AustCham Paddle Club

AustCham Paddle club recently competed in the 10km AustCham Dragonboat race held at Kallang / Marina Bay. The initial signs weren’t looking outstanding for the team having drawn lane 24 out of 25 which meant we started to the far, far left of our 1st turning buoy.

Not to beaten before we started, we burst out of the starting blocks and made it around the first turn in about 6th or 7th place.  The sprint continued until the Marina Barrage (nearly 1.5kms) where we had overtaken most boats arriving in 2nd place at the barrage buoys.  After a slightly wide turn it was a close race for 2nd/3rd spot all the way around the basin past the merlion and casino.

We unfortunately were overtaken after the casino but held onto our convincing 3rd place all the way to the finish line. Much to our relief after the race had ended, the boat that overtook was in fact the local national team just out for training practice (phew)… so we were officially rewarded a SILVER MEDAL coming in 2nd place with a time of 49 minutes 22 seconds.   Congrats to the whole crew on a tough, hot race. More importantly, a great improvement to beat last years winners SMU and know that again this year we are strong contenders with all the local university and national teams. Aussie Aussie Aussie – OI OI OI!

The Aussie OC Paddlers spent another fantastic day racing at Sentosa Island on Saturday 11th December.

There were high hopes to win medals in all categories of racing, however we didn't get off to the start we expected!  The first event that started together was the OC1 Men's race and OC2 Women's race.  Our OC1 entrant Luke broke the rudder cable on his boat after the first 5 strokes which was disappointing for him and our team not to see him win.  However, not to be deterred, he superstitiously changed out of this "unlucky" clothes and of course won nearly everything after that!  Pauline & Sherlane did a great job in the OC2's - coming home in 3rd place behind Brooke & Petra (who get a mention here because it was a half Aussie combination) and then a very strong Hong Kong team in 1st place.

Nat, Sherlane, Brooke, Analu, Carol & Pauline set off next in the 12km OC6 Women's race around the islands off Sentosa.  Two of the boats got off to a flying lead leaving the Aussie girls battling stroke for stroke for more than half of the course with SPC C for 3rd and 4th position.  The wind really started to blow about 5kms into the race, which meant the race finish was coming into a strong head wind and outgoing current.  Pauline did a great job holding her line throughout the course and all paddlers really gave it their all, however 3rd place slipped away around the second last island. Well done to the girls for a really great effort - you should be proud and look forward to next year.

After earlier winning a qualifying heat, the Aussie Men proceeded into the 16km OC6 race course final.  As well as choppy conditions, strong wind, current and 3 first time Aussie A boat paddlers in the team, they paddled their hearts out to win a SILVER MEDAL from nine entrants. Congratulations to Tin, Luke E, Mike, Fester, Graham & Luke R.

Finally the day ended with 1km Sprints.  Two heats were held, with teams starting at the Palawan Island twin towers and charging down the coast towards Tanjong Beach.  The first heat started off with a surprise for the Aussie A boat - mostly due to the starting call being "Ready, Steady, Go" which is quite a bit different to the standard "Standby, Paddles Up" but they went through to convincingly win that heat regardless. The howling wind & current saw them get a timed 3mins 33seconds for a 1km sprint. Not sure if that's humanly possible - but gives you some idea about the conditions!  The Aussie B boat didn't fare quite as well coming in 3rd place in the 2nd heat which didn't see them go through to the finals.   After a hotly contested final the Aussie A boat brought home GOLD GOLD GOLD! Congrats to Nat, Pauline, Mike, Fester, Sherlane & Luke for a balls to the wall effort.

It was a fantastic day of competition, great to see the rookies in the team gaining race experience and bringing home lots of medals.  Of course all great days of racing end with a cleansing ale or two (San Miguels infact) and watching the sunset over the beach.   A special surprise for the Hong Kong Around The Island paddlers who received their pounding kitty trophies for their 2nd place effort a few weeks earlier.

This race marks the official end to our 2010 Outrigging Competition Calendar.  It has been an outstanding season and we look forward to bigger, better, faster and stronger in 2011.

As of 1st August, Austcham Paddle Club officially welcomes our new sponsors: Molly Malone's Irish Pub and 6 Drunk Men.

Most of know that Molly's is located on the corner at 56 Circular Road (the street behind Boat Quay) and is a regular haunt already for a number of Aussie paddlers. We are happy to announce that team members receive $8 pure blondes and VB all day everyday, and happy hour wines. Team cards are being printed soon – don’t forget to show your card to get this discount. So support the team and go drinking.

Six Drunk Men have also come on board providing us with beer every weekend for the beach. This year will be VB and for the health conscious there will be Low Carb Pure Blonde.

So let's welcome in our new sponsors in style, let’s see everyone down at Molly’s to celebrate this Friday from 6.30pm onwards.

Congratulations to 10 of our austcham outrigger paddlers who recently competed in the 44km race around Hong Kong Island. After months of training they finished with a fantastic result of 2nd Place in the mixed division and 4th across the line.

The race is clockwise course around Hong Kong island starting near Round Island and finishing at the rowing boathouse at Middle Island. The 6 person canoe moves at all times & the crew is swapped in a sea change. This is a particularly challenging race as it takes you through the very busy Victoria and Aberdeen harbour and Macau Ferry Terminal.

Within the team, everybody nailed their sea changes, paddled their guts out, had great steers that steered like champions through the turbulent water without getting us run over and all had the most positive team spirit and energy that other teams were jealous of.

A special thanks to Chris (change chart manager) and official cheer squad, photographers and cantonese interpreters Mish & Pippi - without you it would have been impossible.

Great work Aussies.