Paddler on a mission

By Ben Hope
ENDEAVOR Hills resident Brett Sutton was tired and relieved at the end of the 2009 VicSuper Murray Marathon, a five-day canoe marathon along the Murray River that ended in Swan Hill on New Years Eve.
Mr Sutton joined 10 other competitors from regional Victoria to make the relay team ‘Dilligaf’, who took turns to paddle a two-man TC2 canoe for the duration of the 404 kilometre course.
“The rules for relay teams specify that you must change at each of the five leagues throughout the day so we all had the chance to row every day,” Mr Sutton said.
“Although my training helped, my arms were getting a bit sore by the final day and it was a relief to make it to Swan Hill for the final leg of the course.”
This year was the ninth marathon the 21-year-old had completed after being introduced to the sport by his dad.
“My dad was the officer in charge of the event for a few years until he decided he wanted to paddle as well,” Mr Sutton said.
The annual marathon, now in its 41st year, began 27 December in Yarrawonga and attracted 786 paddlers in 203 crafts with more than 3000 support crew and volunteers.
Covering 404 kilometres of the Murray River the race passed through Tocumwal, Picnic Point, Torrumbarry, Cohuna and Murrambit before the official closing ceremony at Swan Hill’s Pioneer Settlement on New Year’s Eve.
Mr Sutton said that while perfect weather conditions remained for most of the race, heat and wind created an extra challenge during the fourth stage before a thunderstorm dampened New Year’s Eve celebrations.
“The weather was great until the fourth day when the wind made it hard going,” Mr Sutton said. “We stayed for the presentation at the Pioneer Settlement in Swan Hill on New Year’s Eve but made it back to our camp before a huge thunderstorm rolled in,” Mr Sutton said. Overall winner of the event was Tony Hystek from Liscombe, New South Wales, who took out the event in 26 hours 11 minutes and 52 seconds.
The 2009 marathon saw YMCA Victoria manage the race for the first time after taking over the event from the Australian Red Cross, which announced it would end its association with the event in 2008.
Funds raised during the event will be reinvested by the YMCA into social, economic and environmental projects within the Murray River Region.
The marathon began back in 1969 after a group of 10 friends decided to paddle the Murray River in a bid to raise $250 for the Australian Red Cross.