Enjoy the CDU Newsletter
Published: Fri, 01/23/15
Issue
451
23rd January 2015
Message Bank
As soon as I posted last weeks edition I realised it was
my 450th edition of this newsletter and not the 350th. I must
be getting old.
It was good to see that we had 32 paddlers who take part
in our CDU Saturday morning training session at the Claisebrook
Race. That's about a third of the paddlers taking part in
the race were from the CDU Saturday morning Training group.
*************************************
The Friday morning Down River flat water training
around the buoys is going well with 20 paddlers regularly
taking part. It is encouraging to see 9 female paddlers lead
the way. At the moment Bonnie McDougal is on fire, her boat
skills are amazing and she has good speed to back it up. This
morning she was only one second behind the much stronger Peter
Liddle. It goes to show that muscle power alone is not the
whole ingredient for this type of racing. With Baillie Liddle
paddling a DR kayak for the first time this morning the tussle
between Baille and Bonnie will be worth watching in the future.
In flat water racing they are very equal now lets see what
happens in the DR series. A little more fitness and Bryony
will be another lady to watch.
We have some very promising white water paddlers coming up,
female and male. Jane Liddle who last year said she would
never paddle a kayak is now throwing a wavehopper kayak around
with precision and with no fear. It's amazing how people can
change their mind when they give it a go and start developing
skills to give them the confidence. Erica who is new to the
sport this year is very close behind and it won't take long
for Ann to get used to a new style of paddling.
With a buoys race this Tuesday evening at Sandy
Beach Reserve at 5.45pm, it will be interesting to see how
the males will perform. Will Peter be top dog?
*************************************
The Indian Ocean Paddlers Summer Series Race 4, sponsored
by Canoeing Down Under (Epic Skis agent) on Saturday, January
17 was a hot affair, but it didn't dampen the enthusiasm of
competitors.
Well done to Travis England (47.50.9) who won the mens category
and Julie Jenkinson (57.55.9) who won the female category.
Greg Long (48:57.1) was 1st in the over 40 mens, Shaun Rice
(49:19.9) 1st in the over 50s men and Muz Latham (57:20.0)
1st in the over 60 men.
Amanda Bowman (1:04:09.8) 1st in the female open, Aimee Christie
(1:05:38.1) 1st 40 plus female and Julie Jenkinson (57:55.9)
1st overall female and 55 plus female winner.
Darryl Long and Susan Quick (55.46.7) 1st mixed pair and Mark
Hardie and partner (48.46.9) 1st in the mens doubles.
Canoeing Down Under is proud to be a sponsor of the Downwind
Summer Series and even more proud and thanks to all the competitors
paddling Epic Skis.
*************************************
We have been told that there won't be a presentation
at two of the Tri Series races this year but I still can't
understand why Canoe WA would organise a race and not have
a presentation. Most paddlers want to know who has won the
event, others like to be recognised for winning and most stay
back after the race to chat with other racers and socialise.
Our sport is not flourishing as it should, so taking the social
atmosphere from the races can only make things worse.
Paddling is about socalising. We race and we
love it, but we also love to talk about our race with others
and be recognised if we do well. Some of the top paddlers
may not care about staying back after a race, and some paddlers
might have family commitments, but there are many paddlers
who like to stay back, so why take out something that keeps
a crowd. I know it is a tri series and paddlers will be recognised
at the last race (9 months later), but we should be able to
recognise the winners of that particular event on the day,
instead of just finishing the race and going home.
The key to getting people to particpate in a
race is to make it fairly social. We know that there are only
a small bunch of winners but there are a lot who participate
because they enjoy racing others and want to be part of something
special. How do new paddlers mix with others if there isn't
an opportunity. Our Saturday morning training sessions are
successful because the paddlers are sociable to each other
and they enjoy what we offer. New paddlers to the sport have
made many friends through these training sessions.
Not to have presentation at the Paddle Challenge
in May, where many new Avon Descent paddlers attend I think
is ludicrous. It's an opportunity to get paddlers together,
it is an opportunity for publicity, but if there is no presentation,
it will be race and go home.
*************************************
Get Ready For This One
City Lights Kayak Race
1st March, Sunday of Long Weekend
Runs from Canning River to Ascot [30km] going past the city
just after dark. Food and entertainment at Ascot at end of
event, seriously good fun!
Requirement is at least two competitors per team: Double
kayaks, Two kayaks at a time or Any paddle-powered multi-person
craft welcome.
Line up a team-mate, make a plan to stay in Perth for the
weekend and look out for registration details in mid Feb.
Any queries, call Race Director, Doug Hodson 0417 938 596
Sponsored by Canoeing Down Under, Ascot River Kiosk, Alarms
System WA, Joondalup Sport Massage, Water Wanderers, and Alex
Graham Personal Training.
Training & Courses
Saturday Morning
Fitness Training
Race Start 7.30am on
the dot!
PFD MUST be worn
*********************************
Flat Water Down
River Training 'Around the Buoys' is Back
Are you wanting to increase your paddling skills. These sessions
will help enormously. Improvement is guaranteed
Friday mornings 6.00am at Claughton Reserve, Bayswater
Bonnie is the star of
DR. She was only 1 second behind the much faster Peter Liddle.
Skill plays an important role
Baillee. The competition
between Baillie and Bonnie is hotting up. For the first time
this morning Baillie tries out a DR kayak. Here she puts in
a reverse stroke in to get around the buoy. That's a big no-no
as it slows the boat down. It is important to keep the kayak
moving. I'm sure that once she gets used to the DR her control
will be perfect and she will be on fire.
Bryony negoiating a tight
turn and ready to give Bonnie and Baillie a race for top position
Down River race around
the buoys this Tuesday at Sandy Beach Reserve, Bassendean,
5.45pm
17 paddlers took part
in the short race this morning. Peter Liddle was lucky to
beat Bonnie by 1 second
1st Peter Liddle 2.41 DR
2nd Bonnie McDougal 2.42 DR
3rd Paul Hannigan 2.45 Wavehopper
4th Brett Young 2.52 Multisport
5th Jason Gardner 2.54 Wavehopper
6th John Breed 2.55 Wavehopper
7th = Dave Tupling 2.57 DR
7th = Rob Rigger 2.57 DR
8th Bailey Liddle 2.58 DR
9th Ray Smith 3.00 Wavehopper
10th = Micheal Liddle 3.05 Wavehopper
10th = Chris Hollier 3.05 Wavehopper
10th = Kris Smith 3.05 DR
11th Bryony McCrudden 3.12 DR
12th Jane Liddle 3.14 Wavehopper
13th Erica McKnight 3.17 WAvehopper
14th Brian 3.38 Ace 415
DNS Ann Smith helped with timing
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Race
Stories
Claisebrook
Classic 2015
It was going to be a hot day so Peter
Martin, the organizer brought the registration forward to
6.30am - 7.30am. That seemed a little early for an old guy
like me who doesn't usually go to bed before 11.30 - midnight,
but at least I didn't have far to drive. I felt sorry though
for 68 year old Jon Van maanen who lives way up in Yanchep
as he would have to get up real early to be there on time.
Being a concerned competitor like I am I just wondered how
he would cope with the hot conditions and early start.
When we drove to the start there were
too many paddlers already there so parking close by was impossible,
so it will mean I will have to get out of bed much earlier
next year if I wanted a close parking spot.
True to Peter's word it was hot by the
time we had the briefing and ready to go. By 8.00am most paddlers
had paddled into the Claisebrook Cove and were sheltering
from the sun under the shade of a tree waiting for the 8.30am
start. There was hardly any wind so we needed shade.
Quiet Claisebrook Cove before the rush
A Dolphin was putting on a show on the
corner opposite and a couple with a couple were having a front
seat view watching it go back and forth trying to find a feed.
The dog was just as curios as its owners.
The dog was pretty curios
I was paddling the Epic double ski with
Alaine. Our start time was 8.34am so at 8.20am Alaine decided
she needed to go to the toilet. You can imagine what I was
thinking, why now! We had been hanging around for 45 minutes
and now Alaine decides to go, but being the considerate kind
of guy, I didn't say a word. When the loud speaker told the
K4 teams to go to the line and she hadn't returned I started
to worry. We were going to miss our start. Although we weren't
at the Olympics I was getting anxious and I could imagine
what stress an Olympian would be going through if they had
to wait for their partner to arrive back and their big race
was about to start. Luckily we weren't in the Olympic games
and luckily Alaine came back in the nick of time, she hadn't
fallen down the loo!
The K4s and K3s take off. Photo Peter
Ashby
As we paddled towards the cove and with
3 minutes to spare the K4s and K3s were off. We had raced
Neil, Rosie and Leo who paddled a K3 at the Ascot Wednesday
night race and we beat them, so I was interested to see if
we would beat them today. Pity we were on different grids
and 2 minutes apart. By the time we had turned and lined up
we only had a minute or so to spare and then we were off.
The K2s take off. Photo Peter Ashby
There were only 8 doubles on our grid,
but that was enough competition with the likes of Simon Roll
and Matt Dean scurrying out of the cove at a super slick pace.
Within 200 metres the group was spread but we were just about
keeping up with the K2 pairs of Lawrence Greed and Tess Watson
and Katherine Ross and Darren Grogan. Just before the turn
at Windan Bridge Lawrence and Tess sped away to the front
but squandered their lead at the turn when Lawrence went wide
and paddled around some Fisherman's buoys by mistake.
Juniors Zac Ashby and Christopher Greed.
Photo Peter Ashby
Paddlers in division
3 about to take off. 8 of the boats in the photo were bought
from Canoeing Down Under. 9 of the paddlers are or have been
paddlers who take part in the CDU Saturday morning training.
Photo Peter Ashby
Paddlers in division
4 take off. 8 boats in this photo were bought from Canoeing
Down Under. 6 paddlers in this photo take part in the CDU
Saturday morning training. Photo Peter Ashby
The juniors take off. Photo Peter Ashby
Lawrences mistake was to our benefit
because we were then able to get on their wash and start a
perfect ride. Katherine and Darren were about 15 or so metres
ahead so Lawrence and Tess gave chase. Further ahead I could
see the boats of Rob Roll and Judy Martin and Mike and Wendy
Drok but we had no chance of catching them or the pair of
Simon Roll and Matt Dean who were in the far distance.
There was no wind heading towards Heirisson
Island so it was hot. I sipped at my water bladder to keep
my throat moist and just concentrated on keeping the Epics
nose right behind Lawrences Epic kayak. We needed to keep
with the others at least for one whole lap to have any chance
of being within cooee of them at the end. We knew Lawrence
and Tess could sprint so if we weren't ahead of them going
back into the cove on that last lap we had little hope of
beating them.
Lawrence caught up with Katherine and
Darren which meant we virtually did as well. Once under the
causeway bridge a little breeze blew cooling the air a touch.
We passed the Australia day firework barge and Katherine and
Darren led us around the island. They paddled wide around
the south end of the island, probably trying to avoid breaking
their rudder in the shallows. I would have gone closer, but
when you are on someone's wash, and you know that you are
not strong enough to pass, you just follow.
Several power boats and the odd jet
ski started meeting us and throwing up several waves. We had
no trouble with stability in the ski and I was hoping it would
create more hassles for Lawrence and Tess in the K2, but the
waves seemed to have little effect on their speed.
Competitors race around the turn buoys
on the first lap. Photo Peter Ashby
The river was busy with several rental
kayaks paddling in and out of the cove. We entered the cove
tightly behind the other two boats. At the turn buoys Lawrence
made a dash and managed to get in front of Katherine and Darren.
It wasn't good news for us as we were now a few metres behind
and we had to work harder to fill the gap and catch up. We
dug deep and eventually we managed to catch up.
For a couple of old people
we are not too far behind. Photo Peter Ashby
Lawrence and Tess sprint on the turn
and go to the front. Photo Peter Ashby
At the bridge turn on the second lap
Lawrence and Tess were still leading but for some reason they
went wide again, but not as wide as last time, but wide enough
for us to catch them again. We were grateful. Chris Kirby,
who was on a following grid managed to get his rudder wrapped
around the rope attached to the fisherman's buoy on both runs
which delayed him somewhat. Mike Liddle helped to untangle
him on one run.
The heat was oppressive yet again heading
towards the island. Mark Lawson in his K1 and Samuel Maurice
on a ski, who were the grid behind passed us and eventually
beat us by 6 minutes. They were the fastest singles though.
Mark 57 won a gold medal at the last world masters championships
in the 55+ class and seems to be getting better.
By the time we were going under the
causeway bridge we were level with Lawrence and Tess, although
they did manage to sneak in front just before the top island
turn. Katherine and Darren seemed to take the top turn wide
again so I thought it was our chance to get in front so we
cut the corner and managed to get beside them, leaving Lawrence
and Tess to trail behind. This was just the place I wanted
to be in to have any chance of beating them.
The boats came by once again as we approached
the causeway bridge. By the time we got within 500 metres
of the finish line Lawrence and Tess managed to pull up so
we were now 3 abreast. It was going to be a fight for the
line. Within 200 metres we run across a really shallow section
and stalled and suddenly the other guys were 2 boat lengths
ahead. I wasn't quite sure if it was Alaine's weight in the
back that bogged us down, but whatever happened it came at
the wrong time!!
Martin Watson in the single started 4
minutes behind the doubles and now he is about to race them
to the finish line.
Photo Peter Ashby
We turned into the cove with Lawrence
and Tess in front after having a burst of speed and we were
now trailing Katherine and Darren by a few boats lengths.
Lawrence and Tess flew to the finish line ending up 17 seconds
faster than us. We cried for a couple of seconds, but then
we didn't think we did too badly, after all, Tess did go to
the world marathon championships last year.
The sour point was that the K3 of Neil,
Rosie and Leo had beaten us by 20 seconds.
After we finished we watched all paddlers
on other grids head for the finish line.
68 year old Jan Van Maanen
is going really well at the moment. Photo Peter Ashby
Rob Riggir (Chrono) and
Rob Jarratt (Epic) are getting faster with every month that
passes. Photo Ann Crouch
Sister and brother Ballie and Michael fight it out for the
finish. Photo Ann Crouch
My heros for the day were
59 year old Martin Watson 1:07:02.4 who paddled a Time Bandit
and was 11th overall including the K3s and K4s. He was the
4th single over the line which is quite amazing. As the saying
goes 'I want what he's having'. For a 68 year old Jan Van
Maanen did very well. He paddled a Time Bandit and did it
in 1:14:04.3. John beat a multitude of good younger paddlers.
Happy to bring up the rear was 75 year old Ray Smith on his
V8. It just goes to show that life can start at 60.
78 year old Ray Smith crossing the line
with a raised paddle. Photo Ann Crouch
Thanks to Peter, Mark and the team for running another successful
event. We do appreciate the effort you put in. Presentation
was done under one of the shadiest trees in Perth. Olympian
Stephen Bird and Jesse Phillips were there to congratulate
the winners.
Results go to:
http://www.webscorer.com/racedetails?raceid=35452&did=39804
[ http://www.webscorer.com/racedetails?raceid=35452&did=39804%20 ]
Race of the Week
Canoeing Down
Under sponsored
Downwind Race
Saturday, January 17
City Beach to Sorrento
Winner Travis England
(47.50.9)
The Indian Ocean Paddlers
Summer Series Race 4, sponsored by Canoeing Down Under (Epic
Skis agent) on Saturday, January 17 was a hot affair but it
didn't dampen the enthusiasm of competitors.
Well done to Travis England (47.50.9) who won the mens category
and Julie Jenkinson (57.55.9) who won the female category.
Greg Long (48:57).1 was 1st in the over 40 mens, Shaun Rice
(49:19.9) 1st in the over 50s men and Muz Latham (57:20.0)
1st in the over 60 men.
Amanda Bowman (1:04:09.8) 1st in the female open, Aimee Christie
(1:05:38.1) 1st 40 plus female and Julie Jenkinson (57:55.9)
1st and overall female winner in the 55 plus female.
Darryl Long and Susan Quick (55.46.7) 1st mixed pair and Mark
Hardie and partner (48.46.9) 1st in the mens doubles.
Canoeing Down Under is proud to be a
sponsor of the Downwind Summer Series and even more proud
and thanks to all the competitors paddling Epic Skis.
Results here: http://www.webscorer.com/racedetails?raceid=35374&did=39695
Shaun Rice 1st in the
over 50 men
Paul Mclaren looked pleased
with his run or pleased that he had finished!
Julie Jenkinson (57.55.9)
female winner
It's all smiles
A perfect entry
Race of the Week
Senior men fight
for weed free course in Penrith
Australia’s senior 1000 metre men
protested against the state of the course at the Sydney International
Regatta Centre on the weekend.
The venue was hosting the 2015 NSW Canoe
Sprint Championships with the men making their stance in the
opening race on Saturday morning.
Lead by Ken Wallace, Murray Stewart
and Lachlan Tame, the 1000 metre men as collective group decided
to make a statement against what they believe to be “unfair”
racing conditions.
While they acknowledge that SIRC is
one the best venues in the world they believe the ever presence
of weed on the racing course provides an un-even playing field.
“It is one of the best facilities
going around but the water is atrocious,” Tame said.
It is an issue that has been on the
athletes’ minds for quite some time.
“We dedicate our whole lives to
racing and we always look for a fair race and it just wasn’t
fair, and it has never been fair from what I have heard across
the last 10-15 years of racing.”
The senior men trained on the course
on Wednesday afternoon and were frustrated that it hadn’t
been improved.
“If I had to grade it out of 10
it was a 2. You could not go more than 200m without getting
weed,” Tame said.
“We did train and I guess training
doesn’t matter if you get beaten by someone, but if you
are getting beaten in a race and it is not from your wrongdoing
then it is not fair.”
The senior men are hoping that organisers
will shift the selection races to alternate venues.
******************************
Slalom Nationals
a chance for young and old to shine
The National Championships
is an event that allows everyone to shine. It celebrates the
past, the present and the future.
Two Victorian paddlers with vastly different
experience levels embody just that and were in action at the
Australian Slalom National Championships in Eildon last weekend.
Brian Cooper (aged 74) and Sebastian
Montalto (aged 10) were the oldest and youngest paddlers in
action.
Both share a love for all things paddling
be it at completely different stages of their journey.
Cooper has been paddling since the early
1980’s and has been working as an instructor for more
than 30 years.
On the other end of the spectrum is
young Montalto. He says he is simply just “enjoying his
paddling” for the time being.
He looks up to three-time Olympian Warwick
Draper and hopes to one done represent Australia.
Cooper was a late-comer to the sport.
He begun paddling in his 40’s but wishes he started much
earlier.
“In 1983 I smashed a knee and had
to give up running and jumping sports and I was teaching at
the time with a guy who was a basic skills instructor and
he got me into paddling.”
“I wish I had known about it 30
years earlier. I have never looked back since, I have kept
it up and during my training and getting qualifications through
the Australian Canoeing Awards Scheme, Jane Farrance said
to me if you want to improve your paddling take up slalom
and I have enjoyed it ever since.”
While he believes that the sport has
a lot of improvements that can be made he doesn’t question
the spirit of competition.
“One of the things that I learnt
very early about the competitive side of slalom racing is
that you are rubbing shoulders with Olympians, world champions
and they are just another person, they are nothing separate,
you ask how do you do this gate or that gate and they will
tell you on the spot.”
“In other sports that I have been
involved in you do not mix with elite sportspeople.”
Cooper admired young Montalto who paddled
beyond his years to produce a clean K1 run on the opening
day of competition.
“I couldn’t even imagine myself
even attempting it as a ten year old,” he said.
Cooper had some simple advice for Montalto.
“Be dedicated, listen to what he
is told, try everything, work out what suits him because there
is more than one way to do a lot of things.”
Eildon was Cooper’s tenth nationals
but it is fair to say it will not be his last.
He said it makes him proud to be the
oldest competitor.
“I do not feel like the oldest
athlete, I still thoroughly enjoy it, I still get butterflies
on the start line and I think everyone gets that. It makes
me proud that I can still do it and enjoy doing it.”
***************************
Sandy &
The Waiting Game
Back in Dhaka, Well, this
is the part that I don’t do well, WAITING and wading
through bureaucrats to get permissions. I am getting organised
to go ‘somewhere’, but I am not sure if that ‘somewhere’
will be Myanmar or Thailand…I am absolutely struggling
with Myanmar permissions for the kayaking expedition. if I
cannot get permission then I will have skip Myanmar and fly
into Thailand to start from Ranong. Once my red plastic seakayak
is shipped out of Chittagong, and the ‘somewhere’
problem is resolved, I will fly to Kolkata, pick up my folding
kayak and get back to what I want to do in 2015… kayaking
the coast of Asia. For now I am trying to get stuff done in
Dhaka. Not speaking the language makes it a tricky place to
do a simple thing like posting some packages, so Trip to Bangladesh’s
Mahmud Hasan Khan (he’s in the Lonely Planet Guide book)
got me a singing and poetry reciting guide to take me all
over the city on rickshaws to do my errands and we visited
Old Dhaka and Sadarghat…it turned out to be a really
amazing day.
Races
Bay 2 Beach
Sat 7th February 2015.
******************
Canning River
Race
22-Feb-15 Sunday Marathon
# 4
******************
01-Mar-15 Sunday City
Lights Long Distance Event
******************
07-Mar-15 Saturday State
Championships
******************
08-Mar-15 Sunday State
Championships
******************
15-Mar-15 Sunday Rod
Fry Memorial Race, Swan
******************
22-Mar-15 Sunday Bevan
Dashwood Dash, Canning
******************
03-Apr-15 Friday Marathon
Champs Canberra, Easter Weekend
******************
12-Apr-15 Sunday Canning
Classic
******************