No: Berg0606

7 July 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cape Town – Top Western Cape paddler Gert van Deventer will spearhead the local charge for the overall line honours in the Isuzu Berg River Canoe Marathon that gets under way in Paarl on Wednesday 12 July.

The 26 year old Paarl accountant has been a consistent top performer in the gruelling 240km race from Paarl to Velddrif, with a third, fourth and two six places finishes to his credit in his last four outings.

“Everything has gone very well in my preparations,” the modest speedster said from Paarl. “I have done good distance in my training this year, and feel really good about my overall preparation.”

While he is confident about his overall conditioning, Van Deventer feels strongly that the outcome of the four day epic race will be decided by a few critical moments.

“The paddler who makes the least mistakes will win in the end,” said Van Deventer, who identified defending champion Hank McGregor as the biggest threat this year.

 The level of the river will also have a major impact on which paddlers are likely to be prominent by the time the race reaches its final stages on the tidal water on the Cape West Coast.

“It looks like we will have a medium level river,” he said. “If we get some more rain and the river is full then it is very hard for a paddler to recover from a mistake. In a fast flowing river, one swim will cost you dearly, and you will lose contact with the group you were racing with.”

Gert van Deventer is the son of Giel van Deventer who holds the record with Andre Collins of having completed 36 of these tough race. Both will be on the startline in Paarl on Wednesday.

Gert’s brother Chris van Heerden will also be racing the Isuzu Berg, and is said to be in good shape after returning from a trip to India. “I expect that the likes of Paul Marais, Sven Bruss and Ernest van Riet will also be there,” added Van Deventer.

When pressed about his chances, with luck being on his side, the ever modest Van Deventer would not be drawn. “Maybe…,” he conceded.
 
The Isuzu Berg River Canoe Marathon gets under way from Paarl on Wednesday 12 July, following a time trial the previous day to decide the seeding of the top competitors, and ends at Velddrif on the West Coast on Saturday 15 July.

ENDS

Gert van Deventer is confident that luck will be on his side in this years Isuzu Berg River Canoe marathon. The Moravia weir provided an unexpected mishap for him during last year's race.

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