Mako Paddle Club

You are here: Home / News / MAFTAS 2022: The Wrap Up

by on

MAFTAS 2022: The Wrap Up

On Saturday 4th June Mako Paddle Club dusted off their very best Hawaiian shirts and gaudy suits, dabbed on some makeup, and danced the night away at the 2022 MAFTA Awards.

The MAFTAs, or ‘Mako Annual Fabulous & Terrific Awards’ are voted by peers, appointed by the Coach and inherited through buffoonery. They are without doubt the most highly-regarded recognition for dragon boating in the country.

Tensions were high on Saturday night as Mako chewed their nails to the quick, anxiously awaiting the envelope that would reveal the very first Mako MAFTA recipients. While there were many worth nominees, here is who’s in the Hall of Fame for the 2021-22 Season:

Mako Best & Fairest Female Paddler: Angie Katz

Mako Best & Fairest Male Paddler: Ryan Brown

Mako Club Person of the Year: Simon Katz

Mako Female Rookie of the Year: Jules Moderna

Make Male Rookie of the Year: Andrew Bennett

Mako Hall of Fame 2022

Rookie of the Year Andrew Bennett could not be at the event as he was competing for selection to the Australian Auroras Squad. However in his true garrulous style was reportedly heard to say he was “stoked”.

After a brilliant season summation by Captain, it was onto X-rated thrusting games involving paddles and trolleys, and then Mako Trivia was on. With host Angie unware that the microphone boomed into every corner of the venue (including toilets) this became a hilarious recap of our season. A recap that made us realise:

  • We paddled over 600kms this season.
  • We doubled our membership.
  • We swear. A lot.
  • Al is, in fact, not missing a lot of the time.
  • We won some medals, did some funky shit, travelled, and paddled, drank a lot, and laughed a lot.
  • We’re actually pretty tidy on a racecourse.
  • We love a challenge (especially one concocted by Chicki 7 days before the event and not trained for or planned).
  • Club Jervis Bay’s sponsorship rocks, and allowed us to compete intra and inter-State.
  • The magic is in the journey with mates, and if we get that right, the results will come.

Congratulations to all MAFTA recipients, it is no small honour to be voted in by your peers.

Mako is a mojo, and it is rising #makomojo