It is said that paddling is an “all-weather sport”. With the amount of rain that has poured down on Australia’s east coast in recent weeks (and continues as this report is written) we all knew this state of mind was going to be sorely tested.
The Molonglo River at Molonglo Reach was the venue for this year’s State Championships which doubled as Race 2 of the PaddleNSW Marathon Series. By a twist of fate, the local area did not get the forecast deluge earlier in the week and the river was in excellent condition for the Saturday singles racing. The resident platypus and birdlife briefly parted company to make way for 102 paddlers to hit the 3.7 KM loop course late morning. Regrettably, a number of would-be participants from Sydney and the Central Coast were unable to make the event due to flooding in these regions. Nevertheless, there was good club representation from across most paddling clubs.
To be fair, it was a two-speed course – with the flow and against it – and there were some gremlins to negotiate that included floating debris and whirlpools. With the Open Men’s racing in the first wave, the pressure was on the starter to get all subsequent waves underway in a tight timeframe. The washing machine effect on the water, as each wave bolted downstream, added an additional dimension but swimming was not a feature on the day. Those who raced for higher selection were required to portage. The pontoon worked a treat and the 100-metre grassy stretch adjacent to the river was appreciated by all who ran (or wobbled) its length.
The weather did come in on Saturday afternoon once racing and presentations were completed and as a good number of paddlers and friends reconvened at Rose Cottage Inn for dinner that evening.
Sunday saw 29 double entrants ply the same course this time in windy conditions and with a slightly stronger flow. This was a very good turnout based on historical parameters when racing is conducted over two days. As on Saturday, the racing was excellent and the sportsmanship and camararderie amongst paddlers was strongly present.
Photos courtesy David Tongway and Ian Wrenford. Thank you.
A sincere thank you to all participants and volunteers for attending on the weekend and for supporting our sport.
Burley Griffin Canoe Club looks forward to hosting the 24 hour event at the same venue in December.
Report by Richard Fox
(BGCC Marathon Convener)
RESULTS : 2022 State Championships – Singles | Race results | Webscorer
2022 State Championships – Doubles | Race results | Webscorer
Awesome images thanks to David Tongway & Ian Wrenford: