Dannevirke Triathlon & Multisports Club Inc

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Club News - Updates

Sunday, October 22, 2007

Site update started for the 2008 Challenge

Friday, May 11, 2007

Mana Island Sea Kayak Trip - April 2007

Mana Island Gallery

By: Annie Stephenson

It was an early start for Jeff and myself to get the cows to the shed and milked before Paul and Dudley picked us up at 7.00 am. Mission accomplished and we were off to join Melz and Max as we set off for our trip out to Mana Island on Sat 21st of April. We had earlier been emailed information about this trip by the Wellington Sea Kayak Club inviting us to take part in their planned trip to Mana. I joked that I would take my passport because on one earlier trip years ago I seriously thought I was going to be blown out t sea and my final destination would be somewhere in Australia. As the weather forecast was very settled I left the said passport behind.

The blue sky looked good ahead of us and we were in for a good day - fingers crossed. Max mentioned there would be more from Palmerston North to join up with us down there.

Arriving down at Titahi Bay we unloaded our gear and saw the Plamy group, Jan, Ken, Mary, Christina and Chris. We packed our lunches, sunscreen etc and went and introduced ourselves to the Wellington group.

In total there were 20 of us in 19 boats. Mary and Christina in a double sea kayak accounted for the mismatched sums. The leader of the group contacted Wellington Coastguard and made our trip plans known. We set off just before 11.00 am with calm seas and no wind to speak of. We stayed in a group spreading out little for a peaceful trip. We spotted the odd group of small fish and a big clump of seaweed and in 50 minutes we landed on Mana Island where we had a brief lunch. We were then able t explore the island. We had the privilege of meeting some Takahe and some lovely Dotterels before heading up the track to the top of the island. With views of the South Island so clear it was in our minds to some day do a crossing of the Cook Straight. You could just about reach out and touch the cliffs on the other side of the straight - it really was that close.

The Department of Conservation requires people to be off the island at 1.00 pm so it was time to get a move on - we walked back down the track to be greeted by a pair of Kakarikis in a nearby Hebe.

Back in our boats we paddled south through water that was so clear and maybe 3 meters deep. Conditions made it very safe to explore the rocks that on a rough day would have the seas pounding against them making this unwise. Another head count was done and we continued on with a slight breeze on our backs to help us on our way to the northern end of the island. With the sun shinning on the water it made it difficult to see the rocks that were just under the surface of the water. The western side of the island seemed a popular place for Seals to bask in the sun and they came and sussed out this group of brightly coloured sea kayaks. One dived into the water and swam under Paul's boat and quickly ducked away to see someone else. Another was happy to lift his head and take a look, then continue with his afternoon siesta.

We gathered around in one group to decide that we would continue back to Titahi Bay where a café awaited just off the beach.

All in all it was a great day and what we saw was very nice. It just gives you a different means of travel to one of the many places that are accessible by sea kayak. With a group like this you know that safety is a main factor and it was great to have marine radios and GPS devices to help us on our way.

Check Out The Mana Island Gallery

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Mourning the Loss of Mike Rowley

On behalf of the Dannevirke Tri and Multisports Club committee it is with great sadness I send this email out.  Mike Rowley passed away in the weekend on his Lazy Boy chair that he won as a spot prize at the Infracon Challenge held recently.

Mike had a real passion for participating in many events and he always enjoyed the social opportunities that were possible through the different codes he took part in.

Mikes funeral will be held at the Dannevirke Sports Centre in Anderson St at 11.00am Thursday.  At this stage the Tri Club and Ruahine White Water Club have been asked to help out with the catering.  We are expecting between 200 – 350 people at the funeral and providing food for this amount of people is costly.  Club members will be contacted and asked to contribute TWO plates of finger food for after the ceremony.  Also we will need help gathering chairs from the Dannevirke High School Hall on Wednesday night at 7.00pm to take down to the sports centre in preparation for Mikes funeral on Thursday.

Mike has had a huge impact on many people’s lives; he has been a mentor, a friend, a colleague and an inspiration.  As Mike always used to say ”Life is short, paddle hard”

I was going to write more about Mike but there have been some lovely tributes already posted on www.sportzhub.com   

Our thoughts go out to Joyce and her family at this time.

Annie Stephenson.

15 December 2006

Cycle Club: Ride every Tuesday @ Prenters in Queen Street

Kayak Club: Every Wednesday @ Timber Bay - 5.30 pm.