Shaw and Partners is the sole headline sponsor of the 2018/19 Australian Ocean Racing Series season. On the 24th November 2018, the famous downwind race “The Doctor” took place in Western Australia.

“The Doctor” – named after the sea breeze that brings relief on hot days to the central districts of Perth – is currently the biggest ocean downwind paddling race in the world, attracting ocean paddlers from all over the globe.

With a prize pool of $75,000 on offer this year, the race saw a record participation. Over 400 paddlers converged on the Western Australian capital to compete in the annual epic ocean surf ski paddling event from Rottnest Island to Sorrento Beach SLS Club, covering 27 kilometres in open ocean waters.

This year, Shaw and Partners Race Team member Cory Hill showed once again why he is currently considered to be the world’s best ocean paddler, completing the race in 1:49:15.  With three wins in four editions, Cory’s victory adds to his impressive run of results. Earlier this season; Cory brought the gold home to Australia at the World Surf Ski Series “Dragon Run” in Hong Kong, as well as cementing first place at the 2018 Maui Jim Molokai Challenge in Hawaii and taking third spot in the Canadian Downwind Championships.

Cory finished the race ahead of Race Team member Mackenzie Hynard and former Sprint Kayaking Gold Medallist Olympian, Clint Robinson OAM.  The race remained open until the last closing stages, making for a nail biter finish with the top three paddlers finishing within a 30 second gap of one another.

The women’s category was even tighter with Georgia Laird taking the win, finishing just two seconds ahead of Shaw and Partners Brand Ambassador Naomi Flood. Kiwi Teneale Hatton placed 3^rd followed by South African, Shaw and Partners Brand Ambassador Hayley Nixon in 4th and Shaw and Partners Race Team member Rachel Clarke in 6th.

Shaw and Partners extends its congratulations to Cory Hill and all Shaw and Partners athletes for their formidable achievements at The Doctor 2018.

Men Ski Open

1. Cory Hill – 01:49:15.5

2. Mackenzie Hynard – 01:49:34.4

3. Clint Robinson –     01:49:44.6

4. Sean Rice –   01:50:13.1

5. Michael Booth – 01:50:45.8

6. Tom Norton – 01:50:58.6

Women Ski Open

1. Georgia Laird – 02:02:12.4

2. Naomi Flood – 02:02:14.4

3. Teneale Hatton – 02:03:44.6

4. Hayley Nixon – 02:04:06.5

5. Jemma Smith – 02:06:45.2

6. Rachel Clarke – 02:08:18.8