Perfect Conditions for the world's richest Outrigger event

by Lee Huber on 19 Jun 2002 The best outrigger canoe crews from all over the world raced in perfect Whitsunday conditions for the 42km Coca-Cola Hamilton Island Cup marathon today. Calm waters and summer-like temperatures in the high 20s were more like summer conditions than the middle of winter.

The Coca-Cola Hamilton Island Cup is Australia's largest outrigger event with more than 1000 paddlers from all over Australia, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Fiji and New Zealand. The event offers the sport's highest prizepurse of $40,000.

Sunshine Coast teams from Mooloolaba dominated the 42km event with gold-medal wins in the Open Women, Master Women and Master Mens categories.

There is a dual reason to celebrate in the Curry-Kenny household today, with Lisa leading her Open Women's team to victory with a five minute lead over Team New Zealand while husband Grant's Master Men's team took a nine minute win over Brisbane.

'We had a dream race,' said Lisa Curry Kenny. 'About six to eight weeks ago, our girls had a dream to win this event - and we did.'

'After winning the 16km marathon on Saturday, we decided not to race the 1000 metre sprints yesterday - wanting to rest for today - and it paid off. This is our day in the sun,' she said.

The highly-competitive Open Men's division was won by the combined international crew of Team Hawaii and New Zealand.

Team Captain Rob Kaiwai said the teamates were friends who had been paddling together at international regattas for quite a few years.

'Today's race was tough. I would have liked it to be a bit rougher out there - it was so flat that it was really a race of strength and fitness as well as tactics with the currents and tidal changes,' said Rob.

In the Senior Master Men's division (Over 45 years), Team Hawaii smashed the event record set by Capricorn Coast in 2000 by more than 10 minutes. Sunshine Coast's teams Noosa and Panamuna placed second and third respectively.



TOP PLACINGS 2002 COCA-COLA HAMILTON ISLAND CUP - 42KM MARATHON

All times recorded in hours:minutes:seconds

OPEN MEN

PLACE CLUB TIME

1. Team New Zealand/Hawaii 3:07:56
2. Ikaiki (Sydney) 3:09:21
3. Mooloolaba (Sunshine Coast) 3:11.49

MASTER MEN

PLACE CLUB TIME

1. Mooloolaba (Sunshine Coast) 3:20:40
2. Brisbane 3:29:12
3. Surfers Paradise 3:30:27

SENIOR MASTER MEN

PLACE CLUB TIME

1. Team Hawaii 3:32:24*
2. Noosa 3:38:54
3. Panamuna 3:43:03

* Beat record of 3:42:33 set in 2000 by Capricorn Coast.

OPEN WOMEN

PLACE CLUB TIME
1. Mooloolaba (Sunshine Coast) 3:44:30
2. Team New Zealand 3:49:39
3. Ikaika (Sydney) 3:53:39

MASTER WOMEN

PLACE CLUB TIME

1. Mooloolaba (Sunshine Coast) 4:03:12
2. Surfers Paradise (Gold Coast) 4:05:22
3. Capricorn Coast (Rockhampton) 4:13:01

Pictorial note: Online pics are available on the internet at photos.hamiltonisland.com.au/hamiltoncup (note no www). Low res shots can be downloaded immediately. For higher res pics please email Hamilton Island Photography on hiphotogaphy@hamiltonisland.com.au (Ph: 07 4946 8897) to order the picture of your choice. The pic will then be emailed to you, in the resolution you require.