Bunbury's Queen of the Avon

A masterful first day performance helped Bunbury paddle ace Claire Duncan write the latest chapter in her growing Avon Descent legacy at the weekend.

In an incredibly tight field, Duncan was the fastest single female across the line in 12hrs 9min 6sec with the next three finishers separated by just 13 minutes.

The defending champion exploded out of the blocks and kept her composure in the gruelling final stages of the race to beat Samantha Pilton by just over two minutes.

“After the first day I was 12 minutes in front of Samantha but then she came back hard in the rapids at the start of day two,” Duncan said.

“Usually I’m okay through the fast water but I had a few early swims and that plays on your mind a little bit.

“I saw Samantha pass me so I knew in the last 30km I had to do as much as I could to catch up with her.”

Duncan labelled the final stage of the Avon Descent, which takes place on the flat water of the Swan River, “physically and mentally draining”.

“It’s three and a half hours of flat out paddling, so there are a lot of head games that come in to it, both positive and negative.

“My support crew was able to give me an idea of where Samantha was but I knew I had to just give it all I could.”

Duncan crossed the line 10 minutes after Pilton on Sunday but her 12-minute cushion gave her the overall victory.

“Finishing was a massive relief — all you want to do is get out of the boat and stretch your legs after sitting down for seven straight hours,” she said.

“I’m probably the sorest I’ve ever felt at the moment, which is good because it means I’ve given it all I could.”

Bunbury Surf Life Saving Club husband and wife team Cimon and Helena Albertsen and members Greg Nott and Les Somers also won their categories.