Seven Gibsons Paddle Club athletes travelled to Dorney Lake, England last month to represent Canada in the 2022 IVF Outrigger World Sprint. The international event ran seven days with 153 Canadians competing in their various age categories in six person canoes, double hull 12 person canoes as well as single canoes. Twenty two countries participated. New Zealand and Hawaii showed as powerhouses in the outrigger sport.
Canada exceeded all expectations with a total of 12 gold, 13 silver and 4 bronze medals, a record number for the country. Best of all, our local club members ranging from their 50s to their 70s brought home five of those medals!
Catharine Esson and team: Bronze 40+ V12 500m race
Tamas Mihalyi and team: Silver 50+ V12 500m and Bronze 50+ V6 1000m race.
Ron Dickinson and team: Gold 60+ V12 500m race.
Ron Roberts and team: Gold 70+ V12 500m race
Outrigger canoeing is primarily a Polynesian sport but has evolved throughout Europe and North America. The international event is held every two years with the next competition set for Hilo, Hawaii in 2024. For more information and photos visit ivfiv.org/.
Congratulations to all our paddlers: Catharine Esson, Belle Eaglechild, Charon O’Brien, Daphne Brockington, Ron Dickinson, Ron Roberts and Tamas Mihalyi.
For more information about the Gibsons Paddle Club visit gibsonspaddleclub.ca.
