The Leask Cup

The Leask Cup

Awarded to the fastest Male and Female paddler 23 years of age and Under on Race Day.

Named in honour of Brett Leask who founded the Classic River Race in 1989, this is Brett’s race. He started this race with a vision that has seen this event continue year after year for over 35 years. Brett helped organise the Classic River Race for its first 10 years and then again in 2009 -10. The race attracted over 2,500 entries in its first 20 years and has always run in conjunction with the Arawa Canoe Club.

The Classic River Race is the pinnacle of endurance paddling in New Zealand and has seen some of the best paddlers in the country paddle away with line honours. The prestigious Fastest Man and Women’s trophy read like an honour’s role, so rich in history and talented kayakers, all down to Brett’s dedication for so long in those early years.

Brett has had an exceptional lifetime of incredible dedication to this sport. He has had a 50-year involvement in kayaking administration, governance, coaching and competing. Brett is a founding member of two canoe clubs; Arawa Canoe Club in 1967 and Dunedin Canoe Club in 1970. He has been both the President and Vice-President of CRNZ (Canoe Racing New Zealand) and was on their High-Performance Advisory committee for two years.

Brett is a qualified coach and has coached for over 40 years, coaching novice paddlers, club paddlers, teachers, and students. He was the CRNZ Regional Development Coach in 2006 and 2008 and the Club Development coach in 2009 and 2010.

He is a life member of two national sporting bodies: Canoe Racing New Zealand and Surf Life Saving New Zealand. He is a also a life member of Arawa Canoe Club and Waimairi Surf Life Saving Club. This reflects what a true pioneer of our sport Brett really is and his endless hours of dedication to help the sport become what it is today. It is with much honour Topsport Kayaking continues his vision for the Classic River Race. 

In his time Brett was an able competitor too; he has won National Kayaking and Surf Life Saving titles and a World Masters title in Surf Life Saving on his surf ski. What an absolute Legend!!!!