Maties Canoe Club leads the pack for 63rd Berg River Marathon.

The Stellenbosch-based Maties Canoe Club is leading the pack in terms of the largest club entry countrywide this year, with at least 17 paddlers committed to starting the 63rd Berg River Marathon in Paarl next week.

The group, charged mainly by the “Turbo Toppies” as all 50-year-old plus paddlers at the Maties Canoe Club are known, will start the gruelling four-day event at the Market Street Bridge in Paarl on Wednesday July 2, and end four days and 240 km later on Saturday July 5, in Velddrif along the West Coast.

 This contingent includes 76-year-old Johan van Rooyen with 15 Bergs, Gerhard Beukes with 41, Francois Loedolff with 38, and Johan (Mossie) Serdyn with 34 Bergs, listed behind their names, respectively.

The entire group of Maties Canoe Club paddlers who have committed themselves to this year’s Berg with their number already completed are Francois Loedolff (38), Francois Meyer (9), Johan van Rooyen (15), David Malherbe (8), Daantjie Malan (13), Adie de Kock (30), Andries JP Smit (27), Barry Muller (6), Gerhard Beukes (41), Johan (Mossie) Serdyn (34), Schalk Smit (13), Conrad Kriel (3), Carel Botha (1), Tanya Isaac (1), Ethan Muller (0), Stefan Erlank (0), James Sharpe (0), and Rachel van Deventer (0).

The entire 240 km Berg River Marathon course spans four days, divided as follows: Day One, from Paarl to Zonquasdrif (62 km); Day Two, from Zonquasdrif to Bridgetown (46 km); Day Three, from Bridgetown to Zoutkloof (75 km); and Day Four, from Zoutkloof to Velddrif (57 km).

Some 100 paddlers countrywide have already entered the Berg with 85-year-old Jannie Malherbe making his 52nd attempt this year, a record.

“Oom Jannie,” as he is affectionately known, paddled his first Berg in 1962, finishing fourth, and then won the next three years.