Bridgitte Hartley in no mood to surrender Fish title

Defending Women’s K1 Fish River Canoe Marathon champion Bridgitte Hartley is ready to test herself against the river and her opponents when one of South Africa’s premier river marathons starts at Grassridge Dame on Friday, 7 October.

Hartley claimed her first K1 title at the Fish back in 2018 when she had to hold off a strong charge from fellow paddling star Jenna Nisbet to win the title, and the SA K1 River Marathon crown. In 2022 the Fish will also be the SA K1 River Marathon championship race, adding another dimension to the two-day affair. The highly-decorated Hartley has since added the national K2 title in Cradock after she teamed up with Dusi stalwart Christie Mackenzie to finally claim that elusive title.

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Those two titles will give her confidence going into this year’s race.

Bridgitte Hartley knows the Fish

Experience on the Fish River is something that Hartley has developed and now with the confidence of winning she will be a threat for the other top women in the field. The 2012 Olympic bronze medallist understands the pressure that comes with racing.

“We always put pressure on ourselves when racing in any event,” Hartley said. “I guess I have given myself that pressure but I really just want to focus on having a good race and enjoying the event.”

Hartley isn’t just heading to Cradock to try and defend her title.

“I am excited about the Fish this year as I have been coaching at Maritzburg College and there is a big group of boys doing it; so it’s going to be great to be there racing and supporting them.

“I enjoy the atmosphere at the Fish as it brings paddlers from all provinces together to compete and socialize in the same place. It’s great to catch up with paddlers who have supported me as an international athlete and see how they are doing.

“It also brings new paddlers to our sport as well as children, and with it being held in a small town I feel there is a wonderful atmosphere and feeling of community in our sport.”

Coming from a decorated sprinting background Hartley transitioned into river paddling over a period of time and has now become one of the driving forces in women’s river racing in South Africa. The Fish has a reputation of offering up big water thanks to a guaranteed water release from Grassridge Dam and the obstacles on the Fish are not to be taken lightly. The famous Keith’s Flyover has always been an obstacle the Hartley hasn’t quite tamed while the Cradock Weir continues to provide thrills and spills.

“Keith’s has never been my favourite rapid so I don’t get overly excited about it,” she commented.

“Cradock Weir is a fantastic weir not only for the challenge of it but it’s the last major obstacle of the race so it’s important to get through it successfully.

“The crowd on the bridge is fantastic at cheering paddlers home and gives me added energy to keep paddling hard for the last few kilometres.”