Avon Descent

The Avon Descent is a race run along 133km over two days along the river Avon in Western Australia.  Specially modified surf skis have become the paddle craft of choice over the last few years.  The skis have reinforced hulls and are fitted with drop rudders.

The race has become a community event, with over 2000 volunteers helping with organisation this year and towns along the route holding celebrations over the weekend. 

South Africans

Daryl Bartho is no stranger to the race, having taken the singles title in 2004 & 2005 while Sven Bruss's win was his second consecutive victory.

Perfect Conditions for 2007

Apart from some fog which delayed the start of day 1, conditions were perfect for 2007 - a change from the low water levels of the last few years which saw competitors portaging for much of the route.

Ash Nesbit (Photo: Lee Griffith, Western Australian)

Team Event - doubles

In the team event, each competitor paddles two of the four sections of each day.  This year the Bartho brothers paddled kayaks while Ash Nesbit and Marcus Brockhurst paddled skis.

Winner Sven Bruss (R) and Matt Coutts (2nd) (Photo: Greg Burke, Western Australian)

Summary Results:

Teams

1. Daryl and Brett Bartho: 8:20:18
2. Ashley Nesbit and Marcus Brockhurst.

 Singles

1. Sven Bruss: 8:43:20 

Sven Bruss came fourth in the paddle event overall with the fastest single kayak time in a decade.

We hope to have some photos soon...  (Rumour has it that Ash has gone fishing with the Bartho brothers...  Daryl Bartho is a legendary fisherman, so no doubt the competition will be just as fierce!)

Comments (2)

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written by Ash Nesbit, August 06, 2007

Yes hello Rob, we (Barthos x 2) are in the the Narv!!(Carnarvon WA) getting ready for the annual Mackie festival!!
Avon was great and thankyou to Thiess/Kentz for getting Daz and Brett across...it was awesome racing them less then 2min seperating us over 140km!!
Looking forward to relaxing and fishing for the rest of the week!!
Ash Daz Brett!!

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Full results on the event website...
written by Rob Mousley, August 07, 2007

Full results are up on the event website.

Greg Tate of Royal Life Saving, WA send me some more interesting stats:
- Over 100,000 spectators watch the race over the two days.
- Five local Municipalities organise functions and events during the race.
- Huge event logistically that costs $400,000 to run each year.

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