Abbey Miedema is lining up a hat-trick of wins in the Isuzu Berg River Canoe Marathon that starts in Paarl on Wednesday July 9, but is anticipating a tough race-within-a-race for the top women, for an outcome that will materially effect their prize-money.
The 28-year old Miedema will start the four day 228km race as the clear favourite to take the women’s title on what promises to be a very full and fast flowing Berg River, which is likely to encourage fast racing and quick times on each of the four stages of the race.
The eventual amount of -money that the women’s winner stands to earn will be determined by their overall finishing time, as a percentage of the men’s winners time. If the winning woman can finish within 110% of the overall winners time, they will earn the same prize-money as the male champion.
"On a full river the percentage of the overall winner’s time tends to be smaller, which will help any of the top women trying to earn that extra incentive," said Miedema. "However, no-one knows just how intense the racing is going to be at the front, and with the new team competition we may find the top guys posting super-fast times on the full river, which will put the top women under even more pressure," Miedema added.
The 110% mark on the Isuzu Berg is perfectly achievable. Miedema managed it last weekend on a full river in a pre-Berg race won by Graeme Solomon.
Despite the fact the full river will make for shorter paddling times and more fun on the river, Miedema actually prefers a lower river for the Berg. "The full river brings with it so many unknowns, so many variables. All it takes is one little mistake and you can lose out big time," says Miedema.
She added her experiences on the Berg River when it is very full may also come into play if the river bursts its banks, and the many shortcuts come into effect.
Miedema is also anticipating a competitive duel with Lindi-May Harmsen, the recent winner of the SA Marathon champs doubles title. "She is going really well at the moment, and I have to admit I was lucky in our last race, when a male paddler swam and allowed me to get away to beat her.
"My preparations have been great, and I feel like I am in good condition for the race," said Miedema, who raced her first Berg in 2000, and bagged victories in 2004, 2006 and 2007 in her eight consecutive outings since then.
"In 2000 when I was a Berg novice Jean Wilson won it, and I was really impressed by her ability," said Miedema. "She was a great paddler, and despite the fact that it wasn’t easy for her as a polio sufferer, she was brilliant at the tree blocks and portages."
Miedema also confirmed she has struck a deal with Olympic paddler Michele Eray to team up together for the Hansa Powerade Fish later in the year, aimed at tackling the Czech women who have committed to returning to Cradock in October for the race.
The race starts in Paarl on Wednesday July 9, and ends at Velddrif on Saturday July 12. The race will be preceded by a seeding time trial on Tuesday.
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