In the mid–late 60s Warrain Board Club in conjunction with sponsor radio station 6KY-NA and The Sunday Times held an annual Paddle Thru Perth board paddling race.
WA surf industry legend Len Dibben was President of Warrain Board Club 1965-68 and Gavin McCaughey was the surf reporter for radio station 6KY in 1969.
Competitors paddled on the Swan River from Barrack Street Jetty under the Narrows Bridge to The University Boat Club in Crawley Bay, approx.3 Kilometres. They could only use standard longboards of the day.
John Staley (Bunbury), Dave Ellis (Southern Surf Riders) and Steve Cockburn
(Sand n Sea) were gun Open division board paddlers. While Ian Mitchell (Cottesloe)
and Bruce King (City Beach) were top dogs in the Junior division.
1965 Paddle race contestants leaving Barrack St jetty and heading towards Crawley Bay. Photo Len Dibben. 1968 Paddle race contestants passing under Narrows Bridge & heading to Crawley Bay. Photo Len Dibben.
John Staley (Bunbury) won the 1968 Paddle Thru Perth event.
1968 Surfboard Manufacturer and Warrain Board Club President Len Dibben presenting 3rd place award to Kim ‘Dish’ Standish with Don McDonald looking on in the background. Photo Len Dibben. 1969 Warrain Board Club letter with inset confirming Steve Cockburn winner signed by Gavin McCaughey 6KY surf reporter. Image courtesy Steve Cockburn.1969 Warrain Board Club ‘Paddle Thru Perth’ prizes. Image courtesy of Steve Cockburn. 1969 Sunday Times surf reporter Doug White (RIP) covered the 1969 Paddle Thru Perth event in his Wave Length surf column. Image courtesy Sunday Times.
Steve Cockburn (Winner 1969). “I remember it well; I came in a close second to Dave Ellis on his extremely thick custom-made paddle board. Unfortunately for Dave, he took at big short cut at the start of the race which gave him the early lead and I think what happened was, he was hailed down as disqualified early in the race, but would not stop paddling and was first to finish. Anyway, I was declared the winner & was incredibly happy with that and got a Hawke Surfboard as first prize. For some unknown reason, the other part of first prize a trip to Sydney for the national paddle race event, was not awarded to me. “
Other Paddle Board races
Other Surfboard Paddle races were held in conjunction with surfing events during the 60s.
1965 WA’s Jim ‘Lik McKenzie competing in Manly Paddle Board Race won by Nat Young NSW. Image courtesy Jim Lik.1967 Mandurah’s Kanyana Carnival Paddle Board Race winners Bruce King (Juniors) and Dave Ellis (Open). Photo Trevor Burslem.1967 Bruce King winner Junior Division Kanyana Carnival Paddle Race. Image courtesy Kingfamily.1967 Jim King runner-up Open Division Kanyana Carnival Paddle Race. Image courtesy Kingfamily.
In the 70s the Margaret River Rowing Club held Rowing Regattas on the Margaret River near Wallcliffe House.
Margaret River locals and visiting SW surfers met on the bank of the river to compete in the Regatta’s rowing boat and surfboard paddle races and enjoy a drink or two.
Cottesloe surfer Sam Sadleir won the paddle board race two years running. Marg River’s Bill Gibson & Gary Greirson also competed in the paddle races.
1978 Margaret River Rowing Regatta Paddle Board Races. Photos Ric Chan (Left) Sam Sadleir preparing for paddle board race. (Right) Paddle Board race & support crew.1978 Margaret River Rowing Regatta Paddle Board Races. Photos Ric Chan (Left) Gary Greirson preparing for paddle board race. (Right) Gaz competing in paddle race.
Gaz Greirson. “That’s me coming last in next pic.”
Footnotes.
In the late-50s of Perth clubbies Tony ‘Harbo’ Harbison and Jim Keenan (and mates) used to paddle their plywood Toothpicks from City Beach to Rottnest Island to Transit Reef and return same day. The trip was not without it perils, Harbo nearly got run down in the shipping lane by a large ship on a return journey.
In the mid-60s City Beach surfers Ron Moss and Paul Meink (RIP) were good long-distance paddlers. They paddled their Malibu boards from City Beach to Rottnest Island and return the same day. However, they did require some assistance on the return journey from a passing fishing boat and were dropped off at Swanbourne Beach in the dark. Neither of the lads had success in Paddle Thru Perth events.
In the mid–late 60s Warrain Board Club in conjunction with sponsor radio station 6KY-NA and The Sunday Times held an annual Paddle Thru Perth board paddling race.
WA surf industry legend Len Dibben was President of Warrain Board Club 1965-68 and Gavin McCaughey was the surf reporter for radio station 6KY in 1969.
Competitors paddled on the Swan River from Barrack Street Jetty under the Narrows Bridge to The University Boat Club in Crawley Bay, approx.3 Kilometres. They could only use standard longboards of the day.
John Staley (Bunbury), Dave Ellis (Southern Surf Riders) and Steve Cockburn (Sand n Sea) were gun Open division board paddlers. While Ian Mitchell (Cottesloe) and Bruce King (City Beach) were top dogs in the Junior division.
John Staley (Bunbury) won the 1968 Paddle Thru Perth event.
Steve Cockburn (Winner 1969). “I remember it well; I came in a close second to Dave Ellis on his extremely thick custom-made paddle board. Unfortunately for Dave, he took at big short cut at the start of the race which gave him the early lead and I think what happened was, he was hailed down as disqualified early in the race, but would not stop paddling and was first to finish. Anyway, I was declared the winner & was incredibly happy with that and got a Hawke Surfboard as first prize. For some unknown reason, the other part of first prize a trip to Sydney for the national paddle race event, was not awarded to me. “
Other Paddle Board races
Other Surfboard Paddle races were held in conjunction with surfing events during the 60s.
In the 70s the Margaret River Rowing Club held Rowing Regattas on the Margaret River near Wallcliffe House.
Margaret River locals and visiting SW surfers met on the bank of the river to compete in the Regatta’s rowing boat and surfboard paddle races and enjoy a drink or two.
Cottesloe surfer Sam Sadleir won the paddle board race two years running. Marg River’s Bill Gibson & Gary Greirson also competed in the paddle races.
(Left) Sam Sadleir preparing for paddle board race. (Right) Paddle Board race & support crew.
(Left) Gary Greirson preparing for paddle board race. (Right) Gaz competing in paddle race.
Gaz Greirson. “That’s me coming last in next pic.”
Footnotes.
Related Video
City Beach Surf Riders Club video – 1968 Paddle Thru Perth. Run time 50 sec. Music by Vance Burrow Yallingup
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