The Woronora Marathon Saturday 24 June 2023
Round 5 in the 2023 PaddleNSW Marathon Series
Race 1 of the 2023 “New to Marathon” Junior Series
Public Notice of our 2023 Woronora Marathon Race
Videos of the course will be available soon
Early Bird entries close Monday 19 June, all entries close Wednesday 21 June. Enter via Webscorer
The objective of the PaddleNSW Marathon Series is to provide a program of races for paddlers in ‘Time Divisions’ that match their paddling capabilities, and provide opportunities for, and recognise improvement in, paddler proficiency. The Series allows paddlers of all age groups, to paddle boats of any class, and is based primarily on paddlers’ abilities to paddle a range of distances within certain time periods or brackets.
Sutherland Shire Canoe Club has been running a marathon event on the Woronora River since 1979 when it was called the Twin Rivers Classic. The NSW Canoe Association later used this Twin Rivers Race as part of their marathon series. The race has continued to evolve to what we now know as the Woronora Marathon and is part of the annual Paddle NSW Marathon Series.
In 2022 we planned to for competitors to race a new 10k lap course on a circuit from just upstream of the Prince Edward Park footbridge to Thompson’s Bay Illawong. Depending on class, competitors will be racing over 5km to 20km, travelling on river-right (counter-clockwise) around the circuit. However, due to significant flooding just prior to the Race, the 2022 course was altered to a 5k lap with a new course. The course was designed to minimise our impact on flood affected residents. Racers paddled 5km laps starting near the boat ramp at Burnum Burnum Sanctuary. They headed down river to the Georges Head at Bonnet Bay, then back up river to the southern end of Prices Circuit Reserve then back down river to Burnum Burnum.
In 2023 we plan implement the a new 10k lap course on a circuit from just upstream of the Prince Edward Park footbridge to Thompson’s Bay Illawong.
Competitors will receive a copy of the electronic Race Briefing that will be sent out to competitors on the Friday before the race. This will include a detailed race guide and course maps. READ THE RACE GUIDE CAREFULLY as it contains important information.
| PaddleNSW, through its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), is committed to greater promotion and opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples within the sport of paddling. PaddleNSW is proud and delighted that this race, the Woronora Marathon, is the inaugural First Nations Round of the Marathon Series. The race is conducted in the park named in honour of Aboriginal actor, writer and activist, Burnum Burnum. The course is held on the Woronora River, a waterway of significance to the Dharawal speaking people.
PNSW hopes that it is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. For more information about PNSW’s RAP visit: the PNSW website. |
salt water blood line by Indigenous Artist Kate Forbes-Walker |
The Woronora Marathon is also part of the PNSW 2023 ‘New to Paddling’ Junior Series
The 5 Race 2023 Junior Series is open to all Junior (U10-U18) paddlers who are “New to Paddling” and who have not paddled in a regular Division race previously.
“New to Paddling” Juniors will paddle a course of 2 or 3 x 1km laps (depending on their age), ensuring that they are for the most part within view of their families and spectators. Just as for the main Series, paddlers will earn and accumulate points from each race, with Series Winners being recognised at the final race of the Series.
Distances:
U/10: 2km (2 x 1km laps). All U/10 paddlers are required to paddle with an accompanying adult.
U/12, U/14, U16 and U18: 3km (3 x 1km laps)
Juniors are welcome to paddle in whatever craft they’re comfortable in, and doubles entries are also strongly encouraged.
Check out the 2023 Woronora Marathon The Junior Course.
For the full details visit the PaddleNSW website.
Starting 2023, we had planned to run a new 10k course:
- 20km Divisions 1-7 – 2 laps of the 10km loop
- 15km Division 8- 1 lap of the 10km loop and 1 lap of the 5km loop
- 10km Divisions 9-12: 1 lap of the 10km loop
- 5km Division 13: 1 lap of the 5km loop
“New to Marathon” Junior paddlers will paddle: 3 laps of a 1km loop.
Temporary buoys will be deployed during the race to mark the course and shallow water hazards. Some hazards are noted on this page.
| 08:15 – 09:25 | Competitor check-in will take place in front of the SSCC clubhouse in the Burnum Burnum Sanctuary |
| 09:30 | Race start: Division 7 & 20km SUP |
| 09:45 | Race start: Division 6 & 15km SUP |
| 10:00 | Race start: Division 1, then remaining divisions at approx. 2 minute intervals. |
| 12:30 | Approximate race finish |
The race will follow the Paddle NSW Marathon Series rules.
SSCC and SES volunteers will be assisting with safety boats.
A qualified first aid officer will be stationed at the start/finish line. Numerous race volunteers are qualified first aiders.
Each paddler must wear a Level 50 non-inflatable lifejacket for the full duration of the event.
Inflatable lifejackets are not permitted.
The event is being held on the Woronora River starting and finishing at the Burnum Burnum Sanctuary, Woronora.
You need to enter the event parking via Menai Road, Woronora
Once you arrive, a friendly club volunteer (wearing a high-vis jacket) will direct you to a parking spot. You may be directed to drive through a public park to access a second parking area. Please drive slowly and carefully as this park is very popular with families with small children.
You can enter the river either from the boat ramp or the inlet in front of the SSCC club house.
The Low Tide at Bonnet Bay on 24 June 2023 will be at 7:07am (0.58m). The High Tide will be at 1:44pm (1.28m).
Check the BOM for more information.
2022 16 June (Round 7)
We had planned to run a new 10k course [Proposed 2022 Course Description & Map, 10k Course Video, 5k Course Video, original course briefing, original Public Notice]
Due to recent flooding, the course was altered from 5 and 10K laps to a 5k lap with a new course. All Divisions paddled the same 5k course. Competitors raced laps on a circuit from Burnum Burnum Sanctuary downstream to Georges Head Bonnet Bay, then upstream just past the southern end of Prices Circuit Reserve at Woronora.
5K Course Map, 5K Course Video, 2K Course Map, 2K Course Video
Other than U10 paddlers, all racers paddled 5km Laps:
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- 20km Divisions (1-7) paddling 4 x 5km laps
- 15km Division 8 paddling 3 x 5km laps
- 10km Divisions 9-12 paddling 2 x 5km laps
- 5km Division 13 paddling the 1x 5km lap
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Juniors paddled courses as follows:
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- U8 & U10 – 2km total (turn @ 1km) [2km total]
- U12 – 5km total (1 x 5km lap – with Div 13) [5km total]
- U14 & U16 – 10km total (2 x 5km laps – with Divs 9-12) [10km total]
- U18 – 15km total (3 x 5km laps – with Div 8) [15km total]
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2021 26 June – Race not run due to COVID restrictions
No Series Results / Standings due to insufficient races
2020 – Race not run due to COVID restrictions
No Series Results / Standings due to insufficient races
2019, 23 March, Series Race 2 – Results Photos
2019 Awards and Divisional Winners (pdf)
2018 17 March, Series Race 3 – Results Photos
2018 Awards and Divisional Winners (pdf)
2017 March, Series Race 2 – Photos
2016 June – Photos