The stream of paddlers seemed never ending at the Heritage Park launch pad in Mullumbimby for the 2015 Mullum2Bruns Paddle.
With over 1000 entries, the river was awash with folk enjoying a sunny Sunday and with the wind behind them they travelled over nine kilometres to Terrace Park in Brunswick Heads.
Surf Lifesaving legend Karla Gilbert won the women’s division of the Print Rescue Stand Up Paddle (SUP) challenge in 73.48 and Kate Baker from Brisbane took out second.
Rising star of the SUP circuit, 20 year-old Jake Jensen started off his International SUP season with a winning time of 69.47 in a very close finish for the Men’s Division.
About 45 members of the Brisbane SUP club came down for the event and placed in both challenges – a third for Oliver Murphy-Kurth in the Men’s SUP and a second for Kelly Jury in the Open Paddle challenge – kayaks.
From a very competitive Open Paddle field Currumbin kayaker and Tim Stenlake took line honours in a blistering 51.02 race to the finish, Haydn Clarke was second.
Xavier College students Harrison and Connor Murphy kept up the pressure on the leaders, with Harrison placing in the top five, after only a handful of times ever paddling a kayak. Byron Shire Councillor Di Woods watched the starts from a vessel on the river. ‘This was an amazing day full of the simple pleasures of life.’
Of the Best Decorated Craft entries, a Yellow Submarine canoe was outstanding for first prize and young pirates from the Uncle Project took home third prize.
A strong contingency came down from Mid-North Queensland and Maroochydore for the event, including a group of Black Swans, and paddlers came from as far afield as Launceston and Townsville.
~ Photos Tree Faerie
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