Shropshire Paddlesport Blog

Congatulations to the Otto family for their achievements in he World Quadrathlon Championships in Sedlcany about an hours drive south of Prague in the Czech Republic. Gill won the masters competition for her age group with Lucy and Quentin both doing well an being highly placed. The race comprised a 1500m Swim, 7km Kayak, 40 km Bike and 10 km Run. Well done folks!!
I’m hoping more details will follow

So, it’s good to see that club racing vests have startyed to trickle through. Deb and I did an order for a few people, others got their own to the extent that apparently we have run Fastrax out of ladies racing vests in our colour for the time being.

I had a note from Jo at Fastrax (http://www.fastraxrunning.co.uk/ - 01943 601 581) to say that they will be able to get some more after the Bank Holiday weekend. That doesn’t help the folk going to the National Finals, but if anyone else wants one then if you get cracking then you might have them in time for Fladbury.

Good luck to everyone competing at Worcester for the nationals - Deb & I won’t be there, but we’ll see you all and hear the stories next week. If anyone wants to write it up for the blog (and anyone can post here you know - just ask me how) OR you can email it to me and I’ll post it for you.

Thanks to Ellie for pointing out to me that Lightning races only score 10 points for first place rather than 20 (and after all she should know) which means that I accidentally inflated Florence, Oliver and Cameron’s scores in my previous version of this.

The updated version looks like this.

Don’t forget - I need confirmation of bookings and boats for the national finals by Thursday of this week.

I am also taking bookings for Fladbury hasler on 21st September and for the 2008 hasler finals on the Sept 28th.

It was windy - and rainy at times but we survived. Marcus and Phil managed to paddle through Jackfield rapids in a boat with a totally dysfunctional rudder and NOT swim which was a pretty mammoth achievement; (Lincoln weren’t so lucky and all 3 K2 teams swam - some kind of bizarre eastern synchronised swimming thing I guess) . Anita and Gari were bullied into racing in div 7 - mostly because the rest if us got bored with being beaten by them in div 8. They did well, still coming second so taking home nice pint mugs despite Anita being caught in a fishing line which wrapped itself around her - still with the hook in and she was slightly concerned that it might rip out her appendix…

The four k2s in div 8 went to war with the mopheads chasing Worcester’s Ellie Andrews and Jayne Moran, but coming in second and Ellie and Matt assumed that they had third in the bag until Alice and Deb sneaked up on them. Ellie and Matt nearly left it too late for a sprint finish to get the prize but someone shouted Deb’s name from the bank and they suddenly realised that they were going to have to work to retain their place - they did it - but only by 3 seconds!

There were Shropshire 3 K1s in div 8 too - Holly made a strong start but got entangled in fishing line which stole her blades, forcing her to hand paddle for a while. This gave Andy the chance to catch up. They were both gaining ground when Holly got taken out by a div 9 k2 which pushed her into the bank. Poor Holly; the world really was out to get her on Sunday. Still both Andy and Holly were beaten by Dave Spelman who having spent a week dossing, drinking and surfing (allegedly) managed to pull a fourth place despite being half asleep at he start - only beginning to wake up when the whistle blew and the boats either side of him showered him with water.
In div 9 Maria came second which was tremendous achievement for only her second race and her first time out on r a river - and was complemented on her technique by the DW vet who won the race! Kate and Dave came fourth in the div9 k2 race, having spent a while paddling alongside Kath Nadal who had an even worse experience with fishing line than Holly, having it wrapped around both ends of her paddles and then being reeled in, across the current before she could extricate herself.

The lightnings provided some entertaining viewing but hard paddling - one of the U12s managed to pin almost all of the other boats together into a start shape. Very pretty but not hugely useful for paddling. Flo managed to escape and went on to win with a substantial margin but Cam got stuck at the back and left the others to fight it out themselves. In the U10s race Oliver had a cracking start but then got cut up by the other boats. He still managed a third but sometimes I think we’re just too polite.

All in all one first, five seconds and three thirds but Dave cleaned up on the raffle . The pink doll was particularly fetching we thought.

This takes place on Sunday 10th August - that’s next week folks…

Booking in is by 11am - hey - we get a lie in!!!!
There are two starts for this race - Divs 1-6 start at the Wharf car park in Ironbridge whilst the rest of us start at Bridgnorth Rowing Club. The higher divisions race straight through Jackfield Rapids and down to Bridgnorth. We’ll sort something out to ensure that paddlers get to where they need to be at an appropriate time.

Briefings take place at 11.35 at both starts and the races start at noon. The lightning race will take place after the main race - which means we get to watch which is great - although I’m not promising to run this one - not even to avoid buying cake for Mr Lambert…!

Fees £6 for div 1-9 and £2 for lightnings.

Usual rules apply re number boards and BAs.

Let Deb know if you intend to race. The booking form will go in on FRIDAY 8th AUGUST. There is no late entry fee so its not critical but it helps Wolverhampton CC.

This is the last race we will do to win club points without wearing club colours. Watch this space ‘cos club kit will be coming soon!