COOK ISLANDS AWAIT AUSTRALIAN OUTRIGGER TEAMS
OUTRIGGER CANOE, May 9: Australia's finest outrigger paddlers will converge on Mooloolaba this weekend for the 2011 Australia Outrigger Canoe Racing Association (AOCRA) National Marathon Titles - chasing Australian Championship glory and places on the National team.
Entries for the OC6 10 kilometre short course event and the prestigious 18km (women) and 22km (men) events have flooded in from States all round Australia.
The race for top honours in the men's 22km event will rest between the powerful Outrigger Australia (Currumbin, Gold Coast), host club Mooloolaba, Sydney's Cronulla, Sunset (Far Nth Qld) and the always competitive Northcliffe club.
Mooloolaba, Outrigger Australia, Malanuka (Mackay), Coffs Coast, Brisbane Outrigger, Surfers Paradise and Port Douglas senior masters are all certain to be among the leading contenders for line honours in the women's main event.
There have been over 40 entries received for the Short Course event over 10km, which will kick off events this Saturday at 9am, with the Long Course women set for 10.30am and the long course men at 12.30pm both attracting over 30 entries.
There has also been strong entries for the newly included Young Guns category, which includes three seniors and three juniors for the 10km short course event.
AOCRA has announced that after its own in-depth discussions and following consultation with National head coach Chris Kelly, Team Australia will send two representative teams to contest the popular Vaka Eiva event in Rarotonga, Cook Islands in November.
Last year AOCRA selected its first Australian representative teams that raced in the prestigious Molokai Island event.
But a decision has now been made to send the National teams to Molokai every second year.
AOCRA president Trish Johnston said today that highly competitive Australian Men's and Women's crews had already registered to compete in the Cook Islands and countries such as Tahiti, New Zealand and Hawaii always send top level crews.
"The competition will still be fierce and we believe being a part of this event will encourage team development and growth," said Johnston
"Paddlers who have qualified through the OC1 and OC2 National Titles held at Coffs Harbour last December are invited to join the squad.
"The OC6 Marathon Titles will, as per last year, provide the other eligible 12 Men and Women qualifiers for the squad.
"It is AOCRA's intention to develop National teams that will race in Molokai but we are now looking to Molokai every second year.
"Every other year we will visit the racing calendar to choose the most appropriate available event."
{youtube}DW7CnfxGDX8{/youtube}
EVENTS SCHEDULE
Saturday, 14 May 2011
Short Course
Start time: 9.00am
Categories: (Novice Women, Novice Men, Young Guns Women, Young Guns Men, Open Women, Open Men, Open Mixed, Master Women, Master Men, Senior Master Women, Senior Master Men, Golden Master Women, Golden Master Men, Platinum Women, Platinum Men) - 10km
Long Course - Women
Start time: 10:30am
Categories: (Open, Master, Senior Master, Golden Master & Platinum) - 18km
Long Course - Men
Start Time: 12:30pm
Categories: (Open, Master, Senior Master, Golden Master & Platinum) - 22km
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Junior's and Age racing starts from 8:00am
U12 - 3km
U14 - 5km
U16 - 10km
U19 - 16km
Senior Mixed (Open, Master & Senior Master*) - 16km
* Golden Master or Platinum Master crews wishing to nominate in the Mixed 16km race should nominate as Senior Master via the AOCRA site, but make note of the preferred division in the 'Notes' section. If three or more crews are nominated, medals will be presented.