Gun couple conquers surf classic

A husband and wife duo have proved a winning combination by powering their way to victory in the annual Fenn Nelo Doctor ocean paddling event.

Dalyellup couple Bernice and Gary Butlion paddled 27.5 kilometres from Rottnest Island to Sorrento Beach on January 19 to win the mixed doubles surf ski category of the event, repeating their result from the 2011 channel crossing.

Bernice, who is the chief executive officer of the South West Academy of Sport, said the contest attracted top paddlers from around Australia and the world, and towards the end of the race they became locked in a close battle with a team from Adelaide.

“All I could think was there was no way we are losing the race in the last kilometre, ” she said.

“Every wave we saw, we had to take it and work it.

“We only realised on the last wave into Sorrento Beach that our ski was just in front of their ski.”

When Bernice and Gary got out of the boat at the beach and ran across the sand to the finish line, success was theirs.

“It was our most challenging win to date, ” Bernice said.

The couple not only won the mixed doubles surf ski category but also placed second overall in the double surf ski division of the event.

A world series event held annually in Perth, the Fenn Nelo Doctor this year attracted about 300 competitors from around Australia as well as Germany, Hong Kong, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

It was part of a week of ocean paddling action in Western Australia which also included the Alcoa Mandurah Duel.

“All I could think was there was no way we are losing the race in the last kilometre”— Bernice Butlion