Photo by Sam Riches
NEW RECORD HOLDERS 鈥� Whitehorse's Ali Marham and Martha Taylor pass through the Cathers checkpoint on Lake Laberge on Wednesday evening. The duo set the new standard in the women's tandem class with a time of 47:04 (top). TOP FINISH 鈥� Tim Lynch (left) and Dave Lewis were the first tandem team to arrive in Dawson City, leading the field with a time of 43:18.
The fourth team to arrive in Dawson on Friday afternoon was Round Side Down, the first tandem team to complete the journey and a duo of first time competitors.
The fourth team to arrive in Dawson on Friday afternoon was Round Side Down, the first tandem team to complete the journey and a duo of first time competitors.
They trailed Skirting Disaster by just less than 30 minutes and said having the veteran team in front of them to show them the passageways to take was a huge boost.
"We spent a lot of time paddling with the girls and they got us through the night,鈥� said Tim Lynch. Who originally hails from Nova Scotia but now resides in Faro.
"They know the river really well and to know the currents and know where you're going is huge. That gave us a lot of trouble when we lost them, they were our guides.鈥�
Dave Lewis was the other half of the tandem canoe team, also a native of the East Coast, where he grew up paddling around Nova Scotia with Lynch.
When Lynch moved to Faro four years ago, competing in the River Quest became a frequent conversation topic between the men.
They finally took the plunge this year.
Lynch said he found the physical aspect of the Quest to be more challenging than the mental endurance.
"I thought it was physically more difficult than mentally,鈥� he said.
"Dave and I have known each other for a long time and we spent a lot of time marathon canoe racing in Nova Scotia so the mental part was a lot like everything we've always done but physically this is gruelling.鈥�
"You get no rest,鈥� said Lewis.
"That's the hard part in a multi-day event, that first day we were in the boat for 20 hours.鈥�
Both Lewis and Lynch said they felt the burn in their muscles from hands, back and shoulders to their hamstrings.
They were only able to get a couple of hours of sleep over the course of the 715-kilometre journey, an hour in Carmacks and an hour in Kirkman Creek, lying on the grass.
"It wasn't quite enough,鈥� said Lewis.
"The last few days have just been a blur.鈥�
When asked if they'll be back next year to defend their title, all they could was laugh.
"It's too early to tell right now,鈥� said Lewis.
"But we sure could go for a beer,鈥� added Lynch.
On the women's side, the first tandem to arrive was a Whitehorse duo, The Fascinators.
Competing in the kayak division, Martha Taylor and Ali Morham crossed the finish line in 47 hours and four minutes.
Their time was good enough to eclipse the 2009 record of 48:43 set by Veronica Wisniewski and Liz Bosley.
The Fascinators were also recognized with the Top Women award in the closing banquet.
For a complete list of all the 2012 Yukon River Quest finishers visit www.yukonriverquest.com.
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