By JO SEARLE
THERE will be some river racing fun this coming Monday 26 January as part of local Australia Day celebrations.
A course near the Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club (NYRC) will see outriggers racing against rowers, surf club boats and some skis. Race prizes will be donated by NYRC.
This event is also a come and try, so if you would like to join in some outrigger fun come and see us at the Noosa Outrigger tent which will be set up near NYRC where you can register between 8.30am and 9am next Monday.
Healthy folk of all ages considering a great sporting and social activity will find this hit out in a racing outrigger canoe great fun. You will be joined by competitive Noosa Outrigger Canoe Club (NOCC) members who will share their tips and skills with you.
Many of these NOCC paddlers recently competed in the Southern Queensland Sprint titles held at Kawana Waters, bringing home a haul of gold, silver and bronze in 500m sprint races, contested in courses both straight and with a turn at 250m.
The golden naster men’s white team of Ken Mitchell, Craig Harris, Brian Rogers, Bob Hobart, Glen Knoblauch and steerer Bill Ridderhof, came second in both the straight and with a turn. In both races they were narrowly beaten by a fired up team from Northcliffe.
The golden master men’s blue team members, Gary Hanlon, Roger Chaffey, John Hoey, John McAlpin and steerer Bob Lennox, clinched third in both races, just held off by NOCC’s slightly stronger white team and of course Northcliffe.
The golden master women’s team of Jan Allen, Chris Mitchell, Rhonda Crockford, Dee Mooney, Lyn Mills and steerer Val Phillips won gold in both races.
The golden master mixed team of Gary Hanlon, Craig Harris, Brian Rogers, Rhonda Crockford, Dee Mooney and steerer Wendy Mabbott won gold in both races. The team came home strongly in both races, winning comfortably ahead of the competing teams.
The master women’s team of Susie Blumentals, Pascale Hegarty, Jane Coveney, Raquel Hamnett, Kathleen Gentry and steerer Stacey Phillis won silver in both races, which were closely contested. They were beaten by just one second in the final – very close racing!
The novice women’s team of Lisa Phelan, Jill Bingham, Angela Pickering, Jen Fraser, Kylie Cirillo and steered by Stacey Phillis won gold in both races. In their very first races, the nerves were abundant but the team managed to overcome these and perform better than they dared to hope.
Novice team member Jill Bingham enjoyed the racing so much that she said: “If you have been thinking about giving outrigging a try we as novices, who have only been paddling a few months, can’t recommend it highly enough. Its great exercise, a great bunch of people and you’re out in the fresh air enjoying being on the water”.
So come and join in the Australia Day come and try.
For other club information visit online at noosaoutriggers.com.au
