Rod was about 16 when this photo was taken. He hadn't been paddling too long. I remember him being in my slalom team in Nymboida, NSWs and he paddled better than I did.
Rod Fry (1964 – 1993) was a dominant force in C1 and C2 paddling in Western Australia for more than a decade.
His competitive achievements are numerous.
Perhaps those most well known are his three wins in C1 and five in C2 classes (with Lydia Formentin, Geoff Chambers and Ray Hall) in the Avon Descent. Rod’s records for the Mixed C2 and Men’s C2 in the Avon Descent still stand with Lydia and Ray.
In State and Wild Water championships he consistently came first and second.
At the National level, Rod was known for his successful partnerships with Lydia Formentin, winning both the Wild Water Open Mixed C2 and the Slalom Mixed C2 classes in 1983 and almost duplicating the feat in 1984. He had further successes in both Slalom and Wild Water events over the years, most recently in 1993, just two weeks before his tragic road accident.
Internationally, he competed in the World Marathon Championships in 1985 and in the World Wild Water Championships in 1989 and in 1991 when he came 27th in the C1 class.
Rod was a valued member of Swan Canoe Club for twelve years. He was a quiet achiever who will be remembered for his enthusiasm and encouragement of others, and his skill and dedication to C1 and C2 paddling.
