SOUTH HEAD CHALLENGE 2016

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1 SOUTH HEAD CHALLENGE 5 November LESS THAN 8 WEEKS TO RACE DAY IT S TIME TO GET ORGANISED & GET YOUR ENTRIES IN Situated at Scenic Lake Ototoa, off Donohue Road, South Head (South Kaipara) is our club s main event. The paddle is on the lake while the mountain bike and run sections traverse private forestry land. On offer are a long course (as in previous years) and a short course both open to individuals or teams. It s a great event for both beginners and experienced multisport athletes, and with all the transitions in one place you don t even need a support crew. Or bring the whole family for a pleasant day in the country there is a nice and safe grassy area for a picnic and see the action in the transition area! Challenge yourself and enter the South Head Challenge now and thus help to showcase our club and be part of what we can achieve together. See you there! Long Course: 11km Kayak, 26km MTB, 10km Run Short Course: 5.5km Kayak, 15km MTB, 10km Run Enter now!

2 Call for volunteers Thanks to all who ve already put their hand up, but we still need a few more helpers. It s not difficult work. The surroundings are pleasant and there are no traffic issues to deal with. If you, or someone you know, can help please let our Multisport Co-ordinator know; Alex Huffadine huffadine@gmail.com NEW CODE FOR THE KEYPAD IS NOW IN USE All who had renewed their membership by end of August were notified of the new access code by on 31 August. If you did not receive it, please inform the secretary. Anyone who has not renewed membership will no longer have access to the club premises. Membership and Kayak Rack renewals for the /17 Club Year are now due ANNUAL FEES: Individual $120 Family $160 Junior (under 18 at 1 June) $60 Associate (non active) $45 Rack Fee Kayak Storage $120 Membership form and Bank Account details here:

3 NEW MEMBERS A warm welcome to the following new members: Vijayendra Sudhamalla Ken Livingston Lydia & Geoffrey Handsfield EVENTS CALENDAR 18 Cambridge Hamilton Kayak Race 25 Auckland Downwind 1 October Great Barrier Wharf-Wharf Run 2 October Rodney Coast Challenge 7-9 October Torpedo7 Spring Challeng All girl adventure race 8 October Canow Showdown, Warkworth, start 8 October Motu Challenge 8 October Blue Lake Spring Regatta, Rotorua * 22 October Whangamata 3, 6 and 24 hour Adventure Race 29 October Operation Ruru-The Adventure Race, Whangarei 5 November South Head Challenge 3 December Kepler Challenge, Te Anau 3 December The Goat Adventrue Run, Tongariro January Red Bull Defiance, Wanaka 5-11 February The Pioneer MTB race Christchurch Queenstown February Kathmandu Coast to Coast 31 March-2 April Spirited Women, Women s Adventure Race, Taupo HIGH TIDES Wed Wed Wed Wed 5 October Wed 12 October Wed 19 October Wed 26 October Sat Sat Sat 1 October Sat 8 October Sat 15 October Sat 22 October Sat 29 October *CRNZ has updated the Canoe Sprint Competition Rules, effective 1 October. Of particular importance is clause in the 50-page document. You can download a PDF from CRNZ website, or ask WCMC Secretary to you a PDF File.

4 CANOE SHOWDOWN, WARKWORTH 8 October, Start Sean Murphy is running this year s event, which is also a fundraiser for Jordan McLarin. Contact: , canoeshowdown@gmail.com More details: GREAT TRAINING AND FUN FOR SEA KAYAKERS 25 th annual KASK NZ Sea Kayaking Forum, 3-5 March 2017 on Ponui Island. Details and registration: DON T FORGET SOUTH HEAD CHALLENGE ENTER NOW! Long Course: 11km Kayak, 26km MTB, 10km Run Short Course: 5.5km Kayak, 15km MTB, 10km Run

5 EVENTS REPORTS CLUB TO PUB FUNDRAISER KAYAK RACE A GREAT SUCCESS It was an impressive sight as 21 paddlers lined up across the calm water in front of the clubrooms for the start of the 16 kilometre race to The Riverhead on the morning of Sunday 7 August. By the time the leading paddlers reached the Marina area the wind started to stir up a bit of a chop which kept increasing, making it trickier for those a bit further back but everyone made through that part. By the time all had past Lucas Creek all looked good and the support boat, with Terry at the helm and Erika as observer/helper in case of any submarines, headed back to the club rooms. We got a good pounding until reaching the confines of Henderson Creek. It was good to see so many, including spouses, staying on at The Riverhead for refreshments and a chat. Oh, and guess who won the race? Jordan, in , but he had to work hard for it. It was a tight race, with his father, Simon, just one second behind, and the next two finishers within the same minute, Andrew Mowlem and Sean Murphy in and respectively. Full results are on the club website. This was a race with a special purpose, namely to raise funds to help Jordan McLarin get to the IFC Canoe Marathon World Championship in Germany where he is racing on 10 and 11. There is another race in Hungary before he returns home. The amount raised from entry fees, $600, matched with a contribution from the Club, was presented to Jordan towards his substantial expenses. Further funds were raised through Give a Little. Jordan after finishing the KayakKrazy 10km on Henderson Creek Photo Erika Currie

6 KAYAK KRAZY 10KM, 20 AUGUST NORTH SHORE This year s event was held at Lucas Creek, Greenhithe. WCMC members taking part were: Open Male: Jordan McLarin (1 st ) K2; Phill Exeter/Matt Randell Andrew Mowlem (2 nd ) Masters Male: Simon McLarin (1 st ) Multisport: Alex Huffadine Sean Murphy (2 nd ) Stephen Reece (4 th ) km (submarine at start: Rosie Thomb Paul Fitchett (5 th ) Michael Famularo (8 th ) Photos courtesy Diana Austin

7 KAYAK KRAZY KARAPIRO WCMC was represented by Jordan McLarin, winning 1 st Open Men; Simon McLarin 1 st Masters; Sean Murphy 2 nd Masters; Paul Fitchett 9 th Masters; and Phill Exeter + (?) 1 st K2. KAYAK KRAZY 10KM CHAMPS, 27 AUGUST, ROTORUA Jordan McLarin finished 3 rd in Men s Open, but was 1 st in Overall Series Points for Men s Open. Simon McLarin and Sean Murphy represented our Club in Masters, finishing in 1 st and 5 th position respectively. COROMANDEL CLASSIC, 27/28 AUGUST Andrew Mowlem competed in Team James Kuegler Coaching, while Alex Huffadine was tail end Charlie for the paddle on the first day. Andrew did the kayak legs, with James Kuegler the running and Mike Small the cycling. They had a reasonable lead on the first day and managed to maintain and take out first place in the 3-persons teams division. The run was described as fairly tough with it being steep and technical, but great scenery going over the top of the Pinnacles. The day one kayak leg got cut short due to choppy condition in the harbour, with strong wind and incoming tide. A number of competitors found the conditions tricky and Alex had to rescue a few. The day 2 kayak leg presented a different challenge. There was no wind but low tide meant there were a few portages along the way. Andrew finished both days paddles with a first placing for the division. The team won the 3- person division in 9hrs 54mins 45sec, as well as 1 st placing overall. Alex said it was great to have the race back on after it was cancelled last year. The new organizer, Tom Gethin put on a well-run event and plans to expand next year. It was a fun event and certainly worth doing, she said. She and Andrew and I raced back to Auckland after the kayak leg on day 2 for the Auckland Downwind winter series race, where they were greeted by a pod of Orca whales just off the boat ramp at Akarana. Story & photos by Alex Huffadine

8 POOR KNIGHTS OCEAN RACE, 3 SEPTEMBER Sean Murphy powering through challenging water between Tutukaka and the Poor Knights Islands. Photograph supplied by Alex Huffadine) Six members participated in the grueling race from Tutukaka to the Poor Knights Islands, held on 3. A mere 24 hours before the race was to start came a tsunami warning, advising everyone to move to higher ground and avoid all ocean related activities until the warning has been lifted. By race day, however, virtually every aspect of the Poor Knights Crossing Ocean Race had fallen into place. At approximately 12 noon on race day, Simon Longdill was powering through some challenging waters toward the finish line to take first place in Andrew Mowlem, 8 th, in Jeremy Kuggeleijn, 10 th, Sean Murphy, 11 th, Michael Famularo, 42 nd, First female to cross the finish line was Pamela Kane in Michelle Impey, 3 rd, Alex Huffadine, 4 th, Simon had laid waste to a field of the best ocean ski and waka ama paddlers who had assembled for the third edition of the Poor Knights Crossing event. It was a fairly impressive performance in waters best described as technical. But it was just part of the story, and only a small part really, in what may just have locked the Poor Knights Crossing event into the racing calendar for good.

9 This edition surpassed all expectations, even with the absence of Tawhirimatea, the most sought after addition of all downwind races, and is now a slick operations machine. From the moment paddlers were welcomed in Tutukaka with a karanga and waiata from the people of Ngatiwai at the race briefing, then serenaded with a delightful version of Beautiful Brown Eyes before the race briefing proper had even begun, to the point where waka paddler Liz Tane completed the race at the tail-end of the field, the event went virtually without a hitch. Travis Mitchell takes second place through the finish line at the spectacular Southern Arch. Photo Malcolm Pullman. From the flag fall at Sandy Bay paddlers where sent north almost to Whananaki before turning to charge eastward to the spectacular finish line through the Southern Arch at the Poor Knights Marine Reserve. From the get-go it was Longdill, Michael Walker and Travis Mitchell who looked the most likely in the ski division with Garth Spencer and Jono Reschef leading a pursuing pack. Not far behind was Tupu King, the waka ama ace from Taipa in the far north who was fresh back from competing in Tahiti and preparing for more races in Hawaii, United States and other paddling destinations afar. King was being pushed hard by Kaitaia s Sean Herbert and Aucklander Poara Monk. There was a real tactical arm wrestle emerging among the midpackers. The predicted knot westerlies had not arrived as expected, replaced instead with a variable nor-wester and a not inconsequential northerly sea surge. Paddlers could bank a few runs by jumping on the northerly push early but then pay some tax by being pushed south of the finish line and face an upwind push to the end. Or they could grind out a cross wind early then turn with the conditions late in the race.

10 The field dutifully split almost clean in half. One pack went south, the other tracked north. It turned out very little divided the two packs. The consensus afterwards was more centered on a sense of relief and pride mixed with awe. Paddling through a massive rock archway to finish then being treated to a unique tour of the sights of the Poor Knights Islands including Rikoriko Cave, the world s biggest sea cave, tends to mask the pain of paddling 30km of testy water. The privilege of hosting the best kiwi paddlers and a clique of intrepid Australians suddenly took a spiritual meaning. The Tutukaka coast has a special place in the heart of this race director, and seeing the smiles of the competitors afterwards was soul food. Love ya s all man. Put this down in your calendars: Poor Knights Crossing 2017, Saturday, 4. We ll be waiting. And hey! Give the sponsors some love to.please. Story kindly supplied by Race Director Tim Eves (abridged) BLAST FROM THE PAST Club Members at the 2002 World Masters Games in Melbourne. Left to right, back: Richard Couchman, Jamie Fergus, Phill Exeter, Dave Hunter. Front: Blair Roskruge, Wendy Rossridge. Photo supplied by Jamie Fergus

11 WORLD MASTERS GAMES ARE COMING TO AUCKLAND April 2017 WCMC s planned training schedule: Tuesday nights at WCMC Arrive at the club at 5.30pm for 5.45pm start. Sean Murphy will be running the sessions consisting of longer interval training. Friday nights of pain at WCMC Arrive at the club at 5.30pm for 5.45pm start. High intensity training with Ian Mercer. Sunday morning at Lake Pupuke 7am start in front of the North Shore Canoe Club and Rowing Club building. These sessions, until 16 April 2017, focus on a fast pace paddle in training for Marathon Nationals in April. Join our club Facebook Group so we can notify you of any changes to the above schedule For more details and events go to

12 SUBMARINES Rosie Thomb took a swim at the start of Kayak Krazy 10km at North Shore. Undeterred, she completed the 5km option. Please report any unscheduled/unintentional swims to our administrator: erika.currie@xtra.co.nz CARPARK As we all know, the car park is a mess and most the time there are not enough spaces available. Auckland City Council s Park, Sports and Recreation division is aware of this and have drawn up a concept plan which has been accepted in principle by the clubs sharing this space. Council has not given us a start date yet, but we ll try to keep you up to date of progress and the inevitable disruptions this work will cause. However, the upgrade is overdue and needs to be done short-term pain, long-term gain! BOOKING CLUB BOATS Use from the Club is free. Daily Hire away from the Club is $50, with the inclusion of buoyancy aid, paddle and spray deck. Fiberglass boats must NOT be taken on rocky rivers. Club Hire Rules You must fill out the online form or contact the Club President Vaughan Reed Pay for the hire before you take the boat and accessories. As this is not a commercial venture but a service to the club members, we request that you report any damage to the boat or accessory equipment to the President immediately upon return of hire. Neglecting to do this will affect your right to hire equipment in the future. If any damage to club gear occurs during the period of your hire you must pay for the repairs.

13 CLUB KAYAK TRAINING It s fun, social and extremely beneficial to you. We would love to see you there! 6:00pm Wednesday - time trial/race 8:00am Saturday - with Richard Couchman (Couchie) WANTED - YOUR STORIES Thanks to all for supplying text and photos for this issue. It is much appreciated. If you ve done a great event, found a secret training run, or have any advice on gear or training that would interest other club members and that you d be willing to share, please us your story or let the administrator know: erika.currie@xtra.co.nz CLUB EXECUTIVES /2017 President Vaughan Reed Vice President Matt Randell Treasurer Acting Phill Exeter Club Captain Sean Murphy Secretary/Admin Erika Currie Multisport Alex Huffadine RIB Manager Terry Newsome club@wcmc.org.nz New Members: please contact any of the Executive for general information or assistance on club matters.