MICHALE Leverett made a one-act affair of the two-day Frank Harrison Memorial race on the Murray River at the weekend.
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The former national paddler and 2011 master canoeist of the year won the overall title for best male competitor.
He dominated in the combination of events — Saturday’s singles and yesterday’s double kayak race, both from the weir wall to Noreuil Park.
Border gymnastics teacher Geole Schmitz, who has been paddling for only four months, took the women’s title.
Mitta Mitta Canoe Club president Karen Zerbst said 47 boats had raced on Saturday in the singles and 23 yesterday in the K2.
“It was a great turnout for the race and the conditions were near perfect,” she said.
“The only thing not ideal was a little lower than last year. There was no wind.
“The times were also a little slower this year with the singles taking about one hour, 44 minutes to cover the 26 kilometres on Saturday and the doubles about 1 hour 37 minutes today.”
The racing also acted as a Victorian team-qualifying event ahead of the national titles in April.
Zerbst said the Frank Harrison memorial race, named in honour of one of the stalwarts of paddling on the Border, was the biggest race on the club’s calendar.
“The race is named after Frank Harrison who hand made most of the club’s boats out of wood, when the club first started 40 years ago.
“That was long before they were all made out of fibreglass,” she said.