CDU Newsletter
Published: Fri, 01/29/16
494
29th January 2016
Message Bank
I have put together many newsletters in my time but this
one is certainly my saddest. The death of Susan Quick in a
kayaking accident at the weekend shocked everyone. It has
been so sad to hear the terrible news. The Australia Day celebrations
seemed so insignificant.
Sue Quick R.I.P. Photo John Hilton
Sue and Adrian were two of our first customers in 2002, Adrian
later helped us with our Come and Try's and when Liam was
a junior we sponsored him with an Epic K1. The whole family
was into paddling. We watched them change from social paddlers
to competitors and to become valuable members of the paddling
community.
Sue at the AKC Buoys Race
In more recent times Sue and Adrian decided to go their separate
ways, although they remained friends. A friendship flourished
between Sue and Darryl Long and they became partners. Since
then they have paddled together in rapids and heaps of flat
water and ocean races with great success.
Sue & Darryl in a Downwind Race
As a single paddler Sue was a tough competitor. She was a
tiny sole and because she paddled with such ease it was hard
to see how she could be so fast. Sue was one of my main rivals
having several duels with her in different races. In the Avon
Descent Sue was the paddler that kept me on my toes. One year
I would beat her by a minute or two, another year Sue would
beat me. Not only did she beat me in last years Avon she was
the first female to finish.
John Hilton's photo tribute (on facebook) just shows us how
many different race events that Sue took part in. As well
as being a mother to Liam and Simon who were great paddlers
themselves, paddling in a single kayak or in a double with
her partner Darryl she loved paddling and it was a big part
of her life.
On the water she had many friends, which I was one, but socially
she had many other close friends as well as many family members
and two children who are going to miss her terribly. I cannot
imagine how Liam and Simon will cope with their unimaginable
loss but I'm sure her family and close friends will rally
around and help Liam and Simon get through a very tough time
ahead.
Our condolences go out to Darryl, Liam, Simon, Adrian and
their family and friends.
More photos of Sue on the Canoeing Down Under facebook page.
*****************************************
Last year another paddler lost his life whilst trimming trees
on his property. Don Colleran was a great guy, a keen paddler
and like Sue was far to young to die.
Sue paddling one of my DR kayaks. This was
probably the time she became more interested in DR paddling.
Now we have lost two of our DR group in less
than 6 months. Photo taken in 2010
***************************************
PLEASE NOTE:
The Canoeing Down Under Shop will be closed
Thursday afternoon 4th February so we can attend Sue's funeral.
***************************************
Ocean Warriors
Cancellation of Downwind Race - Race 30 January
2016
This coming Saturdays IOP race has been cancelled as a sign
of respect for the passing of Sue Quick, partner of Darryl
Long and mother of Liam and Simon, a well known and active
competitor in our local downwind paddling scene.
For those of you who wish to join us, we will be paddling
as a group from Sorrento to North Beach and back, around 3pm
Saturday afternoon and then we will have a quite drink at
the Sorrento bar to honour and remember Sue.
The IOP Events Team
***************************************
"Paddle-Out" for
Sue
Next Wednesday:
This week we lost one of the great women that
has graced paddling in WA; Sue Quick.
On Wednesday 3 February, AKC will replacing our club race
with a " Paddle-Out" to commemorate and remember
the wonderful achievements and the life of Sue.
Please join us in celebrating Sue's life. She contributed
much to our club and was a wonderful member. We don't have
to grieve alone.
The Paddle-Out will commence at 6pm and will head up river
for a bit and will finish back at the club. You are invited
to stay on at the club to continue the celebration; please
BYO drink and the club will provide a sausage sizzle.
We are planning this as an opportunity for family friends
and the paddling community to get together to remember Sue
and to celebrate her life so tragically lost pursuing the
sport she loved. Please share this amongst all your friends.
***************************************
16 year Luke Dooley came down from Kalbarri with his mum
and brother for a weeks holiday. Whilst here he took part
in a Saturday morning training session, raced in the Mandurah
Dual, went paddling with Matt Smith and Mark Hardie on the
river and ocean and loved it.
I paddled with Luke on Monday morning and
the double kayak moved a lot faster than with Alaine and I!
****************************
Training & Courses
Saturday Morning Training
Sandy Beach 7.15am
*********************
Summer Kayak DR Skills Sessions
Around the Bouys
(at 6.00am Claughton Reserve, Bayswater.
No charge)
Just bring a suitable kayak
**************************
Please note:
The FIRST DR TUESDAY EVENING RACE
will be on Tuesday 9th Feb
at Point Reserve, Bassendean,
5.45pm
The series has 3 races
Saturday morning: Steve going through the
different methods of turning around a spit post.
Was it because he got run into a spit post two weeks previous!!
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**************************
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****************************
Epic V10 sale
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These specials valid until 29th Feb 2016 or until stocks last.
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****************************
Our new home
is complete
so
we are moving
into it next week so there is little chance you will receive
a newsletter next Friday.
Tom, Alaine, Jenny and
Nicky
This is our view when
the slab went down in July.
Birds
of the Week
Another Hard
Training Session
It was supposed to have
been a hard training session but by the time we reached Ron
Courtney Island 700 metres from Sandy Beach we were stopped
by two new young Ospreys sitting in the nest that we have
been watching for months. For while we thought the pair of
adults guarding the nest were just passing the time but what
an exciting moment when we saw the two youngsters perching
proudly on the nest branches. Last week I noticed both adults
were out of the nest and a flutter of feathers inside it so
I knew then there must have been at least one chick. But to
see two big youngsters high in the tree peering down at us
and the two parents on different tree limbs really made our
day.
The young chicks appear
from out of their deep nest
They check their surrounds.
They look too big to be hassled by the ravens any more
Dad, or is it mum that
stands guard below them.
The chicks didn't move
far but we were still spellbound. To keep us more interested
there were dozens of other birds chirping and flying from
tree to tree. We watched for at least 25 minutes and then
one of the parents took off and headed downstream. I had seen
an Osprey on Friday morning scooping up a fish near the shallows
opposite Claughton Reserve when we were DR training so I expected
that this is where it was headed. After a few minutes, when
it didn't come back with a meal we decided we had better do
a few more kilometres and headed in its direction.
The other parent sits
in a tree 30 metres away from the nest
Time to hunt for a feed
so it takes off and heads downstream
By the time we reached
Claughton Reserve we could see the Osprey circling close to
the Tonkin Highway Bridge. We got closer and I started taking
photos. I knew if we stayed long enough we would see it dive.
I took another photo and then realised I had no more space
on my memory card. Just as I was deleting a few old photos
Alaine shouted its diving. By the time I got my camera ready
it had snapped up a fish and was on its way home. I started
to shoot a few photos as it moved away but although I clicked
a few shots the camera hadn't focused.
It soars above Tonkin
Highway Bridge
It starts to dive but
I have run out of memory card space so I quickly delete a
few pics but am too late. My camera tries to focus but the
Osprey has caught a fish and is on its way home
About 20 metres away two fishermen we
trying to catch their first fish. When they watched the Osprey
easily catch the fish they said, why can't we do that.
We turned and headed back to the nesting
site and found the Osprey high in a tree 30 or so metres from
the nest and ripping the fish apart. The two youngsters were
still high on the nest waiting and squeaking for food which
didn't seem to be coming. Then the Osprey took off visiting
the nest monetarily before returning to the top of the tree
to feast a bit more.
Time for a feed
It appeared to be enjoying
the meal whilst the chicks wait
Come on mum don't be
greedy where's my lunch
It was time to leave so
we paddled across to the Ascot kiosk for a coffee. It had
been a hard session. In front of the club a group of young
slalom paddlers recently back from the Australian Slalom Championships
in Tasmania were trying out the unstable K4 racing kayaks.
The boys were trying to outshine the girls but I don't think
it was working as we watched them swimming at one point.
We headed home with less than 4kms under
our belts!
Race
of the Week
2015/16 Marathon
Series Race Dates
14th Febuary - Canning
River Race
12/13 March - State Champs
25/26/27 - National Champs QLD
24th April - Pinjarra-Ravenswood
29th May - Double Barkers
5th June - Perth Paddle 50
19th June - Middle Swan Race
*****************************
IOP Downwind Races
20 February 2016
12 March 2016
**************************************
WA Sea Kayak Symposium
4th March 2016 to 8th
March 2016, Albany
Registrations close 26th OF FEBRUARY 2016
2nd Hand Boats
Ocean Kayak Prowler 13
fishing kayak ex demo. good condition $1090.00
********************
Race Times 23/1/16