Last weekend was a quiet weekend with little racing going on, but that changes this weekend with the State Marathon Champs on Saturday & Sunday followed on Wednesday by the Australian Sprint Championships at Champion Lake which runs until Saturday. 

The following weekend is the Pinjarra to Ravenswood Race and then at Easter the Australian Marathon Championships in Geelong.

The State Marathon Champs seem to have less numbers this year. There are very few juniors. Only 8 under 18. Is it because the Sprint Champs start 3 days later? (Note: There were 150 juniors attending the 2023 Victorian Schools Marathon and Sprint Championships in Bendigo.)

Although the Australian Sprint Champs has good numbers there are few master paddlers with some classes so far only having one, two or three paddlers. 

It's a pity as we usually have more than that in a local regatta.

Both events will be fun to watch.

• Who's Out There
• Australian Sprint Championships
• WA Wild Water Women
  D’ Entreasteau National Park - Swan Canoe Club
• Victorian Marathon Championships
  Bendigo Junior Paddling
• Birds Along The Way
• Coming Events

Who's Out There

Hello -Who's Out There.
A Rainbow Lorikeet checking. 

Michael Leahy (An Ascot Kayak Club Life Member) out for a morning training session.

Ramon Andersson coaching Luke Egger Tuesday morning.

Luke Egger in training Tuesday night.

Luke is WAs best 500 & 200 metre paddler and will be competing at the Australian Sprint Championships.

2023 Paddle Australia Canoe Sprint Championships

21st-25th March

Champion Lakes

If you haven't entered you can volunteer or come down to have a gander at the high profile paddlers.

Australia's top paddlers will be racing.

Juniors from the Geographe Bay Paddlers Club in Busselton make the local paper.

Good luck:-

Jett Lewis, Finn Caruana and Sophie Dickson.

WAs Wild Water Women

Ready for racing.

Alex Vogel & Nina Mueler at the Penrith White Water Course.

Nina was last year Wild Water Champion.
This year Nina came 2nd place in the Classic Race & 5th in the Sprints.

Photo JGRimages

Alex 4th in the Classic Race and 4th in the Sprints.

Photo JGRimages

Genie has been living overseas in Europe and has paddled on many white water courses and wild rivers.

1st in the Classic Race & 1st in the Sprints.

Her commitment is paying off.

Photo JGRimages

In the women's classic race WAs Genie Collin came 1st. WAs Nina Mueler 2nd and WAs Alex Vogel came 4th with Victorian Dita Pahl coming 3rd.

Swan Canoe Club at the 
D’ Entreasteau National Park, Walpole. 
A lucky number of eight paddlers were on our annual three day paddle/ camping adventure down to the cooler climes of our south coast at Broke Inlet, within the D’ Entreasteau National Park west of Walpole. Geoff Emery, Jocelyn Sisson, Colin Scully, Rose Chaney, Trish Schuttler, Pete Ormond, Steve David and Marty Wells provided a good mix of invigorating daytime paddles and relaxing evening chats around our (non-existent) campfire.

This year we camped at Windy Point, our most commonly used campsite on the relatively remote south western side of the Inlet. (Note to potential future Swannie campers – don’t be put off by the place name because in fact we have always incorrectly referred to this camping area as ‘Windy Pont’ when in fact that name officially belongs to another point, on the opposite side of the Inlet). ‘Our’ Windy Point is usually well protected from wind and, more importantly, from potentially annoying other members of the human race, as it is accessible only to kayakers.

Early morning at the D’ Entreasteau National Park, Walpole.

The ocean bar was open this year which meant the Inlet’s water level was tidally influenced and not quite as low as we have experienced in the past. It also meant that water quality was improved, particularly in the channel leading to the beach, where it was an amazingly clear aquamarine colour reminiscent of Ningaloo.

It was great to explore the area.

Victorian Marathon Championships

Paddle Australia, along with Paddle Victoria Marathon, is delighted to host the 2023 Oceania & Paddle Australia Canoe Marathon & SUP Championships on the Barwon River at the Geelong Canoe Club in Geelong, Victoria from Thursday 6th to Monday 10th April 2023.
The four-day event is the selection event for the Australian Canoe Marathon Team in the ICF classes. However, all paddlers are welcome as there will be a large variety of general class events on offer that will suit all ages and abilities.

WAs Anne Harris took part in last weekends Victorian Championships in the K1 Women's 45+ and came 2nd. Here are a few photos of the action by Dale De Kretser.

The men are off.

Photos Credit: Dale De Kretser

They are off in the distance.

The Women are off.

Paddlers are spread.

David Ceddia 3rd place, Casey Haynes 1st place, Adam Holovics (DNF) & Isaac Johnson 2nd place.

Mike Leverett, one of Australia's past Marathon Champion on the left.

WAs Anne Harris in the mix.

Anne was a long time member of Ascot Kayak Club and a very strong paddler. 
She moved to Victoria 2 years and 3 months ago.

Anne taking the corner.

At the portage.

The water looks pretty flat.

Casie Haynes and David Ceddia at the portage.

Casie Haynes won the the mens open.

Portage wall.

WAs Anne Harris, Chloe Hardman and Felicity Wilkeson.

Great work Anne.

Casey Haynes 1st place.

Photos Credit: Dale De Kretser

Results Here:-

2023 Victorian Canoe Marathon Champs - Singles | Race results | Webscorer

It was the first time the event was held in Bendigo, with a great mix of new and developing athletes aiming for state & national selection

The students gather for the start.

Lake Weeroona, in the middle of Bendigo.

Birds Along The Way

Great Egret 

Oopps - Little Pied Cormorant

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A couple of Cygnets.

State Marathon Champs

18th 19th March

enter now

https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=305801