David Hobbs

DOB:  7^th December 1978

Employment (Position & Company Name):  Event Staging Manager/Staging Connections Sydney

Number of years previously in a kayak:  8 including 3 years in a canoe

Greatest Kayaking Achievement to date:  3^rd Place Aust Marathon Canoe Titles 2006 (Single TK1), 3^rd Place Aust Marathon Canoe Titles 2006 + 2007 (Double TK2)

Why did you join the Kayaking for a Cause paddling team for the 2008 season? After my sister passed away I wanted to do something in her legacy. I built the charity around the things that I loved and she loved.

Favourite food:  seafood

Favourite Football Team: Waratahs (Union), Newcastle Knights (League)  

Favourite colour:  Green

Music you like to listen to:  Rock

What is your ultimate holiday:  Driving around Australia, stopping where ever you want, with no time frame and no strings, living life for each day and appreciating this lovely planet/country we all call home

What are you most looking forward to over the next 18 months of paddling:  The challenge of doing the whole thing again. We learnt so much last time, so developing that, some hard fast and competitive racing, bringing new people into the sport and watching them develop, but most being able to give something back to the people that helped my sister and countless other people every day.

What are you least looking forward to:  “RISE AND SHINE PADDLERS, IT IS ANOTHER LOVELY MORNING HERE AT THE MURRAY MARATHON. IT IS 5:30am TIME TO RISE AND SHINE……MORNING HAS BROKEN…..” Those dreaded words are the only thing I am not looking forward to.

David Ikin

DOB: 19^th May 1981

Employment (Position & Company Name): PDHPE Teacher – Newington College

Number of years previously in a kayak: 2

Greatest Kayaking Achievement to date: Finishing the Murray Marathon with the three Dave’s!!!

Why did you join the Kayaking for a Cause paddling team for the 2008 season? Above all, to support Hobbsy. Fortunately I have come to love paddling, so I can put my time and efforts towards a good cause. And an opportunity paddle with some fun people.

Favourite food: Seafood or Pizza

Favourite Football Team: St George.......ssshhhh, don’t tell anyone

Favourite colour: blue

Music you like to listen to: Anything but emo rock... Have been known to keep 106.5 in my radio preset stations.

What is your ultimate holiday: Travel through India or Africa on a push bike.

What are you most looking forward to over the next 18 months of paddling: Night training sessions with Hobbsy and others, getting use to the new boat!

What are you least looking forward to: A sore backside!!!!!! And around 1am during the Hawkesbury Classic.....

Sharon Henstock

DOB: 7^th August 1973

Employment (Position & Company Name): Sebel Parramatta, Mirvac. Conference & Catering Manager

Number of years previously in a kayak: 5 Years

Greatest Kayaking Achievement to date: Hawkesbury Classics – 3 finishes

Why did you join the Kayaking for a Cause paddling team for the 2008 season? I had a great sense of contribution and satisfaction from participating in P4AC and look forward to contributing to a more successful run in 2008. And I enjoy my paddling so it’s nice to be able to achieve something else whilst pursing my favourite water sport.

Favourite food: Cheese

Favourite Football Team: Sydney Swans

Favourite colour: Red

Music you like to listen to: Alternative/ Independent

What is your ultimate holiday: Trip to Antarctica, with kayaking amongst the icebergs and wildlife

What are you most looking forward to over the next 18 months of paddling: - new challenges, new paddling friends and finally completing the might Murray Marathon

What are you least looking forward to: a sore butt and back!!!

David Maloney

DOB: 4^th October 1970  

Employment (Position & Company Name): Senior Customs Officer, Australian Customs Service  

Number of years previously in a kayak: 3-4 years ?  

Greatest Kayaking Achievement to date: 2006 Murray River Marathon  

Why did you join the Kayaking for a Cause paddling team for the 2008 season? To continue to contribute to a worthy cause and share the experience with others  

Favourite food: Steak

Favourite Football Team: Brumbies

Favourite colour: Blue

Music you like to listen to: Country & Western  

What is your ultimate holiday: Skiing in North America  

What are you most looking forward to over the next 18 months of paddling: Gaining further experience and improving on past performances  

What are you least looking forward to: Pushing my limits

Danielle Atlee

DOB:  Abstained  

Employment (Position & Company Name):  Projector Executive, Macquarie Bank

Number of years previously in a kayak:  3, as an on looker not a paddler

Greatest Kayaking Achievement to date:  30km Central Coast Canoe Club Race

Why did you join the Kayaking for a Cause paddling team for the 2008 season? To support the team in a different way, last time I was on the committee and land crew, this time I want to experience it from a different angle

Favourite food:  Chicken

Favourite Football Team: St George Dragons  

Favourite colour:  Red

Music you like to listen to:  Live & U2

What is your ultimate holiday:  any away from work: relaxing, sun and with the man

What are you most looking forward to over the next 18 months of paddling:  the team work, friendships built and strengthen over the course and the madness when we are all tired and had enough but must go on and the brain goes into crazy mode and almost everything is funny (or you'd cry)

What are you least looking forward to:  Land crewing for the Hawkesbury - over night  

Michael Mangos

DOB: 15 September 1978

Employment (Position & Company Name): Accor Asia Pacific – Assistant E-Commerce Manager

Number of years previously in a kayak: 2 years ago for a simple 3 hour paddle on Sydney Harbour in a double, very limited before that

Greatest Kayaking Achievement to date: A paddle from Bulahdelah to Violet Hill on Myall lakes in a double in December 2004. That same paddle was a first date too and I was trying my best to impress.

Why did you join the Kayaking for a Cause paddling team for the 2008 season? I was part of the land crew at the Murray Marathon in 2006 and was inspired by the efforts of the paddlers to make the distances that did. In 2008 I want to be involved to push myself to the limit and help the team achieve the fund raising goals.

Favourite food: A steaming hot spaghetti bolognaise or marinara

Favourite Football Team: Bulldogs

Favourite colour: Blue

Music you like to listen to: I like chill out and funky tunes like Ministry of Sound and Sneaky Sound system

What is your ultimate holiday: Sailing the Greek Islands and then along the Mediterranean Sea all to way to Portugal

What are you most looking forward to over the next 18 months of paddling: Joining a relay team at the Murray Marathon and making it all the way to Swan Hill

What are you least looking forward to: The cold and lonely Hawkesbury river at 3am if I decide to take it on.

Leah Crockett

DOB: 11th February 1985

Employment (Position & Company Name): Equipment instructor at

Curves (a women’s gym)

Number of years previously in a kayak: 0

Greatest Kayaking Achievement to date: n/a

Why did you join the Kayaking for a Cause paddling team for the 2008 season? For a new challenge and to do something worthwhile

Favourite food: Anything Greek or Italian

Favourite Football Team: Newcastle Knights

Favourite colour: Blue

Music you like to listen to: Anything with a beat or tune

What is your ultimate holiday: Quitting work and going where ever I want for as long as I want

What are you most looking forward to over the next 18 months of paddling: Learning new skills and challenging myself.

What are you least looking forward to: Blood, sweat and tears.

Colin Henstock

DOB: 19 Mar 1948 – OLD!!!!

Employment (Position & Company Name): Director C.W. Henstock & Associates – Consulting Engineers

Number of years previously in a kayak: 15 months

Greatest Kayaking Achievement to date: Completing the 2006 Hawkesbury Classic

Why did you join the Kayaking for a Cause paddling team for the 2008 season? Because I enjoyed the paddling experience from last year and looking forward to paddling with the team in 2008. (P.S. cant let my daughter beat me)

Favourite food: anything

Favourite Football Team: Sydney Swans

Favourite colour: Blue

Music you like to listen to: Roots & Blues

What is your ultimate holiday: Skiing Holiday to Canada

What are you most looking forward to over the next 18 months of paddling: Surviving it! Great camaraderie & fitness

What are you least looking forward to: the pain!