Well done to the PLC Kayaking team for an amazing effort at the recent 2025 Paddle Queensland Canoe Sprint School Championships held at Oxenford Watersports Centre on Friday, October 17th. A big thank you to the numerous parents, many of whom took a day off work, embraced the 5am start and drove to the Gold Coast.
PLC won the PQ Sprint School Championship with 720 points, ahead of Elanora State High School, with 550 points, and Palm Beach Currumbin, with 170 points. This year, PLC won both the QLD School Marathon and Sprint Championships. It was a great reward for all the extra effort put in at training throughout the year, especially the morning training sessions and the time spent in the double boats.
I was especially impressed this year with the attendance at training and the amazing improvement shown by both the beginners and the more advanced students. 15 of our 37 students competed in the Olympic K1 craft against some of the most talented kayakers in the state. I am looking forward to moving many of these students up into faster K1 craft next year as they continue to improve.
A huge thank you to the following awesome 2025 coaching team;
Mr Cameron West-McInnes – for signing the money forms, expanding the program and allowing it all to happen.
Mr Darren Hooper – for coaching on Thursday afternoon and transporting the equipment.
Mrs Leah Croke – for organising the kids on the bank and looking after the team.
Conor Weule – for volunteering to help at training on Monday after school and Wednesday morning.
Braedon Shears – for setting up/packing up the training and repairing the equipment.
Cooper Schwabb – for water safety and setting up/packing up the equipment.
Buck Rogers – for providing advanced skills coaching (Mooloolaba Ski Coach).
Michael Eggleton – for coaching Junior and Senior paddlers (Maroochydore Paddle Sports).
Congratulations to the 37 Year 4-12 students for representing the College at the QLD championships. Unfortunately, the competition date clashed with both the Year 9 camp and the National Problem-Solving Championships in Sydney, and I felt for several students who trained all year but couldn’t compete. A massive thank you to the Tanswell and Wedding families for organising their own transport and accommodation so their students could compete in both competitions.
Well done to the following state medallists:
PLC Qld Singles Medallists
10 Years TK1 Singles
Henri Year 4- 2nd 500m, 1st 125m
Archie Year 4- 1st 500m, 2nd 125m
10 Years K1 Singles
Harvey Year 5- 1st 500m, 1st 125m
12 Years TK1 Singles
James Year 5- 3rd 500m, 3rd 125m
Catalina Year 5- 2nd 500m, 2nd 125m
Indie Year 6- 3rd 500m, 3rd 125m
Maximos Year 5- 3rd 500m, 3rd 125m
Evie Year 6- 1st 500m, 1st 125m
12 Years K1 Singles
Kai Year 7- 3rd 500m, 3rd 150m
Alani Year 7- 1st 500m
14 Years TK1 Singles
Jessica Year 8- 1st 500m, 1st 125m
14 Years K1 Singles
Layla Year 8- 1st 500m
Gemma Year 8- 2nd 500m, 1st 125m
16 Years TK1 Singles
Sophie Year 10- 1st 500m, 1st 125m
Phoebe Year 9- 2nd 500m, 3rd 125m
18 Years K1 Singles
Tristan Year 12- 3rd 500m
PLC Qld 500m Doubles Medallists
10 Years TK2
Archie Year 4/Finn Year 4- 2nd
Henri Year 4/Nixon Year 4- 3rd
12 Years TK2
Indie Year 6/Catalina Year 5-1st
Layla Year 6/Evie Year 6- 2nd
James Year 5/Harvey Year 5- 2nd
Hudson Year 5/William Year 5- 3rd
14 Years TK2
Jessica Year 8/Madeline Year 8- 1st
Evie Year 8/Isabella Year 8-2nd
Landon Year 7/Connor Year 7- 2nd
Cruz Year 8/Harry Year 8-3rd
14 Years K2
Gemma Year 8/Layla Year 8- 1st
16 Years TK2
Alani Year 7/Phoebe Year 9- 1st
Emily Year 10/Sophie Year 10- 3rd
18 Years K2
Tristan Year 12/Kya Year 12- 3rd
A special mention to Tristan and Kya for representing the College in Year 12. Both boys showed tremendous leadership, helping on the day and regularly attending training during a busy academic year. Congratulations to Tristan for finishing 3rd in the Open Boys K1 500 and to Tristan and Kya for finishing 3rd in the K2 500m.
We are looking forward to upgrading some of the equipment over the holiday break, moving more students into K1/K2 boats and seeing how far some of these students can further improve in 2026.
It is a special thing to win a QLD school championship, and all students should be proud of their participation in the program.
Mr Gary Graves, TIC Kayaking