Coconuts' paddler Matthew Abbott powered his way to success at the National V1 Championships

Maria Girgenti

IN February, Coconuts Outrigger Canoe Club head coach and current Australian OC1 champion Matthew Abbott enjoyed recent success at the National V1 Championships held in Brisbane.

The race occurred at Suttons Beach, Redcliffe and covered 12km in a triangle format along the coast. Conditions were light, and Abbott placed second over the line in a time of 1hr 8 mins qualifying to represent Australia at the IVF World Distance Championships in Samoa in August.

Abbott stated, "The V1 is a challenging craft to race as it has no rudder. I am constantly learning and look forward to representing Australia in Samoa."

In late February, Abbott and other club members competed in the annual Sydney Harbour Challenge.

This year's event was moved from Manly to Rose Bay, and the 22km course included an open ocean portion outside of South Head and a run up the Harbour past Fort Denison, Shark Island and Sydney Opera House.

The race attracted world-class paddlers from Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand and Australia, with 135 OC6 (6man) crews competing.

Abbott paddled with a group of top Open Men paddlers from North Queensland.

"Out of the two North Queensland teams that raced in Sydney, five men have qualified to represent Australia in the Open Men's division in the OC6 team long distance race. This is a fantastic result for NQ zone," said Abbott.

The club also fielded an Open mixed team of Adrian Darveniza, Miles Darveniza, Bernie Reitano, Vicki Mackereth, Ute Holzrichter and Brodie Alder.

This team crossed the line eighth out of a field of 30 canoes and fourth in the Open Division in 2 hrs 6 mins.

Steerer and Coconuts President Adrian Darveniza said, "The race had beautiful views of the Sydney Harbour and paddling out through the mountainous waves crashing against the towering cliffs of South Head added to the challenge."

The day after the Sydney Harbour Challenge, Abbott and Adrian Darveniza backed up to race in the AOCRA Ozone R1: Kurnell Run Downwinder 20 kms.

Some of the world's best paddlers included Kevin C Jerusalemy, Tupuria King, and Kevin Kouider led the men's race and challenged a talented field of paddlers from Hawaii, New Zealand and Australia.

Abbott crossed the line fourth in a time of 1hr 34mins, the first Australian competitor to finish.

Adrian Darveniza finished tenth in the Master Men Division in a time of 1 hr 47mins.

In other exciting club news, Abbott recently announced the Australian Elite Open Men's V6 and Men's V1 World Distance coach.

"I am honoured to be selected for this role and am looking forward to working with Australia's best paddlers to gain the most out of the team for the World Championships.'

The Coconuts Club always welcomes new social and competitive members. Now is a great time to try paddling, so for further details, please visit their Facebook page.

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