Canoe club competes at 2 races
The Penticton Racing Canoe Club sent mixed crews to the Canadian National Championships in Harrison Hot Springs and the Bellingham Classic Outrigger race.
The event had 60 crews competing in short course, long course, men’s, women’s and mixed divisions.
Penticton was second Mixed crew overall in their boat class, and first in the Masters’ 40-plus category. The crew consisted of: Stu Seeley, Diane Mathews, Don Mulhall, Jack Wormald (NZ), Penny Proctor and Janelle Parchomchuk (steering).
The crew finished the 20-plus kilometre course in 1 hour, 53 minutes, 21 seconds — more than 5 minutes ahead of a local crew from Fraser Valley/Harrison.
“The strong winds made for changing conditions for each of the legs,” said Jack Wormald.
“I was impressed at Penticton’s ability to stay close to the Unlimited hulls during the downwind legs.”
On Sunday, Penticton paddlers finished first and second in the Mixed Sr. Master 2-person outrigger division. First place went to the crew of Diane Mathews and Don Mulhall, with a time of 52 minutes and 6 seconds; and Penny Proctor and Stu Seeley were second at 54 minutes and 32 seconds.
“After a tough start, we had a great race, and were able to catch lots of crews,” said Mulhall. “Finishing within 2 seconds of one of the top Open Mixed crews was exciting.”
Brian McPhail placed fourth in the Open Men’s division with a time of 55:56.
BELLINGHAM CLASSIC: This past weekend, the Bellingham Classic outrigger race on Bellingham Bay had race organizers modifying the course as a result of rough conditions.
The smoke was gone, but strong southwesterly winds saw the course altered, with teams completing two laps of a course keeping crews and safety boats closer together. The winds made for some exciting conditions on the water.
“Sometimes I had nothing but air below me to paddle in as the canoe would crest on a wave,” said Julie Hollis of her position in seat one of the canoe.
It was the first ocean outrigger race for Hollis and 2-seat paddler Deb Manning. The remainder of the crew consisted of Mulhall, Stu Seeley, Penny Proctor and was steered by Graeme Galves of Vancouver Ocean Sports club in Vancouver.
The Penticton crew was in first place overall for over half the race. Caught in the upwind portion of the second lap, the crew tried, but couldn’t come back, eventually coming in second by 21 seconds behind Masters’ crew Hui HeiHei Wa’a. Penticton’s time of 1 hour 12 minutes and 46 seconds was good for first place in their Sr. Master division.
Jennifer Turnbull, from Penticton, joined False Creek Racing Canoe Club’s Open Mixed crew for a 7th place finish in a time of 1 hour 27 minutes.
For more information about the Penticton Racing Canoe Club, contact Don Mulhall at (250) 488-3100, or don@pentictondragonboat.com.