Conjola Stingrays Outrigger Canoe Club

24/02/2026

East Coast Challenge – Bondi Outrigger Canoe Club, Rose Bay

The East Coast Challenge hosted by Bondi Outrigger Canoe Club at Rose Bay was a first for a few Stingers — and racing on Sydney Harbour is now officially ticked off their list!

10km Short Course

Our Short Course crew of Lydia (S), Karen, Gemma, Sharon, Isobel and Jo got the full Sydney Harbour “traffic” experience.

Perfectly lined up on the start, another canoe reversed sideways in front of them just as the green flag dropped, causing a four-canoe pile-up straight out of the gate. The women fought hard to regain ground, passing multiple crews, only to be hit from behind by the same canoe at the halfway buoy.

With Lydia and Karen having the nose of another canoe whispering sweet nothings into their ears, they were stirred but not shaken. The crew dug deep, clawed back positions on the turn, and powered past lightweight canoes to finish 2nd in their division in 1:03:34 — an outstanding result in the Open Women’s division with only one Open woman in the crew.

16km Long Course

The Long Course crew of Kylie (S), Angie, Glasso, Steve, Robo and Deb were still making their way to the line when the green flag suddenly dropped — zero to 100% in an instant.

They surged past canoes into second place behind the host club as they rounded South Head and paddled down the coast. Backwash off the cliffs and wind under the ama kept them on their toes to the turn buoy.

A strong challenge from a Newcastle Outrigger Canoe Club crew pushed them all the way back to the heads, but an inside line at the point delivered a runner that carried them back alongside their rivals. Once inside the heads, the crew found rhythm, executed moves straight from training and pulled ahead — crushing their challengers mentally (insert evil laugh here) 😂

The final leg to the finish was a game of frogger, dodging fishing boats, junior sailing races and moored craft — a far cry from the calm of Lake Conjola!

They crossed the line in 1:36:28 — 1st in their division, 2nd in Heavyweight canoes, and 4th overall.

Only after finishing did we learn Steve had injured a bicep muscle in the explosive start and paddled the entire race in pain. Lucky he’s the youngest in the crew and will bounce back in time for the State Titles in four weeks!

Thank You

A huge thank you to Pacific Dragons Dragon Boat & Outrigger Canoe Club for loaning us a canoe and paddler for the Short Course race and to our sponsors Community Bank South Coast and Veolia Mulwaree Trust for their ongoing support.

22/02/2026

https://www.ulladullatimes.com.au/story/9169295/stingrays-outrigger-try-day-discover-a-new-sports-passion/?fbclid=IwdGRleAQHlyFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEegYmQZGOd1cECqg-nGqjDw5XpBFRJAJICHNnOxuqfEGcrEnZtE6YAGxHi5-M_aem_B1QYFJkyYgYjUfC0gO9OIA

The Conjola Stingrays is a vibrant and busy club.

01/02/2026

A day of celebration, connection and respect... for our new canoes, the ocean, the land, our ancestors, our community.

We were privileged to have Phil Butler hold a smoking ceremony and Donna Clarke give a blessing, to welcome 'Whaitere' (The Guardian Stingray) and 'Gwiyaala' (Stingray, in local Dhurga language) into our paddling family.

These traditional ceremonies acknowledge the connection between the canoe and it's environment - the sea, the land, the ancestors and community.

Cherry Bush and white fungus were used in the smoking ceremony for their properties to cleanse negative energy and bad spirits, promoting wellbeing, health and strength.

It's believed that everything has mana (spirit) and that the canoe is treated as a living entity. It carries us across waters and returns us safely to our families.

Once the land ceremonies were complete, we paddled out of the harbour to place beautiful flower offerings in the ocean, whilst Donna sang another beautiful prayer in Maori'.

An auspicious occasion that will remain with everyone who attended forever. 😊

Founding members Ange and Simon were unable to attend and missed on the day, but we know were with us in spirit ❤️

Thanks also to paddlers from down south who travelled to support the special occasion.

Continued thanks of course to our sponsors Community Bank South Coast and Veolia Mulwaree Trust whose continued support allows us to connect on the water with our local community and with our paddling community further afield and around the world.

24/01/2026

Are you looking for some on water adventure? Something to keep fit, meet new people and an awesome reason to get out of bed early a couple of times a week?

Come along to our free 'Come and Try Day' to see why so many are addicted to this beautiful water sport.
Everything is provided, even some snacks! 😁
Send us a message to book in.

Thanks to our sponsors Community Bank South Coast and Veolia Mulwaree Trust for their continued support for making things like this possible for people in our community.

24/01/2026

What a way to start the day 😊
Send us a message if you'd like to join us for a paddle one day.

19/01/2026

Pasha Dasha 2026, hosted by Newcastle Outrigger Canoe Club, once again proved why it is an iconic event on the outrigger canoe calendar. With blue skies, big seas and over 300 paddlers on site, the regatta delivered more than 500 race entries and an unforgettable day on the water.

The action began in spectacular fashion at 7am, with more than forty OC1 and OC2 craft charging off the beach to start the day.
Isobel competed in her very first small-craft race, paddling an OC2 alongside Donna from Newcastle. Angie and Kylie jumped on the water unofficially to keep them company for the 4km Ultrashort event.

They had a great race, negotiating rough conditions near the heads before enjoying some fun bumps on the run home. All set for a sprint to the finish against a fast-closing OC2 crew, their combined muscle and enthusiasm tipped the scales — and the canoe — just metres from the line!

They quickly righted the canoe, remounted (those huli practice sessions are for good reason) and paddled across the finish line nicely cooled down.

In the afternoon, Sharon, Robo, Steve, Angie and Kylie lined up for the Long Course Changes Race — a demanding 7km course completed three times, with a quick stop between laps to swap paddlers… or not, in our case. We were one of only two crews out of 22 to complete every lap with the same crew.

The course was action-packed and exciting, featuring jostling starts and plenty of chaos at the first turn buoy each lap. With a strong outgoing tide and swell pushing in from outside the heads, the leg back into the harbour delivered some beautiful little bumps. Our training sessions truly paid off as we out-surfed crews every lap on the run to the final turn buoy.

With a significant storm system fast approaching Newcastle, the final lap was shortened to ensure all paddlers were safely off the water and packed up — an excellent call by Race Director Dawsie.
We finished in 3rd place with a time of 1:42:30, an outstanding effort considering the other crews all rotated fresh paddlers each leg.

A fantastic event and sincere thanks again to Newcastle Outrigger Canoe Club for loaning us both a canoe and a paddler for the day — your continued support is greatly appreciated.

Thanks also go out to our sponsors Community Bank South Coast and Veolia for their ongoing support, without whom we wouldn't be getting to these events

12/12/2025

Wishing our paddlers Kylie Young Lydia Ronnenkamp Sharon Doolan Deb Walker David Miller good luck at five islands regatta today! Have fun and race well guys!
And for the rest of the crew selling sausages at Bunnings- Go hard you good things!

07/12/2025

10/11/2025

Eurobodalla Regatta – A First on the South Coast

Saturday 1st November

The Conjola Stingrays headed off to Batemans Bay for the very first regatta held on the south coast and despite forecasts of storms, we were welcomed with spectacular weather!

It was a breeze to tow our very own trailer and race canoe just an hour down the road. A huge thank you to our sponsor Community Bank South Coast for supporting us in purchasing our own trailer to take our own racing canoe, allowing us to easily travel to regattas with our own equipment rather than having to borrow.

The day kicked off with the 8km Short Course OC1 race, where Lydia powered through what she’d call her worst nightmare conditions — flat sea with no wind — to take 1st place in Senior Master Women with a time of 54:01:6, and 10th overall.

Next up, the 5km Ultra Short Course saw Kylie, Karen, Isobel, Bear, Bernie and Chicki hit the water. Competing in a Mixed crew with only one male, the team fought hard to finish 1st in Senior Master Mixed and 2nd overall, with a time of 29:47:3! An incredible effort — especially for Chicki and Bear’s first race with the Stingers and Isobel’s comeback after nearly two years away.

At midday, the final event of the day was the 15km Long Course Master Mixed race featuring Kylie, Ang, Steve, Glasso, Robo and Lydia. Up against a field of ultralight canoes, the crew blasted off the start line to take the early lead along the 1km sprint to the first turn buoy. Then came a gruelling 7km battle into the swell and strengthening wind as they headed toward the distant turn near the iconic Tollgates.

Once around, they surfed the home stretch in perfect downwind conditions — smiles all round as they took line honours. First place in 1:21:22.4

Consistent training, teamwork and determination once again saw the Stingers bring home outstanding results.

Thanks as always to our sponsors Community Bank South Coast, for their continued support — helping us hit the water strong and proud!