Jan 10 - Umatac Bay OC1 Sprint Race - Guam

The Marianas OC1 race season kicked off Saturday in beautiful Umatac bay with regatta style sprint races. The first heat started at the beach, sprinted to a buoy at the mouth of the bay; then turned North and went around another turn buoy just off shore about 200 yards upswell. The second heat featured a ‘LeMans’ start where the paddlers lay on their stomachs away from the beach facing the hills, then had to jump up, run through the spectators and tour busses, find their canoes and sprint to the harbor mouth and back. Junior racers had their courses set from 1 side of the bay to the other, and had some of the closest races and furious finishes of the day. The weather was perfect with mostly sunny skies and an off shore breeze that pushed the paddlers out, but they had to battle back against coming in .

Junior paddler Keesha Sablan led all finishers in both her heats, while Nathan Leon Guerrero and Angelo Perez were only seconds apart in each race; with Leon Guerrero nipping Perez by 11 seconds in total time. Mariana Gabriel was also very impressive in her OC1 paddling debut, being right there at the finish, despite giving several years and a lot of inches to the other competitors.

Guams SPG veterans women paddlers were also impressive in the opening race with Annie Leon Guerrero winning both her heats handily over Michele Cerizo, the Womens coach. A surprising 3rd overall among the ladies and 1st Master was Vivian Larson; also in her OC1 debut. Lorianne ‘BamBam’ Sablan took 4th, just seconds ahead of Gia Parsons, Jane Crisostomo and Sandy Low.

Visiting Masters Hawaiian paddler Joe Perry held off local boy Joe Nowell in overall time; winning the first heat and finishing second to Nowell in the 2nd race close enough to take the overall win. Veteran Mike Gawell was 3rd , leading the rest of the Masters and Senior Master paddlers Jim Finch, Fred Schroeder, Rick Appleton and Jim Brooks.

The next race will be the GKCF Sprint Championship on January 24, 2004; on the old SPG course at Matapang Beach in Tumon. These will be 500 and 1000 meter races, in lanes. Canoes will be provided, and all paddlers are invited to attend.

TIMES; HEAT 1 HEAT 2 TOTAL

JR WOMEN

1. Keesha Sablan 1:04 :54 1:58
2. Mariana Gabriel 1:33 1:12 2:45

JR. MEN

1. Nathan Leon Guerrero 1:08 :57 2:05
2. Angelo Perez 1:21 1:05 2:26

OPEN WOMEN

1. Annie Leon Guerrero 12:11 7:50 20:01
2. Michele Cerizo 12:24 7:57 20:21
3. BamBam Sablan 13:02 8:50 21:52
4. Gia Parsons 13:44 8:57 22:01

MASTERS WOMEN

1. Vivian Larson 13:15 8:32 21:47
2. Annie Gayle 15:12 9:39 24:51
3. Sandy Low 14:40 11:31 26:11

SR. MASTER WOMEN

1. Jane Crisostomo 14:32 9:37 24:09

OPEN MEN

1. Joe Nowell 10:44 6:25 17:09
2. Tom Petra 11:57 7:17 19:14

MASTERS MEN

1. Joe Perry 10:25 6:37 17:02

SR. MASTERS MEN

1. Mike Gawel 11:24 7:02 18:26
2. Jim Finch 11:45 7:58 19:03
3. Fred Schroeder 12:23 8:00 20:23
4. Rick Appleton 13:07 8:25 21:42
5. Jim Brooks 17:47 11:22 29:09

Rick Appleton
Director of Fixed Operations
CarPlus LLC
Phones; 477-7807, 727-7105, FAX 477-7938

Posted by keizo on Tue, 01/13/2004 - 11:20am