HILL & SMITH FIND FORM AT FORSTER RACE WEEKEND
Cory Hill has raced at the Shaw and Partners Forster Race Weekend every year since its introduction in 2021.
After another trip to the New South Wales Mid-North Coast holiday hotspot – and another victory – his thoughts on this year’s events are clear.
“I think it was the best conditions we’ve had, for sure.” Hill says.
“It’s probably a better time of year for it. Being in April, we’ve always had westerly wind.
“Saturday was a really nice day, but Sunday had really good wind. It was great.”
The wind may have varied over the weekend, but the results were the same.
Hill won both races, rounds four and five of the Shaw and Partners Australian Ocean Racing Series, in impressive style, while Jemma Smith proved a class above with a pair of commanding performances over the women’s field.
“It was great to get some racing in, but it was even better in a nice location like that.” Smith says.
“It’s a really great event, the races and also the dinner on the Friday night, too. I know people love making a weekend of it there.
“It just has a great community feel. It was awesome to be able to head somewhere different.”
The event has become a favourite on the AORS calendar, and the change of scheduling proved a winner with more than 115 paddlers who made the trip.
Not just because of the weather. Blue skies and warmer-than-we’ve had temperatures made both days perfect for racing. But also because of the wind.
A strong southerly wind, and accompanying solid groundswell, had organisers and paddlers alike closely monitoring the charts in the lead-up, but when race weekend arrived, any concerns were cleared.
The Nine Mile Cup kicked off on Saturday fanned by a light easterly breeze somewhere around 5 knots, as the field raced from Blackhead Beach to Forster.
Hill was far too strong, claiming victory in a time of 57 minutes and 2 seconds. That was more than two minutes ahead of Mackenzie Hynard (59:11) and Under 23 gun Harrison Taurins (1:00:13) who claimed his first-ever overall podium on the AORS.
Another two rising stars rounded out the top five, with Alex Woodhouse (1:00:19) and Dylan Askew (1:00:33) fourth and fifth, while Jimmy Walker (1:00:43) was sixth across the line on his way to winning the Over 50’s.
Smith was just as dominant, claiming the women’s title in a time of 1 hour, 3 minutes and 58 seconds, ahead of Phoebe Woodhouse (1:07:24) and junior paddler Kaitlyn Rees (1:08:53).
Sascha Taurins (1:10:43) and Montannah Murray (1:10:50) made up the extended podium.
To view the full results of the Shaw and Partners Nine Mile Classic, click here.
That set up Sunday’s main event, the Forster Ocean Classic.
A 20 kilometre course had been set down, but when paddlers rolled out of bed, that southerly – particularly the swell – had fired right back up.
That saw organisers forced into a shortened 13 kilometre race, the reverse of Saturday’s course.
“I was sceptical looking at the conditions,” Hill reflects. “I thought the wind might’ve been too west.
But when we got out there, I realised it was definitely flying. It got faster and faster all the way along the course. It was awesome.”
Hill knew he wouldn’t have it his own way with Mackenzie Hynard next to him on the start line.
The pair are best mates, training partners, and have gone blow-for-blow in some of the biggest races the sport has seen.
After what he describes as a solid start, the pair couldn’t be split.
“At about six kilometres I looked over my shoulder and Macca was right there. I thought, ‘OK, we’re racing.’
“I actually thought he had a better line, having gone a bit wider. My plan was not to go out as wide thinking the wind wouldn’t be there.
“But we got closer to the headland, where there are a few bommies, I thought it would’ve worked for him.
“I kept my head down and just did enough.”
Hill claimed the second Forster Ocean Classic crown of his career in a time of 48 minutes and 59 seconds to cap off what was a great weekend away.
“It was so good. As a family, we love it,” he says.
“Saturday was quite warm weather. It was so cool to have the boys in the water playing as I came into the finish, cheering me on.
“I thought I’d be able to run up the beach with all three boys, but two of them had taken their pants off so I thought it wouldn’t have been the best look.” Hill laughs.
Hynard finished just 46 seconds behind, in a sure-sign he’ll again be at the front of the field across the rest of the AORS season.
Alex Woodhouse (50:35) climbed onto the podium in third while also taking Under 23 honours, ahead of his competitors from the same age category Jake Morris (50:46) and Dylan Askew (50:47).
Jim Walker (51:41) made it back-to-back wins in the Over 50’s for the weekend, with Ben Constable (52:38) taking out the Over 40’s. Jeremy Norton (55:54) again proved too tough to beat in the Over 60’s.
To view the full results of the Shaw and Partners Forster Ocean Classic, click here.
Unsurprisingly, reigning AORS champion, and reigning Forster Ocean Classic champion, Jemma Smith won the women’s race – but says she was pushed all the way.
“I just jumped on at the start and went hell for leather to the first can, because then the wind was pretty much behind you.” Smith says.
“You could tell it was really windy, but there weren’t many runners to start with. Then about halfway through, it really picked up.
“It was probably the best conditions I’ve had up there. It was so good to have a really good last few kilometres of that race.
“Dean said he was going to give the boys a six minute handicap and I had to try and hold them off.
“Cory just caught me as we turned the last point. I looked over my shoulder and saw him on the rocks and thought, ‘Oh no!’
“Finishing at the beach and seeing so many people have big smiles coming across the line, saying how awesome it was… it was a great way to finish the weekend.”
What isn’t as known is that Smith, training for a return to ironwoman racing at next month’s Coolangatta Gold, completed a run and board set before the starting gun fired.
She crossed the line in 54 minutes and 25 seconds, in a performance that saw her finish 19th when comparing men’s and women’s results.
Smith’s paddle was a touch under two minutes ahead of Under 23 winner Phoebe Woodhouse (56:15) and Sascha Taurins (56:30).
Kaitlyn Rees (56:40) again won the Junior division, while Montannah Murray (58:09) made up the top five overall.
Fiona Rae (1:02:06) claimed the win in the Over 50’s and Ellie Saffron (1:04:29) took out the Over 40’s.
For Smith, focus now shifts to the grueling Coolangatta Gold – although she’ll also be lining up at the next stop on the Australian Ocean Racing Series, the Shaw and Partners North Bondi Classic.
“I feel like it’s all starting to fall into place,” she says. “It’s exciting.
“I was quite nervous when I pulled back on what I’d done in previous years, just to fit the other iron legs into my training program a bit more. But I feel like I’m paddling really well.
“I’m really looking forward to the rest of the racing throughout the year. It’ll be great to get back on the start line at the big events coming up, like 20 Beaches and then into the Shaw and Partners WA Race Week. There’s plenty to look forward to.”
Hill, too, is now sharpening up.
He’ll also be in action at North Bondi, before flying to the Portuguese Island of Madeira for the ICF World Championships, kickstarting his huge racing schedule that comes to a crescendo at the Shaw and Partners WA Race Week, where he’ll be hunting a record sixth Doctor crown.
“I felt really good on the weekend, which was good.” Hill reflects.
“I really surprised myself on the Saturday getting Macca by more than two minutes, but it’s hard to judge knowing there was a 20km race the next day.
“Everything starts to get easier from now. The wind blows a bit more, it’s warmer… and it all seems to be aligning for me.
“It was a great weekend.”
Those sentiments are shared by AORS director Dean Gardiner, too.
“You’re always nervous with these kinds of things, and the weather was looking intimidating for Sunday.” Gardiner says.
“There was a bit of bump on Saturday that the fit guys were able to utilise, and for everyone else, it was a really safe race.
“Leading into day two, we weren’t certain what we’d be doing. It was too wild to go on our planned course from Elizabeth Beach.
“As it turned out, the reverse course was a great decision. Within 10 minutes of finishing, a squall came through that would’ve been mid 20 knots of wind, there was hail, all sorts of stuff.
“The whole weekend was fantastic though. It’s such a great location for a weekend of paddling races. The social side was really, really good too. Everyone had a blast, I think.”
