Racer’s Edge February 2017
Battle for the ‘King of the Murray’ set to rage on in final river classics!
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In this issue
Directors Deck..................................6 FEATURE: Race for the ‘King of the Murray’.........................8 5 Minutes with Mick.......................15
Major Events 2016/17 AU G U S T
2 0 1 6
Hawkesbury 120, NSW.....................................August 27-28
O
2 0 1 6
c t o b e r
Grafton Bridge to Bridge, NSW...........................October 1-2 Murray Bridge 110, SA......................................CANCELLED
N
o v e m b e r
2 0 1 6
Bridge to Bridge 2UP, NSW............................November 26-27
J
2 0 1 7
a n u a r y
Australian Championships, NSW.......................January 11-15
F
e b r u a r y
2 0 1 7
Southern 80, VIC...........................................February 11-12
M
a r c h
2 0 1 7
Ted hurley Memorial Classic..................................March 4-5 Robinvale/Euston Ski Race, VIC...........................March 11-12
A
p r i l
2 0 1 7
Mildura 100, VIC................................................April 15-16 Barrie Beehag, VIC...................................................April 29
M
a y
2 0 1 7
Barry Carne Interstate Challenge, NSW..................May 13-14
Directors Deck Ted Hurley and Robinvale back-to-back, SRA memberships The Ted Hurley and the Robinvale 80 one week apart, now that’s a lot of skiing on the Murray! This will be the first time these races have gone back to back and it forms a great opportunity for members to get a lot of competitive skiing, racing and camaraderie into just over one week. The Hurley is named after a “Great Ski Racer” who is described as someone who always had a smile on his face, and so should all SRA members on being able to enjoy this waterway on an exclusive basis for ski racing over a course starting and finishing at Wentworth Township. Robinvale the following weekend is another classic on the SRA Calendar, where the course on this part of the river is very wide in parts. I am informed it’s a very flat part of the river in the right conditions and this should make for great racing for members. It’s mentioned above that these races are close together this year as the Murray flooding caused several events to be postponed on the river. However members, what a great result as SRA memberships have still equalled last year’s annual membership numbers just after the last edition of Racer’s Edge.
on at Mulwala Ski club on March 25 & 26, and upon completion of the races the Worlds team will be chosen to represent Australia at Seattle in the USA. So if you can get to the final Worlds races your support by fellow competitors will be welcomed I am sure, and the atmosphere of the Worlds is something to observe and experience at these style of races, for those that have not done so before. I would like to reiterate to all competitors in the Hurley and Robinvale events to “race to the conditions” in aiming to achieve a safe race for all competitors, and good luck with your racing.
Wesley Lloyd, SRA CEO
Congratulations on sticking to ski racing and also thanks for your flexibility to be able to run those postponed events later into this 2017 second half of the season. Please do not forget the last two world championships selection races 6 & 7 are 6
ENTRIES OPEN CLICK HERE
7
Who will be
the 2017
King of the Murray?
?
‘King of the Murray’. A title
Pic supplied by Moama Water Sports Club
Pic supplied by Moama Water Sports Club
With the Southern 80 the first that many in ski racing would of those events to have been held this season, it is the Don relish to be the custodians of, but few will attain without Gulley-led Merc Force who is best placed to claim the title the requisite consistency, thanks to their first-ever vicspeed and most of all, luck. tory in Australia’s most iconic The accolade was first award- water skiing event. It’s a posied in 1990 to late legend of ski tion Merc Force have been in racing Dennis Rowbottom, who before, after they led the King of the Murray standings going won the Southern 80, Robininto the season-ending Mildura vale/Euston and Mildura 100 events in that very year with his 100 last year. Island Cooler team. In fact the award was created and named However Gulley and his crew were struck down by misforin honour of his achievement. tune in that race in the form of Traditionally the title of King of a DNF. Their chance to couple the Murray would go to a team their breakthrough Robinvale/ that competed in the four main Euston victory with a King of races on the Murray River: Ber- the Murray title gone. ri 90, Southern 80, Robinvale Now on a roll of two successive Euston race and Mildura 100. wins at the Sydney Bridge to They would need to accumulate 65 points or more, use the Bridge and Southern 80, Gulley has fresh confidence ahead same boat, and were allowed of the impending Robinvale/ only one crew change. If they couldn’t achieve this, the prize Euston race and but said that thoughts of winning the King of would not go off. the Murray were some way off Add on top of this a cash prize yet. pool if you were to win, and it “The form we have at the mois easy to see why the King of ment is the result of everything the Murray is so highly sought coming together,” a modest after, and coveted among the Gulley explained. sport’s best competitors. Fast-forward to the current “Like any team, we are only as season and all those requiregood as our weakest link, so ments remain intact, save for the minimum point score being all the stars (or moons) have to align and you can’t have things reduced to 50 as the South like injuries, which we have Australian-based Berri race was not held. 10
Info supplied by Moama Water Sports Club
11
had a bit of in the past. “The more we race together, the more we understand each other and gel on race day. Our boys are on top of their game at the moment, and we’ll just try to keep capitalizing on that. “In terms of the King of the Murray, the first thing is you need to do all the races to be in the running! It’s a good incentive for everyone to be there.
Pic supplied by Moama Water Sports Club
Pic supplied by Moama Water Sports Club
While Merc Force are now in the box seat, and in stunning form, they won ‘t be the only team threatening to challenge for the title. The 2017 Southern 80 produced one of the most thrilling ever finishes that saw 99 Psycho Clowns, The Mistress and Merc Force separated by less than eight seconds on the finish line.
As the first of the races counting towards the King of the “To be honest that title isn’t Murray unfolded on the secsomething that you keep on ond Saturday in February, your mind each race. You it looked to be Daniel Mcalways go to do well at each Mahon’s 99 Psycho Clowns race and try to win those. But if closing in on victory as they you’re the leader with one race passed the quarter, half way to go, it makes it double celeand three-quarter way checkbration if you can pull the title points of the race. Their closoff with a great result. est competitors were Leo Welch’s The Mistress. “It’s definitely something to aspire to, it’s not easy to win On the finish line it was inevthe King of the Murray and if itably The Mistress who held anyone can get there this year the ascendancy to the tune of it will be a great achievement.” 0.28 seconds over 99 Psycho Clowns, and duly celebrated If Gulley and Merc Force were what looked to be their second to continue their purple patch successive Southern 80 triof form and win the King of umph. the Murray they would be the first team since Hellrazor But celebrations were shortdid so two years ago in the lived. Starting well behind their 2014/2015 season. superclass contemporaries in 16th position was Merc Force, Impressively, Hellrazor who clearly had a point to claimed the title with their sixth prove to those who said it was successive Mildura 100 victoan unwinnable race from that ry. In the time since the retiredeep in the field. ment of the Mark Cranny-led team, there has been no one However lightening quick team as dominant or consistimes through each checkpoint tent, and therefore it comes as saw the Gulley and his crew no surprise that the King of the cause an upset, winning by Murray title not gone off in their 7.8 seconds. While it was a absence. healthy winning margin, the 12
skipper recalled just how tough to reach and/or pass 50 it was to get the win. points: Second at both Rob“We took off from 16th in the starting order at the Southern 80 and thought that if we were going to get on the podium we would have to work really hard,” Gulley recalled. “I kept my eye on the splits and as they came up I knew they were good. As we went through the third timing point I knew that if anyone was going to beat us they would have worked incredibly hard. “It must have been tough for the Mistress to have thought they had won and then have it taken off them.” As the dust settles on the first event to count towards the King of the Murray, there are a number of teams in contention for the title and no doubt hoping to chase down Merc Force, who are in the box seat to claim a $3,000.00 pay day. Here’s how each team can reach the 50-point benchmark and launch themselves into contention for the title:
Merc Force Southern 80 Result: 1st Current points: 20 Minimum results needed 13
invale/Euston and Mildura 100. Could also surpass 50 points with a first place and record at one of the remaining two races, while finishing no lower than fourth at the other.
The Mistress Southern 80 Result: 2nd Current points: 16 Minimum results needed to reach and/or pass 50 points: Two firsts or a first
and second over remaining two events. Could also surpass 50 points with a first place and record at one of the remaining two races, and finishing no lower than third in the other.
Pic supplied by Moama Water Sports Club
99 Psycho Clowns Southern 80 Result: 3rd Current points: 12 Minimum results needed to reach and/or pass 50 points: First with a record and second over remaining two events. Could surpass 50 points with a first place and record at both remaining events.
Pic supplied by Moama Water Sports Club
Temper 2
Although the five teams highlighted represent the best chance to claim the King of Southern 80 Result: 4th the Murray title, with two races Current points: 8 to go any team could still race Minimum results needed to 50 points should they claim overall wins with a record in to reach and/or pass 50 points: First place and record both Robinvale/Euston and Mildura. at both remaining events.
Superman Southern 80 Result: 5th Current points: 4 Minimum results needed to reach and/or pass 50 points: First place and record Pic supplied by Moama Water Sports Club
Should more than one team reach 50 points or more, those with the most points following the Mildura 100 will claim the King of the Murray title.
at both remaining events.
Hellrazor making a comeback It was the last boat to win the King of the Murray, now Hellrazor is making a comeback and it’s first stop is the Ted Hurley Memorial Classic. However it isn’t what you think. The Hellrazor boat will be making a return at the hands of Arkham Asylum Ski Race Team, who will campaign it with the blessing of Mark Cranny as they rebuild the engine in Arkham Asylum. With the deal coming together just days before the Ted Hurley, the team will no doubt be hoping that some of those Hellrazor vibes are still present!
14
5 Minutes With Mick!
In order to fully canvas the range of people involved in this sport, this edition I’ve decided to step away from the standard ‘5 Minutes with Mick’. This time I have had a chat with a partner of a ski racer, to examine just how it looks from an outsider’s perspective. However to do this, I’ve stayed close to home. So close that we had a chat on my couch! This month I’m talking to my wife!
Mick Kelly. He’s a former winner of the Southern 80, outstanding racer and mentor to new faces in the sport.
Name: Jacqueline Kelly Age: Younger than Mick Team: 99 Psycho Clowns Years skiing: 25 Years racing: Out for 4 years, raced for about 10 Favourite team: 99 Psycho Clowns Favourite race: Anything at Moogerah Dam
Mick Kelly: Hello my dear thanks for spending five minutes with me! Let’s start with the big questions. As the A school teacher by weekday, advocate partner of someone who races, how do you feel about it? for our sport by weekend, Mick understands what makes ski racing and its Jacqueline Kelly: I want to hate it, bepeople tick. cause lets face it, it isn’t the safest sport in the world, but I just can’t have any hate. In each edition of Racer’s Edge, Mick I love the atmosphere of a ski race, and in chats with a member of the ski racing Queensland we have a smaller membership so there is a real family environment community, whether they compete or not, to find out a little more about them. at our local races. Everyone is happy for each other to do well, and people help Every person is committed, a lover of each other always, so it works. To me, the sport or someone in it. that is how sport in general should be. Take five and let Mick introduce you to a member of the ski racing community! 15
MK: I constantly get asked, mostly from people not involved in the sport to
fair, what my wife thinks about me skiing, and why she lets me do it? Does that perception concern you? Should you be more worried? JK: I get asked this question a lot as well, as if I hold all the power (MK: you totally do!). I grew up watching my family ski race and I have great memories or this. I love that our boys watch you race and they love it. I knew when I married you that this is what you did, so I went with it and I know that one day, when the time is right, you will say that’s enough. You are also a massive nerd, (MK: Go easy!) and you analyse your racing and think about risk and how you can avoid putting yourself in a more dangerous position. To me, this is important and a big part of why I am comfortable with your decision to keep racing. You are not a win at all costs person and ski racing doesn’t define you, and if it did, I would knock you back a peg anyway! Also, the alternative is that you would do more mountain biking, which has seen more hospital visits and skin off than ski racing. Ski racing is the lesser evil. I do get nervous and I do worry, as a lot of partners, Mums and Dads and others do, it’s natural. Once upon a time I used to worry that the boat wouldn’t finish as that seemed to be the bigger issue, but now I just worry that everyone is safe. MK: Being previously involved in the sport yourself; do you think that has changed your outlook? JK: Yes I think it helps. I understand why you love this sport and why it is a hard sport to just stop doing. MK:Would you let our boys do it if they asked to?
faster boats as you improved. There were rules behind you competing and you respected those, and that kept you safe and made you a successful skier. I would take that approach. MK: Yes, Mum certainly had a lot of rules and regulations when it came to racing for me (could only ski on social for the first few years) Outline your journey through the sport, it’s been a pretty entertaining one! There have certainly been plenty of characters involved along the way. JK: A journey, what are we on My Kitchen Rules? When I was younger I observed in a lot of different boats. People only wanted me to observe in their boats because I was lighter than a male, but I really was not very good at it. I secretly remember closing my eyes and holding on for dear life the day I observed for you and Pidge in social all those years ago. I went with the ‘they’ll be right’ mentality and I just wanted to look after myself really. I also observed for a very young Ben Gulley in under 10’s, he would wave up the whole race and the driver and I would have to tell him that was as fast as the boat would go. It was a complete lie, but he was so tiny. I gave observing away because I did get scared a few times and it seemed too risky to me, but when I decided that I would give it a go again it was in a team that I trusted and enjoyed being a part of, and I realised how much I had missed it. MK:Some big names on that resume!! (And me and pidge!)
Despite the variance in the teams, there has always been a pretty good team ‘bond’ in all your experiences. Is JK: Yes, if they wanted to. I believe that this imperative for a good race team to the way your parents raised you through the sport is ideal. You progressed through have this? the ranks and earned your spot behind 16
JK: Yes, absolutely. I think for safety purposes each member of the team needs to know each other so well. You also need to trust each other and be okay with the good days and the not so good days because everyone has both. MK: You sat in an extremely quick little 5.2litre boat, which must have, at times, also been incredibly loose! Did you have any desire to get in a ‘bigger’ boat?
cial medals/trophies framed on the wall, however I do not want my house to be a shrine to Mick Kelly! I am just jealous; it’s been a while since I won a trophy. MK: Safety has never more been in the forefront of racing. What are your thoughts on ways/initiatives/where to start?
JK: I am not sure I want to get into this debate as I don’t race at the moment and I am sure that the safety committee have JK: Yes, every time you would tell me that heard enough uninformed feedback by sitting in the big boats is like an armchair now. ride. However, that particular boat testMK: That doesn’t stop many others…. ed my nerves and I would be covered in bruises at the end of a race, but I loved the experiences most of the time I was in JK: I just can see the bigger picture, and I know that there are a number of other it. sports that currently have similar issues with safety, including Surf Lifesaving and MK: Best racing related memory? Equestrian to name just two. Sport can JK: It didn’t involve me, but I loved when be dangerous. The alternative is to lead you teamed up with Dad, Trent and Rich- a sedentary lifestyle and have a much higher risk of heart disease and obesity. ard (Souwer) and won unlimited class at I think everyone should be active and do the Sydney Bridge in 2009. To me, that what they love to do, but do this in a conwas four of my favorite people sharing a trolled environment at the right level and pretty special victory. A lot of hard work intensity for each individual to ensure they went into that win, and I was stoked that are as safe as possible. I also used to obyou all did it together. To me that is what serve for a team (many years ago) where this sport is all about. the driver and skiers would be smoking on the way to the start line...the sport has I also managed to drive the trailer from come a long way. one end of Sydney to the other and not scratch Trent’s very precious shiny trailer MK: You’ve watched me be involved rims. There is a lot of stress on the trailer driver, especially when your Trent’s trailer with a few different teams now – which person put in the most effort to get you driver. onside would you say? MK: I think it’s fair to say that skiing trophies/memorabilia has a place in our JK: Daniel McMahon (99 Psycho Clowns) home, but you’re not big on displaying sent me the largest bunch of flowers I have ever seen when Austin was born. a lot of trophies prominently. Do you think they’re ugly, or just more import- The hospital staff were in shock when they saw them arrive. It was all so I would ant things to put on the walls? give you a ‘leave pass’ to go to the Southern 80 five days later. It was sneaky, but it JK: Ugly! I think all trophies belong in a worked. shed. I am happy when you come home with a plaque because they fit nicely into MK: Thank you Daniel! storage boxes. We have your more spe17
K C I M
Read our feature with David in the October 2016 edition of Racer’s Edge CLICK HERE
Racer’s Edge February 2017