Cronulla Sutherland Kayak Club junior member Mitch O’Loughlin had an Australian Canoe Marathon Championships to remember, taking out the men’s under-14 K1 marathon.
Mitch held off his K2 partner, Manly’s Matthew Dunbar, and Western Australian Tim Hyde in a fierce three-way sprint for the title at the end of a grueling 11.25-kilometre event at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith earlier this month.
It was a personal best time for Mitch, who completed the course in 58 minutes and 12 seconds.
Mitch and Dunbar also won the K2 event in another personal best time.
It has been a successful few months for Mitch, who also won five titles at the Australian National Kayak Sprints Championship.
Mitch finished first in the K2 1000m, K2 500m and K2 200m events and was a member of the victorious K4 500m and 200m teams.
That success was on the back of state K2 500m and 200m titles in January and state K1 and K2 11.25km titles in February.
“I think the best memory I will have is the Australian marathon race,” Mitch’s dad, Jeff, said.
“It was a very strategic race with the lead changing numerous times and after 11.25 km and most of the opposition dropping off it turned out to be a three man sprint to the finish. It was a battle of wills and who wanted it the most with Mitch just pulling away at the finish taking out the win.”
Cronulla Sutherland Kayak Club will also hold a free come and try day on April 8.