June 13-16 - 20th Hamilton Cup, 2003 Results & Photos - Australia
[Official Results]
[Selection of Photos] courtesy Harvie Allison
["NZ/HI Prevails" Honolulu Advertiser Article]
[All Harvie Allison Photos]
[Another great article] by Steve West available at Y2kanu
[Official Photos]
by Danielle Lindsay
The one man racing was great. The Hawaiians attract attention whenever they visit Australia and this year was no different. Their One-man clinic was great and everyone is always interested in what boats they bring over and who's paddling. Mike Beyer put in an incredible performance to win the open men's sprint and 8km marathon, he paddled a Stinrgay in both these races. Karel Tresnak Jr then had a convincing victory in the 16km over Chris Maynard, Karel Jr. was also paddling a Stingray. Friday was a great day for the Stingray OC1 which is made by Karel Tresnak from Outrigger Connection and is now being made by Colin Bartley from Outrigger Connection Australia. Interestingly enough the top 6 mens crews were all paddling Mirage canoes from Outrigger Connection Australia!!!
16 km round the island race.
Shell Va'a took out the open mens race followed by Hawaii/NZ. It was an awesome race at the start with the top 6 or 7 crews all battling it out. The Mooloolaba master men easily won the masters division.
In the open women's race the Mooloolaba girls stamped their authority and began their gold medal campaign winning by an impressive four minutes from Outrigger Australia. They won by an extraordinary margin. In the masters division Canada took line honours, beating Mooloolaba.
The main race of the week end, the 42km the winds were blowing fairly strong about 20-25 knots but luckily did not reach the anticipated 30 knot winds. It was a hard slog from the start to the tip of Dent Island but once you turned Dent Island, the wind was behind you and it was a great leg.
Shell Va'a started strong in the men's race and looked like they were heading for a win, until the crews turned pentecost. It was a strong downwind leg, with great bumps and the surfing talents of Team Hawaii/New Zealand and steerer Karel Jr, was too much for the Tahitians, Team Hawaii/New Zealand 'boogied' in their mirage and won by a convincing 2 mintues. This race was a phenomenal race with the very best mens crews in the world there.
In the master mens division Mooloolaba dominated beating the gun Hawaiian crew. The Mooloolaba mens crew consists of top ski paddlers and former ironmen aswell as the top one man paddlers and had never before raced together as the 9-man crew.
The women's division was not as close. Mooloolaba took off from the start and never looked back. Despite capsizing before South Head the team outpowered every women's crew and finished 24th overall out of almost 100 canoes. The team consists of Lisa Curry-Kenny, Jasmine Kelly, Danielle Lindsay, Robyn Saultry, Kirsty Holmes, Melinda Kenny, Leanne Doherty, Leigh Townsend, Natalie Jarrott and Carolyn Mood. The crew has won Gold Coast Cup, Australian Nationals and now Hamilton Cup and will be the hot favourite for this year's women's Molokai. Lisa Curry-Kenny and Jasmine Kelly were also members of both the riggeroos crews which won consecutive victories in 1997 and 1998. 3 out of the top 4 women's crews were also using KIALOA paddles.
In the masters division Mooloolaba encountered a few mistakes which was enough for Team Hawaii to take the lead, Team Hawaii 1st, Mooloolaba 2nd.
Overall it was an awesome 4 days of racing and the after -party was a highlite for many. Jimmy Barnes performance was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Can't wait for 2004!!!
Thanks to Danielle Lindsay for sending in the article. And make sure you all buy prints from Harvie Allison when they all go online.. Great photography, thanks again. www.harvpix.com
Alohas, Keizo Gates
Posted by keizo on Tue, 06/17/2003 - 4:45pm