Entries for batching close at midnight on Thursday 5 November. You can enter after that but you will be placed at the back of the field.

All entrants to the Day 1 events get a pair of Funky Pants and a free spit braai lunch on Saturday and Chicken Burger lunch on Sunday. Day 2 entrants get a free chicken burger lunch at HMYC (spectators and seconders can buy lunch on either day if they wish).

R100 000 worth of cash prizes will be awarded to the top three men and women in the Junior & Senior categories (U23 are included with the Seniors)

• R1000 Parklane Spar and Howick Build it vouchers will be awarded to positions 4-10 in these categories

• The paddler with the fastest Strava Segment from Caversham to Ingwe/NCT bridge will win R2000!

Every paddler in the "Day 1" events will receive a "Goody Bag" compliments from Hopewells Supplies and there a new boat and paddle will be given away in a "Lucky Draw" on Sunday

The start is on private property so canoeists may not just arrive at Caversham and carry their canoes to the river unannounced

• Race organisers have got owners permission to trip from the start on Friday 6th November

• 2 Tme Slots are available  - 10am and 2pm - please adhere to these

NCT have kindly given canoeists permission to use their roads to get to the NCT/Ingwe bridge which is only 15minutes downstream of the start. Use this as a put in if you want to trip before Friday 6th November.

• A driver can be provided to take your car from the start (Caversham) to the finish at Hebron Haven on Day 1 and from Hebron Haven to HMYC at Midmar Dam on Day 2. Please WhatsApp Jen for bookings on 083 383 4882. This option costs R200 per car.

• In addition, a canoe trailer will be leaving Hebron Haven at 8am on Saturday 7th to take boats to the start.

• Start is at 10am on Saturday 7th November

• Batches of 4 boats will be released at 1 minute intervals

Yes! You will see in our prize money breakdown that there is R2,000 up for grabs for the fastest Strava segment from Caversham to NCT/Ingwe Bridge.

• The current record is held by Craig Cribbins (12m10s - April 2025) , who set his time during a flood! Fastest woman is Hilary Bruss - 17m14s set in November 2025).

• The competition will officially open with the first tripping slot at 10am on Friday, 6 November, and run until the end of Day 1 racing on Saturday. The fastest recorded time during this period will take home the R2,000, so make sure you have Strava running while tripping and racing!

No. Effective this year, only K1s are permitted on Day 1. Must be u16 - no U14 paddlers for day 1

Yes. Apart from your seconds being able to see you at the easily accessible Lion's River Brewery/NCT Bridge (map link), there is an official seconding table at about ½ way at "The Lion's River Trading Post" (map link) - this spot is also the start of the short course

• The Lion's River Brewery/NCT Bridge (map link) is a great spot for your seconders to see you a few kilometers from the start.  

• There will also be marshals and transport at Gorge Rapid (map link) and "Headbanger Bridge" (map link) for those who was to pull out there. 

• "The Lion's River Trading Post" is about  ½ way (map link) and is a great spot for your family or seconders to see you.  Please notify the race organisers if you pull out.

• The "Nguni Guy Bridge" (R103 Bridge - map link) is the last opportunity to pull out of the race before the end.  This is a main arterial route so please park at Nguni Guy and walk to the bridge. Do not obstruct traffic in any way and take care of speeding vehicles!

This year (2026) the second day will start at Hebron Haven Hotel (the finish of Day 1) - NOT at Highgate Wine Estate (Piggly Wiggly) as in the past. 

Yes. Make sure you and your day 2 partner enter the "Full 2 Day" race as K1 paddlers and then let Lorna Oliver know that you intend to paddle together on day 2.  

• You need to be aware that you and your partner won't appear in the overall "Full 2 Day Race" results but rather in the "Day 1" and "Day 2" results respectively.

• Yes. There is a great view point at the Petrus Stroom bridge just above Midmar dam (map link). However, please do not park on the bridge or obstruct traffic in any way.

NB Please also keep an eye on children and be aware that traffic will be crossingg the bridge at high speed

• You can also follow your paddlers from Dukuku Camp Site (beyond the Power Boat Club) to the finish on the roads within Midmar Dam

• Must be U16 - no U14 paddlers to paddle from Caversham on Day 1. 

• U14 paddlers may enter the Day 1 Short Course starting from Lions River Trading Post at 12pm and do Day 2 if they like (the U14 SA K1 River Champs is Short Course Day 1 + Day 2).

• Yes. U14 paddlers may not paddle from Caversham on Day 1.  Caversham to Lions River Trading Post is a Grade 2 segment and is not open to U14 paddlers.

• The U14 SA K1 River Champs consists of the Short Course of Day 1 + Day 2.