Editing Avon Descent

{{Short description|White water event in Western Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2014}}

The '''Avon Descent''' is an annual, two-day, [[white water]] event along the [[Avon River (Western Australia)|Avon]] and [[Swan River (Western Australia)|Swan River]]s in [[Western Australia]]. It includes both paddle craft ([[kayak]]s, [[surf ski]]s) and small [[motor boats]], and runs from [[Northam, Western Australia|Northam]] to the [[Perth]] suburb of [[Bayswater, Western Australia|Bayswater]]. It is held in August of every year. The first Avon Descent was held in 1973.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201782775 |title=AVON RIVER RAGE PROMISES TO BE A LEADING W.A. AQUATIC ATTRACTION |newspaper=[[The Beverley Times]] |volume=68 |issue=27 |location=Western Australia |date=2 August 1973 |accessdate=29 June 2017 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref><ref>https://www.avondescent.com.au/about/history/  Official website - with a very brief history of the original event </ref> The event was filmed by the second year.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article202741944 |title=Avon descent to be filmed |newspaper=[[The Beverley Times]] |volume=69 |issue=20 |location=Western Australia |date=6 June 1974 |accessdate=28 August 2021 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>  The descents are regularly photographed at each years event.<ref>{{Citation | author1=Tone'o | title=Avon Descent 2018 WA | publication-date=2018 | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/238567465 | access-date=28 August 2021}}</ref> 

Sponsors and commercial support regularly changes, sometimes annually.{{cn|date=August 2017}} Past sponsors include Coates Hire and [[Multiplex (company)|Multiplex]].<ref>{{Citation | author1=Northam's Avon Descent Association | title=Northam's Avon Descent | date=1980 | publisher=Northam's Avon Descent Association | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/18964921 | accessdate=29 June 2017 }}</ref>

While it was still operating on main line track, the [[Hotham Valley Railway]] had special trains on the Avon Valley part of the [[Eastern Railway (Western Australia)|Eastern railway]] to coincide with the race.<ref>[https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20110216170500/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/116022/20110217-0405/www.hothamvalleyrailway.com.au/avon_descent_2002.html ] {{cbignore|bot=medic}}2002 special </ref>

== Course ==
It is the only event in the world where both power craft and paddle craft race compete. The course has Grade 2–4{{clarify|date=May 2014}} white water rapids and is {{Convert|124|km}} long.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.avondescent.com.au/?page_id=28|title = About the Avon Descent|accessdate = 2014-08-09|publisher = Avon Descent|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140226181206/http://www.avondescent.com.au/?page_id=28|archive-date = 26 February 2014|url-status = dead|df = dmy-all}}</ref>

There also have been guides to canoeing the river - in general terms as to how to negotiate the river.<ref> in 1994 -{{Citation | author1=Bolland, Terry | author2=BOLLAND, Terry | title=Canoeing down under! : the basics and beyond and Avon River guide | date=1994 | publisher=T. Bolland | isbn=978-0-646-10075-3 }}</ref><ref> and another edition in 2001 {{Citation | author1=Bolland, Terry | title=Canoeing down under : the basics and beyond & Avon River guide | date=2001 | publisher=Terry Bolland | edition=Rev. | isbn=978-0-646-10075-3 }}</ref>
The region map of the Avon valley first published in 1987 included a section relating to the event.<ref>
{{Citation | author1=Western Australia. Department of Land Administration. Cartographic Services Branch | title=The Avon Valley | publication-date=1990 | publisher=Cartographic Services Branch, Department of Land Administration | edition=1st | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/192048725 | access-date=28 August 2021}}</ref>

== Change and check points ==

The course has check points, teams changeover points, and powercraft fuel stops.<ref>https://www.avondescent.com.au/about/overview/ Overview page on website has a map from which the places have been identified</ref>

Check locations
:      Northam          - Day 1 start location
:1 Katrine Bridge<ref>{{Citation | author1=Northam and Districts Historical Society | title=The Bridges of Northam : Bypass and Katrine Drive | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/159511487 | access-date=28 August 2021}}</ref>
:2 Duidgee Park
:3 Wetherall Reserve
:4 Cobbler Pool         - Day 1 finish location, Day 2 start location
:5 Emu Falls
:6 Stronghills Farm
:7 Bells Rapid
:8 Upper Swan bridge
:9 Middle Swan Bridge
: Riverside Gardens, Bayswater -   Day 2 finish location
== Rapids ==

Named rapids identified in the outline map.<ref>https://www.avondescent.com.au/about/overview/ Map overview </ref>

* Glen Avon rapid
* Toodyay rapid
* Leatherhead rapid
* Moondyne rapid
* Lookout rapids
* Championship rapid
* Syds rapid
* Walyunga rapid
* Bells rapid

== Prizes ==
There has been an increase in the prize pool from 2007 of $10,000 providing an extra $6,000 for 1st, $3,000 for 2nd and $1,000 for 3rd fastest single paddle craft. In 2006 757 competitors started the event in 459 craft.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}

== Classes ==
The top class in the powerboats is the 10hp sports class. These boats are made from foam and fibreglass, and have hydraulic jacks that enable the motor to be jacked up. The motors are unmodified and run a surface piercing propeller. These powerboats can reach speeds of approximately 70km/h.

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*(1993) ''Avon descent'' - Colin Arcus talks about winning the first race in 1957 - Subiaco post, 20 July 1993

==External links==
*{{Official website}}

[[Category:Whitewater sports]]
[[Category:Sports competitions in Western Australia]]
[[Category:Darling Range]]
[[Category:Avon River (Western Australia)]]
[[Category:1973 establishments in Australia]]