Tony Bond and American partner John Edwards took out the grand veteran 1 C2 class. Photos: Supplied
Echuca’s Tony Bond has again taken on the United States canoeing scene and achieved great success.
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Bond has been a stalwart of United States canoeing competitions, travelling there for more than 40 years to train and compete in events.
This year’s United States Canoe Association Canoe and Kayak National Championships, held in Warren, Pennsylvania, from August 9-11, saw Bond bring two medals back to Echuca.
Bond and Floridian partner John Edwards took out the C2 men’s race in the grand veteran 1 category for over-70 competitors, successfully defending their title, while individually Bond placed third in the C1 singles.
Bond and Edwards completed the course on Friday, August 9, over a gruelling 105 minutes, while Bond followed up the next day with a solo bronze medal run taking almost two hours.
Bond (left) placed third in the grand veteran 1 C1 individual race.
The three-day championships featured a variety of canoe and kayak classes with dozens of competitors taking part, although Bond was the only participant from outside North America.
“I went over there in June and we trained up until nationals in August,” Bond said.
“I went (out training) every weekend, virtually, (in Florida) and then drove up to the nationals which was a 3000-mile round trip.”
Bond has been canoeing since the age of 14 and continues to train regularly on the Murray River while he is in Echuca, with Moama Bowling Club helping to acquire some of his equipment.
“I just love the river,” he said.
“I go out every day training.”
Bond is set to compete a bit closer to home in November when he takes on the Massive Murray Paddle, a five-day, 415km event that will run from Yarrawonga to Koondrook.
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