The annual Beavertown Badboy Kayak Race is on Sunday 24 July 2016.
It involves 32 K’s of flatwater water racing on the original course including the Opawa and Wairau River’s, Roses Overflow and the Opawa loop. Small amount of portage in there as well.
Start time is 10am, Registration from 9am
Matt Loveridge (L) fights a close battle with Hayden Lockie to take the win by one second after the better part of three hours racing.
A few years ago we had such low numbers in this event that there were more race officials than competitors, but in recent years, that has all changed.
In 2014 we gave the event a bit of push and celebrated the race’s 25th anniversary with a big field. We achieved this by promising a bit of a 25th party, reinstating the 10 km kayak event from Picton to Torea (we won’t go into the minor detail that the paddlers then have to get back from Torea!), and inviting Waka Ama paddlers to join us for a 20km or 10 km race.
And, now we have a bit of a party every year in Picton for this event. My thanks goes to all the paddlers who have kept the event the special thing that it is and also to Waka Ama paddlers who have joined us and for bringing your style and enthusiasm – I love it!
This year we had more than 120 paddlers, and they were all racing to Torea together – what a sight.
There were 10 kayakers who didn’t want to brave the portaging sections of the race and took on an unscheduled ferry, and each other in the battle for the 10km crown. Carole and Nick Webby teamed up in their double ski and used that advantage to make it to Torea first, followed closely by John Blackmore, and then Thomas Moore who was back visiting old haunts for the weekend. The 10k’ers then had some fun on the return trip to Picton checking out the dolphins, fish-eating seals, wash riding (I’m not so sure that was part of the support boat drivers’ brief!) and generally enjoying the beautiful waterways we have on our doorstep.
Meanwhile the long course “hard bastards” were away from the crowds in the Kenepuru and challenging themselves with some hilly running with some extra unwieldy weight. Matt Loveridge and last year’s winner Hadyn Lockie pretty much held hands most of the way and could well have been still doing so at the finish line with less than a second separating them. Nice racing guys.
Naomi Whitehead was our only women on the long course – and made it look easy too, which is more than I can say for some of the old timers our there!
Back in the Queen Charlotte Sound the 13 W6 Waka Ama teams were a great sight as they paddled together from Picton to their start line at Mable Island. The field spread out after the start with some racing within the race going on between many pairs of boats. The boys from Motueka (Abel Tasman Soul) cleared out from the field to lead home from the mixed crew of ATG (Against the Grain) and the women’s team Katcha Whaea.
Thanks to all the volunteer race officials and the sponsors, We look forward to seeing everyone in Picton again next year for another great day, and we’ll see if I can get the ferrys to give way to us!
This will be the 3rd year that Waka Ama races will be held in conjunction with the Portage Kayak Race. While the kayakers race from the Picton foreshore to the Kenepuru Sound and back via Torea Bay and Onahau Bay, the W1 and W2 crews will race 10km from Picton foreshore to Torea Bay (with a neutral bunch paddle back to Picton). The W6 crews will race 20 km from Mabel Island to Torea Bay and Torapapa Point and back to Picton.
Download race info here
The 2016 Portage Kayak Race is confirmed for Saturday 21 May. This iconic race which involves 27km of kayaking in the Marlborough Sounds and 5km of portaging, is in it’s 27th Year.
Download full race info here
Race Map
Leg 2: Portage 2km Torea Bay to Portage Bay (Portage Complex)
Leg 3: Kayak 7km Portage Bay to Te Mahia Bay,
Leg 4: Portage 3km Te Mahia Bay to Mistletoe Bay
Leg 5: Kayak 10km Mistletoe Bay to Picton Foreshore.
Results
Dust off your kayak, and get ready for 5.862km of paddling on Blenheim’s Opawa River.
Place : The Opawa River – Behind the Boathouse Theater just downstream of Raupo Café. Access behind Wadsco’s commercial service building.
Dates: Tuesdays – Start December 15th with future races to be confirmed.
Time : 6 pm Start time to give all you hard workers time to get there.
Format : Using a scientific handicap system, paddlers will start at different intervals to reach the finish at exactly the same time together.
What to Bring: A boat, a paddle, appropriate clothing, maybe a towel, they are always handy.
This is a great little workout for C2C paddlers lifting lactic threshold while improving technique and racing strategy.Retired paddlers dust off that eclipse and come down for a paddle with Marlborough s present paddling crew then come and socialize afterwards .
It’s time to join the Marlborough Triathlon & Multisport Club Inc for the 2016 Year. You can join online here.
This summer, the Marlborough Triathlon and Multisport Club is partnering with Transition Events to present the Marlborough Multisport Series. This series incorporates our three iconic events held in the Marlborough Sounds each summer.
The series is designed so that distances in each event are roughly the same and they incorporate interesting and challenging courses. In an effort to encourage new people to have a go, the paddle section of each event has been reduced to 4km, meaning that the experts can have a super fast hit out, but beginners can achieve the distance on most types of paddling craft.
You can choose either the swim tri or kayak tri option, individual or team.
Entries are open now! So what are you waiting for? Get entered, get training, have fun and we’ll see you on the start line!
Matt Loveridge, Steven Armstrong and Jimmy Feathery set the pace in the 2015 Bad Boy.
Held in near perfect conditions, the 2015 Bad Boy started at a furious pace. With last year’s defending champion Steve Armstrong in the fray, shadowed by Matt Loveridge, James Feathery, Hadyn Lockie and Charles Nimmo, this bunch of elite paddlers stormed off down the Opawa River heading for the Lower Wairau in this 31km flat water event. Keeping the Marlborough/ Nelson adversary strong, local paddles Murray Gane & Ian McAlpine looked set to once again to do battle with Nelson lads Mark Bryant & Sam Collins in the doubles section. As the paddlers neared the halfway mark near the confluence of the Opawa & Wairau Rivers, it was Armstrong, Loveridge and Feathery that had opened up a two minute lead of Lockie and a further two minutes back to Nimmo. The decision by Paul Bourgeios to opt for the shorter 21km race saw him more than six minutes ahead of Veteran paddler Keith Alderson with roughly two thirds of their race done. Gane & McAlpine had forged a healthy four minute lead by this stage but still had no time to relax with the Nelson lads still clipping along and looking focused for the upstream paddle to the Blenheim Rowing sheds and the first of three portages.
With 21km completed by the first portage it was Armstrong that was the first out of the water for a compulsory 200m kayak carry, closely followed by Loveridge and Feathery, with Lockie and Nimmo some four and eigth minutes back respectfully. Armstrong re-entered the faster flowing water to heading back down river towards Roses overflow and appeared to extend his slim advantage. Paul Bourgeios finished strongly to take out the short course in 1hr.43 over vet paddler Keith Alderson (1hr.51) Wayne Holtham (2hr.00), David Bullivant (2hr.09) and the only woman paddler local Carol Webby (2hr.10). Gane & McAlpine maintained their lead over Bryant & Collins but with the turn-around complete the Nelson lads were able to gauge that advantage which seemed to lift their resolve.
Out of towner’s Neil Taylor and Brendon Ross paddling in the fat boat section portage looking somewhat fresh with Vet K1 paddler Nick Webby laying down the foundations for his up-coming tilt at the world Marathon Champs. They had all turned for home and now it was just a war of attrition. Roses overflow is brutal and the defending champ was starting to make his move, pulling out a two minute lead at the Vickerman Street culvert. He would extent this lead over the final two portages and powered home through the Opawa loop to calm another Bad Boy title in 2hr.26. Loveridge (2.32) and Feathery (2.32) battled for the minors with Loveridge coming home roughly one and half minutes ahead.
Charles Nimmo(2.43) followed ahead of Hadyn Lockie (3.06) after Lockie took a wrong turn. Gane & McAlpine (2.46) were able to hold their lead to win but credit to the Nelson lads (2.51) for pushing all the way. Neil Taylor (2.53) held out a relentless Brendon Ross (3.01) to win the Multisport kayak section. Once again Marlborough put on a magical day and we were able to take advantage of the flat water rivers the region has to offer. A big thanks to KO Wine for the meat, Spy Valley Wines, Cornerstone Bar and the Marshals on the day.
Download the Beavertown Badboy entry for here
Download the Twin Rivers Entry Form here
Husband and wife team Nick and Carol Webby starting the 2nd paddling stage in Kenepuru Sound
The Portage Race was held on Saturday 16th May, and after the success of adding Wakaama races to the programme in 2015 we again invited the wakaama paddlers to join us and 106 paddlers across both codes enjoyed a magical day in The Sounds.
Despite the gale force winds in Cook Straight and a rather severe forecast making the race organiser nervous, Picton put on a beautiful calm day.
In the traditional portage kayak race local paddlers Paul Bourgeois and Dave Fernandez and Hadyn Lockie from Nelson battled if out neck and neck until Te Mahia where Paul dropped off the pace, and Dave pulled away from Hadyn on the Portage. Dave did all he could to stay away but by the time they turned the last buoy with 1km to go he and Hadyn were side by side again, until Hadyn took out the sprint by 1 second. Carole and Nick from Ward had the advantage over their rivals from Nelson (Mark and Sam) in the kayak but could not match the portaging speed of the lads and were unable to catch them on the last leg to Picton. Mark and Sam coming out the victors by just under two minutes.
Surprisingly, there were no ladies prepared to tackle the Long course this year. I say that because it is so achievable and such a buzz to do. Maybe I’ll make a Portage comeback next year and convince some others to join me!
The 10km race to Torea was popular this year with 24 paddlers (kayaks and wakaama) racing to Torea, and then returning to Picton as a neutral paddler after seeing the W6 Wakaama turn at Torea, and the other kayakers run up the hill en route to Portage Hotel. Long time Portage Race competitor Keith Alderson took out the 10km race from John Blackmore. Naomi Whitehead took out the women’s race, with Belinda Heaphy the fastest Vet Woman.
The 10km paddlers were treated to displays from dolphins and seals on their paddle back to Picton much to everyone’s delight.
In the Wakaama races the only Christchurch team added to the competition and after a good battle they came in ahead of Koro by 24 seconds. Of the battles for minor placings the stand-out finish was between Maitahi White and the teenagers of Wai So Serious with the boys taking it out in a photo finish. Very exciting! I imagine the banter is still going on between dad in Maitahi White and his son who was paddling in Wai so Serious.
It was absolutely delightful to have the Wakaama paddlers join us and bring extra energy and atmosphere to our longstanding classic event, and I hope this partnership can continue.
Well done to everyone involved and a huge thank you to our sponsors (Kono Wines, Le Café, Martella Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Flow Kayaks, Rasdex, Callahan and Martella Electrical) and all the race officials: Ian MacAlpine, Grant Clifford; Allan Martella, Lew Bright, Mark Grammer, Chris Ireland, Ryan Lock, Mondo Kopua, Grant Williams, Nick Moore and Gerald Ballagh.
Results are here
After the huge success and fun of the Waka Ama races that we hosted alongside the famous Portage Race last year, we are going to do it again this year. The start and finish of both events will be the Picton foreshore.
The format of the Portage Race will remained unchanged from the previous 26 year – 3 kayaking legs totalling 27 km and 2 portaging legs, to take paddlers from The Queen charlotte Sound over into the Kenepuru Sound and back again. Superb scenery, perfect deep water, a very achievable challenge. The portaging sections can be done with or without wheels for your kayak.
The Waka Ama race will be over the same course as last year (20km within the Queen Charlotte Sound) with the only difference being that following feedback from many paddlers there will only be one category, rather than separate categories for Mixed, Men, and Women. So mix up your paddlers, even up the teams and have some fun!
Waka Ama team celebrates after completing the race in 204
Update: Quadrathon Pre Race Briefing 2015
The Marlborough Quadrathon is on Sunday March 15th.
This long running event has been a favourite race amongst the die hard multisporters , the keen but not-so-committed mutisporters, and those who only swim, kayak, bike or run for over 30 years.
The distances of 800m swim, 8km kayak, 30 km Cycle and 8km run take the event from the start in Waikawa Bay to the finish at Whites Bay. It is an achievable event for those wanting to complete the whole thing as an individual or a really fun event for you to do with your mates or work colleagues. Or make it a competitive bragging rights event and challenge another team to a duel. Teams can be 2, 3 or 4 person.
For further info check out the entry form and if you’ve still need more info phone or email Andrea 03 5784767 or andreakoorey@hotmail.com
Download an entry form: Quadrathon 2015 entry Form
Multisport News
