18:35:54 |
| 2 | Jeremy MaherNAT · KNCU | 18:48:27 |
| 3 | Msawenkosi MtoloDUB · KNCU | 19:02:10 |
| 4 | Heinrich SchlomsPRL · WCCU | 19:10:02 |
| 5 | Joshua Glyn-CuthbertMaties · WCCU | 19:13:38 |
| 6 | Paul MaraisPEN · WCCU | 19:19:35 |
| 7 | Daniel Louis BuysPRL · WCCU | 19:26:38 |
| 8 | Zamokuhle MeyiwaDUB · KNCU | 19:30:59 |
| 9 | Sibusiso ZuluSCARC · GCU | 19:32:16 |
| 10 | Stefaans ErlankMaties · WCCU | 19:46:02 |
| 1 | Neriyah DillPeninsula | 21:13:32 |
| 2 | Christy ShrimptonPeninsula | 22:17:01 |
| 3 | Natasha BradfordPeninsula | 22:57:24 |
Women’s placings are within the field (overall 19th, 24th and 26th). Full field and daily splits are on the official results.
International
Sprint · Slalom / Italy · USA
Mzimba races K1 and K2 in Italy
At the International Sprint Regatta in Italy, from 3 to 5 July, CJ Mzimba entered the 1000 m, 500 m, 200 m and 5 km in both K1 and K2, partnering teammate Timothy in the doubles.
Canoe Slalom World Championships open in Oklahoma City
The 2026 Canoe Slalom World Championships are under way in Oklahoma City, with two South African athletes entered. Racing streams on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel for subscribers; PaddleSport SA posts updates on Facebook and Instagram.
Racing was tough, but I’m coming back stronger.CJ Mzimba
after the International Sprint Regatta, Italy
Athlete Spotlight
SUP / Junior World Sprint champion
Cameron Tripney takes the SUPSA President’s Award
SUPSA gave its President’s Award to Cameron “CamT” Tripney, a Starboard Dream Team rider and the Junior World Sprint champion.
Expeditions
Expedition / Yukon River, Canada
Willment brothers finish the Yukon 1000 in 6 days
The Yukon 1000 runs about 1 000 miles (1 600 km) down the Yukon River, self-supported. Mark and Craig Willment of Canyon Canoe Club in KwaZulu-Natal finished it in 6 days, 6 hours, 48 minutes.
Club News & Development
Club · Development / Eastern Cape
St Francis Bay club receives six new Guppie boats
Euro Steel gave six Knysna Racing Guppies to the St Francis Bay Paddling Club in the Eastern Cape. The club’s academy paddlers will also use the boats, and the younger members race them for the first time next week.
“The children have improved so much and find such joy in paddling; this would not have been possible without Euro Steel’s support.” Nikki Birkett, St Francis Bay Paddling Club
Calendar of Events
Diary / 2026
Featured events with posters, then the full 2026 calendar.
PE2EL Challenge book tour
A book on the four-day, 244 km Port Elizabeth to East London ski race launches on tour: 21 Jul Port Elizabeth (Bluewater PC), 22 Jul East London (Border CC), 26 Jul Johannesburg (Dabulamanzi), 5 Aug St Francis Bay, 20 Aug official launch in Cape Town. Durban and Garden Route dates to follow.
Pam Golding Canals Winter Doubles
10:00 at “the Cove,” St Francis Bay. 10 km and 20 km, no cut-off. Doubles score the prizes; singles welcome. Hosted by Carbonology Sport, Pam Golding and St Francis Paddling Club.
CCC 9 Miler+
Centurion Canoe Club, Gauteng. A K2 race; K1s and K3s welcome, PFDs compulsory.
Tugela 20’s, KZN Schools K1 River Champs
At Winterton: two days, 15 km per day, also counting as KZN Guppy League Race 6. The Umzinyathi CC Chris van den Berg Memorial Season Opener follows later in August.
Breede River Marathon
Robertson to Swellendam. Carries the SA K2 (two-seater) national title.
Liebenbergsvlei (LBV), SA K3 River Champs
Hosted by SCARC and Dabulamanzi: two days, 32 km per day, Reitz Waterworks to Zorgvliet, eastern Free State.
Tap any poster to open it full-size.
Full 2026 calendar
| Dates | Event | Discipline | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Jul–20 Aug | PE2EL Challenge book tour | Book | PE, EL, JHB, St Francis, CT |
| Sat 25 Jul | Pam Golding Canals Winter Doubles | Marathon | St Francis Bay, EC |
| Sat 25 Jul | CCC 9 Miler+ | Marathon | Centurion CC, Gauteng |
| 31 Jul–2 Aug | ICF Ocean Racing World Cup, Tahiti | Surfski | French Polynesia |
| 8–9 Aug | Tugela 20’s, KZN Schools K1 Champs | Marathon | Winterton, KZN |
| 16 or 26 Aug | Umzinyathi Chris van den Berg Season Opener | Marathon | KZN, confirm date |
| 5–6 Sep | Breede River Marathon, SA K2 Champs | Marathon | Robertson to Swellendam, WC |
| 12–13 Sep | Liebenbergsvlei (LBV), SA K3 River Champs | Marathon | Reitz, Free State |
| 17–20 Sep | Sea Sardinia / Ohana Mana Cup | Surfski | Italy |
| 18–21 Sep | ICF Ocean Racing World Cup, Fortaleza | Surfski | Brazil |
| 26–27 Sep | Stilbaai Classic Surfski | Surfski | Stilbaai, WC |
| 2–3 Oct | Fish River Canoe Marathon | Marathon | Cradock, EC |
| 31 Oct–1 Nov | Pete Marlin Surfski (SA Champs) | Surfski | East London, EC |
| TBC | ICF Ocean Racing World Champs | Surfski | Villajoyosa, Spain |
| Feb 2027 | Dusi Canoe Marathon (75th) | Marathon | PMB to Durban, KZN |
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