Mount Isa paddler Steve Jenje has come home with the goods after winning the overall section of the Gregory Canoe Marathon.
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Steve is very familiar with the river, having paddled the race 31 times and now pockets $900 in prize money after his win on Sunday.
Second was Sunshine Coast paddler Geoff Lovell despite a blink and you’ll miss it whistle-stop tour of the North West.
Geoff flew into Mount Isa on Saturday, drove to the Gregory and paddled one of the North West Canoe Club sponsors boats.
In third place was another Sunshine Coast paddler Geoff Pearce who has now paddled the race five times.
Organiser Alison Whitehead said they had their very own Baywatch boys with the Kawana Surf Lifesaving boys taking a clean sweep in the long plastic category.
David Smith was the winner and the only person to break a record which he set last year.
The Gregory Canoe race had its very own Baywatch boys with the Kawana Surf Lifesaving boys taking a clean sweep in the long plastic category.
- Alison Whitehead, North West Canoe Club
Alison said AIS paddler Bernadette Wallace spent the weekend at the Gregory with a number of friends working at the hospital.
“We managed to find craft for them to paddle on Saturday night,” Alison said.
“Bernadette paddled the marathon course and the medics formed a team Phlaming Phlamingoes and participated in the short race.”
With the weather being extremely warm there were a number of DNF’s (Did Not Finish).
There was also damage to a few boats with the low level of water.
The short course was won by North West Canoe Club member Mike Salmon.
It is the first time that Mike has paddled the race.
Next year he will be stepping up and competing in the marathon event.
The Spinifex School students again provided plenty of competition and entertainment.
They had a very busy weekend, paddling the short course after spending 12 hours out of the water the day before.
The North West Canoe Club said the enthusiasm that the students showed is a credit to the school and they greatly appreciated the support they got from teachers Tony Cridland and Kristen Curd.
