The 2021 Massive Murray Paddle (MMP) will reach its conclusion today, Friday, February 25, when paddlers land in Swan Hill to bring the iconic 404km race to a close.
It’s the first event in two years after the 2020 iteration was cancelled due to COVID-19, while the November 2021 MMP was postponed for the same reason.
The 51st running of the popular event has seen 110 paddlers across 50 teams snaking their way down the Murray River since Monday after participants launched from Yarrawonga to Tocumwal.
From Tocumwal, it was a 94km journey down to Picnic Point.
Participants are now on the homeward stretch after the 76km from Picnic Point to Moama Beach stage on Wednesday, with the first craft expected to land at Swan Hill on Friday, 1.35pm from Murrabit.
While MMP organiser Shannon O’Brien admitted numbers were down on previous events, he said those who made the journey down were thrilled to be back and likened it to one of the earlier editions of the paddle.
“The people who are here now are so happy,” O’Brien said.
“That’s what’s really nice. This must have been what it was like in the early days of running it.
“We would have run it for 10 teams just to do it — at this size it runs really easy.
“It’s been a long wait, nearly two years of waiting for it to get back going. When we run it again in November, we’re expecting some big, big numbers.”
Finish-line medals will be presented in Swan Hill, but a full presentation will be held virtually in accordance with COVID-19 compliance measures.
Overall race leaders after day four were the “Canoe Brothers” Steve Routley and James Miller, reaching Torrumbarry with a time of 26:45:50.
Team JALA lead the overall relay with a race time of 25:04:37 — the SLR2 craft from Melbourne claimed line honours three days running.
Meanwhile, Echuca-Moama’s “Masters and Apprentices”, comprising Martyn Currey, James Graham, Rod Clark and Tony Bond, are right behind Team JALA in the relay, reaching Torrumbarry with a time of 29:28:26.
In 2022, paddling enthusiasts will have two opportunities to run the Massive Murray Paddle.
The next race will be from November 21-25.