More than 400 paddlers from all over the world took to the water today at the annual Schweppes Hamilton Island Cup. The gruelling 42km marathon was conducted under sunny skies however wind gusts of up to 27 knots whipped up the ocean into a washing machine for the paddlers.
The marathon started in front of the award winning luxurious qualia resort and immediately paddlers were faced with choppy sea conditions with breaking waves of up to two metres in Dent Passage.
Gold Coast club Outrigger Australia took line honours with both their men’s and women’s teams winning the respective open divisions.
In the master women’s division it was a neck and neck battle between Canada and the crew from Mooloolaba, with the Canadians finally breaking away from the Sunshine Coast crew in the last kilometre of the race in a time of just over four hours.
The Master Men’s division was won by Brisbane Outrigger Canoe Club after a three way sprint to the line over Burleigh Point and Port Hacking.
Results:
Open Men:
1. Outrigger Australia – 3:08.66
2. Mooloolaba – 3:11:49
3. Cronulla – 3:17:42
Open Women:
1. Outrigger Australia – 4:00:55
2. Pacific Dragons – 4:05:45
3. Brisbane – 4:07:35
Master Men:
1. Brisbane – 3:31:10
2. Burleigh Point – 3:31:27
3. Port Hacking – 3:32:00
Master Women:
1. Comox Canucks (Canada) – 4:01:32
2. Mooloolaba – 4:03:02
3. Brisbane River Dragons – 4:18:27
Senior Master Men:
1. Mooloolaba – 3:23:45
2. Hekili – 3:44:30
Senior Master Women:
1. Mooloolaba – 4:13:14
2. Outrigger Australia – 4:35:44
Open Mixed:
1. Northern Beaches – 3:31:27
2. Port Hacking – 3:54:01
3. Townsville – 3:57:38
Masters Mixed:
1. Patterson Lakes (Melbourne) – 3:38:23
2. Hekili – 3:56:20
Background:
Over the past four days (since Thursday) around 1000 paddlers took part in the Schweppes Hamilton Island Cup which included a series of sprints and short marathon races culminating in today’s 42km marathon. Internationally, crews have come from as far away as Hong Kong, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Canada. Domestically, they have come from:
Queensland:
Brisbane – Brisbane River Dragons (BRD) Club – 40 teams
Brisbane Outrigger Canoe Club – 7 teams
Gold Coast – Burleigh Point – 5 teams
Gold Coast – Outrigger Australia – 15 teams
Gold Coast – Northcliffe – 4 teams
Sunshine Coast – Caloundra – 10 teams
Sunshine Coast – Mooloolaba – 17 teams
Sunshine Coast – Panamuna Club – 36 teams
Hervey Bay Club – 2 teams
Airlie Beach – Outrigger Whitsunday Club – 9 teams
Mackay – Sunset Bay Club – 13 teams
Mackay – Malanuka – 26 teams
Cairns – Hekili – 23 teams
Cairns Beaches Outrigger Canoe Club – 3 teams
Townville Outrigger Canoe Club – 20 teams
Townsville – Coral Sea Club – 12 teams
Hamilton Island Outrigger Canoe Club – 20 teams
New South Wales:
Sydney Outrigger Canoe Club – 12 clubs
Sydney – Cronulla Club – 12 teams
Sydney – Eastern Suburbs Club – 26 teams
Sydney – Koa Kai Club – 20 teams
Sydney – Northern Beaches Club – 7 teams
Sydney – Pacific Dragons Club – 3 teams
Port Hacking Club – 7 teams
Port Stephens Club – 16 teams
Ettalong Beach – Te Ika Nui Club – 5 teams
Mollymook Club – 21 teams
Gosford – Central Coast Club – 10 teams
Newcastle/Lake Macquarie – 4 teams
Echuca – Inland Club – 2 teams
Victoria:
Melbourne – Patterson Lakes Club – 24 teams
Western Australia:
Bunbury - West Coast Club – 6 teams
Northern Territory
Arafura Club – 1 team
-ENDS-
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