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Moore River
Well it seemed as if it was going to be a good day for racing,
the wind was supposed to be moderate and the weather not so
hot. Moore River can be very windy and when you are paddling
an open canoe that is pretty slow to paddle at the best of
times, wind is our worst enemy.
Moore River is such a beautiful place to have a race and it
is really suited to families and young children to paddle,
swim or to have a run up and down the sand dunes.
The briefing
At the briefing there didn't
seem to be as many paddlers taking part in the race as last
year, but there were actually more. With the sand bar opening
up a couple of weeks before the race it was a concern as the
water level dropped giving ski paddlers the worry of breaking
their underslung rudders in the shallows but luckily the sand
bar soon closed again so the water was quite high. Being in
a canoe we didn't have any competition but we were hoping
there were going to be a few slow skis or kayak paddlers in
division 4 to keep up with!
A cut down tree has its
uses as a chair
Alaine happy at the start
of the race
Apart from a bit of confusion
at the start due to div 3 and 4 taking off at the same time
we had a pretty good start and for a few hundred metres at
least we kept up with many of the paddlers. We were going
great guns but after 500 metres the rest of the group started
to ease away although we weren't last so that inspired us
to keep up a good pace. For a while there we were keeping
up with a guy on a Spirit PRS but we eventually wore him down
and passed him. Soon after, Doug started to creep by and for
a few minutes we kept up but he managed to surge ahead leaving
us to wash hang him for a short time. I was determined not
to lose him but then I realised the camera I had strapped
to a pole behind me had fallen down so it was taking pictures
of the sky rather than of our race. I reached back to stand
it up but a few seconds later it fell back down, I put it
upright again but it fell back down for the second time. Ah
well pictures of the beautiful blue sky it is! By this time
we had lost Doug's wash and ended up being 10 metres behind
and he was paddling a little too quick for us to catch back
up.
Young Michael Godwin
& Bronwyn Martin take on much older Darryl Long and Sue
Quick. Darryl & Sue won in a time on 1.01.54 with Michael
& Bronwyn 1.02.33. Photo Lawrence Greed
Young Demi Wall &
Tim Coward taking on the more mature Spencer King & Jenny
Bateman. Photo Lawrence Greed
Young Christopher Greed
& Isabella Choate taking on a little more wrinklier Emma
Beely & Michael Leahy. Photo Lawrence Greed
A group of about 6 paddlers
were still behind us and I was thinking to myself we are not
doing too bad really. To think that we were in an open canoe
and I did have Alaine in the front! I can't complain though
she was paddling her heart out. For someone who doesn't paddle
much and who has had a sore shoulder she was flying. Don't
tell her I said she was doing okay though, she just might
think I'm getting soft.
Martin Watson in his
Time Bandit still has time to smile. He was pretty quick as
well. Photo Lawrence Greed
Doug was slowly easing
away from us but I could see Bonnie, Hugh and a couple of
other paddlers still a fair way behind. The river looked very
clean. The river had broken through the sandbar about two
weeks ago so it probably had flushed out much of the scummy
water, and with it closing a few days later cleaner water
has drained in and brought the level back up which eased the
mind of the ski paddlers who were previously worried about
breaking their underslung rudders.
We passed the first island and then the boat ramp and Lawrence
Greed and another person were looking through binoculars to
check our numbers. We were now alone with Doug 30 metres ahead
and a few paddlers about 30 metres behind. It wasn't long
before meeting some of the faster paddlers returning for home.
They had been around the island and were a long way in front
of us but they did start first and they did have faster boats.
We meet other paddlers
heading for home. Photo Lawrence Greed
We continued meeting paddlers
on the return leg and as we reached the island I could see
a lone blue K1 on his return trying to figure out which way
to go. He had rounded half the island but the main river channel
then flowed to the right so I expect he was confused. I assume
he went the right way as I didn't see him again.
Alan Moreby in his Time
Bandit chasing Patrick Tullock, Martin Watson, Rob Rigger,
Peter Liddle, Peter Thomson, and John Van Maanen who were
all in Multisport Kayaks. 59 year old Patrick Tullock was
the clear winner with a time of 1.05.32. Photo Lawrence Greed
The tree at the start of
the island that had been a problem for many paddlers last
year wasn't a problem this year as a section had been cleared
to allow paddlers through. Another tree at the end of the
island was easily passed over but I did here that a ski paddler
tried to take a short cut and broke his rudder.
We started our return run and Hugh Trivett
who was behind us with the group shouting "we are catching
you". The concerning thing was Hugh, Bonnie and others
were getting closer and we were only half way. Although I
was paddling hard I tried to paddle harder and I had hoped
that if Alaine heard me grunting louder she would try to lift
her game as well. We just had to beat them.
No we weren't on a social trip. Photo Lawrence Greed
The return was a lot more
lonelier than the way up as the small group that wasn't that
far ahead was now well in the distance. Only Doug was in reach
and it was going to be impossible to catch him. But our concern
wasn't the ones in front it was the ones catching up from
behind. To make matters worse the wind was now against us
and although it wasn't so bad in the narrow sections it still
held us back.
Just as we had thought there were no more paddlers behind
we met Nathan Kerr paddling around a bend. Nathan had only
had his Endorfinn a few weeks and living in Southern Cross
he doesn't get on the water that often but he was going well
for his first ever race. New paddlers have to be encouraged
because a year or so later if they like the sport will often
be the front runners. You just have to look at Patrick Tullock,
John Carroll, Shannon Sime, they are well up there and haven't
been paddling long.
As we passed the checkpoint again Lawrence shouted, you are
looking good. A little further I could feel a little chaffing
happening in an unusual spot. I never get chaffing on my bum
so I was a little worried about my paddling future and if
the pain might slow me down. (It didn't but it was sore for
a few days after).
We managed to race to the end in a time of 1.23.01. My camera
fastened to a pole fell down soon after the start taking pictures
of the sky. Photo Lawrence Greed
Glancing behind I could
see the pack was getting closer, and it was like being swallowed
up, well probably not that bad but you know what I mean. We
were also in the wider section of the river and the wind had
increased just making it that little bit more frustrating
as the canoe wanted to weave when I didn't want it to. There
was no slowing up though.
Passing the first island again Mrs Bond was in a boat being
safety and a checkpoint, whilst her son was having a great
cool off in the water. The group up front were now well ahead
eventually beating us by about 4 minutes. The wind got stronger
and the group behind were getting closer and closer. I told
Alaine that they were getting closer hoping that she would
paddle harder. I don't know if it worked or not as she might
have been paddling as hard as she could anyway.
There were a lot of children at the bare sand dune having
fun when we passed it. I bet Alaine was thinking about stopping
and having fun herself but I had other plans. With a kilometre
to go the guys behind us were now breathing down our necks.
Oh shit they are just too close for comfort but it looked
as if we were going to hold them off. As soon as we could
see the finish line it was on. Hugh gave it his all and came
beside us and started to overtake. This was serious stuff
we couldn't let him beat us so I shouted to Alaine to pick
up the pace. I chanted our way to the finish line hoping that
Alaine would keep paddling hard. All I needed was a whip and
it would have been like being at the trots.
Hugh never gave up, nor did we but he managed to beat us by
point 1 of a second. He did say later that he and a few others,
because of the confusion at the start were left behind.
It was another good race and the best thing about coming nearly
last is that you don't have to wait long for the presentation.
At least it is the one positive thing about being slow.
Slow paddlers never get
a mention so maybe we should be giving awards out to the last
few paddlers as well.
The fastest K1 was Shannon
Sime in a time of 59.33 with Coran Longwood a second behind
in a time of 59.34. Both paddlers were in Epic Kayaks.
The presentation. Thanks
to the organisers.
For the results go here:
http://www.wa.canoe.org.au/default.asp?Page=26899
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