It looks as if I broke the short plastic Avon Descent record. The downside is - it is not recognised any more because they had cut out the short plastic class. My time was 09:23:51.49.
The record in the Single Short Plastic is held by Ryan Goodchild. Time 9:31:09 recorded in 2008.
I was the 28th Single over the line and 51st overall which included singles, doubles and teams. I was 9th in the K1 mens class which included all the top paddlers and I was in a 415 a 4.15 metre plastic kayak. A field of 181 craft started, 137 finished.
It was great going down the Avon Valley. The rapids were big and testing. I beat so many paddlers on that section and watched many paddlers capsize like dominoes. I paddled every rapid with no spills.
On the last 30kms after the tea trees there were only 3 K1s that passed me (one was in a team) and two boats that I came in with.
It just shows you don't have to paddle the fastest boat to do well. New comers should keep that in mind especially when it is high water. Staying in the craft is very important.
So I was pretty pleased with my result.
Thanks to Alaine Davin for being my support crew yet again.
More on the Avon Descent Race in the next newsletter.
Results here:
https://bluechipresults.com.au/results.aspx?CId=11&RId=1456&EId=2