Outriggers record blitz

Carlie Walker | 3rd July 2009

Fraser Coast Chronicle

CREWS from all over the world came to compete - but it was the outriggers of the Fraser Coast that were the talk of the 26th annual Hamilton Island Cup.

Teams from Australia, Hawaii, America, New Zealand and many more travelled to Hamilton Island to compete in the annual outriggers regatta.

The Fraser Coast Outriggers Canoe Club took home gold medals, and set new records, in the OC6 races and OC1 sprints.

The outriggers also won a huge array of silver and bronze medals at the competition.

Sandy Wallis and Bryanne Elyes enjoyed particular success.

They brought home 12 medals between them.

The two women won a silver medal with the senior masters womens team in the 16km marathon and a silver in the 500m sprint.

They won a gold medal with the OC6 senior master womens team, competing in the 1000m sprint.

The team not only won the gold medal, however - they also shaved 13 seconds off the previous record time for the event.

In addition to those medals, Wallis won a silver in the senior master womens 8km OC1 event, a bronze in the OC1 250m sprint and a bronze in the OC6MW 42km marathon.

Elyes won gold in the senior master women OC2 marathon and bronze in the master womens 42km OC6 marathon.

“This is the best result for the Fraser Coast Outriggers Club in recent times and shows the level of commitment to succeed from the members - and their drive to win,” Fraser Coast Outriggers Club members Duncan Miles said.