TRAVIS GRANT AND JESSIE MILLS-THOM VICTORIOUS IN OC1 AUSTRALIAN MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIPS

Outrigger Canoe, Coffs Harbour (December 11): Gold Coast paddler Travis Grant used a combination of adrenalin and smart racing to break Greg Long's stranglehold on the 25km Australian Outrigger Canoe Racing Association's (AOCRA) National Marathon OC1 Championship in Coffs Harbour today.

While 16-year-old Coffs Harbour schoolgirl Jessie Mills-Thom showed why she is one of outrigger canoeing's stars of the future with an eye-catching victory in the open women's race

Light sou-eastly conditions and drizzling rain made it tough for the 100 strong field in the OC1, OC2, Stand Up and Ski events on the arduous paddle from Coffs Harbour, north to Woolgoolga.

The near millpond conditions offered the paddlers next to no assistance at all on the long paddle from off the North Wall at Coffs Harbour Jetty, past Split Solitary Islands and Sapphire, Moonee, Emerald and Sandy Beaches and on to Woolgoolga Headland and the finish line.

Race director Mike Mills-Thom held up the race for 20 minutes until four-time winner Long reached the off-shore start after travelling from the North West Shelf, Perth and Brisbane over the last 48 hours to reach Coffs Harbour around midday.

Long, a project manager on the gas platform in the North West Shelf, drove down to Coffs Harbour from his Gold Coast home this morning and was appreciative of Mills-Thom's support and the support of his fellow competitors to hold up the start.

"I have to thank Mike Mills-Thom, who is one of the unsung heroes of our sport and as hard as I tried, today wasn't my day - but well done to Travis," said Long.

Grant, who last won the 25km Iron race in 2006, and who has finished second and third to Long over the past two years chased early leader, Coffs Harbour kayaker Daniel Jenkins who led the field for the first six kilometres.

"Daniel was so quick off the start and he really had a good crack but it was important to maintain a good rhythm and race a smart 100 percent.

"I knew if I slowed down then guys like Todd (Cohen) and Greg would wind me in.

"But when you're are out in front, adrenalin kicks in and you just keep going. The pressure was on and I like racing under pressure.

"I have worked hard all year and to win this race again is great for your confidence. I knew Greg would be up against it after what he has gone through to get here."

There was no place to hide out in the ocean and Grant knew he had to keep punching to keep his rivals at bay.

Big Todd Cohen from the Sunshine Coast chased Grant all the way to line with a strong paddle to finish second ahead of Long in third place.

Jessie Mills-Thom is one of the gun young paddlers who represent the future of the sport.

Jessie is the product of father Mike, a former world marathon ski champion and mother Gail, herself one of Australia's finest paddlers and a member of the National team, who finished fifth in today's race.

"Mum and I train four times a week under dad's programs, so he had us well prepared for today's race," said Jessie, who will set herself for a crack at the Molokai OC1 race next year.

"It was tough going but I knew I had to work hard given the fact there was not a great deal of assistance."

Second-placegetter Coral Derbyshire from Mooloolaba tried to go with her younger rival but admitted she didn't have the firepower to match it with the teenager.

Tomorrow's 12km short course race is likely to attract the majority of the OC1 paddlers on to Stand Up Paddleboards for the journey between Sawtell and Coffs Harbour.