Not content to dominate in the Alcan International Dragon Boat Festival in Vancouver two weeks ago, Pemberton’s paddlers headed to Indian Arm last weekend to race in the 12 kilometre Lotus Club Outrigger race.
This was the first year that the Pemberton Canoe Club fielded more than one team in an outrigger race.
The Pemberton Makoa, an all-woman crew steered by Meg Gallup and Diane Hartl, led the race at the beginning, choosing a start position away from traffic on the far west side of the start line.
Pemberton’s second crew, steered by Christopher Nicolson, decided to try its chances in the middle. They were hit by another boat just after the race began.
The Pemberton boats found themselves in a race for second place from the quarter mark onward against a pair of competing boats.
The Makoa battled with a crew from Gibsons, while the other Pemberton Crew trailed them by a few boat lengths.
Some tactical steering in the final kilometre of the race put the two Pemberton crews and the Gibsons boat on a collision course for the finish line. Pressing hard, Hartl’s Pemberton crew elected to stay in the middle of Indian Arm to take advantage of the ebbing tide while Nicolson’s crew chose to steer east of the line anticipating the current.
Defensive maneuvering by the Gibsons’ crew prevented either Pemberton crew to pass during the final stretch and led to another collision at the finish line.
Official results placed Gibsons crossing in second at 1:15:47, Pemberton's Makoa in third at 1:15:49 and Nicolson’s crew in fourth at 1:15:51. An outrigger race doesn’t get much closer than that.
The Pemberton Makoa thank their coach Jeanette Callahan for her support and guidance in preparation for the 2003 racing season.
Pemberton’s Makoa paddlers include Anna Sinclair, Evelyn Coggins, Annikka Snow, Ethlyn Sutherland, Diane Hartl and Meg Gallup in the third place crew.
They were followed by the crew of Anne Nicolson, Sandra Kewley, Karen Love, Marge McPhee, Michelle Porter and Christopher Nicolson.
The Pemberton Canoe Club trains on local lakes in the Pemberton area in Outrigger Canoe, Dragon Boat and Flatwater Kayak disciplines. New members are welcome. For club information, please contact Christopher Nicolson at 604-894-6908.
