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What a great night it was at the Wild Water paddlers, Harry, Dave and Nina fundraising teams race on Thursday night. What made it even better was that I had the pleasure of paddling with 18 year old Maynard Gray and we were the third boat over the line, the first K2 and only two K4s beat
us. Apart from our great performance there was a buzz about the place. People were gathered and teamed up with people they didn't know. Then after the race we were treated with hot dogs, and heaps of salad, cake and drinks. Then Peter Ward & Ross Burdett were serenaded with birthday songs. And when everyone had eaten the raffle was
drawn and many people won prizes.
It was a great night. Good luck to Harry, David and Nina in the overseas championship races. Results here:-
Overall | 2024 WildWater WA Athlete Fundraiser | Race results | Webscorer
With paddling partner Maynard Gray.
Last week Maynard took out the WA U18 sprint paddler of the year so I was lucky to be paddling with him.
Funraising race. More on the race next week.
Has anyone paddled the islands in Croatia? As I am heading to Croatia for the World Masters Canoe Marathon Championships in September I'm hoping to do a couple of weeks of sea kayaking. Current numbers for the John Sims Race are 90 males and 28 females. What has happened to all our female paddlers?
If you hurry you might be able to enter. 2024 John Sims Race | Event registration | Webscorer
- Paddler of the Week - Chris Hollier
- Canning River Club Race & Birthday
- Australian Canoe Marathon
Championships
- Kimberley Kayak Expedition #6 - fighting the currents
- Oughtibridge Slalom Site - UK
- Birds Along the
Way
- Coming Events - Double Barkers - The Ramon Race
Hi mum. I'm showing dad how to paddle slalom.
It's about my 14,000km, one year, paddle every day challenge. It's about the Swan River that we all love. But - it most importantly show cases the amazing array of birds. There are 52 different species of birds and over 360 photographs, 280 of them being bird photographs. So Don't forget to tell your friends. Or ask your library to get one in. Or promote it in any way you can. I always have them in my car or at the club. A preview of a few
photographs can be found here:-
The Book – Birds Along the Way – Canoeing, Kayaking & Other Adventures (wordpress.com) The Swan Cafe,
at Ascot Kayak Club has a copy in their basket that you can look at if you want to view it.
Sunset on Tuesday evening after PRG training.
Paddler of The Week Chris Hollier Chris Hollier is not a World Champion, an Australian Champion or someone you see winning gold medals, not yet anyway. He is a humble, quiet person who enjoys paddling, racing and volunteering. I came to know him when he joined my Canoeing Down Under Saturday morning training group at Sandy Beach Reserve, Bassendean in 2012 or there abouts. Back then he was also paddling with Rob Rigor, another paddler who joined our group and was in training to do the Avon
Descent. He then joined in with my summer Down River training around the buoys and flatwater skill sessions in play boats. In the meantime he joined the Ascot Kayak Club, bought a faster kayak and started to get a little more serious with his training. With work and family
commitments Chris didn’t go berserk with his training, he just enjoyed it. (I might be wrong as he may tell you differently.) He started to increase his training when he bought an Epic ski and then an Alchemist kayak. It wasn’t until more recently (sometime last year) he bought a very lightweight NK ski and he started to take training and racing a little more serious and increased his workload and enthusiasm which helped him beat paddlers that he had never beaten before. Then he had his sight on
me. I then started to see his improvement, his determination and his will to win which was concerning for me because I always liked it when he was behind me, not in front. Well in fact he was always in front at the beginning of a race, but I always caught him up around the 500 metre mark and passed him. In the last few months however I have noticed that it’s been a lot harder to shake
him, which meant many sleepless nights! Then two weeks ago the unthinkable happened. He took off in a club race and I couldn’t catch him. He was well and truly gone, leaving me to whimper behind him. Then on the Saturday morning 10km race, (we were on different grids), he beat me again. And he beat me again on Wednesday club race.
As you can imagine my life has now been shattered and I’m not sure how I’m going to recover from such a set-back!! Like many other paddlers who set their sights on beating me, he will get faster and faster and the only chance that I will get to beat him again might be when he goes on a long holiday or stops training. All I know he has improved so much in the last month. Chris has also been the secretary of Ascot Kayak Club for over 4 years and for the last few years he has been the chief organiser for the City Lights Race and the John Sims Race. Although he is keeping up with his flatwater training, he has also taken up sea kayaking with the hope of getting his sea kayaking leaders
qualifications. I think he has a dream of retiring to the Mediterranean and taking people on the odd sea kayaking trip around the islands. My dream is that he doesn't get any faster!
In 2012 Chris joined the Canoeing Down Under training group at Sandy Beach, Bassendean. He paddled a NZ Excalibur multisport kevlar kayak on flatwater and used a Finn Multisport plastic kayak to paddle the Avon Descent. Notice all the plastic boats.
He then joined in with my flatwater skills courses.
He also joined in with my Wild Water skills courses and races around the buoys.
He soon started getting more seriously into racing.
He then steps into a lighter K1 kayak.
When he bought this really lightweight ski, his enthusiasm and training increased and started to get faster. It has taken him over 12 years, but now he has beaten me three times in a
race.
Chris is the secretary of Ascot Kayak Club for over 4 years and has been organising the City Lights Race and the John Sims Race for several years.
Canning River Canoe Club 50th birthday and race. It was such a beautiful sunny day, with flat, calm conditions like you have never seen it before. It was also a lot deeper water than usual. Just perfect. There were lots of people there to help celebrate the clubs 50th birthday. Their summer club house on the Canning River and surrounds were a buzz. There were 73 paddlers in 64 boats. With virtually only two divisions, the competitive division was huge so the start was spectacular for the spectators. There was that much of a frenzy that two paddlers capsized and the messy wash lasted for at least a kilometre. I didn't have too bad a start and when I saw
Warren Southwell not far ahead I was pretty pleased as he usually takes off much quicker than me. It took me 3.6kms to catch him near the short cut channel. I sat on his wash for 1.7 kms and as I was able to do a tighter turn in my kayak at the weir, I managed to get in front of him. Not too far ahead were two paddlers, but I couldn't think who they were and I kept getting closer and then losing ground. I had thought I might catch them up, but I didn't. The two were Simon Thorpe and Muz
Latham. By the time I got back to the pipeline, 3.4k kms from the weir, Warren was close behind and it didn't take him long to draw beside me. I wash rode him for a kilometre and then I increased my pace and to my surprise I pulled away from him and eventually beat him by 58 seconds which was quite unusual as I rarely beat him. Apparently his legs went to sleep. Although I thought I did okay Lily Farrel and Bronwyn Martin, who I was of equal speed last year, beat me by 4 minutes. I suppose I have to realise that they are young and I am old. They can get faster and I can only get slower. My experience and determination is now no match for them! The hamburgers after the race were 5 stars and the tasty ice cream topped off an amazing morning. There were some very good prizes and even I went home happy. Nicky my dog was even happier when I got home, as I won a box (28 sticks) of Pedeigree Dentastix which she enjoys. Happy Birthday Canning Canoe Club and thank you
volunteers.
The leaders. Mitch and Brett. Mitch came 1st. Photo Selena Lloyd.
A chase group. Kelby Murray and Beau and Connor Jacob were ahead. Photo Rod Hale.
Paddlers returning from the weir. Photo Selena Lloyd.
Lily Farrell & Bronwyn Martin. Photo Selena Lloyd.
It was a lonely race most of the way but I was trying to catch Simon and Muz. Photo Selena Lloyd.
Simon Thorpe was just in front of me, but I couldn't catch him. Photo Selena Lloyd.
Muz Latham was just in front and at times I thought I was getting closer but I think I must have been dreaming! Photo Selena Lloyd.
Warren Southwell about to catch me up. Photo Selena Lloyd.
Julie and Anita giving chase. Photo Selena Lloyd.
The ladies handing out the salad. Photo Selena Lloyd.
With Lorraine and Robin Jacob. Photo Selena Lloyd. Results
here:-
https://canningriver.paddle.org.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2024/04/20240421CanningClassic2024-1.pdf
Time to enjoy beach volleyball.
Australian Canoe Marathon Championships
Genevieve Stanley. 2nd in the U23. Photo Doug
Hodson.
Genevieve Stanley/Rachel De Kretser 2nd in the open ladies. 24kms. Photo Doug Hodson.
Bronwyn Martin. 6th open ladies. Photo Doug
Hodson.
Bronwyn Martin/Emma Kemp 3rd in the open ladies. 24 kms. Photo
Doug Hodson.
Jade Lane. 2nd in the 45-54 short course, only 28 seconds behind the winner. 2nd in the long course. Photo Carolyn Cooper.
Jade Lane/Garth Civil 1st 65+ mixed. Photo Doug
Hodson.
Nishani Jacob. Photo Carolyn Cooper.
Nishani at the portage. Photo Doug Hodson.
Judy Darbyshire Photo Carolyn Cooper.
Peter Martin & Judy Darbyshire 1st in 65+ mixed doubles. Photo
Doug Hodson.
Last week we had some very big tides in the north and even here in Perth.
In this story we were paddling up in the Kimberley amongst the islands of King Sound and crossing the Sound when the
tides were enormous and treacherous. Kimberley Kayak Expedition #6 2002 We had already crossed the King Sound once on our way to Cockatoo Island, however we had to cross it
again on our way back to our starting point, and the difference was that it was the day of the highest spring tides in the year, in fact the tides were over 11 metres, which meant the currents were super fast and extremely dangerous. I had crossed the King Sound, a 15km gap between islands, 4 times before so I knew it was going to be
one hell of a difficult and interesting paddle. Tides are the periodic rise and fall of sea level resulting from the gravitational interaction and motion of the sun, moon and earth acting on ocean waters. Tidal patterns are modified by other influences such as the shape and depth of oceans and the weather. In the Kimberley the hundreds of islands also have a big
influence. In the northern part of WA the tides at most locations (including Derby) are semidiurnal (two highs and two lows in each 24 hour rotation of the earth). The combination of factors is complex and causes local tides to vary greatly from one site to another. Derby has Australia’s highest tides and one of the highest in the world. The tides peak at 11.8 metres and drop to the
other extreme of about 1.5m at low tide so there is a lot of water flowing in or out in the 6 hour period. Storm conditions can cause higher tide levels than predicted.
The Bay of Fundy Nova Scotia, Canada, has 15 metre tides which are the highest tides in the world. At the other end of the scale, the tides of the Mediterranean — the smallest in the world — peak at only 2 to 3cm. Spring tides (higher and most movement) occur every 14 days at the new and full moons. Neap tides (lower and the least movement) occur every 14 days at the halfmoon. Paddling in tidal areas are best paddled on neap tides when there is less movement in the water. We were paddling on spring
tides.
The Team. Gary, Pam, Don. John and Tel.
Wednesday October 2002 It was the day of the highest spring tides in the year and the tides in the Kimberley are the second highest in the world attaining more than ten metres in height and current speeds not seen
anywhere else in Australia and we had to return to our starting point by crossing a 13km open stretch of the King Sound after paddling around the King Sound Islands for 10 days. It was another 4.00am start. The team was ready early as we were keen to get going. We paddled from our beach at 5.20am and waited beyond the shallows watching the water rip through the islands and across the
King Sound with enormous power and speed. It was like watching a grade 4 rapid. We had banked on leaving by 6.30am, but the current was so fast and the water so turbulent that it was impossible to leave our island making us prisoners for a while. We sat in an eddy and as we were eager to leave I paddled into the fast current to see if we could make headway. It was too wild so I ferried
back into the eddy and sat with the others. I waited for a few more minutes and paddled back into the current again but it was still too powerful. If we tried to escape the island at this time we would probably be washed into the other islands and rocky reefs near by, so we waited longer. On the third time out the current had eased enough and I was happy that it was safe enough to leave. I had to be sure though, because ahead we had 13 kilometres of swift currents, waves, standing waves and
overfalls to endure before we reached the safety of East Roe Island.
We arrived at One Tree Island.
The ocean was raging like a fast flowing river.
The sun sets and the tide had gone way out.
In the morning the tide is raging again but this time it was going out.
White water stretches right across the crossing.
We wait for the currents to ease a little.
Going by our tide chart it was only 30 minutes from the change in tide, however the outward current was still travelling at 10 – 15kms an hour, but we needed to go or we wouldn’t make it to the other side of the Sunday Straits before the inward tide turned and got too powerful. Pam had been concerned about the crossing all night. Understandably
really as it was the day of the highest spring tides in the year and the tides in the Kimberley are the second highest in the world attaining more than ten metres in height and current speeds not seen anywhere else in Australia. Crossing the King Sound would be like ferry gliding across a swift river, 13kms wide. I led the team away from the island ferry gliding against the
current as not to lose any ground as we had several small islands and reefs to avoid before reaching clearer waters. A mistake in those first few minutes by any of us could mean being pushed into the rocks and suffer severe physical injury or even death. We made little headway as our boats jumped about like corks being tossed in a tumble dryer. Gary, Tel, Don and myself took off one
after the other, but Pam and John were delayed for some reason, so we drifted apart. Being an experienced paddler John’s job was to bring up the rear so he never took off before every paddler was mobile. Downstream of us the water was pouring over the rocky reefs. It was such a mess and although we were well away from the reefs we were drifting towards them very quickly. Gary, Tel, Don and myself finally cleared them, but Pam was getting a lot closer than we would have liked. John was even
closer, but he was positioning himself in a place to help Pam in case she got into trouble. We urged them on. It was difficult to wait in such a swift current, but after slowing down our ferry glide we eventually managed to group together. When we all cleared the ‘Tree Island’ reef area the water calmed, but it was still swift with overfalls waiting. The calm didn’t last long as we
came to another disturbed area. Our boats were again thrown around and our target was slipping away from us as we were being swept out to sea. There were lines of overfalls to our west which looked very threatening, but the current was pushing us north of them.
It was too dangerous to head out so we waited until we thought it safe.
The wind was getting stronger which didn’t help us any and we seemed to be getting closer to Gregory Island to our north rather than to East Roe Island to our west. That meant that we were really being pushed in the wrong direction. But if the tide goes out it’s got to come back in, so we had nothing to fear! I have crossed the King Sound four
times before and it always put up a great fight. It hadn’t disappointed me today. We were now about 4.5kms from East Roe Island and sliding further away despite us paddling hard to reach the island. Pam wasn’t quite as fit as the rest of the group, so every time we slowed to wait we slid away a little further. We struggled on getting nowhere and hoping the current would ease. Then at
last we started to make progress, although it was at a snail’s pace, but when it seemed that we were going to miss East Roe Island we changed our target and headed towards West Roe Island. We managed to claw our way back to within a kilometre of the West Roe Island but then the swift incoming tide started pushing us away from the West Roe Island and back towards East Roe Island. In one
way this was good, but we had to be careful not to get pushed passed East Roe Island and back into the King Sound, so we put on the pace and managed to get close to shore and into an eddy at the north end of East Roe. Pam had been the most challenged throughout the last half of the paddle, so she was most relieved to be in an eddy. We moved to a beach in a small bay around the corner.
It had no shade from the burning sun, but it was a great beach and we were able to cool off in shallow water. I walked to the north point of the island, passing two eagle nests, to look out across the Sunday Straits and King Sound from where we had come. It was still full of overfalls and waves. Back at camp we played ball in the water, tried fishing without any luck, relaxed and I
wrote in my diary. We finished off the day by drinking a little wine, eating tinned oysters, watching the tide race by and a bush curlew and 2 oyster catchers feeding in the shallows.
We arrive at East Roe Island and the current was heading into King Sound.
Thursday It had to be a 4.00am start. We were ready before the sun came up so we waited for the light. The current was already racing, and I mean racing, but at least it was to our advantage. None of the crew had seen the
current run as fast as it was running here and the channel between East Roe, our island and Sunday Island was over two kilometres wide. It was hard to believe that it was the ocean. With the rapid current flying like the wind, the crossing to Sunday Island was going to be pretty exciting. It was also going to be difficult and it was most certainly a dangerous place to paddle, as with one slip anyone of us could be washed away. We had a last minute briefing so everyone knew what we intended to do and where we were headed, just in case we got separated. We moved into the big eddy of our bay and lined up close to the eddy line. The water was racing at least 20kms an hour, it could have been more. Don, Tel and Gary weren’t experienced white water
paddlers and having white water skills would certainly be an advantage in the next few minutes. I led the way by doing a break-in into the fast current. Don, Tel and Pam followed without incident but when it was Gary’s turn, he faltered and got swept back into the eddy. Meanwhile we were being swept away at a very fast pace. By the time Gary managed to get out of the eddy and into the current we were probably 500 metres away. From that distance we could see Gary trying his best to get out of the
eddy. At last he was successful and Gary was on the move, with John following him. For this sea kayaking trip you really needed to be a white water paddler and with Gary’s limited experience in white water it started to show. Our aim was to ferry glide across to Sunday Island and then use a series of islands to move safely into a channel and then paddle on the outgoing current to Swan
Island where we would be out of the fast currents of King Sound. Unfortunately Gary and John, who were still well behind, didn’t seem to be ferrying across the swift channel on the same path as we were taking. I became quite worried as it looked as if the current was going to sweep them between West and East Roe Islands. If that happened the team would be split up. The cliffs of Sunday
Island were quite stunning with the sun shining on them but it was hard to take in their beauty when we were performing an amazing ferry glide and watching John and Gary trying hard to power their way towards us. At last we could see that they were making headway and began to get close. Don, Tel, and Pam managed to get out of the current and into slow water near the end of Sunday Island where they waited for John and Gary. I took photos of the crossing where it had calmed. It was good to see
them make progress and to be teamed up with them again. We were all so excited about the crossing as we had just been through another unbelievable experience. We ferry glided from Sunday Island to Pooingin Island and then across to Salural Island. It was good fun and it was a lot easier than our last two big ferry glides but we still had one more big ferry glide to do to ensure we
didn’t get washed out into the Timor Sea. To ensure our safe passage we needed to be close to the Apex, Talboys and Howard Islands, these were the last ones before leaving the huge currents of the King Sound and only a few kilometres from the safe haven of Swan Island. At last we paddled between the mainland and Swan Island and found a beach on the Island to camp for our last night of
our very enjoyable trip. It had been such a wonderful journey and it was great to share it with others. For me the Kimberley and it’s amazing features wasn’t new as I had paddled around it’s coastline for over a year, but for the rest of the team it was new and I can guarantee they will never forget this stunning area and the white water experience they had. It was hot, we relaxed and went swimming in the clear water off our beach. Pam, who had been afraid of crocs and sharks when we arrived, was now snorkelling further from the beach than any of us dare. Somehow along the way she had lost a few of her fears. Friday With only a few kilometres to go to finish our journey we took it easy and as we approached Cape Leveque a whale slid passed us. It was a fitting end to a journey that you could never do in any other part of the world. Read
the full story here:- Kimberley Kayak Expedition 6 – Canoeing, Kayaking & Other Adventures (wordpress.com)
The current across to Sunday Island was moving at a terrific speed.
A whale crosses our path.
Oughtibridge Slalom UK The Oughtibridge Slalom Site is on the River Don in South Yorkshire, about five miles north of Sheffield City Centre. It is a private site managed by Sheffield
Canoe Club. Young paddlers from local canoe club, Paddle Peak, dug out their race bibs this weekend, for their first race of the 2024 season at the Oughtibridge slalom - two days filled with exciting racing. Paddle Peak is a registered charity, club and community project promoting responsible paddlesports, improving access to outdoor spaces, inspiring local young people, caring for the River Derwent and protecting its wildlife. Charity Number: 1194192. British Canoeing Club CL000123..
The youngsters competing in a team event.
The relatively narrow, rocky and shallow river is easy Grade 2 water at this location.
A great location for junior paddlers to learn on.
Birds Along the Way It was full moon at the weekend so I tried to get some bird shots with the moon in the background.
A Great Egret catches a fish.
A full moon towers about a flock of pelicans. It's good to see the pelicans have returned to the river. They haven't been around much in the last couple of months. They were probably off breeding
somewhere.
A full moon shines brightly on the river and on our balcony at 11.15pm.
There is nothing more beautiful, more inspiring, more uplifting than a full moon.
Double Barkers Race 11th May.
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