H I S T O R Y O F F A I R F I E L D C A N O E C L U B
The Leprechauns....to be sure, to be sure!!!
By Chris Sando
Our team, also known as “The Paddies” has been a competitive and high profile relay team
for the past five years. We have enjoying considerable exposure (including newspaper and television
coverage) due to our distinctive team attire and our uniquely energetic and animated approach to
the event.
We are a team of active professionals aged between 25 and 40 who have been brought together by our love
of the outdoors and sense of adventure. Our origins however are based more on a common respect for beer.
Hence the name for the team - our first team meeting in 1995 was at an Irish pub in Clifton Hill,
The Normandy. We were struggling to think up a team name until someone noticed the ornament on
the bar. The team now consists of 24 paddlers (12 guys, 12 girls) and support crew, most of whom
are also keen cyclists, swimmers or runners.
Over the past five years the Leprechauns have raised over $25,000 for the Red Cross through sponsorship
and fundraising to enter the Murray Marathon.
We first entered the race with one team in 1995 and 1996, then grew to two teams in 1997 and 1998. Of the
original ’95 lineup only Brendan Kenna and Chris Sando remain.
This year (1999) for the first time, we hope to enter a third team and are optimistic about our prospects of
having two crews in the top five.
The Paddies got serious in 1997 and obtained their first team sponsors, being Musashi and The Chiropractic
Association. In 1998, Suzuki and Mascot Cycles also came on board as sponsors.
The Paddies are also known for some rather awesome fundraising social events, which have resulted in a
few sore heads and generated vital funds for entering the marathon.
A few that spring to mind are:
- The Echuca booze cruises of ’97 and ’98
- The Leather and Lace night at the Albert Park Rowing Club in August ’98
- The Rubiks Cube Cruise on the Yarra Empress in November ’99.
Training is now getting into full swing for Murray Marathon ’99 so watch out for those Paddies - coming soon
to a river near you!
Our results over the last four years have been on the improve, as shown below:
| Murray Marathon |
Paddy 1 |
Paddy 2 |
| 1995 |
8th |
34:45:18 |
|
|
| 1996 |
7th |
33:41:59 |
|
|
| 1997 |
5th |
32:07:14 |
11th |
33:23:52 |
| 1998 |
3rd |
29:38:46 |
10th |
31:58:03 |
|
 |
|
|
