Terry 0417 977 330

terry@canoeingdownunder.com.au

Re: Swan River Channel Closures for Matagarup Bridge

Please be advised that from 4 April, a 600m stretch of the Swan River between Burswood and East Perth will be closed to all river users to allow for construction of Matagarup Bridge.

The installation and erection of the large arches, which will form the main features of the bridge, requires a complex sequence of anchor lines and cables in and across the navigation channel to stabilise the barges and move bridge sections into position.

Following close consultation with the Department of Transport (DoT), the Swan River Pedestrian Bridge Alliance (SRPBA) will be closing the channel to all vessels to protect worker and public safety.

The river will be closed to all vessels, 300m to the north and 300m to the south of the bridge piers. Recreational users will not be able to access the area for up to eight weeks, the channel reopening date will be advertised on Main Roads website when it is confirmed. 
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For further information please visit www.mainroads.wa.gov.au, contact Main Roads Customer Information Centre on 138 138 or email enquiries@mainroads.wa.gov.au

Check out the 2013 Mara Results

http://canoe.org.au/wp-content/uploads/old-files/ac/downloads/2013/marathon/2013/Official%20Results%202013.pdf

State Marathon Championships.  Day 1

There were 5 over 65 year olds entered the marathon race however John Dinucci was absent this year as he was in New Zealand and we don’t see much of Rob Roll who is still training but not competing. Rob and Jerry Alderson, who was on the start line, were WAs fastest masters. They always returned from Australian or World Masters events with several medals.

All the master male single paddlers above 45 were on the line together so it was going to be a bit of a battle against the wash for the first kilometre. I got a pretty good start with Ron and Jerry somewhere behind. Within a kilometre Ron was creeping up. It wasn’t what I wanted to happen but it was expected. The first buoy turn was pretty sharp but that was to my advantage as long as I was on the right side of the paddler at the buoy at the same time. We then crossed over to the other side of the competition course and turned around the second two buoy turn which wasn’t so sharp. As we headed to the top three buoy turn Ron caught up, although at the turn I got in front again but my lead didn’t last long as Ron put the pressure on leaving me to wash ride him until the next turn where I got ahead again. At the top and bottom turns I was able to get ahead but Ron always pegged me back.

Catching up with some of the slower paddlers at the turn buoys did slow us down and made it interesting as to who would get the better line. Somehow I don’t think I would have been able to catch Ron if he got away from me.  

So at most turns I would get ahead and on the straights Ron would catch up and I would wash-hang him until we hit another turn. The wind was gusting coming mostly from the side so it made paddling a little uncomfortable. I did wonder what the river conditions were like.

My race was now solely with Ron. Would he try lose me, or did he just like paddling together and would shoot off at the end. I had to be ready for him to make a break. It’s strange because a paddler beside you always looks like they are taking it easier than you are. ​​​​​​​

We were now on our last lap with one more buoy turn and the finish line being 150 metres after the turn. The only way I was going to beat Ron was to get to the turn first. If he got to the turn first he could go close to the buoys and close me out so about 100 metres from the turn I put the pressure on and arrived at the buoy first. I was on the inside so I knew I couldn’t be cut off. I rounded it with ease but Ron went wide and by the time I had straightened up and headed for the finish line Ron was several metres behind. I couldn’t believe my luck. If he had sprinted to the buoy and got there before me it would have been a different story. I just dug deep and paddled hard for the line. With 20 metres to go Ron was coming at me like a raging bull. He closed the gap to virtually nothing but I just managed to hold him off and pip him to the line by a metre or two. Yippee I had done it.​​​​​​​

It was a good race but the win felt a little hollow. If it wasn’t for the turn buoys I don’t think I would have beaten Ron. I know that Ron is going to be hard to beat at the Australian Championships as he is going to be wiser, more used to the kayak and have a few more tactics up his sleeve.   

Day 1 results

https://www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=130929 

State Marathon Championships. Day 2.

Finding a partner for the State Marathon Champs doubles race at 66 was not easy. My usual female paddling partner Alaine has retired from paddling, my usual male paddling partner John Breed was having the time of his life in New Zealand, my City Lights paddling partner Simon O'Sullivan was playing finals cricket (I bet he's glad he wasn't playing for the Australian team), my Wednesday night paddling partner was busy, another paddler didn't think he could keep up with my stroke rate, then there were other excuses so things were looking grim.

Anyway after the Saturday singles championships I asked Nikki Taylor if she would like to give it a go. She agreed so I could rest easy Saturday night knowing that I had a partner and I wasn’t going to be sitting on the side lines twiddling my fingers.

Nikki had only been paddling for 6 months but she was stronger than she realised and kept saying if you can find someone else you better take them.

It was hellishly windy and getting to the venue several paddlers were on the side of the road along Tonkin Highway tying their boats on. We both arrived early Sunday morning to have a go at paddling together for the first time. It wasn't the best of conditions the wind was howling and wind gusts were even stronger but there was no option.
 

We had a bit of a wobble at the start but we soon got into a rhyme and although the wind was trying to make it difficult I was confident after our practice run we could give the race a good shot. It wasn’t about winning though, it was about participating and having fun but if we won, well that would be the icing on the cake.

There were only two kayak teams in the over 55, us and Peter and Judy Martin but because all doubles were going off at the same time we had several crews to challenge for four laps at least. 

The wind had eased a little for the start of the race but with 22 boats on the line it was the wash that I expected was going to give us the biggest problem. We took off and within 200 metres I realised we were doing alright and were up with some crews that should have been faster than us and not only that we were riding the rough water pretty well. Don’t get too cocky I thought as we still had a long way to go. Although our main competitors in our class were Peter and Judy Martin I was also hoping to give some of the guys from the Saturday morning crew a run for their money.

Jane and Erica were a few boats lengths ahead just after the bridge. I was hoping to keep up with them but they were two tough, determined, strong ladies who were paddling an Epic double. Just behind them were Jason and Rob who were also in an Epic double and of course there were several faster teams in front of them. We were doing pretty good, then two big strong Kiwis, Chris Watson and Steve Bolger came up beside us.

The wind gusts were certainly a nuisance but we kept a fair speed on the way down towards the first turn. Eventually Chris and Steve managed to get ahead but we soon caught up with Jason and Rob. We were on a roll but the wind gusts soon put us in our place and slowed us, as we were in a less stable kayak than the others.

As we paddled back into the warm up lake two more strong guys, Lawrence and Hugh came up on the inside of us. Just before the bottom turn buoys Lawrence said they were portaging so they allowed us to speed up and take the buoy turn before them as they were going to portage to the right and we would be in their way. This also allowed us to catch up with other three boats that were ahead.