Neriyah Dill produced a commanding performance to claim her first Berg River Canoe Marathon women’s title, overcoming final-day illness to seal overall victory by more than an hour at the finish in Velddrif on Saturday, 18 July 2026.
The 20-year-old, racing in Salt colours in just her third Berg, arrived at the start in Paarl off the back of four wins from four pre-Berg races, and wasted no time stamping her authority on the four-day marathon.
Despite a swim at Klei Rapid early on the 62km opening stage from Paarl to Zonquasdrift on Wednesday, Dill powered to a 12-minute lead over 2023 champion Christy Shrimpton, and improved matters in the 46km second stage from Zonquasdrift to Bridgetown on Thursday, adding 22 minutes to her advantage to lead by 34 minutes at the halfway mark of the race.
Friday’s Queen Stage from Bridgetown to Zoutkloof, the longest day of the event and including the portage around the Misverstand Dam wall, brought a third stage win in three days and stretched her lead beyond the hour mark.
The final 56km run from Zoutkloof to Velddrif on Saturday proved her sternest test. Weakened by illness, Dill could not stay with Shrimpton, who won the stage, but the youngster dug deep to reach the finish a few minutes back and confirm a dominant overall triumph.
Shrimpton’s stage win was fitting reward for a determined four days from the former champion, who never allowed the leader a moment of comfort, while Natasha Bradford paddled with impressive consistency to secure the final podium place in her own right.
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Dill completed the four days in 21:13:31, finishing 1 hour 3 minutes and 29 seconds clear of Shrimpton, with Bradford a further 40 minutes back in third.
Victory completed a remarkable progression for the young paddler, who finished second on debut in 2024 and third in 2025, and now owns a full house of podium places from her three appearances at the famous race down the Western Cape’s Berg River from Paarl to the West Coast town of Velddrif.
While illness denied her both a clean sweep of stage wins and the celebration she would have wished for at the finish, Dill leaves the 2026 edition as the undisputed queen of the Berg, and with her upward trajectory showing no sign of slowing, the women’s race may have found its standard-bearer for years to come.
Leading Women’s Results at the 2026 Berg River Canoe Marathon
(Position, Name, Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Overall)
1. Neriyah Dill (5:23:33, 4:05:07, 6:25:03, 5:19:47) 21:13:31
2. Christy Shrimpton (5:35:36, 4:27:18, 6:59:08, 5:14:57) 22:17:00.
3. Natasha Bradford (5:46:03, 4:34:10, 7:05:18, 5:31:51) 22:57:24
Original Copy: Tim Whitfield for Gameplan Media, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: An ill Neriyah Dill finished second on the final stage but was a comfortable overall winner of the Berg River Canoe Marathon. All Photos: John Hishin / Cape Town Sports Photography / Gameplan Media
Photo 2 Caption: Former champion Christy Shrimpton won the final stage and finished second overall to take silver in the women’s race.
Photo 3 Caption: Dill took a decisive early lead on Day 1 of the world-famous four-stage canoe marathon on her way to the her debut women’s title.
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