Sad news as Fish River Canoe Marathon cancelled
· The South African
The Fish River Canoe Marathon organising committee has taken the difficult decision to cancel the 2026 event scheduled to take place on 2 to 3 October due to the ongoing Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the Eastern Cape.
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The decision was made jointly by the Fish River Canoe Marathon Race Committee in consultation with members of the local community, the Fish River Farmers Association and the local farming community, taking into consideration the potential impact of the event to the area at this time.
Responsible course of action
While this is an extremely disappointing decision, the organisers believe it is the responsible course of action given the circumstances.
Importantly, the decision has been taken as early as possible, in order to give paddlers, teams, supporters, accommodation providers and other affected parties as much notice as possible to make alternative arrangements.
“We know how much the Fish means to the paddlers, and know this will be disruptive to those who have already entered, and to those who were planning to make the trip to Cradock,” said a spokesperson for the race committee.
“Cancelling an event that people have trained for, planned around and looked forward to is incredibly difficult, and we are genuinely sorry for the disappointment this will cause. At the same time, we have a responsibility to listen to the concerns of the local farming community and to ensure that the event does not add unnecessary pressure or risk while the FMD situation remains a concern.”
Full refund
The organisers are particularly conscious of the disappointment this decision will cause to those who have already entered the race, as well as to paddlers who may have been finalising their plans or preparing to enter.
All entrants will receive a refund directly from Paddlesport South Africa entry portal and the race organisers will assist if there are any issues with the refunds.
The organisers would like to thank the paddling community for its understanding and patience, and particularly the local community for its openness and input during the decision-making process.
The Fish River Canoe Marathon remains committed to returning and staging the 2027 event.