Hamilton Island Cup Press Releases

Records tumble on Day 1 of Outrigging

[ 24 June 2005 ]

Former champion swimmer turned outrigger canoe paddler, Lisa Curry-Kenny has produced a hat-trick of gold medals to win all three of her races in the opening day of the Powerade Hamilton Island Outrigger Cup.

While the rest of the country shivered this morning, enthusiastic outrigger canoe paddlers greeted the sunrise with a 7am marathon. Lisa Curry Kenny, representing Mooloolaba Outrigger Canoe Club (Sunshine Coast, Qld) won her first gold medal before breakfast in the open women’s OC1 16km paddle and then backed up by winning gold in both the open women and master women categories, in record time, in the OC1 500 metre sprints.



The women from Mooloolaba put in strong performances in other events today with Cheryl Skribbe winning the master women’s division of the 16km marathon and Katrina Sullivan taking out the senior master women’s race. Nancy Esse took honours in the 500 metre sprint for the senior master women in a new race record.



Hawaiian paddler Dan Ching won the open men’s 16km OC1 marathon while champion surf-lifesaver Darren Mercer set a blistering pace for Mooloolaba in the master men’s division.



Sydney paddler Grant Hughes from Northern Beaches victored in the senior master men’s category while the Gold Coast’s John Stewart, representing Outrigger Australia scored a gold medal in the golden master men’s division.



In the men’s 500 metre sprints, Hawaiian Dan Ching backed up with another win and a new race record in the open men’s race, while Coffs Harbour athlete Mike Mills-Thom won a close race in the master mens.



Gold Coaster Bruce Kolkko from Northcliffe smashed the senior master men’s record in the 500 metre sprints and Gregory Hines from Mooloolaba won in the golden master men’s sprint.



More than 1300 paddlers from all over the world are on Hamilton Island this weekend for the 22nd annual Powerade Hamilton Island Outrigger Cup. The event features participants from Hawaii, California, Guam, Hong Kong and New Zealand as well as from all over Australia.



Tomorrow and Sunday the paddlers will team up in six-person canoes for a series of sprint and marathon races. The major race, a 42km marathon around the Whitsunday Islands will be furiously contested on Monday from 10.30am. There is $100,000 prizemoney up for grabs. It is the richest prize-purse in the sport of outrigging.





Perfect conditions for fast and furious paddling

[ 25 June 2005 ]

The Sunshine Coast outrigger canoe club of Mooloolaba again dominated racing at the Powerade Hamilton Island Cup in the Whitsundays today.



The club scored six wins today with the open women and master women winning their 500-metre sprint and 16km marathon races, the senior master men winning their 500-metre sprint final and the master men setting a blistering win in the master men’s division of the 16km marathon.



The Mooloolaba Open Women’s team, captained by Lisa Kenny, is the current world champions. Lisa Kenny is on fire at this regatta having won won gold in every event she has entered.



In other results, the Sydney Outrigger Canoe Club took honours in the open men’s 500 metre sprints over the top-rated Hawaiian teams and Port Hacking club cruised to victory in the master men’s division. Another Sydney Club, Pacific Dragon’s won the open women’s 16km marathon race.



Team Hawaii won the senior master men’s section of the 16km marathon race, while Gold Coast club Outrigger Australia victored in the impressive golden masters (over 55 years) category. Sunshine Coast Club Noosa won the senior master women’s division of the senior master women’s division of the 16km marathon.



The newly established Hervey Bay club Kaipuna won the senior master women’s 500-metre sprints and the golden masters from Outrigger Australia backed up their marathon win with a clear victory in the sprints.



The racing at the Powerade Hamilton Island Cup continues tomorrow with a series of 1000-metre sprints. The event has attracted around 1300 paddlers from all over the world and culminates with a grueling 42km marathon around the Whitsundays on Monday. The 42km race is regarded as the toughest in the sport and carries a $100,000 prizepurse.

Gruelling race for the world's best paddlers

[ 27 June 2005 ]

Around 750 paddlers braved choppy conditions in the Whitsunday Islands today to paddle in the one of the world’s most grueling, yet prestigious outrigger canoe events – the 42km Powerade Hamilton Island Cup.

The marathon race took its toll on some of the field with regatta director Colin Bartley forced to advise some of the lesser-prepared crews to abandon their race because their ability was not up to the conditions.



“I know they were disappointed, but we could not risk them getting into trouble in the open waters. The wind against tide produces washing machine like conditions in some sections and it although their heart was in finishing the race, they were physically not up to the challenge,” said Colin.



At the front of the 70-plus field of canoes, the Hawaiians dominated racing. The highly competitive open men’s division was won by Team Hawaii, four minutes ahead of Lanikai Hawaii and then the team from Sydney Outrigger Canoe Club.



Lisa Curry-Kenny’s world champion crew from Mooloolaba had a blistering weekend of paddling and backed up their gold medal performances in all divisions of the four-day regatta with convincing win in the open women’s division over North Queensland outrigger canoe club and the Gold Coast club of Outrigger Australia.



The Mooloolaba club also had victories in three other divisions (master women, master men and senior master men) of the 42km marathon and will be taking home the lion’s share of the event’s $100,000 prize purse.



Gold Coast Club Northcliffe won the senior master women’s division and the Sydney crew from Northern Beaches took the prizemoney in the mixed category.



In the over 55’s category of Golden Masters, Gold Coast club Burleigh Dukes just beat home their neighbouring rivals Outrigger Australia.



“It is very quiet on Hamilton Island this afternoon as teams unwind from their grueling paddle. They are replenishing their energy before their street party tonight. We are expecting them to party just as hard as they paddled,” said Resort General Manager Craig Davidson.

 

Further information:

Susan Boyd – Public Relations for Hamilton Island – Phone 0412 365 122 or sboyd@infrontcommunications.com.au

Colin and Julie Bartley, Race Directors – Phone 0421 905 787 – www.hamiltoncup.com



For media enquiries please email Hamilton Island's Public Relations Department on sboyd@infrontcommunications.com.au

Posted by keizo on Tue, 06/28/2005 - 7:31pm

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