Murray Marathon Report

Murray Marathon

The Vic Super Murray Marathon is an iconic paddling event of national prominence. An enormous challenge; full course paddlers complete 404km of paddling over 5 days along the mighty Murray River with additional short course and relay options possible.

The event is now in its second year of operation by the YMCA Victoria after a 40 year association with Red Cross and what a year they must have had.  Late spring rains caused floods in the area and required numerous course changes. Then to top it off Day 5 was cancelled in totality because of extreme heat and drying north winds. However the Event Director, Committee and Management team conducted themselves professionally and should be congratulated for management of the event this year in one of the most difficult years in memory.

Although it is an iconic paddling event the Murray Marathon is also a fundraising event with funds raised being injected back into the Murray region. In this way the event supports the people of the Murray region long after the last participant crosses the finish line.

Several old hands were stumped this year with briefing being conducted at Yarrawonga rather than Tocumwal and the most organised of land crews had to consequently manage changes to accommodation bookings. In addition paddlers and land crew had to contend with mosquitoes, locusts and heat to complete the iconic event.

However regardless of course changes the great race started in Yarrawonga on the 27th December and headed downstream toward Tocumwal, Echuca, Torrumbarry and Murrabit before finishing in Swan Hill.

Due to the flooding of the Murray River, the most significant change to the event was the cancellation of the scheduled course between Tocumwal and Picnic Point, traditionally paddled on Day 2 of the event. However after Day 1, participants simply moved further downstream and were a day ahead of the planned course, with the leg between Murrabit and Swan Hill to be paddled twice, on both December 30 and 31.

Unfortunately though the 2010 VicSuper Murray Marathon was wrapped up in unique circumstances with the final day of the 42nd annual paddling event declared a non-paddling day for participants due to the extreme fire danger in the Wimmera and Mallee regions. 

The message got around the paddlers quickly via text as the MarathonÕs Emergency Management Group met Thursday afternoon and concluded that the risk to participant safety was too great to proceed with the eventÕs final leg.

“Of course, disappointment is felt by the marathon community and certainly by our staff and volunteer committee of management that the event couldnÕt finish in the traditional way. However the safety of our participants – including paddlers, support crews, volunteers, staff, and the wider community is far more important,” said Event Chair Scott Chapman.

An information session was held on the morning of day 5 of the event by organisers at Riverside Park, Swan Hill – the location of the finish line, had the event continued. Participants had the opportunity to hear first-hand how the decision was reached, according to clear event policies regarding Severe Weather Warnings.

“We had considered the possibility of this scenario in our planning earlier this year, and had clear policies in how weÕd respond if such circumstances eventuated” explained Peter Burns, YMCA Victoria Chief Executive.

The crowd of 400 heard from Scott Chapman, Peter Burns and the eventÕs Chief Safety Officer Peter Dunn. Swan Hill MP and Deputy Leader for the National Party, Peter Walsh, who was a participant in this yearÕs event, also addressed the crowd.

Walsh expressed his support for the YMCA saying it must have been an “agonising decision”, although made easier by clear event safety frameworks and policies.

“Last nightÕs decision was not ad-hoc, there was methodology behind it. For those that have never seen a bushfire, it is a very frightening experience,” he told the crowd.

The decision was none the more agonising than for Peter Dunn, who along with the Management Committee and event organisers, had worked long and hard to ensure this yearÕs marathon continued in the light of challenging circumstances created by the recent flooding of the Murray River.

“This year weÕve had our challenges with flood and (threat of) fire”, he said. “But the most important thing is that the 2500 individuals that we have to consider in these decisions are all safe.”

After four days of paddling on the mighty Murray River, 62 year-old paddling veteran, Tom Simmat, 62, from New South Wales was announced as the winner with a handicapped time of 17h52m26s. Simmat capped off a successful year having taken out international race, the Yukon 1000 in Canada, a 1600km race on the Yukon River.

The Open Full Distance WomenÕs winner was another paddling veteran, Elizabeth Van Reece, of Nabiac, NSW, who finished 34min ahead of the next competitor in her category.

Several well known RPM paddlers also participated in the Murray Marathon his year including stalwart Bill Robinson, Taswegians Paul & Heather McCosh and Brad Butler, amongst others.

For full results go to – www.murraymarathon.ymca.org.au

Photos can be viewed at – http://www.flickr.com/photos/ymcavictoria/collections/72157625695041074/