Massive Murray Paddle - Awards & Trophies

Awards, Trophies & Results

Giving back to the communities and respecting the river and country is at the very heart of the Massive Murray Paddle.

Paddling 415km down this great river is a major achievement for anyone and is also a cause for celebration.

The award / trophy system is based on how well you paddle, how well your fund-raising efforts are and your contribution to the event.

To reflect on one of the Dreamtime creation stories of Dhungalla (River Murray); The great hunter Ngurunderi, paddled his Yuki (Canoe) down the river chasing the giant fish Ponde (Murray Cod).

Ngurunderi paddled a Yuki and so do we. As paddlers we have a direct relationship to the story and therefore we have a responsibility to use our Yuki to help sustain the communities along the river; the same way that Indigenous Australians have done for over 10,000 years.

Massive Murray Paddle

Yarrawonga to Koondrook @ 415km.

The River Trophy / The Overall Massive Murray Marathon Champion

This award celebrates the paddler (s) that paddle fast, paddle fair as well as contributing to your chosen cause.

2024 Winners

Male: - Phil Ward - 37hrs.11.38

Female: - Marian Blake - 42hrs.56.05

The YUKI Trophy / The fastest single Canoe or Outrigger (Male & Female)

This award celebrates the paddler (s) that paddle fast, paddle fair as well as contributing to your chosen cause.

2024 Winners

Male: - Phil Ward - 37hrs.11.38

Ponde Trophy

This trophy is awarded to the leading overall craft based on handicap time.

2024 Winners

Frank Kingma - 25hrs.49.59

Clarkie and Bondy - 26hrs.49.46

Phil Ward - 27hrs.40.20

The Bill Dunn Trophy

This trophy is awarded to the leading overall craft used by a relay team, based on handicap time.

It is open to any relay team, from a 2 person relay in a single through to the K4 teams.

Who is Bill Dunn?
Well the Murray wouldn't be a race with out him. 38 Murray Marathons / 33 SOLO and 5 Relay.

8 Times Full Distance in Canoe Kneeler. He has also paddled in Mixed, C4s, Solo, Doubles and as a Dilligaf.
With Rod Clark they smashed 30 hours in a C2 (29hrs.10min.09sec).
He is a true legend and gentleman of paddling and we are honored that his family has allowed us to name this important trophy after him.

2024 Winners

Ross River Fever

Paddle Queens

St JOKA

Mark Thornthwaite Awards (Individual & Team)

* This long standing award has evolved to celebrate an individual and team (paddlers & crew) that raises the most funds (inc volunteer time) for their chosen cause.

2024 Winners

TEAMS

River Guardians $8220

Murray Pesto $7100

INDIVIDUALS

Dave Wright $6611

Dave Hamilton $5271

Peter Connolly $4850

Total for November 2025 - $75,042

and the many other amazing people that helped raise $1,152,390.00 since 2016.

Dhungalla Award

The tag line of the Massive Murray Paddle is 'Connecting People, River & Country'.

It is an event that has been redesigned to highlight the overall spirit and motivation of 48 years of paddlers.

The Dhungalla Award will be awarded to the individual or team that expresses the spirit of why we paddle the River Murray and how we best associate with the events tag line.

The Dhungalla Award will be decided by The O'Brien Family, Staff members (SHK / Mirage) and by submissions by the Volunteers and other Competitors.

2024 Winners

The Ryan Mob

Daniel Ryan

Emma Ryan

Kiara Ryan

Chloe Ryan

Renee Ryan

Gina Ryan

Cherie Ryan

Nyerna Trophy

This trophy will be presented to the high school or Youth Group that best expresses the spirit of youth, spirit of your school and enthusiasm for being out on the river.

Nyerna is a word from the Wemba Wemba language and it means - to sit, to listen, to hear, to remember-.

The winning school team will be judged on several areas:

How well you compete and how well you encourage your team mates to paddle well;

How well you engage with and encourage other schools and competitors;

How well your team contributes to the event with a sense of fun and respect.

This award is not based on your teams overall time.

2024 Winners

Not held