Sport
29 May, 2024
Paddlers take on the Barron
MORE than 100 paddlers took to the Barron River at the weekend for the annual Barron River Challenge.
Every year, some of the best paddlers from across Australia take their canoes and kayaks to the Barron River to race from Mareeba to Kuranda over three days.
Canberra paddling duo Craig Elliott and Laura Lee took out the overall win.
Craig and Laura finished in Kuranda, with a time of 3 hours, 37 minutes, and 8 seconds - a minute and 13 seconds outside of the race record set in 2019 by local paddlers John van Ryt and Steve Jenje.
John was back in the race again this year, securing second place while Struan Lamont secured third place.
In fourth was last year’s female BRC20 winner Nicky Donaldson, who was guided by paddling partner Geoff Pearce, who also notched up his 10th BRC50 this year.
In the BRC20 category event held on Saturday, local Robbie Miller finally stepped onto the top rung of the podium with a time of 1 hour, 43 minutes, and 31 seconds.
Tony Marnane, Atherton, finished in second place with a time of 1 hour, 44 minutes, and 48 seconds.
At 73-years-old, Steven McLay secured third place, completing the 22km section of the Barron River in 1 hour, 45 minutes, and 45 seconds.
Jane Gunton was the first female to finish paddling with her son Levi Gunton, who also became the junior male winner with a time just under 2 hours and 4 minutes.
Cordula Kath took second place with her personal best time of 2 hours, 7 minutes, and 23 seconds.
Leith Hawke, paddling with her niece Shiloh Gunton, finished third. Shiloh was the Junior Female winner with a time of 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 32 seconds.
Despite rough conditions on the water, organiser Terry McClelland said it was a great event and was proud of everyone’s achievements.
“Conditions this year were testing for even the elite paddlers. In the wake of Jasper, the riverbanks softened, and many large trees choked the river course following two further rain events,” he said.
“Whilst enjoying the greatest river volumes in our 14-year race history, paddlers had to slalom around and under many obstacles, an exhilarating experience. Those who swam the least produced personal record times.”
