By Margaret Maccoll
Thousands of outrigger enthusiasts descended on Noosa on Saturday for the annual Laguna Bay Challenge.
Noosa Outrigger Canoe Club head coach Des Mabbot said just under 100 teams representing clubs in the South Queensland zone from Bundaberg in the north to Tweed Heads in the south competed.
“It was a very successful day,” he said.
Noosa had 13 teams in the competition which was split into 16km long courses of men, women and mixed teams from Noosa to Sunrise beaches and back, and short courses of 8km for minnows, Under 12, Under 14 and Under 16.
Des said highlights of the day included first placings for long course golden masters men’s and women’s teams with competitors aged 60 years and over.
The long course mixed open team won line honours and claimed first place. The win was particularly significant as they rowed in a new canoe blessed just prior to the race.
Also taking out placings were the senior masters mixed team who won first, senior masters women claimed third and the masters women who came in second.
The national outrigger competition will be held at Mooloolaba in two weeks.
