FOURTEEN seconds and a determined Northern Beaches team were all that stood between Port Macquarie’s outrigger paddlers and back-to-back Sydney Harbour Challenge titles on Saturday.
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Despite improving on its winning time from 2014, Port Macquarie’s lead crew was unable to reel in its rival from Sydney and had to settle for the silver medal in a tight finish.
The club’s second crew placed eighth in the mixed masters category and its “novice” crew performed remarkably to finish in 17th place, with most team members taking on the testing 25 kilometre course in only their second race.
Coach Wes Byrnes said he was extremely proud of the club’s all round efforts.
“Our lead crew couldn’t have done any more to win the race. We gave it everything and pushed the winners all the way,” he said.
“To put the result in perspective, our time would have put us in fifth place in the open men’s race, so it was a great effort.
“The second crew showed great heart to storm home after getting checked a couple of times in the race and our new paddlers just continue to impress with their enthusiasm and courage.”
A total of 47 crews lined up for the open mixed event, with the start being broadcast live around Australia on the Today show.
Crews travelled from as far as North Queensland, Tasmania and Tahiti for the regatta, which took competitors from the Many ferry wharf to the Harbour Bridge and back.
Port Macquarie’s silver medal crew completed the course in a time of 1 hour, 47 minutes and 55 seconds, while the masters crew finished in 2:06.25 and the novice crew took 2:09.55.
Five Port paddlers will back up at this weekend’s NSW OC1/2 Titles at Mollymook.
Dave Bouldin will take on the state’s best OC1 paddlers, while the OC2 events will feature two Port Macquarie combinations – Byrnes and Fiona Baker, as well as Lyn Lovering and Karen Newman.
The Maroro club’s next OC6 assignment is a two-day regatta at Port Stephens in April.