Hard luck stories always abound at the finish of the Liffey Descent: tales of broken bows, calamitous capsizes and missed medals. For some of the South Africans, Portuguese and Australians who came to take on the Liffey with its weirs, rapids, jungle and portage, it is a case of come back next year, better prepared. For in the words of K2 winner Nic Oldert from South Africa "it's a struggle paddling completely blind, leading with no one to follow".
Followers are exactly what Gary Mawer from Salmon Leap Canoe Club had during his record-breaking run down the course. Mawer, who finished fourth at the World Marathon Championships two weeks ago in Stockton-on-Tees, was first K1 to Straffan weir just 750 metres after the start, and 18 miles later, first K1 over the finish line at Islandbridge in a time of 1.55.57. Mike Levert of Australia, silver medallist at the World Championships, was to follow Mawer over Straffan, down the fast but difficult route over the slide on the left of the weir. But the K1s had been let off very quickly after the K2s and when Mawer saw the mayhem at the bottom of the weir he changed plan and headed for the 'chicken shoot' on the right hand side. Levert went for the slide but didn't make it.
For the rest of the race Mawer stuck to his plan. "I worked really hard going through the jungle, so that if I made a mess I would have enough of a lead, I knew that once I got through the Sluice and down to Lucan (weir) I was safe, as I know Wrens and Palmerstown (weirs) really well. Realistically, it is hard for a foreigner to win in K1. And indeed it did with home paddlers taking all the medals in the men's K1, Gary setting a new record and winning an all expenses paid trip to the Fish marathon in South Africa at the beginning of October.
Nic Oldert and Colin Simpkins, silver medallists in the 40-45 Masters class at the World Championships in Stockton-on-Tees, called on their experience of racing in South Africa where according to Oldert "A lot of races depend on not making mistakes". Seventh boat over Straffan weir they capitalised on the mishaps of others to come through the field and finish first in a time of 1.53.06. Indeed, they did well to be clear of the ramming incident between 2nd and 3rd placed boats 200 metres from the finish which caused Peter Egan and Jason Briody of Salmon Leap Canoe Club to capsize, finish fifth, lodge a protest and then be reinstated to second place.
Eileen Murphy, another medallist from Stockton-on-Tees, where she won the women's 40-44 Masters Class had her first win in the women's K1 class since 1991. Murphywon her first Liffey gold medal back in 1973.
Trea
