By Tania Martin
SELBY canoeist Michael ‘Mad Mick’ Dinkreve and hills team ‘Dum and Dummer’ have again battled the elements to take on the 2009 Murray Marathon challenge.
The event is one of the longest canoe and kayaking races in the world.
It first started in 1969 when Mark Thornthwaite and nine mates decided to paddle 250 miles (402 km) to raise cash for the Red Cross.
Since then the trek along the Murray River from Yarrawonga to Swan Hill has been a tradition for many to welcome in the New Year.
Mad Mick is renowned for entertaining the crowds every year as he makes his way towards a 50 marathon total.
In his 22nd year, he managed to shave about half an hour off his previous time and crossed the line in 16th place on a handicap.
Mad Mick said this year provided perfect conditions with not much wind.
“We couldn’t ask for better conditions,” he said.
“We had one day that was fairly warm but we had beautiful cloud cover so we were paddling in the shade all day – it was awesome.”
Mad Mick said he also managed to reduce the number of times his canoe tipped.
“I only tipped twice this year instead of four like last year,” he said.
This year also marked a first for new organisers, YMCA.
Mad Mick said they did a really good job and is calling for more people to take up the challenge.
“We need more people to get involved, the numbers have been dropping,” he said.
Mad Mick is almost half way to his goal to undertake 50 marathons.
“This year I am hoping to be fitter,” he said.
Mad Mick said the best part about the marathon was meeting new people.
Hills paddlers for the team Dum and Dummer proved to be strong contenders again this year.
They were hoping to take out hat-trick honours in their section.
But this year the section was changed slightly with the new organisers.
Team spokesman Garry Wardrope said the team was put in an open relay class with a lot of faster boats and was given a handicap.
But Dum and Dummer still beat everyone in their handicap section and crossed the line in fourth place for the overall category.
The hills team also made history by taking line honours on the last three days of the event, which is the first time any team has done that in 40 years.
Mr Wardrope said the team had a ball despite battling the heat with the mercury rising into the 40s.
His daughter Rosie and her boyfriend Orien joined the team this year, taking line honours in the final leg of the race.
Dum and Dummer are planning on doing it all again next year.
Mad Mick raised more than $1000 and Dum and Dummer $3000 for the YMCA.
