Event report

Nine types of paddle craft; Waka Ama, Waka, Surf Canoe, Ocean racing skis, surf skis, Flat water racing K1s and K2s multisport and sea kayaks along with two single sculls, an ocean double, ocean quad and a coxed four completed the round up of craft entered in the first 4 Bridges River Race to be held on the Whanganui in Wanganui. With a total of 73 craft entered and over 130 athletes it was going to be a good day of racing with the water and weather conditions being ideal.

The 4 Km Short course was the first event for the day with 13 starters in multisport, surf ski and double ocean rower, Waka Ama and Waka. It was an out and back course with the tide on the turn in flat conditions.

It was a mass start under the City Bridge in Wanganui, heading upstream past the river boat mooring then onto the Dublin Street Bridge in a clockwise direction back down to the City Bridge turning upstream again and finishing down stream of the River Boat. Luke Gibson, from Waitara paddling a surf ski in the open class was the first athlete home in a time of 21.37. Followed by Aiden Nossiter from Wanganui paddling a K1 in the under 15M age group in a time of 22.47 which was very impressive followed by Matt Pawson in the U19m multisport class in a time of 23.52. Our youngest crew on the water for the day was the pairing of Georgia Carrol and Nikayla Butters from Union Rowing Club in the U15 Ocean rowing double who competed the 4km course in 36.45.

The Long course started with the remaining 60 craft on the water facing up stream under the City Bridge. The rowing craft where on the front row followed by all the single and double kayak categories and on the back row Waka Ama, Surf Canoe and. They would be completing a 13km circular course including all of the City Bridges and a bottom buoy turn at the sea ward side of Corliss or Rabbit Island. This was a spectacular sight to see as all of these craft and athletes lined up for the start of the long course spread out across the river, what a thrill this was to watch.

The local Aramoho Rowing Club mixed Coxed four where the Overall winners in a time of 59.39. Followed by Adam Frazer from Waitara in 2nd place overall and 1st in the Open men Multisport in a time of 1.05.1, 3rd place over all and 2nd in the Open men Multisport went to Marcel Hargener from Ohakune in a time 1.05.13 and in 3rd place for this class was Brian Scott 1.05.42 from Wanganui. The Ocean rowing quad in the River Warrior class (40+M) from Union Rowing Club Wanganui was 5th across the line in a time of 1.07.33.

The River Warrior Category (40+) for the men was a very strong field to be competing in with 9 starters. Local knowledge paid off for Barry Hurley to win this class paddling an Andrew Martin Advantage in a very respectable time of 1.09.27 and in 7th place over all, followed by Les Morris from the Hutt Valley paddling a K1 in 1.10.55, 9th over all and in third place Brett Harrison from Wellington in 1.19.01, 24th overall.

We had six Waka Ama crews racing as mixed crews which saw Aniuwaru Waka Ama Club from Porirua win there event over the others in a time of 1.17.00.

Check out the list of results for further competitor details.

This event will be run again next year around the same time of year, 1st of November. Thanks to all of the sponsors who where able to support this event and allowed us make the 4 Bridges River Race a success.

Aaron Cox

Short Course Results

Long Course Results