The relaxation of public health restrictions announced today means that we can soon return to sport across Victoria.
That is good news for those keen to get back into Marathon racing after the long break since March.
While many of the regular events planned for later this year, such as the Massive Murray Paddle, Ben Ward and Broken River Classic, have been cancelled we have three Marathon events that are going ahead.
- Saturday, 28th November: The Victorian Short Course Marathon Event, being held in conjunction with the Bendigo Friendly Sprints on Lake Weeroona. This event consists of two short course races (1 singles, 1 doubles, each comprising 3 * 1.1 km laps, with 2 portages for Divs 1 to 4 and no portages for Divs 5 to 10). Do the sprint events in the morning and one or both short course marathon races in the afternoon and leave with a smile on your dial.
- Sunday, 6th December: The Salty TK and Rec Challenge, run by Footscray Canoe Club, consisting of three six km races (1 singles, 1 doubles, 1 mixed doubles). Mix it up for a change in some fun craft and settle any scores from last year’s event.
- Sunday, 13th December: Geelong Short Course Marathon, being run in conjunction with a PV Sprint event at Geelong Canoe Club. Paddlers can again participate in the sprints in the morning and the short course marathon in the afternoon (the short course will consist of one or two events, comprising 3 * 1.1 km laps, with 2 portages for Divs 1 to 4 and no portages for Divs 5 to 10). Who doesn’t enjoy running 200 m with your boat on an undulating course through trees besides the Barwon? Or choose a non-ICF boat and avoid the portage.
We already have a permit for the Short Course Marathon at Bendigo and permit applications have been submitted for the December events.
We hope many of you will take advantage of these opportunities to get back into racing. All events will be run under COVIDSafe plans and will comply with Victorian public health guidelines.
More information will be posted over the coming weeks, including links to on-line registration and COVIDSafe arrangements.
The 2021 event calendar will also be published shortly.
John Young
On behalf of the PV Marathon Committee and the Bendigo, Footscray and Geelong event organizers.
