The PDs had a very enjoyable race day in Penrith on Sunday. Here’s how it all looks like in figures:
- 43 PDs in attendance
- A number of paddlers who are relatively new PDs: Anders Ballebye, Steve Chezzi, Owen Gauslaa, Billy Jones, Iain Macleod, Patrick Webb, Diana Bernal, Sinead Done, Firoozeh Ostvar, Karina Piddington, Janet Wang and Louella Yu
- 2 even PDs mixed crews made the grand final of the Premier Mixed division, placing 4th and 5th
- PD Chicks came 3rd
- PD Men came 2nd
The day began with mixed crews racing; Craig decided to field 2 evenly-balanced crews for this regatta. The move paid dividends as everyone experienced finishing first, got into a final and got to stare down the other PDs crew! Based on the even times and placings that each crew managed to achieve, Craig did a pretty good job.
PD Black
- 02:08.25 – 2nd place
- 02:10.09 – 1st place
- 02:11.25 – 4th place
PD Orange
- 02:09.06 – 1st place
- 02:11.26 – 2nd place
- 02:11.92 – 5th place
Once mixed racing was all done, Open and Women racing were up next. Again PDs excelled, but the PD Chicks won the gong for the more-improved of all the PD crews entered for the day. They saved their best race till last – a convincing third-placed finish, a hair’s breadth behind the more experienced Different Strokes women crew.