Original Post June 10th, 2013
The National Marathon Titles in Outrigger Canoeing was held on the 18th & 19th May at Mooloolaba with a series of races including Short Course 10K and Long Course 18K for women and the 22K Long Course for men on Saturday. There was Mixed team racing on the Sunday.Saturday saw Noosa’s Master Men with gold in the 10K Short Course and third over the line in a time of 1.04.23 beating Ron Grabbe’s Mooloolaba Masters team which is memorable. Noosa Golden Master Women also won gold and Noosa Novice Women took out silver in the same event. In the Men’s 22K event, Noosa’s Senior Master Men were fourth in a very competitive division, while the Master Men, two boats behind, took the bronze in their division.
Mooloolaba hosted a party Saturday night with music and Hawaiian food but for many who had competed in two races that day, it was an early night. Sunday saw paddlers come together to form mixed teams with Noosa’s Senior Master Mixed grabbing the silver, seven seconds behind Mooloolaba’s Senior Master Mixed and fighting off the Northcliffe SMM who were third. Noosa’s Master Mixed were third in their division while the Golden Master Mixed team took out gold.
Many were happily tired after the weekend’s effort in endurance and now look forward to the celebrations at Hamilton Island with the main event, the 42K change race around the beautiful Whitsunday Islands.