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Moore River
Race
It was quite a long drive, the landscape was dry but once
I arrived at Moore River and saw the beautiful river and ocean
view and all the paddlers in the car park I knew it was worth
the journey.
Lining up at registration I noticed that Steve Coffey, who
was paddling a similar kayak to me had a 300 number in his
hand which meant he was in the third division. I looked around
and saw that Alan Moreby had a 300 number as well and most
of the other long Multisport paddlers, except for Rob Rigger
that was. He was holding a 200 number so he was in the second
division. Rob really needed to be in the third division as
that was where all the other old guys in long multisport kayaks
were, so I encouraged him to change division.
Just milling around: Photo Peter Asby
The day was forecast to
be hot, but as we lined up for registration there was cloud
cover, the wind was blowing hard and it was quite cold.
It was soon time to get on the water. The mixed doubles were
going to take off first, followed by the other four divisions
and then the juniors. About 110 boats were mingling around.
Mixed K2s take off: Photo Peter Ashby
The wind was strong as
we lined up. I noticed the person who I really needed to beat,
Steve Coffey, was way over on my right. Although I hadn't
paddled against Steve for a long time in singles I was felt
confident that I was going to beat him.
Warren Southwell , Eddie Stoelwinder,
Christopher Greed and Paul Waters: Photo Peter Ashby
I also felt extremely
relaxed and ready to go. The faster classes took off and then
it came to our turn. Peter Martin counted down and we were
away. Glen Stewart, a paddler I knew little about, in a long
black ski shot off like a rocket with Danny in an Epic Ski
close behind. Rob Riggir honed in from the left and eventually
managed to get behind Danny and just in front of me. Mandurah's
Peter Thompson was beside me for the first few metres but
he was unable to keep up. Soon after Steve Coffee, who paddled
over from the right came up beside me and somehow, as we peeled
together, I lost my place.
Division 3 taking off: Photo Peter Ashby
The pace was quick and
not being a sprinter I was struggling to keep up. We had only
been racing a few minutes and I could feel the race getting
away from me. I soon came to realise that the paddlers in
front were faster than me so I had to fight hard not to lose
them. I pushed as hard as I could but I strained. It was a
horrible feeling, knowing that at any second I could get left
behind leaving Steve, Rob and Danny to give me grief at the
end of the race. My knees were knocking just thinking about
failure and failure was so close.
Michael, me, Peter and Vince take off:
Photo Peter Ashby
Glen on the black ski
was on a race of his own and soon left us leaving Rob Riggir
and Danny Moreton to lead our pack and set an unrealistic
pace. Please slow down I thought. Steve Coffee latched on
to Danny and I latched on to Steve. A few minutes later Michael
Leahy started to move up on our left and he looked pretty
serious. Eventually he caught up and passed me and levelled
with Rob.
Division 3 taking off. The field starts
to spread: Photo Peter Ashby
The pace quickened another
notch and for a few minutes I didn't think I had it in me
to keep up with the pace. It was much easier to let them go
and take it easier, but somehow I couldn't allow myself to
do it. I just had to keep going until I could no longer. Michael
managed to take the lead and that worried me more. If he managed
to pass us, he must be faster and stronger. Now there were
5 boats in our Congo line with me being at the end of the
line and feeling like the weak link. It was a CDU line as
Michael was paddling a Low Deck Wizard kayak, Rob was in a
Chrono kayak, Danny was in an Epic V10, Steve was in a Chrono
and I was in a Time Bandit, all boats from CDU. Despite the
pain, this was just sadistically good fun.
Division four paddlers with the guppies
waiting patiently: Photo Peter Ashby
Every so often Steve surged
to keep up with the others and I continued to work harder
to keep on his wash. I couldn't let Steve beat me as last
week I called him a Princess so where would that leave me
if he beat me this week!
John Breed, who was usually in this class was thankfully paddling
doubles or he would certainly be leading. He offered me his
Chrono kayak to race, as the Chrono is faster kayak than my
Time Bandit but I told him I wanted to see how I would go
in my Time Bandit as I hadn't paddled it in a race for a long
time. As I struggled at the back of the line I was now wishing
I had taken up his offer.
Juniors taking off: Photo Peter Ashby
As I focussed on Steve's
rudder, so I didn't run into the back of him, I realised I
wasn't taking any notice of the scenic river banks that we
were passing. I looked up and checked the beautiful green
river edges, but it was short lived, I went back to concentrating
on Steve's stern, the scenery was less more important at this
time. The strong wind slowed us at times and when we met the
K2s on their return Michael moved across to the left and split
up the group. Luckily we came together again a few minutes
later.
Juniors and guppies getting ready: Photo
Peter Ashby
Jenny Bateman and Steve
Longwood were leading the mixed doubles. Although I was breathing
really hard, that the whales in the ocean could hear me, I
was trying to keep quiet so Steve wouldn't realise that I
was behind him. Suddenly my cover was blown when young Coran
Longwood shouted out to me. "Don't let them get away
Terry". A few other double paddlers passing also started
calling out to me. Bugger, the guys in front would now know
I was there so they would do everything to get rid of me.
I now had to work out a strategy to get passed them but did
I have the strength!
Suddenly I could see a tree ahead blocking our way, with two
or three paddlers seemingly struggling to get over or around
it. I noticed one ski paddler in the water, it was Mick Mantell
and he looked a little wet. With our group of five paddlers
approaching the tree and 3 other paddlers trying to get over
it, I knew that I had to find a different way to get around
it. Being at the back of the line wasn't a good place to be,
but this was my chance to find a way to get ahead.
I noticed the tree having a gap under it on the left hand
side so was this my chance. There were several other branches
beyond it that I couldn't see and possibly blocking the route.
My theory though, was that if there were 6 paddlers trying
to get over the tree in the centre I knew if I was quick I
would still beat some of them over it. It was a gamble, but
this was a race and I had to find a way to get ahead or at
least keep my place and I wouldn't do it by following everyone
else. If everything went right I now had a chance to get in
front of them. Amazingly I ducked under the trunk, leaned
the kayak over on its side to skirt to the right of a branch
and another lesser trunk. Before clearing the tree though
my rudder hit something, but it didn't slow me down.
My strategy had worked,
in a matter of 10 seconds I had passed about 7-8 paddlers.
It reminded me of ducking and weaving around paddlers in the
Avon Descent. I glanced back, but I didn't get a good look,
so I didn't know if the others were close. Hopefully they
were stuck!
My confidence suddenly
sky-rocketed, I was happy, much happier than in the last race,
but I knew that I couldn't be too complacent and I had to
work even harder to prevent them from catching up. I passed
John van Maanen who was in Div 2 as I rounded the island.
I couldn't believe I had caught him up as he used to be as
fast as I was, but I did hear he has had an injury. Nevertheless
it felt good passing him.
I was now on my own except for a paddler
ahead in a K1. Every so often I would see him brace so I realised
why I was catching him up. It took a few minutes, but I caught
him. I didn't think I would take long passing him, but every
time I tried he quickened up. We tussled for a couple of kilometres.
I eventually looked behind I could see two other boats catching
up. Oh shit I knew this was happen. With me in their sights
it would certainly spur them on and if they worked together
they would catch me pretty soon.
Zac Ashby leading the junior section:
Photo Peter Ashby
The wind was bad on the
way back and every so often, depending on the river direction
it got even worse. When the wind gusted really hard I made
my move and started to leave the K1 behind. That was good
news, but then I could see Michael and Rob's bow in the corner
of my eye. Bugger they had caught me.
Jenni Bateman and Trevor Longwood won
the mixed division: Photo Peter Ashby
It took them several more
minutes to get level with me and when they did thankfully
they couldn't get passed. I thought they would fly ahead,
although I was hoping that they had used all their energy
trying to catch me up. I was feeling much better than the
way up so all I had to do was to keep up with them and I did.
Darryl Long & Yale Steineprieis
pipped at the post by Grant Pepper and Leonie Cockman
At the last kilometre they started
to surge, we juggled, I thought for a moment they had more
fuel left in the tank as they looked pretty good, then I would
surge and realise I still had a lot in me. We juggled and
juggled. Michael was paddling extremely well. I was proud
of him. Over the last year Michael had felt that he hadn't
been improving and that his low deck Wizard kayak was too
unstable for him to paddle and paddle well. He looked pretty
good to me. Here he was giving me a run for my money and this
didn't look like a man with a lack of confidence. I wish he
had and he wouldn't be here giving me such a hard time.
Kevin and Adam White leading the Div
1 pack. Michael & Wendy Drok in the mixed division being
passed.
Photo Peter Ashby
Within 700 metres of the finish line
Rob made a move. Bugger that meant I just had to work a little
harder. I didn't really want to, but I still had some energy
left so I thought I had better use it. Rob steps up the pace
and I notice that Michael who was between us started to lag.
I had to accelerate passed Michael or I would lose Rob, so
I went for it.
Over the last 6 weeks, since he bought his Chrono kayak Rob
has been on cloud nine. His speed has increased so much that
his confidence has soared and now he is another paddler giving
me grief.
Lawrence & Christopher Greed: Photo
Peter Ashby
At the last bend we were neck and neck.
To my delight Michael had dropped back (he said later he got
cramp) so now it was one-on-one. The closer we got to the
finish line the windier and rougher it became. Rob and I both
went hell-for-leather but I started getting the upper hand
and I just knew that I had beaten him. What a feeling. If
I had been out of my kayak I would have jumped for joy. I
assumed that the wind and chop was giving me a little advantage.
Rob's kayak was faster, but it was also more unstable, so
it meant I could put more power into my stroke.
Michael, Ron and I: Photo Peter Ashby
I came across the line
first (1.10.59) and for a moment I thought I had won the 3rd
division, but then a paddler reminded me about Glen Stewart
in the black ski who had arrived earlier. He had been so quick
and was nowhere to be seen. He was 12 years younger though.
Ron and I coming up to the finish line:
Photo Peter Ashby
I waited for Steve Coffee
to finish as I had to gloat. Although I ended up being 2 minutes
faster than him, he had put up a good fight and I just knew
he was going to be a hard one to beat in future races. He
is not suck a Princess after all!! I found out later that
I had beaten John Breeds Multisport record that he set last
year by one second, but Eddie Stoelwinder who is 57 and always
been a very good paddler now holds the record (1.06.52). What
a bummer. 63 year old Rob Roll is still the quickest K1 paddler
of any age group finsihing in (1.04.56). There was only one
single that beat him and that was Brett McDonald and he was
on a long Molokai Ski. I have always longed to be as fast
as Rob but I have never been able to do the amount of training
to get there.
At the end Rob just couldn't keep up,
could you rob!!!! Peter Peter Ashby
The first long plastic came over the
line. It was Derek Amy who had raced really well with a time
of 1.13.21. Peter Thompson in a multisport was beside him
and Chris Clarke in a long plastic was right up there until
the last few metres.
At presentation when I went up to collected
my second place flag someone suggested that I should paddle
alone more often and I would get better results. The trouble
is if I don't paddle with Alaine I have no-one to blame!
The mixed doubles were won by Jenny Bateman and Trevor Longwood
(1.02.44). The first division was won by Kevin and young Adam
White (1.02.59). The second division was won by Eddie Stoelwinder
who also set a new record in the over 55 Multisport division
(1.06.52). The third division was won by Glen Stewart (1.07.42).
The forth division was won by Murphy and Paul Hannican (1.14.04).
The fifth division (short course) was won by Zac Ashby 40.55).
The division six (novice) was won by Georgia Sutton 29.19).
The division seven (under 12 guppy) was won by Kobe Wilson
(33.16) and the division eight (under 10 guppy) was won by
Noah Boldy (26.07). The long plastics class was won by Derek
Amy (1.13.21).
Waiting for presentation
Although paddlers love
racing, very few paddlers are keen on the division system
as many paddlers get put in the wrong division or don't get
the chance to race paddlers in the same craft or the same
age group. I always prefer boat and age classes over divisions.
Rob Riggir, me and Michael
Leahy
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