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Women from qathet win gold in world outrigger championships

Open-ocean race against Hawaiian team was a challenge, says club president
Tanya Hill

Suncoast Paddling Club women’s outrigger 75-plus (age group) team won gold yesterday at the Masters Women’s 75-plus V6 race at the Va’a Federation World Distance Championships, which are being held in Samoa from August 10 to 19. 

Canada won gold in a 16 kilometre open-ocean race, with strong swells, leading from start to finish,” said Suncoast Paddling Club president Bruce Layzell.

Paddlers Sue Milligan, Susan Hanson, Sue Humphries, Helen Robinson, Lynnette Mangan and Ruth Matson beat a strong team from Hawaii, he added.

The six women from qathet “finished with a time of one hour, 50 minutes,” said Layzell. “Our team finished 20 minutes ahead of Hawaii.”

In the Masters Men’s 60-plus (age) V6 race, local paddler Jim Underwood was part of the bronze-medal-winning Canadian team, which finished behind Australia and Hawaii.

“It was a 24 kilometre open-ocean race, and conditions were very challenging; a squall moved in with rain, winds and swells,” said Layzell. “Canada finished with a time of two hours, five minutes.”

Underwood finished only one minute behind Hawaii, four minutes behind Australia, making it a close race.

On Friday, August 4, the paddle club sent six paddlers on their journey to the world championships.

Layzell, who was recently elected the club’s president, said the women’s team held its final practice on Powell Lake on August 4 before their trip started via ferry to Comox.

The all woman, 75-plus (years of age) crew are representing Canada at the event.

Samoa is located south of the equator halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand.

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