Nine Port Macquarie outrigger paddlers have set off for the sporting adventure of a lifetime last week as the club makes its international debut in the Cook Islands.
A full week of racing is planned for the members of Port Macquarie’s Maroro Outrigger Club, with most embarking on their first overseas competition at the Vaka Eiva event.
Paddling veteran Kerry Owens, who has been with the club since its inception, said the regatta would be the highlight of her time in the sport.
“We locked this in more than six months ago so it’s been a long wait and I’m thrilled that we’re finally on our way,” she said before the team’s departure.
“We’ve been training very hard for this regatta and personally I can’t wait to get to the Cook Islands and compete against 900 paddlers from around the world next week.”
Owens is joined by club mates Karen Newman, Lea Haldane, Karan Bland and Fiona Baker in the master women’s 12-kilometre iron event, as well as a 36-kilometre changes race.
Local paddlers Kris Waters and Lyn Lovering are joining a North Queensland team and two paddlers from Tahiti to contest mixed iron and women’s changes races, while Port Macquarie’s Dave Douldin and local Australian representative paddler Lauren Grant are teaming up with the Mollymook Outrigger Club in the iron, sprints and changes events.
Karen Newman, who paddled in the Cook Islands last year with the Newcastle Outrigger Club, said she was delighted to be competing with her own team-mates this time around.
“The event gets bigger and bigger each year and it’s another great milestone for our young club to be competing in our own right this year,” she said.
“I’m sure we will all remember the experience for a long time to come.”
Racing for Port Macquarie’s contingent began on Monday, with the regatta scheduled to wrap up this Friday.
