By
Andrew Stackpool
The Navy demonstrated it’s maritime prowess as two first places
were awarded during the running of the 2004 interservice canoeing
championships.
LEUT Daryl Robinson from HMAS Albatross stormed to first place
in the Men’s Open Sea Kayak Single with an impressive 38 hours,
51 minutes, 11 seconds, and LCDR Tanzi Lea also from HMAS Albatross
finished first in the Men’s Vet 50 Sea Kayak Single, powering
home in 39 hours, 3 minutes, 35 seconds.
The competition, which comprised personnel from the three services,
Defence public servants and service cadets, was held in conjunction
with the annual Murray River Marathon, a 404km race from Yarrawonga
in New South Wales to Swan Hill in Victoria.
The 404km marathon was held in mixed conditions over the Christmas-
New Year break from December 27 to 31.
All ADF paddlers finished. Event coordinator MAJ Karen Turner
said that the marathon commenced in 1969 and the ADF has competed
in the marathon since 1970.
“The ADF Kayaking Team had eight entries (down on the 18 in
the 2003 event) and unfortunately our numbers were not sufficiently
high enough to contest the TK2 Men’s Open Team trophy,” she
said.
“Nevertheless ADF members competed well against civilian crews
in individual classes.”
“We had good conditions because the river was flowing well this
year.
However, the weather was cool with strong winds which hampered
paddlers on the first two days,” MAJ Turner said.
As well as their sterling maritime endeavours the Navy paddlers
demonstrated their pockets were shallower than the Murray when
they joined their colleagues from the other services to raise
$4800 for the Red Cross.
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ADF
Results
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Navy
LCDR
Tanzi Lea: Men’s Vet 50 Sea Kayak Single 39:03:35 1st
place
LEUT Daryl Robinson: Men’s Open Sea Kayak Single 38:51:11
1st place
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Army
MAJ Martin Graves: Men’s Open
TK1 42:28:23 11th place
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Air
Force
Mr Stewart Nicol & Mrs Marie
Taylor (DGTA): Mixed Vet Touring Kayak Double 40 34:17:21
1st place
LAC (AAFC) John Schneider:
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Relay
412SQN: Junior Mixed School’s
Touring Kayak Double 38:07:45 1st place
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Half
Marathon – 200km
FLTLT (AAFC) Danny Salmon & Mr Ben
Pardew: Men’s Open Touring Kayak Double 16:20:46 R 1st
place
CUO (AAFC) Rob Schneider: Men’s Open K1 17:12:13 1st place
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