SOLOMON TAKES  NARROW WIN ON THE MEN’S HEALTH SWARTLAND CANOE MARATHON

At the end of the Men’s Health Swartland Canoe Marathon Graeme Solomon, a former Isuzu Berg River marathon winner, of the host club Peninsula, held off  a determined challenge from second placed and first under 21 paddler, Lance King from Milnerton Canoe Club who finished the two day race over 87Kms a scant 56/100 seconds.

The river flow picked up considerably at the confluence with the Klein Berg, while the rain held offuntil the finish.

The two paddlers stayed and worked together to extend their first day lead over third placed Berg River Marathon veteran Donnie Malherbe who overtook 4th placed Sven Bruss, from Kwa-Zulu Natal early in the day. Jonathan Niemann was 5th.

In the Ladies race Alexa Lombard, of Peninsula Canoe Club, crossed the line 2 seconds ahead of Abbey Miedema paddling in the colours of the Harmony Club. The two spent the day together and finished in the same fashion as the men’s winners, with Alexa holding off Abbey by a nose

Paul Marais took 6th from Heinrich Sloms, Martin Dreyer and Edgar Boehm who finished 7th, 8th   and 9th respectively for the Western Cape while Soweto Canoe Club coach, Ryno Amdorff  rounded out the top 10.

The leading junior paddler, paddling in the under 18 category was the young Pierre Andre Rabie of Paarl who was in an incredible 14th place overall wrapped his boat after catching up Martin Dreyer. Brett Dorman of Milnerton canoe club won the class while Pierre-Andre was forced to the bank to make running repairs before a storming paddle to salvage the 2nd  junior position, from Sean Rice.