Written by Ingrid Roepers Public Relations
Double trouble was the order of the weekend for gun Australian paddlers, Tom Norton and Jemma Smith, with both clean sweeping the double-header in the Shaw and Partners Forster Race Weekend. They kicked off the weekend of Barrington Coast ocean paddle racing with victory Saturday in the Nine Mile Cup from Forster to Black Head beach; and backed it up Sunday taking the flag in the big one – Sunday’s 20km open-ocean Forster Ocean Classic from Elizabeth Beach to Forster.
In challenging conditions, the field had to conquer a tricky shore break off Elizabeth Beach before setting paddle for Forster, a 12 km leg in the open-ocean to the turn of Cape Hawke, and then 8km through to the finish line at Forster Beach.
It was neck-and-neck the entire way for Australia’s two leading endurance paddlers, Tom Norton and last years’ Forster winner Cory Hill, with 30-year-old Norton winning the last wave of the day and running up the beach to cross in 1h19.16s, with Hill just 7 seconds behind for 2nd. Third place went to Manly’s Oscar Jones who came in more than three minutes behind in 1h22.33s.
“Well that was fun. We had great conditions the whole way, with the wind behind us. It picked up after we rounded Cape Hawke with some great swell wrapped right around into Forster,” said Norton whose launched his 2023 season with three wins from three races.
“We pushed each other all the way but I managed to get a slight break in the final stage. But then Cory caught a great wave and we were actually on the same wave into the beach. Cory was probably more aggressive I guess, and came off his ski. I played it safe and, this time, it landed in my favour.
“I’m happy with my fitness. We head to Hawaii next for Molokai in May. That’s a 53 km race, so I think my training is on track for that epic.”
For 2022’s world ocean-ski champion Jemma Smith from the Central Coast, it was far from an easy Sunday afternoon paddle, but victory for the 24-year-old star, was within her reach from the get-go. She won the start, mastering the shore dump with her exceptional skill, and left her female competition in her wake. She took the victory in 1h33m03s, a true endurance effort, and more than four minutes ahead of Sascha Taurins (1h37m.06) and Northcliffe ironwoman, Emily Doyle (1h38m0s). Sunday’s female podium replicated Saturday’s Nine Mile finish.
“It was tricky start off the beach, but I managed to get a good start. The wind and swell came from behind, and I got some awesome runs off Cape Hawke. It was exhilarating, it was really fun with so many runners to ride,” said Smith.
PARALYMPIAN MACLEAN INSPIRATIONAL
Dual Paralympian, Sydney wheel-chair athlete John Maclean, proved he’s carbon-fibre through and through from his leg brace to the strength of heart and mind, showing the courage to face today’s challenging 20km Forster Ocean Classic and complete the open-ocean challenge. In an inspirational effort, the 56-year-old took 2h24m36s to complete the race.
“It was really good to cross the line. It was super tough. I came up the coast and around Cape Hawke ok, but after I rounded the cape I kept falling in. I think I fell in about five times, but I was lucky because I was able to lift myself back into the seat,” said Maclean.
“I was super grateful to Danny Collins who helped me get the foot strap into place. He’s a four time Olympian and what an awesome man, to stop his race to help me.
“This first weekend in Forster has been good as there are some areas I have to work on, particularly on the steering but Deano will help me get that right.
“To be honest, the hardest part was walking up to the finish line. Had to get two guys to help me..the old legs were a bit tired after that 20km effort,” said Maclean.
On Saturday in the Nine Mile field, Maclean made his Shaw and Partners championship debut, coming in 68th overall in the open men’s division, and registered a credible 25th in his age category.
Maclean who missed selection in the Paralympic sprint kayaking team in February, has only recently ditched the 200 m dash for the demands of endurance racing. His new passion is ocean-ski paddling, the Barrington Coast races his first serious hit-out. The veteran sportsman has never stopped training and competing despite a 1988 accident that rendered him a paraplegic. He’s mastered more than seven sports and represented Australia internationally over many decades, and was the first wheel-chair athlete to swim the English Channel and complete the Hawaiian Ironman.
Results
SUNDAY
Men’s Forster Ocean Classic – Elizabeth Beach to Forster Beach (23 April 2023)
1 Tom Norton 1h 19m16s
2 Cory Hill 1h 19m23s
3 Oscar Jones 1h 22m33s
Women’s Forster Ocean Classic – Elizabeth Beach to Forster Beach (23 April 2023)
