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With 662 kilometres paddled on a SUP last month (February) I managed to keep at the top of the SUP world leader board again. For the last 16 months I have been at the top 14 times. However, I expect things to change this next few months as not only will I be running an Avon Descent Training Course, the Progressive Racing Group Sessions, I will also need to do more kayak training due to all the races and championships coming up. This weekend we have the 29 km City Lights Race, followed by the
Australian Sprint Championships, then the Rod Fry Race, the WA Marathon & SUP Championships and after that it’s off to Canberra for the Australian Canoe and SUP Marathon Championships in early April. And it doesn't end there. So we are in for a busy few months. And after Chad Sorensen and Robin Jacob beat me in last weeks 10 km kayak race, it appears
I have to pull my socks up and train much harder in my kayak to make sure they don't beat me again. (In the sprint championships it looks as if my sprint C1 races are on at the same time as my kayak races. Someone must think I have some hidden powers!)
ARE YOU INTERESTED?
Ascot Kayak Club Avon Descent Training Course Starting Friday 13th March
Bryony McCrudden taking on Bells Drop in her earlier white water career.
Basic flat water strokes Advanced flat water strokes & skills Skills for
preparing for white water Fitness sessions Rolling for kayak paddlers Lectures & Lots of Advice -
Equipment
Intro to moving water & white water skills More advanced white water skills on grade 2 water Avon Descent Safety and
Competency Assessment & more Contact Terry Bolland 0417977330 Email: terry@canoeingdownunder.com.au
Penny Bates tackling the Devil's Slide, on Bell's Rapid.
Australian Canoe Sprint Championships Most of next week with the master events mainly at the weekend. at Champion Schedule:- https://regattas.paddle.org.au/regattas/1215/file/1234 ****************** Rod Fry Memorial Race 2026  Sunday, March 22, 2026 Registrations close 11.59pm Friday March 20 2026. TO REGISTER:
https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=421720 ****************** WA Canoe Marathon Championships 28th 29th March 2026 Sandy Beach, Bassendean. TO
REGISTER: https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=421251 ****************** Australian Canoe Marathon Championships 10-13 April in Canberra. Save money as the -- Early bird entrie close 9th March ******************
City Lights Race This Saturday evening. Weather looks amazing this year, so don't miss out. Remember if you are unable to make the start line for racing, Ascot kayak club are providing a night of live music and friendly surroundings in the warm night air - so head down! Its also not too late to request food from the cafe - just use the method in the webscorer link below:
Slalom in Tasmania On the Forth River in Tasmania the water can just be turned on giving the juniors some white water to play in.
Paddling flows confirmed Thursday 5-7pm. Join in the fun. BYO BBQ after. Thanks to the Hydro Tasmania Recreation Water Releases.
Celebrating 50 Years of Paddling Year 1988 Kimberley Kayak Expedition #5
On June 8th, with 200kms of our 700km paddle behind us, Ewen and I toiled against large relentless waves, south-east of Koolan Island. It was a pleasure to be close to an island after being rammed by a shark and battling the elements for 3 ½ hours. Exhausted, we paddled in silence along the rocky shoreline slowly creeping towards a semi-circular
pebbly beach both eager to step ashore to have lunch and rest. Suddenly with no warning there was an enormous splash close to Ewen’s kayak. I glanced over and was confronted by the most chilling sight. The open jaws of a crocodile were gripping the stern of his kayak. “Croc paddle fast”, I bellowed. Ewen let out a shout of terror and accelerated. A few moments later the croc released its grip but the respite was short lived, a few seconds later it exploded from the water and struck again, its open jaws bent on crushing the kayak. My rifle was strapped on the back deck in a watertight case so it was of no use and if I turned around in the cockpit, my unstable craft would capsize, then I would be in deep trouble. It was terrifying and I was helpless to assist my friend. The predator’s jaws were locked around his kayak’s stern. Then it lifted its head high out of the water and, with a tilt, tried desperately to put the kayak into a death roll. A chill went through my body, my heart raced and my mind tried to refute what my eyes were seeing, but this was no Jaws movie or Crocodile Dundee, it was real.
Part of the coast heading towards Walcott Inlet.
The Kimberley is an amazing part of the world but you never know what's in store from one day to another. The site of the crocodile attack.
Ewen never looked back to glimpse his predator but he felt its strength. His arms pumped like windmills and his kayak, although heavily laden, ran swiftly through the water. The croc lost its grip again and disappeared under the murky water. Several frightening seconds ticked by. When or where would it attack next? I had to pass the area where the croc had submerged so I was now concerned for my safety and in my mind urged Ewen to come back as it was his croc. By now Ewen was several metres in front of me and as I sliced past the crocs foaming waters, I paddled hard to reach the waves breaking over the sandbar ahead. I
continually scanned the water behind expecting the croc to attack again. Minutes seemed like hours. I still had the thoughts, would the croc attack me next? After paddling 2 kilometres out into the open sea, Ewen finally allowed me to catch up with him. He was badly shaken so I tried to turn our frightening experience into a light hearted joke as we still had 3 weeks and 500 kilometres
to paddle and we had no option but to keep going! I have spent over 200 days canoeing in these dangerous waters and I have been chased by crocs on several occasions, but this was the first time that one had actually attacked. It was only last year in 1987 that Ken Cornish and I had been at the head of the Prince Regent River when a tourist, Ginger Meadows, who was standing on a ledge
of a waterfall tried swimming to a tourist boat and was taken by a croc. This year it was nearly our turn! In the far distance our destination shimmered in the heat haze. Walcot Inlet, the home of the giant whirlpools was four hours away and with the previous stresses of the day it was going to be a hard paddle. As we approached the inlet we encountered driftwood, carried by the rising tide, which was hard to distinguish from crocodiles. Our campsite lay ahead. I pointed towards a boulder strewn beach partially hidden from view by extensive mangroves. Then we suddenly focused on a mangrove bough that jerked into the water ahead of us. “Oh no, we’re not going to camp here”, Ewen shouted. It looks too much like croc country. Looking west
towards the sun disappearing behind Fletcher Island, I said, “it’s too late, there is no other campsite nearby”. With 150 metres to go, we raced through the gap in the mangroves and struck the boulders and quickly jumped out. Convinced a big saltie was in the area, I gingerly waded into the murky water, unstrapped my rifle and we took it in turns standing shotgun as we unloaded
the kayaks.
Walcott Inlet camp. That night after the attack, at our campsite at Walcott Inlet, I told Ewen a story about a kayak trip down the river Nile that I had read about. ….One night a croc was attracted by some meat being stowed in the kayak and tried desperately to get it out. Unsuccessful , it returned to the water, but had left a musky scent on the boat. The following day, the kayak was attacked several times. It is believed that both sexes use the musky secretions to locate and attract each other…. After telling Ewen the story, he scrubbed around the scratches made by the crocs teeth, very thoroughly! No amorous crocodile was going to mistake his boat for a possible mate! A huge tree trunk that was bumping the cliffs and water lapping into rock crevices, echoed around the cove throughout the night. Having no time for breakfast we left the
quivering mangroves and high-tailed it further north along the mangrove lined shores first trying to avoid the worst of the currents heading into Walcott Inlet. Bleary eyed from the glare, trickling sweat and stinging salt, we paddled hour after hour trying to overcome our trance like state. In a flurry of confusion Ewen yelled out and took off like a man possessed, as a shark suddenly
hit his rudder. Minutes later and still shaken from the shark hit, he shouted out with fear in his voice, “I can’t take much more of this”, as he saw another shark rapidly approach, veering off only a metre from his hands. It was going to be one of those days! So to restore our energy and enthusiasm we rafted up and ate some dried fruits and headed for Raft Point. Our camp at Raft
Point was just as stunning as the other 3 times I had camped there. A walk along the cliffs with the ocean on one side and the bay with mangroves and vertical cliffy islands on the other was a sight to die for.
The current heading into Walcott Inlet. We walked around the area to find fresh water at a place I had gathered it before. Unfortunately the stream was dry.
Raft Point with Steep Island in the background.
Raft Point and Steep Island.
As we left Raft Point, with the tidal stream in our favour for once, we cruised at 10kph at times. After failing to find freshwater in the coastal creeks and around Walcott Inlet where I have found water before our luck changed at Freshwater Cove. Here, freshwater cascaded from the clustered tentacle root system of mangroves into a 20 metre pool,
which blocked our progress. To be safe, we skirted the pool and climbed through the sprawling roots to the trickling stream. It was thank our lucky stars we didn't chose the pool to get the water as camouflaged in the pool below us, a saltwater crocodile laid perfectly still. You can imagine how pleased we were that we hadn’t waded into the pool.
A fresh water stream spilling through the mangroves at Freshwater Cove. A crocodile was lying under the water hardly noticeable. It was a good thing we got water from the top rather from in the
pool.
We slept on the beaches, but we were wary of crocodiles so we usually placed our kayaks in front of the tent. And I sneakily let Ewen sleep closer to the water!
The pearling settlement of Kuri Bay was nestled at the bottom of a cove surrounded by spectacular cliffs. Boats and pearling pontoons were scattered around the cove and sleepy settlement, fronted by a thin line of mangroves, looked abandoned as we paddled across the glassy turquoise water towards it. Eagles soared on silent wings and it was only
the crows raiding the rubbish tip that disturbed the tranquil setting. Kuri Bay gave us the opportunity to wash our clothes, repair our gear and collect rations for the final stage of our sea journey. I had visited it several times so I was well known and the hospitality and co-operation of Bob Haddock and the Kuri Bay people was over-whelming, as always. We rested a day ready to head further north.
Jill Roberts goes Paddling, Biking & Hiking in the Walpole Wilderness
Jill was on a tour run by WOW wilderness Eco Adventures in Walpole. The guides name was Emma and Jill said she was amazing. So knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the different fauna and flora. It was an overnight camp trip with biking and pack rafting on the 1st day then a hike out on the 2nd. Highly recommend the experience and was also great
value for money as Emma supplied all equipment and majority of the food.
I love the Kimberley, but the scenery down at Walpole is also mighty special.
The dolphins are truely back. They are spotted most days.
Braden and Michael sit and watch the dolphins swim by.
Braden is joining my Avon Course and is expected to have fun this Avon Descent.
Rod Fry Memorial Race 2026 Sunday, March 22, 2026 Registrations close 11.59pm Friday March 20 2026. All paddlers in team craft must enter individually. THE
RACE Where: Swan Canoe Club, Johnson Parade, Mosman Park Check-in: 7:00 – 7:45am Race / Safety Briefing: 8:00am Start (1st Wave): 8:30am SAFETY We share the Swan River with other traffic and the 12km course requires paddlers to cross the main channel. Paddlers must obey water rules and be confident in their own competency and fitness. Remember
hydration, sun protection. PFD for under 16 not compulsory with parent permission. All participants must attend the Race/Safety Briefing at 8am. COURSES [Link to race map] Start/Finish at Swan Canoe Club jetty. 12km (turn at Stirling Bridge, North Freo) 6km (turn at Point Roe red marker) 3km (turn at Chidley Point red marker) All turns are anticlockwise. Wave starts from 8:30am. Waves/Classes to be confirmed on race day. Race Director has discretion. Dragon Boats: 6km only PRIZES Cash prizes for fastest male and female single paddlers (12km course): 1st: $150. 2nd: $100. 3rd: $50. Plus random draw for other prizes. Presentations after the race. FEES Adults: $35 Juniors (U18): $20 Morning tea and refreshments are included in the race entry fee – available at the club after the race. $20 for insurance will be added for non-affiliated paddlers ENQUIRIES: admin@swancanoeclub.org.au TO REGISTER: https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=421720
Race HistoryRod Fry (1964 – 1993) was a dominant force in C1 and C2 paddling in WA for more than a decade. His competitive achievements are
numerous. Perhaps those most well known are his three wins in C1 and five in C2 classes (with Lydia Formentin, Geoff Chambers and Ray Hall) in the Avon Descent. Rod’s records for the Mixed C2 and Men’s C2 in the Avon Descent still stand with Lydia and Ray. In State and Wild
Water championships he consistently came first and second. At the National level, Rod was known for his successful partnerships with Lydia Formentin, winning both the Wild Water Open Mixed C2 and the Slalom Mixed C2 classes in 1983 and almost duplicating the feat in 1984. He had further successes in both Slalom and Wild Water events over the years, most recently in 1993, just two weeks
before his tragic road accident. Internationally, he competed in the World Marathon Championships in 1985 and in the World Wild Water Championships in 1989 and in 1991 when he came 27th in the C1 class. Rod was a valued member of Swan Canoe Club for many years. He was a quiet
achiever who will be remembered for his enthusiasm and encouragement of others, and his skill and dedication to C1 and C2 paddling.
Rod (second from left) was only about 16 when he entered the Australian Slalom championships at Nymboida, NSWs. He was in my team event (3 paddlers) and even though he had only been paddling a short time, I believe he got less penalty points than me.
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