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Mako Paddle Club is known for its #makomojo, unyielding determination, and an unbreakable bond forged through countless hours of training and racing thanks to the support of Club Jervis Bay. The club recently embarked on an unexpected adventure.
It all began when Mako Paddle Club took up the exciting invitation to compete in the prestigious Pan Pacific Masters Games, held in Queensland. The team was ecstatic. It was the opportunity of a lifetime, and they knew they had to make the most of it. The Pan Pacs was no ordinary competition—athletes from all over the world gather in some of the most competitive racing ever seen.
The Journey Begins
While many clubs drop everything and train specifically for each competition ahead of them, upon receiving the news we were going to Pan Pacs, Coach Chicki merely shrugged and pulled out the tattered Season Plan she keeps in her paddling shorts. “We stick to the whole season plan Mako, I don’t care that we have not trained strength or speed yet, we’ll just wing it on the day”. In fact, we were so deep in endurance training we knocked out a feisty 60km paddle the weekend before we left, just to get some kms in and raise $2000 for the local homeless.
As the day of the Pan Pacific Masters Games approached, the excitement in the air was palpable, and a school of Mako converged on Queensland. The competition was fierce, with some of the best masters teams from across the Pacific region. There was Australia, New Zealand, and teams from various Pacific islands. But Mako Paddle Club was ready to throw everything at the racing and see what we could do against the best of the best.
The Big Event
The first day of racing dawned bright and early, with a 6am arrival and the temperature already climbing towards 30’C. Mako converged under any available shade, looking resplendent in their bright white race tops, as yet unstained by sweat, blood and salt
Married Bliss
In a typical Chicki surprise, couple Ron and Sal Casey learnt they would be stroking a Mixed Crew together for the first time ever and took it with the good humour we know them for. The crowd could hear them debating the entire way down to the start line over who was in charge, an argument we all agree Sal won. What a stroking combo it was, second in the heat and straight through to the Semis, to eventually win bronze in the 500m and 200m Grand Finals. And we are reliably informed they are still married.
Anyone order a Hershey Bar?
Hell yes, we did. In an extraordinary twist of luck, our very own Jess “Hershey” Sharpe cleared the calendar and jetted into the Gold Coast to unleash her very own sweeping mayhem on the event. Taking over coordination of all sweeps on the start line, Jess had the competition trembling in their boots and staying out of our way. She swept us to many medals and her voice was so commanding that even the drummers fell silent on the first morning. Well played Jess, you are the bomb.
Allie misplaces her uniform
Captain Allie had an excessive amount of Red Bulls on Day 1 and arrived delirious at the racecourse on Friday morning having forgotten her race uniform. Quick thinking Club President Simo grabbed the first white and blue clothing he could find to get Allie to marshalling on time.
Captain Edward Smith spotted
As the Opens crew took to the water for the final 6000m island race on the very last day, sweep Bear was so determined to drive the crew hard that he may have misplaced the course map depicting where the reefs were. At the 3500m mark with a pack of crews chasing us, Mako decided to hold their own Remembrance Day and storm the beaches. The brief portage stop was executed flawlessly by the pacers, the crew back in the water and rampaging home to take silver in the final race of the competition.
The Finesse of Female Flatulence
Many crews have many strategies in the psychological warfare on the start line of racing. Mako ladies crew have found a unique but effective one and deployed this tactic not once, but twice to great effect at Pan Pacs. The reverberating sound of flatulence echoed off the canals of Varsity Lakes, silencing our competition and allowing Mako to leap out of the starting blocks and win every race. Hats off Captain Allie, you are a visionary, (and just quietly, you may want to eat more fibre).
Wendy puts her neck out
As far as drummers go, our own Wends was a fairly quiet one on Day 1. What she could not deliver in volume, she certainly made up for in head banging, air drumming and face grimacing. A performance not unlike the mosh pit of Metallica. She found her voice later that day and drummed the mixed crew to their bronze medal brilliance.
Guest appearance by a Beast
Our very own Beastie Anna Spanna swung past to guest star on a drum and claim a gold medal for the women’s’ crew. What a beautiful sight to see that 1000 kilowatt smile lighting up the racecourse and inspiring the crew onwards.
Ladies Pull Off a Flash Mob
No-one said Mako women were demure, delicate or refined. Nor will they ever. Delighted with their 6000m gold medal, the ladies conferred briefly and decided to flash mob the officials in their fight to get their hands first on the medals.
Mako Men deliver perfect race
On paper our Opens Crew were tiny compared to the Maori giants dominating the competition. And yet, what Mako does well is composure under pressure, flawless delivery and trust of the brotherhood. This was showcased in the 500m Opens 10s category where our lads went into the Grand Final ranked 4th and pulled off a huge upset to take Gold and make the coach cry with pride and the crowd leap to its feet screaming ‘Mako. Mako. Mako’ for the final 100m of the race. Just bloody brilliant.
Golden Girls
Some racehorses like to sit at the back of the pack, some like to hug the fence, our ladies are the kind that like the wind in their faces. Coach Chicki gave the girls a pep talk before their first race, to get out in front from the start and hang on, and the ladies certainly delivered. Not only did Mako win the hat trick, a gold in every event, they crossed the finish line first in every single race across the competition. Unbeaten on the course across heats, semis and finals. Our Girls are Golden indeed. Respect ladies.
The Racing
Day 1: 500m
- GOLD – Women’s 20
- GOLD – Men’s 10
- BRONZE – Mixed 10
- BRONZE – Mixed 20
Day 2: 200m
- GOLD – Women’s 20
- BRONZE – Men’s 10
- BRONZE – Mixed 10
- SILVER – Mixed 20
Day 3 – 6000m
- GOLD – Women’s 20
- SILVER – Men’s 10
Afterparty and Legacy
That evening, the team celebrated with gusto and it was fabulous and well deserved. The little white club from the coast approaches its celebrations with as much ferocity as its racing, and the stories from that night are best left untold.
So as the sun set on Varsity Lakes, and Ryan’s headband hanging from the tent flapped gently in the evening breeze, Mako began their journey home to Jervis Bay tired, proud and emotional.
Mako Paddle Club’s amazing adventure to the 2024 Pan Pacific Masters Games has become a story for the ages, one told with pride, passion, and forever etched in our hearts.
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