Making Avon history

Veteran Avon Descent competitor John Haynes will make history next weekend when he competes in his 26th race and becomes part of the first grandfather-grandson team to tackle the 124km course when he and grandson Ryan Pearce team up.

Picture by Laurie Benson: Albany’s John Haynes is this year taking his grandson Ryan Pearce down the river for the first time.

The duo will head down the river with one ambition in mind, to finish, with Haynes stating the race is harder than it looks.

“My grandson wanted me to go in the event this year and I said this will be about the only chance I get,” he said.

“We will be the first grandfather and grandson to go down the Avon and hopefully we can finish.

“The river is challenging and reasonably dangerous but we are not going out to win … it is hard enough to finish.”

The 76-year-old believes his new form of craft, a fibreglass boat, although quicker can be a little more dangerous.

“I used to compete in a rubber ducky but we are a using a different boat,” Haynes said.

“They are a bit quicker but if you’re not careful they can turn over pretty quick.”

Haynes identified a section of the course on day two as the most difficult part, between the Fossil Falls and the Upper Swan Bridge.

“The most challenging part is down through the valley on day two,” he said.

“There is a 60-metre drop compared to the 20 or 30-metre drops usually around.”

The pair’s preparation for the event has been fairly simple, with a few runs just to test out different props to go on the boat.

Haynes recorded his best finish around 15 years ago after finishing fourth on the first day with only a mechanical fault preventing him from finishing the event.

With next year being the 40th running of the major event, Haynes believes he may have to go around once more.

“My grandson said he wants to go next year, next year is the 40th event,” he said.

“My daughter won’t let me go in it but that might have to change.

“I can beat the old blokes now but not the young ones coming through.”

The race from Northam to Bayswater will take place next Saturday and Sunday.

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