The Silver Stirs…

a tale of Mako and ACT Champs by Roving Reporter G

This is a silver tale, of pole dancing, dog butts, wardrobe malfunctions, dancing lunatics and back to front wardrobes. Of young love, group snuggles and a scene from Love Actually. A tale of a skeleton crew of silver sharks, a gang with massive hearts, who went to Canberra to race the best of the State and came home exhausted but brimming with pride and #makomojo.

Day one of Mako’s last regatta of the season saw some crusty eyes and yet-to-be-caffeinated kuckleheads emerge to a crisp Canberran morning. Dragon dancers put on a great show for open the new club block,Hershey the mascot joined in on playing tag sporting the Mako logo and some dance moves featured in the warm-up that may not have strictly fit the instruction, and would have had Coach Chicki’s eye twitching.

Love Actually or Saturday Night Fever?

The Mako men were showing their moves big time at warm up on Saturday. Hugh Grant was spotted at the racecourse in a Mako singlet, only recognisable by his telltale hip wiggle to his favourite song. And was that John Travolta or our very own John “The Keymaster” Gartner busting out the moves? Well played gents, you kept those talents hidden well.

Racing stuff

2000m

Day 1 started with 2000m turns races and strict rules, briefings and race lines. Mako Maidens were up first in a 10s crew, and Annie’s first tilt at a 2K. Not one to be risk-averse and one who commonly refers to rules as ‘guidelines’ she decided to throw caution to the wind to take her own lines around the course and draw a Mako shark with her GPS watch. While 2nd overall, there was a slight e’hem penalty given so the ladies were relegated to 4th place whooping with laughter and exhilaration. Well played Annie.

Mako Machos were out next, with a pretty tidy top-n-tail of Annie and Punjab, Charlie raising the class of the crew and Billy fighting his tourettes the whole way around the course. Put your arms down now Billy. Boyeeeeeeeeeeeeee was this crew out hot snagging a ‘you guessed it’ Silver, in a gritty display of mental endurance

Finally some large boat action with our Premier Mixed crew, and the same 18 paddlers gulped a quick drink, no time for snacks, jumped in the boat and pulled out the most incredible performance around a course to snag another, yup, Silver.

Oh yeah, did I mention that Kerry Walker “aka Pretzel” raced the 2km with her shirt back to front. That’s one way to distract the officials Kerry, especially with racer back style singlets. Gold.

So of course our ladies rallied as they do and raced back to front in solidarity. Thank heavens you were wearing sports bras is all I can say.

200m

We could talk about heats, technique refinements, Captains Glasso and Angie showing their prowess by tweaking crews in live time to increase performance and improve all day. We could talk about the same people racing time after time with reserves or rest. We could talk about the competition, the grit, the courage and determination shown by the ladies 10s, the opens 10s with women doubling up, or the Mixed 20. But who needs to labour the point. Look at the smiles on these faces and the cameraderie and friendship in the crew. There was no doubt that Mako would perform and hell yes they did. You guessed it. 3 x SILVERS clean sweep all categories.

500m

Day 2 dawned, Hobo emerged yawning from his hastily-made cave of sticks and leaves and began yelling for warm up. While most of the ladies were staging a revolution (or mimicking a meat trifle?), Snez accepted the brief and staged her own warm up on the pole. Ten Points Snez for setting a good example.

Our good Captain was stricken when he realised that we only had enough paddlers to run one crew of 18. twice. Lucky Mako like a brew-haha and a good fight, and fight we did.

Mako Opens

Mako Opens were first up over 500m with only 7 men, and a surprised Silky (El Chapo) learning of his stroking duties with the crowd favourite Al “has anyone seen my … (insert any word here) ” Stratton. The cheer squad were also flummoxed as to why the back of the boat was underwater and a fluro yellow bearded Hobo appearing to be standing knee deep in water yelling at the crew. Mako may have started something new here, as this crew flew down the racecourse to take first place in the Premier Opens 20s. That’s GOLD Mako, just gold.

Mako Mixed

Funnily enough the exact same people hit the shore and became Mako Mixed, ready to do battle again. Fighting every inch of the way, these brave and gutsy Mako pulled out all the stops, and smashed out strong races to take SILVER in the Premier Mixed 20s.

Young love

How can we not mention our precious lovebirds Jack and Charlie, cuddling one minute and then paddling with blood-curdling aggression a second later. We love you guys nawwwwwwwww

Results

• Premier Opens 20s 500m: GOLD
• Premier Mixed 20s 500m: SILVER
• Premier Opens 10s 2000m: SILVER
• Premier Mixed 20s 2000m: SILVER
• Premier Women 10s 200m: SILVER
• Premier Opens 10s 200m: SILVER
• Premier Mixed 20s 200m: SILVER

Thanks

Thanks to Jess for saving us, and Hershey’s butthole for featuring in all the photos. Thanks to Letitia and Ned for racing down Sunday to help us fill minimum crew numbers. Thank you to Coach Chicki for building with each of us the physical and mental grit, fitness and never give up attitude. Your race choice and configs to allow maximum participation are noticed and appreciated by all. Thank you to the support and cheer crew: Jen, Mich and Ness’ kidlets. Sorry not sorry about the relentles recruitment efforts you were subjected to.

Thank you to Captains Hobo and Angie for constantly working behind, in front, and in the scenes, to make our ACT Champs a seamless event. Mr Squiggle Lives.

But mainly thanks to you. Mako. The band of merry knuckleheads that constantly punch above our weight, and performing what is almost impossible. Coach Chicki puts it down to one thing ” Heart. Miles and miles of heart” and I have to say witnessing the Mako Magic at ACT on the weekend, I 100% agree. #makomojo lives and it is fabulous to behold.

Roving Reporter G over and out.