First local winner for kayak race
THE Oban Sea Kayak Race completed its eighth annual race around the island of Kerrera on Saturday with more than 50 entries.
The start was split into two this year, with the traditional touring kayaks starting first at 12.50pm and the faster performance kayaks, double kayaks and the Ocean Surf Skis starting half an hour later at 1.20pm.
This made the end section coming into the bay through the north entrance a bit more competitive, with most of the racers heading into Oban bay together.
The Champions Trophy was won for the first time by a local racer, Patrick Winterton, in a time of one hour and 43 minutes, beating Bruce McTaggart from Vancouver, Canada, by 42 seconds.
Patrick is no stranger to sporting competition as he was part of the GB cross-country ski and biathlon team in the 1988 and 1992 Winter Olympics and now works as a ski sports commentator for British Eurosport and Sky Sports. The ladies’ Champions Trophy was won by Lizelle Kemp from Dunbar in a time of 1:54:39.
The organisers would like to thank everyone who entered this year’s race, and said they were so indebted to the support boats manned by Struan and Cameron Smith of Coastal Connection, Neil Matheson, Dr Erik Jespersen, Dr Hue Forbes for allowing the use of Kilbowie Outdoor Centre again and Donna Barr for all the safety cover during the race, without which such an event could not take place.
A big thanks was made to the many competitors who travelled from every corner of the UK and abroad to take part in the race. Also a big thanks went to the many businesses around Oban which sponsor this event every year. Finally, thanks were made to Stephen Lawson for taking all the amazing photographs of this event every year in all conditions. All proceeds from Oban Sea Kayak Race are in aid of the Oban lifeboat.