Berg River icon Oom Jannie aiming for 51 Canoe Marathons

Oom Jannie Malherbe will hope to have crossed the line for the 51st time, equaling the most number of finishes with his great friend, the late Giel van Deventer as the sun sets on this year’s Berg River Canoe Marathon on 6 July.

The 84-year-old Malherbe paddled his first Berg in 1962, finishing fourth and then won the next three years and then added a runner-up placing for good measure.

Oom Jannie says Berg River record is tinged with sadness

While he acknowledges his massive love affair with the race, he knows this year’s edition will be tinged with sadness for him after Van Deventer lost his life in 2022 on the Breede River.

“Giel and I were great friends. We paddled for years together and I used to stay at his home often,” said Malherbe. “Yes, it will be an honour to top the Wall of Fame with Giel and it’s so sad he is unable to keep his record going.

“If I am up to it next year, then yes, I will try to break his record. It’s tough to say that, but the world keeps turning and if I am still able to paddle, then so be it.”

Having grown up on the banks of the Berg River, it’s no wonder Malherbe keeps returning for more.

“I grew up on a farm but only started serious paddling when I was 22,” he said. “I think it’s quite rare to still be participating in a race that started more than 60 years ago, as one of the original paddlers.”

Nothing to prove

Nowadays, Malherbe has nothing to prove as a paddler. He climbs into his boat purely for enjoyment and to keep fit.

“I also have 25 Fish River Canoe Marathons under the belt but my last one was three years ago,” he said.

“The Fish is a tough race, with long rapids where you need to be fast on the water.

“That means a paddler needs lots power of keep momentum and blast through the rapids and I was getting tired.

“There’s no purpose to putting your life in danger to prove anything.”

Living in George, Malherbe does most of his training on flat water and doing a series of pre-Berg races. He trains every second day from two to two-and-a-half hours and it’s interesting that he has never set foot in a gym.

“I’m not a good runner and paddling is about being on the water, not having to carry your boat all the time. That’s why I enjoy the Berg River. There are long stages of flat water, particularly the third day which is 76km – that’s at least seven or more hours in your boat, sitting and paddling,” he said. “Now that’s a challenge.”

Although Malherbe has so much experience on the river and in the event, he never takes anything for granted and knows the river changes every year.

“The scenery may be the same, but the river is never still and never stays constant,” he said. “I was on the river recently and I felt I had never seen it before. Every race is new, every year different.”

And when will Malherbe decide to finally hang up his paddle?

“As long as I’m healthy, I will keep going. When I finish last in the queue, then I know it will be time to give up,” he said.