Chicago Shoreline Marathon: Rice v Mocke Smackdown (again)!

Sunday, 21 August 2011  |  Written by Rob Mousley

Dawid Mocke at the finish - exhausted! Credits: Richard Hodgkins and Scott Fincher

Late Start

“One of the worst thunderstorms I’ve ever seen,” Mocke commented.  “I’m glad we weren’t out there in it. Good call by [race director] Tim and his team.”

Nearly three hours after the scheduled start, the paddlers set off into the unsettled lake, heading initially due east.  On rounding a buoy off the beach, they sprinted south to the $500 hotspot.

Rice and Mocke sprint off the start; Lewin close behind

“I put 2 lengths into Sean at the turn,” said Mocke.  But the determined 22-year-old accelerated, pipping Mocke to the hotspot by inches.  “I’ve never been beaten to a hotspot like that after seemingly having it in the bag!”

Grind

After rounding the hotspot buoy, the race headed north, plowing into the 3-4ft waves and 10kt northerly left by the thunderstorm.

Having lead the way to the hotspot, Mocke and Rice were joined by Philippe Boccara, Greg Barton and Barry Lewin and the pack of five rapidly dropped the rest of the field.

The gang of five (L-R): Sean Rice, Barry Lewin, Greg Barton, Dawid Mocke, Philippe Boccara

“The sprint to the hotspot took it out of me,” commented Mocke, “and I pretty much hung on for the 14.5km north.”

Two clicks from the halfway mark at Pratt Pier, Rice accelerated and the group split, Mocke hanging on, Barton and Lewin unable to keep up.

Mocke and Rice approached the turn together, but Mocke, on the inside took a risky line over a shallow pipe and put a couple of lengths lead into Rice.

Barton rounded in third position with Lewin showing signs of distress in fourth.

“Looks like Barry [Lewin] is limping,” commented race director Tim Flentye as he watched.  “Looks like he might be cramping up.”

Sure enough – Lewin had suffered a mishap with his juice bag and was busy dehydrating.

Race Gallery by Richard Hodgkins

• Barry Lewin Barry Lewin
• Philippe Boccara Philippe Boccara
• Dawid Mocke Dawid Mocke
• Dawid Mocke Dawid Mocke
• Greg Barton Greg Barton
• Breakaway Breakaway
• Lewin leads Lewin leads
• Boccara leads Boccara leads
• Heads down Heads down
• Slip streaming Slip streaming
• Front Bunch Front Bunch
• Rice v Mocke Rice v Mocke
• Sean Rice Sean Rice
• Sean Rice Sean Rice
• Start Start
•  

Heading South

For much of the run south, the paddlers were assisted by the waves and Mocke and Rice rapidly dropped the less experienced (in downwind conditions) Barton.

“After the turn there were some decent bumps and Sean and I went at it hammer and tongs,” said Mocke.  “I got a gap on him, but the fight was on.”

So near and yet so far... Rice trails Mocke near the finish

5km from the finish Rice had almost caught up.  “Eventually,” said Mocke “I thought he might catch me and I decided not to look but just to paddle as hard as I could.”

As they approached the finish, the wind swung round and they were faced with a headwind and rapidly diminishing waves.  “That part wasn’t fun!” said an exhausted, but elated Mocke.

Pain!

Full Results

Next Up – Nelo Summer Challenge

The Rice v Mocke ding-dong carries on next week when the two men, along with Barry Lewin travel to Porto in Portugal for the Nelo Summer Challenge.  This event comprises a 10km downwind race on Saturday and a knock-out surf lifesaving style event on Sunday.

There will be a few more paddlers at this race…  some 757 signed up on the Facebook page so far!  See: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=132907896738655