20km of Pure Pain
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- Category: Race Article
- Published on Saturday, 12 March 2011 07:39
- Written by Super User
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2011 Ocean Paddling State Titles
Man what a race! Tinderbox to the Derwent Sailing Squadron in Sandy Bay. All 20km's of it. The weather gods certainly didn't smile on the paddling fraternity today. It was a tale of what could have been really. No wind, no waves, no swell but we did have current, except we had to paddle into it!
The start was delayed for an hour in the hope that the forecast sea breeze would materialise. There were a few promising puffs here and there but nothing that was going to produce runs so we set off for a flat grind up the river. Disco Sargison and Ben Maynard pushed the pace early, quickly opening a gap to Luke O'Geary, Cooka and Sprotty. Andy Palmer and Lester Nation followed them with twos and threes behind them searching for a line that dodged the current and miraculously put them back into contention (at least that's what I was doing).
At Taroona the incredible pace at the front started to take it's toll with Disco starting to suffer while Ben piled on the pressure. Seeing Todd falter was enough to give Luke a ray of hope. He managed to get a small gap on Sprotty and Cooka as they slowly reeled Todd in. Back in the field Matt Dalziel was making up ground with Matt Costello in tow while Andy had managed to shake Lester only for Lester to put his awesome surf skills to good use and come back past.
In the finish it was Ben over Luke and Sprotty for line honours. Andy Palmer won the crusty old sea dogs while Jodie won the womens. The race was the last of the Ocean Series with only the Penninsula Marathon to come. Todd Sargison demonstrated his consistency taking out the Division One competition over Lester Nation and Cooka. Division Two was won by John Hitchens who earned himself a Shark Skin paddling top and a promotion to division one for next season. Jim Stubbs was the winner of the $3000 Stellar Ski. Many thanks to Anne, Rex, Jo and Shaggs for their help.
The Pennisnsula Marathon will consist of a Relay and Solo category. Teams can be made up of three paddlers with each paddler having to do about 13km. So get a team together or take on the solo challenge and check out some great coastline and enjoy the last race of the season.
