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Claisebrook
Classic
When I arrived at Claisebrook
Cove the conditions were perfect, Ken Smith had mentioned
to Mick Mantell that the weather forecast was going to be
calm. This was good news especially for paddlers in unstable
boats.
It was advertised as a K4, K3 championships and there were
five K4s and five K3s taking part. Most of the elite paddlers
were paddling two of the K4s.
We gathered around on the banks of the beautiful Swan River
and talked to other paddlers and caught up with all the gossip.
Time eventually came for the K4s and K3s to get on the water.
The elite teams flew out the cove first with all the other
boats following. Once they had gone all other boats were allowed
on the water.
The leading K4s leave the cove. Photo Peter Asby
I was put in the second
division and my main opponents that I could recognise were
Mick Mantell and Anthony Mee. My usual competitors, John Breed,
Alan Moreby and Steve Coffee were frightened to race me today
so they decided to race in a K3. Many of my other competitors
were in the third division, but I was hopeful that they wouldn't
catch me up as they left a minute behind.
K4s and K3s leaving the cove. Photo Peter Ashby
In the last 6 or so Claisebrook
races I have paddle a different type of craft in every race-
an open canoe, double kayak, double ski, multisport kayak,
DR and today I thought I would paddle the new Epic V14. Although
I had raced it in two short club races and done really well,
considering my fitness, it is a little tippy in the rough,
so I was pleased that the forecast was for light winds.
Leaving the cove. How did the yellow K3 get from the far side
of the river and the other side of the red and white kayak
(see picture above) to this side of the river without hitting
someone? Photo Peter Ashby
The first division took
off first, there were only 7 paddlers, due to many of the
Ist division paddlers paddling in the K4s. I recognised Josh
Kippin and James Moffat who were in K1s and Ramon Anderson
on a ski. I talked to Ramon earlier and we both commented
on how time was flying by. I still think of Ramon as a 25
year old, but he is now approaching 50. He admits that even
his balance in a K1 is not what it used to be, a reason he
picked to paddle a ski in the race. Ramon won a bronze medal
in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics in a K4 and a silver medal
in the K4 at the 1991 Paris World Championships. Ramon also
won a gold medal in a World Marathon Canoeing Championships
in the K2 class. He has also won 14 World Cup Medals and 29
Australian Championship medals.
Josh taking off. He went on to
win the race. Photo Peter Ashby
Division two was called
to the line. There didn't seen enough space to get all boats
in one line, so a few boats hung back. As normal, when we
all took off I didn't have the speed to keep up with most
of the other paddlers, which is something I need to work on.
Why wasn't I born with fast twitch fibres? As I paddled off
struggling to keep up and chasing the others, I wondered if
beating other people really mattered, I realised it was and
put a little more speed on. I had clear water for about 50
metres and then, as we turned to head out of the cove all
the wash from the other boats and the odd power boat clashed
together. The wind had also picked up and all of a sudden
we found it windier than other years. So much for Ken's calm
forecast!
The faster paddlers in Division
2 taking off. Photo Peter Ashby
The slightly slower paddlers in Division 2 trying to catch
up. Photo Peter Ashby
Halfway to the bridge
where we had to turn I noticed Bronwyn Martin swimming towards
shore. She must have clashed with someone. I didn't fancy
swimming, so I was especially careful not to clash with other
boats at the bridge pylon turn. It just needed someone to
clip my tail and cause me to capsize and being a bit of a
sissy I didn't really want to get wet.
Three Epic skis, Adrian
Quick, Peter Liddle and Simon Haywood surround Pete Thompson
in Division 3. Pete went on to beat them . Photo Peter Ashby
Division 3 leaving the
cove. Photo Peter Ashby
Division 4 leaving the cove to do the
first turn around the bridge. Photo Peter Ashby
As soon as we turned and
headed with the wind it was if my motor had been put in overdrive.
The ski started to take off, it was probably like being on
Black Caviar in full gallop. It wanted to go, but I didn't
know if I had the strength to do it justice. I should have
let an elite paddler paddle it! I let it go and I started
to power harder. It slipped into a groove and so did I. Ahead
I could see Anthony Mee and Kelly Howe in a K1 and further
afield rival Mick Mantell and another paddler in a ski. Anthony
beat me in the Bay to Beach and Mick beat me last week so
it would be especially nice to overtake them.
The ski was performing
beautifully on the downwind, I tried holding it back but it
started to slip by Anthony. That burst of speed felt good,
now I had a chance to overtake Mick. The wash from a power
boat slipped across the water and the last time one came across
I noticed Mick brace which slowed his speed. I knew if I could
keep the power on and just take the waves without faltering
I would gain a few more metres. I did and I got closer, eventually
passing him and another paddler on a ski. It felt good. I
knew Mick was a stronger paddler, but I had a faster ski so
as long as I could keep it under control I should beat him.
My next goal was to catch the wiry muscle bound John Dinucci.
Having John in front wouldn't have been so bad, as he is a
much faster paddler than me, but he was in a 4.5m Down River
kayak with no rudder, so that dented my confidence a little.
I could see Warren Southwell and Sam Pilton quite a ways ahead,
but the good thing was, I was catching them. That spurred
me on and near the end of Heirisson Island I managed to catch
up with John. The others were somewhere behind and although
they didn't seem to be on my tail I wasn't quite sure how
far they were away. We paddled straight into a strong wind
as we turned around the island I managed to get level with
John and I soon had thoughts of leaving him behind. As we
moved under the Causeway Bridge the wind blasted us, I suddenly
fell behind again.
Somehow John managed to pull away from me. How could this
be? He is the same age as me. When you talk to John he always
down plays how good he is. He never seems to get excited or
care about winning, he just paddles and always paddles well.
Whatever happens, happens. I'm sure he must secretly want
to beat everyone else.
John and I have paddled together for years, white water paddling,
Avon training and sea kayaking, although we haven't paddled
together lately. I have seen John over the years turn into
a very skilled white water and ocean paddler. He seems to
have no fear. John has been on hundreds of CDU white water
courses, he has rescued heaps of paddlers. John and I have
been on several sea kayaking trips, one of the most rewarding
was when we paddled the Zuytdorp Cliffs, an epic 30 hour journey.
(Read the story on my web site). When things get tough John
can always be relied on.
John Dinnuci winner of the DR Class. Photo Peter Ashby
By the time I turned into
the cove I was probably 20 metres behind John. I hadn't done
so well fighting the wind, but I expected to catch him on
the downwind leg. As I rounded the buoys in the cove I could
see my opposition close behind and several of division 3 paddlers
not far behind them. They had started one minute behind so
I wasn't at all pleased. And I thought I was going okay, which
I was, but the others were paddling better. There were several
of the Saturday morning paddlers amongst the group. And they
were on slower skis. Bugger!
Zac Ashby winner of the Junior
K1. Photo Peter Ashby
I was trying to think
of excuses to why they were catching up, but this week I couldn't
use my cold as that was no longer troubling me. As I was leaving
the cove, with shouts from the crowd, I was thinking there
must be an excuse I can use, but apparently I wasn't fit enough
and up to the standard of others like Michael Leahy who came
tearing passed me. Once out in the river again we soon hit
rough water again. The wind had got stronger and several power
boats passing through had churned the waters and no sooner
had I thought about putting the power Kelly in the K1 passed
me with Mick being not far behind.
Michael Leahy starting to pass
me on the second lap. Photo Peter Ashby
Waves on the bridge turn
were unsettling, I took my time not wanting to fall off but
hoping to see Mick in the water. We turned to go with the
wind and we were all upright but unfortunately Chris Bond,
the 14 year old who won the kayak last week was swimming to
shore. Michael went over to see if he was alright, but there
was little he could do to help him with his big swim. He was
such a long way from shore and this is where a rescue boat
would have been helpful. PFDs are not compulsory so Chris
wasn't wearing one, very few paddlers were, but when the shoreline
is so far away should we be?
As we all pass by Chris Bond
swims his K1 to the beach. Photo Peter Ashby
A K4 passing Jane Liddle who was first
in the Ladies Long Plastics. Photo Peter Ashby
I was flying again and
had paddlers to catch. At the bridge turn I got a little water
in my footwell so on the calm downwind section I took the
opportunity to open my venturi to let the water out. The new
venturi on the Epic V14 is much easier to open and close than
any other venturi I know and when it is open for only a few
seconds the water drains so quickly. If you don't want to
open it with your hand it can be opened by your foot.
Division 3 catching up with a Division 2 paddler. Simon Haywood
was up front until he decided to go around 3 bridge pylons
instead of 2 on his second lap. Photo Peter Ashby
I eventually caught up
with Mick and sat on his tail. Like Ken Smith, Mick is a painter
and just recently he painted part of my house and I have more
to do. If you need your house painting give Mick or Ken a
call, they do a great job and they are terrific guys. My aim
was to wash hang Mick for a short time, get my breath back
and then make a break and see if I could leave him behind.
John and Michael were still ahead, but they hadn't gained
too much. Remember Michael had started one minute behind us
all. As we rounded the island I made my move and passed Mick
and Kelly. The wind was stronger than the first lap, but I
knew I had to work harder than the first lap so I could shake
Mick.
Kristian Maliphant passing Tess Watson and Lawrence Greed
in the double. Photo Peter Ashby
I passed Helen and Judy
in a K2 just before the Causeway Bridge, they looked to be
having a hard time. I started leaving Mick behind but I didn't
really know how far. I expected Michael to have flown ahead
but he and John weren't as far in front as I thought they
would be, so that was heartening. Hopefully all the others
behind me wouldn't be gaining. Minutes later Kelly in the
K1 passed me again. It was too rough and too shallow to try
to wash hang. I entered the cove to the roar of the crowd,
it was just nice to be in calm water again and to be able
to power to the finish line.
I looked behind to see Pete Thomson and then Ken Smith. They
had both passed Mick. They had done so well. Ken was surprised
that he had beaten Mick and having started one minute behind
us he beat me as well. Bugger. I here I was feeling good!!
Then I saw a line of Saturday morning paddlers, Peter Liddle,
Simon Haywood, Steve Bolger not that far behind. Peter even
beat me by 7 seconds. Bugger where did they come from. It
looks as if I need to do less work and more play!
Steve Pilton on Saturday
morning has been training them up to beat me, working on all
their weaker points and it looks as if it is working.
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