Time trials

The Fairfield Canoe club time trials are mostly held on the first Sunday of each month, organised and hosted by Tony Payne.  Finish to the dulcet tones of Tony's harmonica!

We aim to run the trials about 10 times per year to give members the opportunity to test their time over 5km or 10km trips in a craft of their choosing. From 2014 we changed the distances slightly, to make it easy for everyone to know where to turn. The nominal 10km is from the club to Kanes Bridge and back whilst the shorter distance (~5km) is to the pumping station and back.

It is still an honesty system but we trust you! On the day of the time trials first boat away is about 9.30am with the last scheduled start at 10am.The attached spreadsheets contain records of all participants - noting that from 2014 the distances changed slightly.

Historically, the time trials were organised by Steve Beitz for many years. With Steve now looking after the farm, Peter Hallyburton stepped up to take over the organisation of the time trials and Sunday sessions. From 2016, Bob Bateson joined the fray to record times and encourage us on our way.  Following Bob's passing Tony Payne has stepped forward, to host time trials (with harmonica!) and occasionally a post time trial BBQ.  Thanks to Chris Wharton for formatting / sorting the TT spreadsheet.

Mates (BJNL) Time Trial Challenge
In memory of Bob, Joe, Neil and Lofty.

In 2023-24, FCC decided to combine the BJNL Challenge and the regular Club Time Trial into one overall ‘event’. The idea was that paddlers could challenge the event either as a ‘do it yourself (DIY)’ or as part of a ‘timed’ time trial challenge organised by the club (summer evenings, Sunday mornings or the morning on the Club Christmas party).
How did it work?

• The challenge is over a 5 km circuit from the top edge of the landing to the pump station and back.
• Distance can be 5, 10, 15 or 20 km as a solo paddler or 10, 15 or 20 km as a relay event.
• Times will be recorded by age group (as per Paddle Victoria marathon handicapping) and boat type for solo paddles and ‘average age’ for relay paddles (average used to encourage mixed aged teams)
• Mixed gender relay teams should be as close to ‘even’ as possible.

Join the fun, take part in the Mates (BJNL) Challenge, set your target, race yourself, beat a mate.