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If you like racing you are going to be busy over the next couple of months. There is some sort of race on virtually every week end with several marathons, ocean paddles and Marathon and Sprint Championships in March and
April. The Sea Kayak Fest is also on in March at Albany for those paddlers who love to learn and tour the ocean and inlets. I'm still
chasing birds around as part as my training. It's interval training with a difference. I have heard that the Swan Cafe at Ascot Kayak Club is going to open 7 days a week in 2 weeks time. There is now a cafe next to the ANA Rowing Club at Garrett Road Bridge and the Tranby Farm / Peninsular Tea Gardens Cafe in Maylands
is also open again. Then there is the Riverside Cafe at Woodbridge, Midland so for the touring paddler along the Swan River there is now lots of opportunities to grab a cup of coffee.
Collared Sparrowhawk or Brown Goshawk? These birds are hard to
spot and even harder to get a photo of them. The sun was in the wrong direction for a really good photo. The Sparrowhawk is very, very similar to the Brown
Goshawk so I am thinking this is a Sparrowhawk but it also has features of a Goshawk. It is said that the Sparrowhawks last segment of middle toe projects beyond claws of the other toes which it appears to do in this photo.
The Rainbow Bee-eater. I am now seeing less of the bee-eaters
just south of Tonkin Highway, but there are still a few around at the west end of Ascot Waters. I suspect they will soon be heading north for winter.
- Progressive Racing Group
- Moonlight Paddle
- Wild Water
Racing Around the Buoys
- Who's Out There
- Avon Descent Launch
- Race Night Canning River Canoe Club
- Kent Jenkinson - Silver in NZ Downwind
- Olympian Daniel Watkins Retires - Slalom
- Birds Along the Way
- ICF World Canoe Championships - Denmark
- Paddle WA - Come & Try
- Coming Events -
- Rod Fry
Race
- Mandurah Canals
Progressive Racing Group It's
good to have new paddlers join us most weeks. It is a good way to get fitter and learn how to race with a good bunch of people. Tuesday evening at 5.00pm.
PRG is for paddlers in different boats, with different fitness and with different goals.
Moonlight Paddle It was an opportunity not to be missed. The moon was near full, it was a Saturday night and the weather was going to be warm. So a moonlight paddle seemed like a nice thing to do. I forgot about the Big Bash Final was a match not to be missed and that half of Perth might be going including some paddlers. Never mind I always feel good when I’m in a kayak. We usually head for the Canning River as it is a different area to the Ascot area that we all paddle, but the census for this paddle was to keep it at Ascot. With the wind raging from the east on Thursday evening I was a little concerned that we would be fighting the wind, but the evening was beautiful and dead calm. On Saturday morning the clouds were covering the sky, which wasn’t a good sign for viewing the moon but by mid-afternoon most of the clouds were gone so at 6.00pm when everyone arrived at the club the weather and the sky were perfect for the paddle and viewing the
moon.
To get the benefit of seeing the moon on the way home we paddled down to Garratt Road. It probably wasn’t the most exciting part of river to paddle but when you are in a group of friends and you are
chatting along the way it doesn’t matter so much to what part of the river you are on. Mark Vucak a member of Ascot Kayak Club in the 1970s and 80s, who now lives in Queensland was visiting Perth, saw the paddle in my newsletter so asked to borrow a boat. I had only seen Mark once since he left
Perth in the 1980s. His father is an Ascot Life Member and was once the President of the club in the 1970s. Mark was a very good slalom paddler and represented Australia at the same time as AKCs Lindsay Binning who was Australia’s top slalom paddler back then. Mark, his father Fred, his brothers David & Colin, Alan Peters and I erected Ascot’s first slalom course. As we moved under the Tonkin Highway Bridge, which is twice as big as it used to be as it has been extended, the sun was setting over Perth. The red glow became redder the closer we got to our picnic point. Once settled on the grass, the boisterous members of our group, Steph, Kate’s husband Mark and Izzy all went to jump off the jetty, although they didn’t have the elegance and style of the young lads that were also jumping off.
As we talked and ate our nibbles, some having much more nutritious food than others, the sun was setting behind us casting a beautiful red glow to the sky. On the horizon there was a little cloud gathering, but by dark and when we were ready to break camp the moon was shining brightly in the eastern sky. There was little wind to bother us on the way back. On the river we didn’t even notice that it had been a hot 39 degree day as we were quite cool. The moon which was an impressive sight guided us back to the clubrooms for 8.25pm.
Wild Water Racing Around The Buoys After 6 Friday mornings and 3 Monday evenings the Wild Water Summer Series training and racing around the buoys has come to an end. Harry Langley won the series Wild Water Kayak division and Chris Hollier won the Wavehopper Kayak division.
Harry zooming around the tight course.
Chris was too fast for all the other paddlers, paddling Wavehoppers.
Sue McDougal heading back to Ascot Kayak Club.
Chris Meadwell. If he isn't in some sort of boat, racing,
training or touring, he is on his bike or at the Swan coffee shop.
Avon Descent Launch Avon Descent 2023 is going to be a BIG one - celebrating 50 runnings of our incredible WA river event! Today, we launched the 2023 Avon Descent at a special social event, while acknowledging some of our invaluable volunteers & amazing top finishers from 2022. Thank you to all who
attended! We can’t wait to see what 2023 has waiting for us and again, we are grateful for all the support our community has provided. Will we see you on the start line this year?! Avon Descent - 12 & 13 August 2023
Avon Descent Chairman Greg Kaeding thanks the crowd and volunteers for their support.
Steph Bedden, Kris Smith (who will soon be married) with Rob Riggir and little old me.
Canning River Canoe Club Tuesday Race Night
Canning Canoe Club race night. Kent Street
Weir.
WAs Kent Jenkinson Silver Medal in New Zealand Kent came 2nd in the New Zealand National Ocean Racing Champs paddling with borrowed paddle (thanks Rachel Mayhew) pfd and leg leash (thanks to Qantas losing baggage) only less than 30 secs behind over a 31.5km course.
Olympian Daniel Watkins
Announces His
Retirement
With coach Robin Jeffery
Tokyo Olympian Daniel Watkins has announced his retirement from international level
competitive Canoe Slalom. Watkins grew up in Tasmania, and first picked up the paddle at age 11. His parents thought it would be worth Watkins learning how to paddle and signed him up to Derwent Canoe Club where he has remained ever since.
As a junior athlete, Watkins was known for his speed and boat control, watching the senior athletes with eagerness and soaking up all the information in a quiet and considered manner.
In 2014, Watkins competed in his first senior World Cup in Tacen, Slovenia. He quickly put his competitors on notice, blitzing his first run in the kayak and finishing in the top five.
In the following three years, Watkins focused on his K1 in the lead up to the 2016 Olympic selection, however the challenge of C1 was something that remained his focus.
At the beginning of 2016, Watkins made the decision to start doubling in C1 and K1, a challenge that at the highest level of mens’ competition had only been done by Fabian Lefevre, one
of the greatest canoe slalom paddlers of all time.
After four years of hard work, determination and grit, Watkins won bronze at the 2020 Australian Open, qualifying his spot on the Tokyo Olympic Team.
In July 2021, Watkins made his Australian Olympic debut. In the men’s canoe, Watkins finished as the second fastest paddler in the semi
finals, qualifying for his first Olympic final at his debut Games.
Watkins’ Olympic coach, and fellow Olympian Robin Jeffery, said the coach-athlete relationship he shared with Dan is one that he’ll always remember.
“I started coaching Dan in 2018 and like any good high performance relationship where you are striving to be the best, it
was both challenging and rewarding,” Jeffery said.
“Dan is one of the most interesting people I have ever had the pleasure of coaching, he is a fierce competitor who loves to play and innovate.
“He challenges everyone while supporting those around him, he is precise yet fluid, and most of all Dan is passionate.
“He was always passionate about performance and lifestyle – nature, music, coffee, his friends, vans, individuality and Tasmania. We are lucky to have Dan in the canoe slalom family.
Paddle Australia National Performance Director Kim Crane said: “Paddle Australia congratulates Dan on a remarkable career.
“Dan is a huge loss to the High Performance Program as he is such a talent. Dan knows the time is right for him and we wish him nothing but the very best.
“Paddle Australia thanks Dan for his significant contribution to Team Australia over the years and look forward to his ongoing involvement and inspiration in the Canoe Slalom community,” she said.
Dan Watkins said: “It’s been the best 15 years exploring the world and meeting so many incredible people through travelling and racing kayaks .. it’s truly shaped the person I am today and I am grateful for every day spent on the whitewater.
“Biggest shout out to my parents for introducing me to the sport and for supporting me the whole way with
friends and family.
“Thank you to the Paddle Australia staff for getting me to the level I was able to achieve and to the Australian paddling scene for the time, effort and volunteering that makes every race at home happen,” he said.
Paddle Australia.
A Darter enjoys the last rays of the sun.
Rainbow bee-eater. They will soon be heading north.
This Rainbow bee-eater just been in the river for a dip.
An Osprey isn't bothered with my presence.
A Welcome Swallow having a rest.
ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships
Denmark Danish organisers are confident this year’s ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in the heart of Denmark’s Viking country will be an event to remember. The Danish Canoe Federation, Sport Event Denmark, SportsCenter Denmark, the Triangle Events, and the Vejen Municipality will welcome the canoe marathon world elite to the world
titles from August 31 to September 3 this year. The World Championships will take place in a unique and traditional setting at Lake Jels in the municipality of Vejen, Denmark. Organisers are promising participants and spectators a special experience in one of the country’s central Viking areas where, to this day, many of the proud Viking traditions are passionately
displayed. Embracing an innovative approach to old traditions, the region focuses on health, Nordic food, and sustainability. The beautiful surroundings on and around Lake Jels will form the framework for the competitions, while Sportscenter Denmark will be a vibrant athlete
village catering to all the needs for the athletes' stay. You can find the first event bulletin and updates along the way on the official event website www.canoemarathon.dk and on the ICF event site: https://www.canoeicf.com/canoe-marathon-world-championships/vejen-2023
Register Mandurah Canals Feb 26th ! https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=302891 Head down to exotic Peel Region, race on a really interesting course, stay for fish & chips in the harbour
! Inaugural “Big Waka” Cup for OC6s ! [need 3 at least]
WA Sea Kayak Fest 2023Friday, March 3 – Monday, March 6Rotary Club of Albany Youth
CampThe annual Festival is on again. There are
experienced sea leaders supporting a range of paddling events catering for those who like more sedate explorations to those who want more challenging adventures. The camp address is 913 Frenchmans Bay Road, Big Grove, Albany, approximately 15kms from the town centre and is close to The Gap, The Blow Holes, Whale World and Frenchmans Bay. Check out the beautiful campsite at https://www.albanyportrotary.com/youth/ There is a tenting area and separate gender dormitories. The kitchen/dining area is large and contains a refrigerator, a deep freeze, and gas hot water. There are gas barbecues in a large, covered area. There will be an opportunity to sell your unwanted gear at a swap meet on Saturday afternoon. The events schedule for the Fest has now been published, see – 2023 Events Schedule (PDF) |
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