| Sunshine Coast Paddlesports Club |
| The Maroochy River Paddle was a fantastic event, blessed with perfect weather in the early hours. However, by 10:30 AM, a challenging southerly wind kicked in, making the final kilometre up Eudlo Creek a tough battle for paddlers. The race for line honours was fiercely contested, with Todd Grace, Bryon Dieckmann, and Alex Woodhouse leading the charge. In an impressive feat, Alex Woodhouse emerged as the victor, setting a new course record with a time of 1:14, shattering Tommy Woodriff’s previous record by a remarkable 4 minutes. The female paddlers Phoebe Woodhouse in the open division completed the course in 1:22; while the times for Franzi Gawehn (U23) and Neiva Wright (U18) were 1:33:23 and 1:33:20 respectively. These young women provide positive role models as the fastest female paddlers in their categories. Motorised safety boats were provided by the club and club members, and Australian Volunteer Coast Guard (aka VMR). Rotary Caloundra provided the BBQ and Shine Community Employment Options provided the coffee ban. The event was made possible by a dedicated team of volunteers who worked tirelessly to ensure everything ran smoothly. As a token of our appreciation, we provided them with event tee-shirts. We also secured sponsorship from several sources, including the Queensland State Government, which played a crucial role in the event’s success. Sponsors provided financial support and in kind items for prizes which were well received. Despite the lower entry numbers compared to previous years, largely due to the exclusion of OC6, OC4, and dragon boats, the event was still a success and a great experience for all involved. |
| The club house early before the activity commenced. |
| Clear around the corner and into the big Maroochy River from Dunethin Rock Lagoon |
The race for home.
Sponsors logos were promoted in several places.
