57-year-old Tom Simmat from the Lane Cove kayaking club in Sydney has edged out rival Willy Morris (53) from the Footscray Canoeing club in Melbourne to claim the prestigious Margaret Baker trophy for handicap honours in the 2005 Red Cross Herald Sun Murray Marathon.  An exhausted Simmat said “I’m bloody happy to be finished”.

This is Simmat’s second title having won his only other attempt at the gruelling 404 km endurance test in 2003. Simmat wrested the lead from Morris on day two and managed to extend his advantage each day. He ended up beating Morris by seven minutes.

The battle for final day line honours was a spectacular neck and neck finish with Willy Morris coming from behind to beat Urs Mader (53) by only one second.  The exciting finish to the 37th Murray Marathon was great entertainment for the crowd gathered for the finish at Riverside Park, Swan Hill. An exhausted yet elated Morris praised the event as he came off the river. “The Red Cross and the Herald Sun put on a really good event.  We get a lot of support from the ground staff and it’s the most prestigious event we can be in” said Morris.

Many had expected Simon Stenhouse, line honours and handicap winner from last year to come across the line first but the extreme heat was too much for the 38-year-old Canberran.  “I went too hard in the first couple of days and just didn’t have enough gas in the tank”

Stenhouse wasn’t the only one affected by the extreme weather.  Official Race Doctor, Ross Wines said a number of competitors had sought assistance from the Red Cross first aid team.  “I think everyone is coping relatively well despite the extreme temperatures.  We’ve had a few affected but nothing serious”.  Red Cross teams were providing oral rehydration not only to competitors but also to spectators and ground crew as temperatures soared above 40 degrees.

Glen Hemphill and Neville Hargreaves of Yarrawonga in Victoria have fittingly won the battle for the Yarrawonga Hotel Trophy for outright fastest time. Hephill and Hargreaves’ who are competing in their 16th Murray Marathon finished in their double kayak with a time of 28:23:59, faster than last year’s mark by 5 minutes.  The race veterans have taken home the prestigious trophy together six times previously in the double kayak and quad kayak and Hemphill another two times with other partners.

Echuca’s Judy Clark (47) has finished as the highest ranked woman, beating her nearest rival, Erin O’Keefe (Qld) by 55 minutes.

Camberwell Grammar has dominated the schools competition, claiming both the Double Touring Kayak Open School Relay and the Double Touring Kayak Under 16 School relay classes.

In all some 786 paddlers were awarded medals for participation in the 2005 Red Cross Herald Sun Murray Marathon.

The event raised $320,000 to support the emergency services and community programs of Australian Red Cross. Every year thousands of Australias receive assistance from the Red Cross, through initiatives such as the Good Start Breakfast Club, the international tracing service and emergency first aid.