Reading the flyer presented by the Noosa Outrigger Canoe Club, covering the annual River Race, it is no wonder that club president Bodo Lenitschek is feeling immensely proud of the club’s all round performance.
On both water and land, everything was first class. Scores of club members provided marshalling and catering, thus ensuring that the hundreds of visitors had a wonderful time in Noosa.
“Noosa’s Outrigger Canoe Club is a successful competitive club with great vibes and an excellent team of coaches. The event bears testimony to that,” said Lenitschek.
Clubs from all over the southeast corner, gathered at Chaplin Park to race over a Short Course 8km and Long Course 12km. Hundreds of competitors travelled from as far as the Fraser Coast, Surfers Paradise, Brisbane, Redcliffe, Mooloolaba, and Caloundra.
The park was packed with sleek hulled canoes and paddlers, all waiting for the racing to start following a safety briefing from the race director, Des Mabbot.
It was a windy day with a few showers, but the racing went off without a hitch. The events were conducted in strong southerly winds, which resulted in very tactical racing.
The short course went from Chaplin Park, down river past the Sofitel, around the Sound and back under the Munna Point Bridge, then back up along a windy stretch to the finish line.
The long course had an additional lap of the Sound to evaluate the endurance of the competitors.
Outrigging is usually an open water sport, but this magnificent river race, which complements other events in our unique part of the world, is set to become a staple with many vantage points from which to watch these events.
Noosa finished the day with satisfactory results. In the Long course (12km) ladies’ division they won the Novice, Golden Masters and the Golden Masters Mixed Unlimited. Not to be outdone the men’s teams took out the Novice and Senior Masters Unlimited.
Short Course (8km) winners were Platinum Mixed, Novice Men, Senior Masters Men Unlimited, Golden Masters Men and Golden Masters Men Unlimited.
As a courtesy from the club, for the uninitiated, they informed us of the following age divisions. The Opens- all adults 20 and above, Masters 40 and above, Senior Masters 50 and above, Golden Masters 60 and above, and Platinum Masters 70 and above.
As with Pickle Ball, the Outrigger Canoe Club provides great sporting fitness and socialising activity for all ages and not just the young. Thus, these sports are indeed something that should be encouraged supported, and above all, sponsored.
The next big event will be a regatta in Laguna Bay on 28 January. But for now, good luck and Merry Christmas to all.
Noosa Little Athletics
If ever there was a Noosa head coach headed for a Merry Christmas, it would have to be Mick Hooper of Noosa Little Athletics. First of all, there was the Queensland Little Athletics State Relay Championships in Brisbane where Noosa had some 27 athletics competing and their results were impressive.
The U17 girls were a standout. Kaiya Hides, Dianne Ladewig, Oliver Payne and Jennifer Ladewig won gold in the Swedish relay (100, 300, 200, 400m) and backed up for another gold in the 4×100. Jennifer and Dianne Ladewig didn’t stop there, picking up two more gold medals in the U17 girls long jump and the regional Sunshine Coast U17 representative team.
Our U9 mixed high jump team, Zachary Nielsen and Macie Rankin won gold, U10 boys high jump, Hervey Zegers and Ben Clayton won silver. Under 14 boys long jump Ben Parker and Luca Gerrard won silver. Great day was had by all, and the Noosa support group could be heard loud and clear in the huge crowd.
Last weekend 10-11 December, we had two of our club members competing for Queensland at the Australian All Schools Championships in Adelaide: Mailee Scott- Jones finished ninth in the U17 girls 400 m hurdles. Jumping, a personal best, Luca Gerrard jumped 12.26 m in the U14 boys triple jump, winning a bronze medal.
“This was a great result from our young Noosa athletes competing against the best in Australia,” said coach Hooper.
“It has been a tough year considering Covid and other problems that we faced.
So as coach, I would like to thank all involved, coaching staff, athletes and in particular our support team, who travelled all over the country. When they started to cheer you couldn’t help but hear them. Definitely great encouragement for our young athletes.”
