Sport
5 June, 2024
Outriggers claim national title
LOCAL outriggers have been thrust into the national spotlight after placing first in the Golden Masters Mixed crew at the National Marathon Outrigging Championship in Mooloolabah.
The Tinaroo Dam Outrigging Canoe Club placed first in the Golden Masters Mixed crew in both the short course (10km), taking line honours from 46 craft.
On the first day, there were long and short course events, culminating in the OC6 (Outrigger Canoe six-person) 18 km event.
Local team members Ralph Seed and Angilia Howell from the Dam Outrigger Club combined with John Laird, John Hannah, Renata Bruynzeel and Denise Cooper (a K2 Olympian paddler from the 1992 Barcelona Olympics) to win the 18km long course in a time of 1 hour 34 minutes and 23 seconds.
They also secured line honours in a field of 46 to take gold in the 10 km short course the day before with a time of 53 minutes, 11 minutes.
Team captain and coach Ralph Seed said it was a great weekend of racing with 38 craft on the start line for the 18 km race event.
“The conditions suited us with only eight to ten knots of breeze both days. It's all about technique and teamwork, and fortunately, we gelled well on both days.
“We were lucky to have a clean start and avoided a collision which saw two canoes flip and capsize at the start of the 10km race.
“Our ability to work together in catching waves on the downwind leg gave us a big advantage over our competitors – this, combined with the team's fitness, enabled us to hold and lengthen our lead on the return leg.
“A very satisfying result, to say the least.”
The next big event on the Outrigger calendar is the Cairns to Port Douglas 42km Great Barrier Reef Ocean Challenge and Mini races, which the Hekili Outrigger Club will host from 20 to 27 July.
