Red Cross Murray Marathon
Emily Rozee and Brad Butler, both members of the Marathon Canoe Club of SA, have recently completed their first Red Cross Murray Marathon. This annual 5 day endurance event held over the Christmas and New Year period is one of the toughest marathon paddling events in Australia.
Emily and Brad paddled a new Ron Elliot, Vulcan in the event and cannot speak highly enough of the boat. They were assisted in their 404km adventure by dedicated land crew member Renee Stanley. It was the first time that either paddler had participated in the event and they found it a hugely rewarding experience.
Comaraderie on the river amongst support crew and paddlers alike is one of the positive memories that Emily and Brad took away after their five days on the water. They were thrilled to meet several paddlers who were past participants in the Murray 200 as part of the Riverland Paddling Marathon and hopefully encouraged several novice paddlers to consider the event.
Competing in the Long-Rec-Double-Mixed-Open division Brad and Emily came second in their class and were well placed in the overall handicap rankings.
Official times will be released in a few days time but the approximate times for Brad & Emily’s paddle were –
- Day 1, 94km in 8h19m
- Day 2, 96km in 9h01m
- Day 3, 76km in 6h48m
- Day 4, 63km in 5h53m
- Day 5, 75km in 6h30m
The Murray Marathon also referred to as the Murray 400 is one of world’s longest annual canoe races and covers a distance of 404km in five days, taking paddlers from Yarrawonga through to Swan Hill in Victoria, Australia. Organised by Red Cross, funds raised during the Marathon have been channeled back into the provision of vital community programs and emergency services.
This year the Murray 400 celebrated the 40th and final year as the Red Cross Murray Marathon. Next year the event will become the YMCA Murray Marathon.
A record 1060 paddlers, 250 volunteers and over 3000 crew members took part in the 2008 event as it moved as a tent city from town to town.
