At last we have some rain, but I must admit I do love the lighter warmer mornings and evenings. 

I have now paddled 4800 kms on a SUP in the last 7 months, an average of 685.7 kms a month. That's not counting the 500 kms in a kayak. So I have been paddling quite a bit in the evenings in the dark and seeing few paddlers. 

Sunrise on Thursday morning,

Double Barkers

With the first real rain pounding overnight and extending to the early morning I thought we might be getting a little wet this morning although BOM was showing the rain heading towards us was going to be patchy.

The race started with the SUPs going off first, Darren Pratt went real early to do the 24kms, but sane SUP paddlers, Declan, Bob, Pedram, Debbie and me were only doing one lap which was 11.3 kms.

Soon after the start I could see in the corner of my eye Pedram was leading the way over to my right with Declan wash riding him. Debbie was giving me a run for my money off the line, but she eventually dropped back a little which I was pleased about. At the Sandy Beach Corner I cut it, but Pedram paddled wide and by the time we straightened up around the corner I was in the lead and it appeared that all the others soon formed a conga line behind me, Bob being the closest. It was good news to think I was strong enough to be in front, but the not so good news was that the others may be playing with me and saving their energy.

I cut the corner and Pedram and Declan go a little wide.

Photo Selena Lloyd.

I manage to get in front with Bob on my wash.

Photo Selena Lloyd.

Photo Selena Lloyd

Soon all the other paddlers in kayaks and skis started to flow past us. Some came by pretty close to try and shake their opposition off their wash, other packs just created waves, but unlike when I raced my narrower board at the John Sims Race on the same course, I had a little trouble today on my 1 inch wider board in the wash, which proved to be faster.

I was happy being in front of the pack, and on a few occasions I did get a bump from the SUP behind, which may have indicated I was slowing down. As we powered towards Guildford Bridge with a load of paddlers Pedram made a move and I could see him over to my right steadily gaining on me until he was slightly in front. I decided not to race him, but to save my energy and slot in behind him. I think at this stage Declan was behind me and Bob behind him but it was too risky for me to turn around and check.

With about a kilometre to go before our turn point at Barkers Bridge Pedram kept more left of centre of the river and it was at this point I had a sneaky look over my right shoulder and saw Declan over to my right and several metres behind. That was pleasing.

At Guildford Bridge Pedram makes a move.

Photo Gordon Innes.

Pedram starts to overtake.

Photo Gordon Innes.

At this stage the 4 of us were pretty equal.

Photo Gordon Innes.

I slip onto Pedram's wash.

Photo Gordon Innes.

As we paddled under Barkers Bridge three paddlers came through and although they posed no problem I lost a few metres on Pedram. I turned, not very good mind you, through the centre gap, whereas Pedram went a little wider and went through the next gap, which is a little longer. With a pretty average turn, but shorter passage I was able to slot right back onto Pedram’s wash two waves back and I followed him closely toward Guildford Bridge.  

Just after Point Reserve where there is a speed monitor Pedram put on a sprint and he did go. Not sure what knot score he got on the screen, but he was pretty quick and somehow I don't think I could match him. 

At the corner before Olive Farm three paddlers somehow managed to ease their way between the 2-3 metre gap that separated Pedram and I. This knocked me off Pedram's wash and created a pretty big gap between us but as soon as they passed Pedram I soon caught back up. A little further I had a quick sly look over my shoulder to see that Declan wasn’t that far behind. I couldn’t let him catch up so I put on a bit more power and sat beside Pedram. I think this helped to get Pedram to go a little faster and when he did I then slotted back behind him again hoping his increased pace would make sure that Declan would not catch up. I stayed in that position as long as I could and although I lost him a few times I always caught up and stayed there until Sandy Beach. 

Around Sandy Beach and with a kilometre to go we met some paddlers paddling back up to Barkers Bridge which meant it was going to be a long race for them. It was here, a kilometre out that I was working out my finish strategy, but I waited for the 450 metre mark before I attempted to power on and get back onto Pedram’s side wash. 

Photo Gordon Innes.

With nearly 500 metres to go I start to make a move and get beside Pedram. Then I put on a bit my power take the lead.

Photo Gordon Innes.

For a while we were neck and neck, then about 250 metres from the finish line I went for it and for the next 230 metres I was in front and I had hopes of being the winner. I had just about collected my first place medal and said to myself, Bolland you have got this, but with about 20 metres to go, Pedram near 30 years my junior found some extra power and his younger muscles and determination beat me over line by 3 seconds. I wasn’t disappointed at all as I had a great race and that's what it's all about.

In the Australian Championships Pedram beat me by 2 minutes. I have a feeling that Pedram will go out hard next race and he won't allow me to keep up!

My time was 1.22.16 and in the John Sims Race, same course, different board, I did it in 1.26.36 so I was 4 minutes faster on a more stable SUP and a little help. 

At the last moment Pedram surges and takes the lead beating me by 3 seconds.

Photo Gordon Innes.

The only lady on a SUP Debbie Robinson.

Darren Pratt paddled the long course.

Photo Gordon Innes.

Photo Gordon Innes.

Declan, Pedram and I.

Results here:-

2025 Double Barkers | Race results | Webscorer

Slalom Paddlers Have A Go at SUP Paddling

Whilst the new intake of young slalom paddlers are being coached on Wednesday evening, the elite slalom squad are about to give SUP paddling a go.

Beck Florisson mentioned to me that the young elite slalom squad would like to have a go a SUP paddling so SUP paddlers Hayley Williams, Debbie Robinson and myself took on the role of making it happen on Wednesday evening. The three of us and Declan brought extra boards so Hunter, Izzy, & Scarlett Florisson, Rhys MacRae and Kai Stafford were able to give SUP paddling a go. 

Hayley and Debbie went through the basics before getting on the water. After 800 metres of basic paddling and instruction they started to be more adventurous doing back turns, tail spins and anything else that was worth trying. The cold water didn’t put them off and a dip or two made them more determined to try new things. Within 15 minutes they were becoming professionals, but that was no surprise as they are WAs best young slalom paddlers and already knew a lot of the strokes and skills.

SUP paddlers Hayley Williams & Debbie Robinson brief Scarlett, Rhys, Hunter, Kai and Izzy the basics.

Within 600 hundred metres of basic instruction the guys started testing themselves with a few tricks and turns. 

Rhys tries his first Step-Back-Turn.

A Step back turn is commonly used in SUP racing when you turn around the buoy in the racecourse.

It's a great turning method to get you quickly and sharply around a race buoy or spit post.

Izzy and Kai try something different.

Okay guys get those bows up.

Izzy gets the bow pretty high.

Rhys gets his bow high.

Kai got his bow really high but it was impossible to keep on the board

Getting wet only made them keener to try new things.

Kai and Izzy get airborne again.

They paddle off to get a bit of warmth back in their bodies.

As the sunsets it's homeward bound.

World Cup 2

Poznan, Poland.

The Women's K4 500 team - Kailey Harlen, Nat Drobot, Ally Clarke & Claudia Bailey won bronze in the final, with Harlen and Drobot backing up their performance with a gold in the Women's K2 500 final on Sunday May 25.  

Birds Along The Way

Darter

3 Spoonbills on Ron Courtney Island.

Osprey on Ron Courtney Island.

Great Egret near Ron Courtney Island.

Little Pied Cormorant near Ron Courtney Island.

Feathers of a bird were caught in a fishing line. It looks like it got away but will it survive with 8 feathers missing?

Wildwater WA

at Ascot Kayak Club

Register here:-
https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=389705

The first TWO races of EIGHT for the 2025 WildWater Season.

Location: Ascot Kayak Club, Garvey Park
Registration: 08:00am-08:30am
Briefing: 08:45am
Sprint Race Start: 09:00am
Mass Start Classic: 10:00am

Sprint Course: Starting at Ascot Kayak Club, paddlers complete a 200m sprint through a series of obstacles.

Classic Course: Starting at Ascot Kayak Club, paddlers complete a 3.5km circuit course, finishing back at their starting point.
This event will be as a MASS START.

Transport: A car shuffle is not required

Safety: Helmets & PFD’s are not compulsory for this race, but are recommended. Additional Buoyancy recommended

This is a flatwater obstacle course, designed to test the paddlers ability to manoeuvre the kayak around obstacles of floatation buoys and trees. This is a great opportunity for new paddlers who would like to test their boat handling ability before entering the races with greater water flow later in the season.

The race is open to all boats, with the Championship only open to boats classed as wildwater/downriver kayaks as per ICF regulations. These include overall length of no more than 4.5m, with no rudder (or with their rudder tied up)

Sundries Note (Boats not classed wildwater/downriver kayaks)

For those entering in the 2025 Sundries Series, you are eligible to race in non-WildWater/downriver boats only where you are in a competition type boat. Playboat and recreational type craft are not permitted to race.

This is a timed individual event, where Sundry competitors will receive a timed result and ranking, but will not be awarded season points towards the WildWater Championship.