The Maties Canoe Club delivered an impressive performance at the 2026 Berg River Canoe Marathon, claiming the Giel van Deventer Trophy and several age-category titles during the four-day race.
Maties' Canoe Club showcased remarkable resilience and skill at the 2026 Berg River Canoe Marathon, clinching the prestigious Giel van Deventer Trophy and multiple age-category titles despite facing significant challenges.
The Stellenbosch-based club received the trophy for having the most finishers after 15 of its paddlers completed the gruelling 240km event. Of the 75 competitors who started the race, only 60 reached the finish, with Maties accounting for a quarter of all finishers.
Leading the club's charge was Joshua Glyn-Cuthbert, who finished fifth overall despite suffering a major setback on the third day of racing.
After placing second on the first two stages and third on the final day, Glyn-Cuthbert broke his paddle about 20km from the finish on day three. He paddled about 4km using a blade in each hand before receiving a replacement paddle from farmer Barend Brand, a former Berg River Canoe Marathon competitor.
