RESULTS – NINE MILE CUP – RACE 1
April 22, 2023
RESULTS – FORSTER OCEAN CLASSIC – RACE 2
April 23, 2023
PADDLERS, TOM NORTON and JEMMA SMITH WIN THE NINE MILE CUP – RACE ONE OF SHAW AND PARTNERS FORSTER RACE WEEKEND
Written by Ingrid Roepers Public Relations
Australian paddlers, Tom Norton and Jemma Smith, have taken the first wins of the Shaw and Partners Forster Race Weekend, victorious in Saturday’s Nine Mile Cup from Forster to Black Head beach on NSW’s Barrington Coast.
In sunny conditions with a 12 knot SE cross-wind, the field had to negotiate a shore dump off the start, before they set out on the 13 km journey to Black Head Beach. They’ll race again Sunday in the Forster Ocean Classic with an 11am start from Elizabeth Beach, north on the open-ocean to round Cape Hawke, and head to the Forster Beach finish line. (expected into Forster around 12.15pm)
In men’s racing today, new dad Tom Norton took the win, with two-time world champion Cory Hill second and Newport’s Mitchell Trim in third.
Norton’s arch rival, Hill got a good jump start, and led to the first turning point.
“And from there, we took our own line,” said 30 year old Norton, post-race. “I decided to go out wide. I did not want to get stuck on the inside of the bombie near Black Head like last year.
“It was a tricky race as the south easterly was crossing our path, but there was always something to chase in the small chop. The south easterly was blowing across our path so it was at times tricky, but there was always something to chase in the small chop. It was quite tight between Cory and I until the closing couple of minutes. I managed to link a few good runs together, got lucky and got the win,” said Norton who has had a perfect start to the season, winning the Bridge to Beach on Sydney Harbour in February and now the first of the Forster races, the Nine Mile.
For current women’s world champion, the Central Coast’s Jemma Smith, it was a return to her happy hunting ground on the Barrington Coast. She led from the start and stitched up a convincing victory in the Nine Mile. She crossed the finish line at Black Head Beach in 1h33s; with Sascha Taurins from Sydney’s northern beaches in 2nd with a time of 1h3m04s, more than 2.5 mins behind Smith, and Northcliffe ironwoman, Emily Doyle, third.
“It was a bit tricky getting off the beach with the shore dump but I managed to get in my ski and away cleanly which I was happy with,” said Smith post-race. “It was quite a technical race, the wind was coming from the side but the last few kms were fun. Looking forward to the big one tomorrow!”
Further back in the Nine Mile field was dual Paralympian, 56-year-old John Maclean who made his Shaw and Partners championship debut. Maclean who missed selection in the Paralympic sprint kayaking team in February, has ditched the 200 m dash for the demands of endurance racing. His new passion is ocean-ski paddling, with the Nine Mile Cup being his first serious hit-out. The veteran sportsman who has mastered more than seven sports and represented Australia internationally over many decades, came in 68th overall in the open men’s division, and registered a credible 25th in his age category.
“These guys are cheating because they are using their legs,” joked wheel-chair athlete Maclean, who paddled with the aid of his carbon-fibre leg brace. “It was awesome,” said an elated Maclean after the race. “First downwind race and I am loving it.”
The field returns Sunday for the 20km Forster Ocean Classic, confronting the open ocean as they paddle their skis from Elizabeth Beach to Forster with a start time of 11am. Expected arrival time into Forster is from 12.15pm.
Results
Full Results available at
https://oceanpaddler.racetecresults.com/results.aspx?CId=115&RId=1049&EId=1
Men’s Nine Mile Cup – Forster to Black Head Beach (22 April 2023)
1 Tom Norton 51m55s
2 Cory Hill 52m15s
3 Mitchell Trim 54m22s
Women’s Nine Mile Cup – Forster to Black Head Beach (22 April 2023)
- Jemma Smith 1h33s
- Sascha Taurins 1h3m04s
- Emily Doyle 1h3m39s
Ffi Ingrid Roepers on mobile 04 111 989 44 or iroepers@irpr.com.au
