My Last Day of My 12 Month Challenge

31^st December 2025. 

In my morning session I paddled 35.04 kms so I had to paddle 45.00 kms on my last afternoon/evening session of 2025 to give me a total for the day of 80.00 kilometres.

If I managed it, my monthly total would be 1322.18 kms if my calculations were correct. I think for the year it's going to be around 8973.00 kms.

It turned out being another very windy day (in fact a very windy few months) but calmed when darkness arrived and it was so beautiful paddling those last few hours of 2025 along a calm, mirror like river with gorgeous reflections and a near full moon shining down.

Many thanks to Isabel and Hayley for paddling with me in the last dark hours of 2025 and to my wife Jenny for understanding that I need challenges.

As I reached 79 kilometres for the day, about 11.30pm my watch indicated that the battery was low. I wanted to make it to 80 kms so I was in a quandary to what to do. Will my watch die and lose my afternoons kilometres, which will prevent me from breaking the monthly record of 1313 kms held by Andreas Siebel, a German paddler? Or should I risk paddling one more kilometre to get to 80 kms? I felt strong so I decided to paddle that last kilometre at race pace hoping that my watch wouldn’t close down. At 80.09 kms for the day at the steps of my take out point I saved my data and I could relax and say to myself - I did it.

At 74 years old, I’m thankful that I can still paddle long distances and create noteworthy goals without getting any paddling injuries.

Apart from the month I was away in Europe for the World Canoe Masters Championships I paddled twice a day, every day since November 2024.

Now it's all over and it feels strange not having to be on the water most of the day. Will I cope?

SUP MY RACE 2025 

SUP My Race is the longest-running online challenge for Stand Up Paddlers around the world and has been going for 10 years. It is managed by Chris Jones a UK paddler who lives in Sweden. 

693 paddlers took part in the 2025 SUP MY RACE Challenge – Paddling 292 329,32 kms. 

Within the SUP My Race family, there were only 3 paddlers who had reached 1000kms in a month. This year I became the 4^th paddler by paddling over 1000 kms not once but 3 times.

My Distance & Records are:-

All my paddling was done on flat water, There & Back (circuits) except for 4 races that started and finished at different places. Although it was a 12 month challenge I was away in Europe for one month.
 

I’m trying to raise money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation so if you would like to donate please go here:- https://fundraise.pcfa.org.au/fundraisers/terrybolland

RECORD – Yearly Distance Winner and Record Holder:-

Paddled 8967.20 kilometres in 12 months (2025). 

Previous Individual Challenge record set in 2023 by Aristos Efthymiou was 7623,81km.

RECORD- Highest Monthly Kilometre Total Since 2016 and Record Holder:- 1322.17 kms in one month.

RECORD - Over 1000 km Monthly Target Record Holder:- 

Paddled over 1000 kms, not once, not twice but 3 times. 

(Oct 1004.61 kms - Nov 1035.85 kms & Dec 1322.17 kms.)
Only 3 other paddlers have paddled over 1000 kms in a month, once.|

RECORD - Monthly Record Holder 2025:-

I held the monthly record for 10 times in the last 12 months and 12 times in the last 14 months.
(In that time 4 weeks was spent overseas at World Masters Kayak Championships. (Part August/September.) 

RECORD - Highest Total in 3 months. 
In the last 3 months I paddled 3362.63 kilometres. 
(Oct 1004.61 kms - Nov 1035.85 kms & Dec 1322.17 kms.)

Last 7 days of December paddled 398.47 kilometres (which included Christmas Day).
 
Last 3 Days paddled 206.49 kms:- 
 60.12 kms – 66.28 kms and last day 80.09 kms.

Last day:- 80.09 kms

Since November 2024 I Paddled 10,403.75 kms on a SUP and around 700 kilometres in a kayak.

From January to August I was still paddling in my kayak as well as SUP but with reduced kilometres, however I still paddled a kayak in training and a few local races to be ready for the WA Canoe Marathon Championships, the Australian Canoe Marathon Championships and the World Canoe Masters Marathon Championships in Hungary.

Although my SUP Challenge started off being a one month challenge, I couldn’t resist paddling 650 – to 850 kms in every month in the year to keep on top of the SUP leader board. 

If You would like - Donate here:- https://fundraise.pcfa.org.au/fundraisers/terrybolland

Many thanks, Terry.

Donate and 3 people will be drawn out to win

Books - Birds Along The Way - A Race Along The Way (Yukon River) - Three Rivers to Tuktoyaktuk and Kimberley Challenge.

A set of Tie Downs, a CDU Water Bottle, a Dry Bag and a 4 ply Toilet Roll (not used).

Get your donation in as:-

The draw will be on the 26th January.

After four months paddling a SUP, I'm back in a kayak.

Photo Isabel Maddison.

Wednesday morning West Australian Canoe Slalom Olympian, Robin Jeffery had a go on my SUP. Although he is now living with his wife and 3 young children in Sydney, Robin spends Christmas in Perth with his parents.

Saturday Morning Sandy Beach training just before Christmas.

Guppy Camp

Bayswater

About 16 Guppy Paddlers get introduced.

Half the group play games in K1s.

WA Coach of the Year Shania Smee assists a guppy paddler.

Another group get used to paddling a K4.

They are all off to the Sprint Regatta tomorrow.

Here comes the Ascot Kayak Club Progressive Group Champions. 
Look at their muscles rippling.
 Isabel, Julie, Nigel and Kylie at the Progressive Racing Group handicapped time trial.
 

Oh dear - Here comes the Bayswater paddlers.

Sam Meyers.

As I was timing the PRG paddlers on Tuesday evening, Sam Meyers, Mitch Tamblin, Samantha Lourey and Luke Egger past by.

Their physiques indicated they are our top paddlers but they were too frightened to stop to take on the Ascot paddlers just in case they were beaten!! 

Mitchell Tamblin and Samantha Lourey above, 

and Sam and Luke will be taking part in the Sprint Regatta this Saturday.

Just four years after hopping into a kayak, 19-year-old Sammy Lourey is a national champion and has her sights set on the Olympics.

Luke Egger is certainly a favourite this weekend.

With a place on the 2025 Australian team locked in, Luke Egger is charging toward his ultimate goal — representing Australia at the LA 2028 Olympics

Summer - Wild Water Training

We had 15 paddlers take part in the first Wild Water Summer Series training session this morning. 

Six paddlers were completely new to this type of sport.

Four more Friday mornings left at 

Claughton Reserve, Bayswater at 6.00am.

We have a short time trial at the end of each session.

I always feel good when I beat someone who is faster than me on flatwater - hey Daniel!

Race Result Run 1 

Overall | 2026 WildWater WA Summer Training 1.1 | Resources.ws.RaceResults | Webscorer

Race Result Run 2

https://www.webscorer.com/racedetails?raceid=417573&did=565852

It was the first time Daniel Van Der Nest left, had paddled a Wavehopper around buoys.

It was a little windy making the turns to the left a little harder than usual.

This is a safe way to learn the basics of Wild Water paddling.

Harry Langley zooming around the course as if there were no turns. 

Harry is off to the Wild Water Champs over east very soon.

The Australian Aged Slalom Championships have been cancelled due to fire risk so lets hope the Wild Water Champs go ahead. 

Selena Lloyd a good very flat water paddler is challenged with a kayak without a rudder but learns quickly. 

Kevin Kelly, although a paddler tries out WW training.

Michelle Major, a sprint racing organiser tries out a kayak without a rudder. 

Teliah Ryan, who usually paddles a ski soon learnt how to edge a kayak around the buoys.

Braden Bennett who has only been paddling a few weeks is going to be one to watch in the future. 

I have been teaching him a few skills so I expect he will be higher on the leader board in no time. 

Birds Along The Way

Black-Winged Stilt.

Five Spoonbills on Ron Courtney Island.

Remember the pelican I rescued which had a fishing lure hooked in its bill and foot.

The rescued pelican is now ready to leave the animal rescue shelter and return to the water.

There it goes.

Christmas Day.

Judy noticed a Darter tangled in fishing line.

I checked it out and it couldn't move as the fishing line was tangled around its wind and around tree branches. 

I managed to throw a towel over its head but not before he gave me a good peck on my wrist and drew blood. It was a feisty bird but I managed to cut the line to free it. It sped off when I let it go.

With Bronwyn, Peter and Judy.

Convicts Fence Marathon

11/1/26

This is a great race 

and there is a

Portage or Non Portage option