This year’s King of the Clubs event began on Saturday September 4^th as clubs from across Ontario began to assemble at River Run’s Paddler’s Meadow. The reigning champions and holders of the coveted wooden paddle trophy, Guelph Kayak Club (GKC), were joined by Kawartha Whitewater Paddlers (KWP), Georgian Bay Kayak Club (GBKC), the Petawawa River Rats (PRR), Western Kayak Club (WKC) and McMaster Whitewater (MW) bringing the total number of competitors to over 120. With the Petawawa Hell or High Water included as an event, GKC entered the competition in the lead with KWP and PRR close behind.

 

Clubs set up camp and began working on the design and creation of their cardboard boats using numerous large cardboard sheets and several rolls of duck tape and clear packing tape. Amidst the furious cutting and taping, KWP launched an attack on GKC and PRR with water balloons fired from a giant sling shot as bagpipes played in the background.

 

Bright and early on Sunday morning, the six clubs amassed at McCoy’s rapid for the first on water event; the relay race. The 9 legs, starting and finishing at the island beach, required strategy and stamina to complete. Some smaller clubs opted to combine legs and others chose to take a time penalty rather than attempting some of the harder legs. PRR came in first, with GKC and MW in second and third.

 

The cardboard boat race at the Lorne came next. Boats started at the island above the Lorne and had to make it over the first wave of Waikiki. Boats ranged from small box-like creations, to canoe style designs as well as a duo attempt. All boats made it down Garb although GKC flipped at the first wave allowing PRR, KWP and WKC to swoop in and take first, second and third respectively.

 

Next came the two Boater Cross events. 30 paddlers from the 6 clubs headed down Normans and Coliseum with aim of getting their entire team to the bottom in one piece. Another 30 paddlers hit Dog’s Leg to Farmer Blacks using speed and stamina to get their team to the finish line. GKC took the lead in the first event while KWP won the second event. After the first boatercross, PRR were tied with GKC overall but PRR slipped back in to the lead after the second boatercross.

 

The final on water event took place in the bay at the River Run take out. Teams of 5 boaters roped themselves together and entered a Tug of War knockout with teams from other clubs. Well matched teams battled it out for several minutes, cheered on by the crowds, until one side could not hold on anymore. Exhausted and red-faced, KWP and PRR made it into the final with PRR rising victorious and edging ahead of GKC and KWP, both tied for second.

 

There was still everything to play for with four on land events left. As winners of last year’s competition, GKC were in charge of the BBQ and laid on a fantastic spread for hungry competitors. As people ate, the men’s and women’s boat toss took place. The aim was to throw a small playboat as far as possible and KWP wiped the floor with everyone achieving the best men’s and women’s distances, with PRR right behind them.

 

In the Z-Drag event, GBKC snuck in from behind to get the best time for setting up a Z-drag and dragging a truck up a small hill. After some knot confusion, WKC resorted to directly pulling the truck up the hill but the truck did not budge. KWP took a 30 second penalty (and they had the fastest time overall) when it was found an improper knot was used on the truck.

 

With KWP jumping into the lead for the first time and PRR and GKC behind them, there was one event left; the throw rope accuracy toss. 5 person teams from each club had two attempts to accurately throw a throw rope at a target. The team with the most successful first attempts would win. Incredibly, the event ended with KWP and PRR tied for first position. These two clubs went forward to a ‘Sudden Death’ throw rope event with a more challenging target. The atmosphere was electric as the KWP and PRR team members tried not to succumb to the pressure of this ‘winner takes all’ toss off. The tension finally broke as the PRR took the victory and the wooden paddle leaving KWP disappointed but happy with their close second and to have placed in front of last year’s winner!

 

Clubs retreated to their respective camps and celebrated the days’ successes. Campfires popped up all over Paddler’s Meadow as clubs visited their neighbours to socialise and relive the events of the day. A fantastic day, full of fun and friendly competition!

 

Thanks go to River Run and OWL rafting for use of put-ins and take-outs and to all rafting companies for working with us during our on-water events.Thanks also go to the King of the Clubs organizing committee: Wayne Donison, Kevin Maggs, Cale Reeder, Brad Wipp, Rosa Trueman and Laura Duncan. Organizers welcome your comments and ideas for next year’s event. See you at King of Clubs 2011!   

 

Cardboard Boat Race

 

Boat Toss

 

Advanced Boater Cross

Photo Credit: John Slot

 

King Of Clubs -SCORE SHEET	1st place = 5 pts; 2nd place = 4 pts; 3rd place = 3 pts; 4th, 5th and 6th place = 2 participation pts
On-Water Events:	GKC	KWP	PRR	MW	GBKC	WKC
HOHW Race: Petawawa River May 1, 2010	5	4	3	2	1	1
Cumulative Score:	5	4	3	2	1	1
McCoy's Relay Race	4	2	5	3	2	2
Cumulative Score:	9	6	8	5	3	3
Cardboard Boat Race	2	4	5	2	2	3
Cumulative Score:	11	10	13	7	5	6
Advanced Boater Cross	5	2	3	2	2	4
Cumulative Score:	16	12	16	9	7	10
Easier Boater Cross	2	5	3	2	2	4
Cumulative Score:	18	17	19	11	9	14
Tug of War	3	4	5	2	2	2
Cumulative Score:	21	21	24	13	11	16
On-Land Events:
Boat Toss – Women	2	5	4	2	2	3
Cumulative Score:	23	26	28	15	13	19
Boat Toss – Men	3	5	4	2	2	2
Cumulative Score:	26	31	32	17	15	21
Z-Drag	3	4	2	2	5	2
Cumulative Score:	29	35	34	19	20	23
Throw Rope Accuracy toss	3	3	4	2	5	2
Cumulative Score:	32	38	38	21	25	25
First Place Tie Breaker 'Throw Rope Sudden Death Winner-Take-All'  toss off		2 misses	1 miss
King of Clubs 2010 Winner has highest score >			WINNER