THURSDAY, 11.00AM:
MICHAEL CHEESEMAN of Gauteng leads in the KWV Berg River Canoe marathon, after the first stage between Paarl and Zonquasdrift on Wesnesday. Cheeseman opened up a comfortable lead of three miutes fourteen seconds gap ahead of Western Province paddlers.
Cheeseman, 29, finished at 4:16:59, followed by Pual Marais of Cape Town with 3:13. Third came in Moray Wilson with a time of 3:15.
Graham Bird of Gauteng, the pre-race favourite, dropped to ninth place after suffering from cramps. Bird challenged Cheeseman but had to slow down because of severe cramps.