Water droplets quivered at the edge of the paddle blades, suspended for one tremulous moment, then fizzed as they splashed back home to the river.
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The crafts to which the paddles belonged sliced their lines through the water, leaving wakes so clean that one would be forgiven for thinking river, paddle and canoe were destined by some will of nature to meet.
On the weekend of December 14 and 15, dozens of avid canoeists from across Victoria and NSW hit the water to compete in several events for the annual Murray Triple Crown canoeing event.
The Ben Ward 40 Miler, named in memory of the late Ben Ward of the Cobram Barooga Canoe Club, the Thompsons Beach Circuit and Murray Handicap were the three races across weekend.
Cobram Barooga local Emma Corrin took home the coveted award of Queen of the Murray for her win in the Ben Ward 40 Miler Junior race, completing the 64km course in an impressive five hours, 31 minutes, and 24.7 seconds.
Corrin is a star on the rise. At just 15 years old, her time made her the youngest competitor, and the first female, to win the Ben Ward 40 Miler Junior event in its history.
Lachlan Dal Sasso was first to cross the finish line, taking home gold for his team ‘Tiger Snakes’ in the single junior boys’ relay with five hours, 26 minutes, and 50.5 seconds.
Meanwhile, Brett Greenwood of Lane Cove River Kayakers was crowned King of the Murray.
Greenwood placed first in the Ben Ward 40 Miler with a time of four hours, 40 minutes, and 6.3 seconds.
His relay team, Lane Cover River Kayakers, notched second place in the Thompsons Beach Circuit, while Greenwood was fastest overall in the Murray Handicap with a time of 19 minutes and 47.7 seconds.
There was no short supply of impressive performances from other members of the Cobram Barooga Canoe Club at the weekend.
For instance, Clive Cromack competed in all three events from the weekend, covering a total distance of 84km across the two days.
Meanwhile, Jack Corrin, 10, became the youngest winner of the Junior 20km event on Saturday, finishing with a time of one hour, 52 minutes, and 29 seconds.
Home-grown talents Hunter Iskov and Callum Lincoln proved their mettle, winning the Junior 20km doubles in one hour, 36 minutes, and 23 seconds. The pair were closely trailed by fellow club members Ben Curnick and Julian Guthrie.
Iskov, Lincoln and Curnick united to take home gold in the Junior Men’s Relay.