| Junior Racing // Event 07 April 2011 By: Madison Cassidy Location: Woronora River It's 5:45 when my alarm goes off. Mmhhh, good song, keep listening to it. OK time to have a shower, check I have everything and kiss Mum goodbye. We are off! One board on the roof, three paddles and bags in the back, Dad is driving and I'm feeling very nervous and it's only 6:20! Breakfast at Maccas at Ryde. I'm still very nervous. When we finally get there I have pins and needles in my foot, I'm freezing cold and we have to walk over a wet soccer field to register. Registered with a pink band on my wrist, two blue ones on Dad's wrist and the Handicap Division is on in five minutes. We got here just in time. They're off! And I'm madly taking photos. Snap, snap ... snap, snap! With Stuey coming in first, followed closely by Dad and then Peter. The first race was a success! The next one was the 14' Division. With Andy then Sam taking first and second, followed by the McManus couple (I still count you as fourth out of everyone rather than first out of no one, Mel). By now the butterflies had grown into airplanes but I was also pumped for my first ever race at the annual Coreban River Race. Dad has it all planned out. I'm going to jump on the board, lift up my leg and he is going to strap my leg rope as quick as he can. It's all set and we are standing on the beach together. OUCHHHHHHHH!!!! Crap, what was that? Dad looks at my foot and pulls out a bee's stinger. Devo, I have just stood on a bee before the race. It is stinging so much! Dad sucks out the poison and I stick my foot in the cool water. That's a bit better, I guess. Go over the starting process again. Jappy tells us what is happening and the 'on your marks' starts. Clear head Madi. That's it, good job. Hoooottttt. It's on. I'm running like a mad man and I stick up my right foot (the one that isn't stinging!) and dad straps on my legrope. OK, jump on and I'm about to stand up when the board is pushed out from underneath me and I fall off. Nice work Dad! Thanks. OK, so I have had a bad start and Jessica is in front. Stroke, stroke, stroke. I'm gunning it and my shoulder is killing. Jessica is turning, it's a little wide. If I can just sneak in on the inside and gun all the way back to the beach, we might have a chance. Yes! I'm just in front. Go Madi! Go! Unstrap my leggy. Hit the beach first, jump off and Dad jumps on! He's in the lead. Yesss. If he keeps this up we are going to win! Wow, I think I went a little too hard because I don't normally pant this much after a race. Take a giant gulp of water and wait for Dad to finish his leg of the race. He hits the beach first as well and we run through the finishing line together. Next over the line are Peter and Jessica then Lou and Jaden, finishing with Pru and Courtney. A race well raced by everybody.     It was time for the barbecue next and boy did I need something to eat. The 12'6" Division was after that and I was in charge of APS photos again. Snap, snap ... snap, snap. Andy and Sam taking first and second again with Steve Floyd coming in third. Next was the Junior's race. Not as nervous as before but still pretty nervous and sore but I was pumped. This time Dad had warned me that he was going to give me a push so I was to prepare myself for it. OK, clear mind again and hoootttt. We were off with Nick and Jack joining us but other than that it was the same as the Family race. Right foot up, strap on, ready for the push and woooosh. It would have been a beautiful start if I hadn't collided with Nick's board. Well now I was coming fourth. Uh oh, I had better push it! Gun, gun, gun and tuuuuurn. Time for some more gunning. OK, so I hit the beach fourth. I guess that's pretty good. Next up was the Le Mans race. A paddle run paddle run paddle run paddle and run to the finish. It was going to be chaos. Complete chaos. Woogie and Andy were competing seriously with Stuey close behind. There were boards spinning, paddles swinging, feet flying and the turning was tight. The winner was Andy followed so closely by Woogie. The Unlimited race was last with it being specific to 14'1" and over, only two guys were able to go in it. Peter and Peter. It was a photo finish with Meyer just crossing the line before Japp. Well, what a wonderful day. Now more sausage sandwiches before Woogie started his paddle clinic. Just checking my Facebook. Half an hour later Woogie is about to start. Hmmm. Lots of helpful hints. OK, let's get out there then. Oh. I don't have a board. I will have to check my Facebook again. Dad's back. I'll use his board now. Practice my turns. Fall in a few times and get soaked. Everyone is going in. I probably should too. The site is all packed up and dad and I carry our stuff back to the car. Get changed so I'm nice and warm again and we go up to the RSL to wait for the presentation. Finally it is 5:00pm and we are allowed into the room. We all take our seats. I can't wait to be walking out of here with two trophies! First the Handicap trophies then the 14' trophies are handed out. Next it's the Family Division. Yes. We got two terry towelling hats proudly donated by Terrence for coming first. Then the 12'6" trophies. Up next is the Junior Division. First Nick then James then Jaden. Wait? Where were Jessica and my names? We both came before Jaden. Oh. Girls Division. Yes! That's now a second instead of a fourth! Yeww, and we got three packs of Board Bog. All the rest of the trophies were handed out and everyone was very happy (especially me) about their trophies except poor Mel. I definitely think you should have gotten fourth. Don't worry, I know you're still a freak paddler. Next in the preso was the auction. Both the board racks and the Bali accommodation went well and the raffle was going to start. Come on red A1 to red A12! And the winner is red A6!!!!! Yessss!!! We won the Kahuna Street SUP!! I can't believe it, knowing my luck. I never win anything. The competitor's draw was next. Come on pink tag! Woogie from Coreban was asked to pull the name out of the hat as he is the main sponsor and first prize is a Coreban 12'6" Alpha Race board! It's a beautiful wood grain board. I so want to win it! And he is shaking the container. Shake, shake, shake. It's pink! Come on, come on! Madison Cassidy!!!! YESSSSSSS. I HAVE WONNN!!! I'm up and I'm screaming and I'm jumping and I'm doing a little bit more screaming. Dad's jumping up and down as well even though it was my name called out. I get first ride though. I go up and shake Woogie's hand and Dad takes a photo. I can't stop shaking. I text Mum and she texts back with Nooooooo!!!!!!!!'bshsjsn - because she is just a little excited she put extra letters on the end.  When we leave I make sure Dad straps on my beautiful new board nice and tight. I can't stop taking deep breaths all the way home. I am so glad I woke up at 5:45, had airplanes flying around in my stomach, stepped on a bee, Dad failing my start, got first and second in my races and stayed around until the presentation. I gained so much out of the day and I can't wait till next year. | |
