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Canning Classic
Race
Greg and Paul creating a new type of
race
It was a beautiful calm sunny hot day
for the race. Only 64 paddlers took part but they were all
keen to get on the water and see who they could beat. I was
racing my Time Bandit Multisport kayak so I had quite a bit
of competition.
Doug and Peter , Erica
and Jane working out race strategy
The briefing
All the paddlers doing
the long course lined up just downstream of the bridge. I
got away cleanly but the faster paddlers like T2 and Mark
were out in front straight away. A few boats beside my right
hand side started to veer over to the left as they fought
to go faster than me. We managed not to clash. At a shallow
section before the pipeline I managed to sprint onto a wave
that got me away from the other paddlers who were beside me.
As luck should have it I managed to get on Mick Mantel's wash.
He was going the perfect pace to make me struggle a bit. I
knew if I was struggling being on his wash I was going faster
than I would have been if I wasn't wash hanging so I just
didn't want to lose it.
The start, Jerry Alderson
2nd kayak having a good start
I enjoyed the ride and the pack behind
me weren't able to catch up which was pleasing. I started
to struggle even more and I knew if I fell off the wash the
pack behind me would work as a team to gobble me up. I survived
to the first turn and I was hopeful to go a lot further.
No one had passed us but then Matt Smith
who had capsized his K1 in the flurry of the start caught
up and passed us and although Mick tried, he couldn't keep
up with him which I was pleased about as I wouldn't be able
to keep up with Matts pace. We headed back towards the overhead
pipeline and across the shallows when Mick suddenly stopped.
I wondered what was going on and he said his foot pedal had
jammed.
The race started by going
downstream (left) and then back up to Kent Street Weir to
the finish at Riverton Bridge
Now I had to take the lead
but Mick tried keeping up but eventually his legs started
cramping as he was favouring one side. This was a big blow
as without Mick driving me on I knew my speed would slow.
It wasn't long before I started hearing voices behind me getting
closer. The pack was coming. There wasn't a lot I could do.
I was going as fast as I could and by the time I reached the
short cut in the swamps two or three boats were behind me
following me through the narrow channel.
As soon as I was out of the channel
Daniel Bayliss started to pass me. I paddled harder to keep
up with him. Then I saw old John Van Mannen behind Daniel.
Seeing John wasn't a pleasing sight, he's even older than
me so I couldn't use the age excuse. I had to do whatever
I could to keep on Daniel's wash to make sure John didn't
pass.
58 year old Martin Watson
did it again winning the Multisport class in his Time Bandit
beating Peter Liddle by 3.31 and John Van Mannem by 8 minutes
and me by 9 minutes. That put him the 4th fastest single boat
in the race.
I'm not quite sure what he eats for breakfast but it'scertainly
working.
Brett McDonald on a ski and T2 and Mark
Lawson in a K2 had done the turn at the weir and were heading
home. We started meeting several other faster paddlers as
we cut the corners of the winding river with me trying to
hang on.
Daniel and John were on my left side
so as we approached the turn buoy I knew I was disadvantaged.
It was going to be a tight turn so I took it as wide as I
could and held back to let John through in the hope I could
do a tight turn behind his stern. John just happened to be
too smart and he kept as close as he could to the buoy not
allowing me in, so my plan didn't work. I had no choice but
to turn around him which pushed me a little wider. Nevertheless
by the time we all straightened up they were only a touch
ahead. I managed to keep on their wash for a while but I lost
them in the shallows. They were just too strong. I watched
them slowly get away from me which was quite agonising but
there was a ski catching me up so I had another idea. Wash
hang the faster ski passing and let him drag me back to John
and Daniel. It was a good plan and I got excited but unfortunately
it didn't work as I lost it crossing another section of shallows.
As soon as I lost the wash it was like
paddling in a quagmire. For a few moments everything seem
to stand still. I could feel that I was moving but very slowly.
When I got my rhythm back I felt the kayak pick up, but it
was too late to get the guys in front, now my aim was to keep
ahead of all the other paddlers behind me.
Some three hundred metres from the finish
I had another burst of energy and hope, so I put on another
sprint hoping to catch up but it never happened.
The last hundred metres I was trying
to think of a good excuse that I could tell John who was now
crossing the finish line. I couldn't think of a good one so
it looks as if I will paddle with Alaine in the next race
as excuses are very easy to come by!
There was a friendly gathering
after the race and the organisers had secured lots of prizes
so nearly every paddler got something to take home.
Thanks to Canning Canoe Club and the
organisers and volunteers.
See you at the Rod Fry Race. 27 Apr
2014
Results here:
http://www.canningriver.canoe.org.au/?Page=22493&MenuID=Results%2F21096%2F0%2F
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