Final leg of the Summer Twilight Marathon Series was successfully completed at West Lake on Wednesday night. 27 Competitors lined up for the 12 km Y course around west lakes using the footbridges as turning marks. Again conditions were ideal with a moderate sea breeze was blowing from the south. The menÕs junior combinations of Rupert Davis and Dale Thomson (K2MJ) and Matthew Goble (K1MJ) lead the field out from the start. Hot on their heels were Peter Bowden (K1MV55), Michael Cooper (K1MV45) and Rodney Mitchell (K1MV35). Bernard Goble (TK1MV45) was again setting the pace for the touring classes with Peter Raghoudi and Greg Roberts (TK2MV35) a little way back leading a large bunch of TK2, SK2 and TK1 craft. On the course, dragon boats and canoe polo training provided plenty of diversions for the paddlers. The upwind legs again proved to be the key with stronger paddlers stretching their lead on these legs.
First home was Davis & Thomson (K2MJ) in a time of 0:57:10 (approx. 12.6km/h) followed by Matthew Goble (K1MJ). Bowden was next home two minutes ahead of Cooper who was just able to edge out Mitchell. Bernard Goble was the first of the touring boats home (TK1MV45) Raghoudi & Roberts back a further 1.3 minutes. Daphne and Roger Magor were the first of the mixed double combinations to cross the line at 1:11:44.
It was good to see so many paddlers on the lake and great to see some new junior talent competing in this marathon Ð congratulations to Ben Sturm and Henri Davis.
Overall the Twilight Series has been a great success with good support for each race and a great atmosphere amongst the paddlers. Look forward to the 2006 Twilight Series.
