THE 46th Hawkesbury Classic Paddle was held over the weekend, with 215 paddlers taking part. Race organiser Kent Heazlett said, “If ever there was an example of what can be achieved by people working together, the Classic is it in a nutshell.

“On top of the organisers, Hawkesbury Canoe Classic Association Inc. we have the paddlers themselves, their support crews, 300 plus volunteers (including NSW SES, Marine Rescue NSW (Hawkesbury and Brisbane Water), WICEN NSW, Nepean / Blue Mountains Prostate Support Group and many other individuals and groups), checkpoint land owners who generously allow us the use of their properties, State Government (Transport for NSW, NPWS, Maritime), Hawkesbury City Council, Central Coast Council, NSW Police, Paddle Australia and Paddle NSW all working together to make the event a fantastic success.

“Starting at Macquarie Park, Freemans Reach, paddlers ventured down the 111 km stretch of the Hawkesbury River to finish at Mooney Mooney. Paddlers have the option of taking on the 31 km Sackville Sprint, the 65 km Wisemans Ferry Dash and then the daunting 111 km Windsor to Mooney Mooney, the Classic distance.

“Conditions on the river, overnight Saturday, varied from the near 40 degree C heat at Windsor for the Start, high winds along the course, rain and hail at times and then choppy water conditions towards the end of the 111km course.

‘At the pre-paddle briefing, paddlers and supporters were inspired to hear from Yvonne Panek-Hudson, a Board Member at Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation, who spoke of the fantastic work being undertaken by Arrow and how the funds that paddlers and their supporters raise are being put to such good use.

“The fastest paddlers down the river in the 111km distance were Dmytro Medvedyev and James Pralija in a blistering 8 hrs 18 mins 57 seconds. In the “Brooklyn or Bust” 111km category, Peter McConnell and Tim Jacobs got home first in 10 hrs 33 mins 29 seconds. In the 65km event, Mark Moro and Rob Beilharz got home in a great time of 5 hrs and 58 seconds and in the Windsor to Sackville “Sprint” Michael Mueller won in a time of 2 hrs 38 min. Our final competitor made it to the finishing line in an exhausting 15 hrs 53 mins 17 seconds, an amazing example of tenacity and pride in finishing.

“Again this year each craft had a GPS tracker onboard, which allowed organisers to have real time knowledge as to where each paddler was during the event. It also provided friends and family, around the world, to know how their paddler was progressing

“Paddlers and their supporters this year have so far raised $95,000.00. The primary recipient of the funds raised will go to the Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation, and in doing so, have added to the already staggering $4.5 million raised by past Classics over a 30-year period. Other, smaller donations will go to our support organisations such as NSW Marine Rescue, WICEN NSW, and Nepean / Blue Mountains Prostate Support Group.

“This year’s event was sanctioned by Paddle Australia and received sponsorship from

Hawkesbury City Council, North Richmond and Richmond Community Bank – Bendigo Bank, Rotary Club of Gosford North, Expedition Kayaks and Cockatoo Island Kayak Tours.”