Shropshire Paddlesport Blog

In case anyone fancies a trip to Dublin in September, please see the following email about the Liffy Descent.

2009 Irish Canoe Union Liffey Descent.

For those of you who have never heard of the event, it is one of the biggest races in Europe. Before you get put off I should however point out that whilst it is classed as a race, in reality it is only a race if you enter the true racing classes. For everybody else it is just part of a fun weekend with endless stories to tell afterwards about your mishaps, misfortunes and how you nearly got the weir shoot right!

The event takes place on Saturday 5th September but you have to be in Ireland for the check-in which takes place on the evening of Friday 4th September. Some clubs travel out Thursday and some Friday but most return on the first ferries back Sunday morning, which means that everybody is back home for Sunday evening.

We are sorry but due to safety restraints, the age limit for the event is 16 and because of the weirs and the huge number of people taking part everybody must have their entry countersigned by a club instructor or coach to verify their ability and experience.

See the event website at http://www.liffeydescent.com/

If you think that you might get bored the day before our own club race (and you’re not busy helping us get it set up) you could always pop down to Worcester and have a go in their mini-sprint regatta.

Saturday 27th June 2009

Worcester Canoe Club

Grandstand Road

Worcester

Worcestershire.

WR1 3EJ

• Registration open from 12pm - 1p.
• Racing 1.30 - 4.30.
• 4.30 - 6.30 “the plastic boat challenge”

To quote Sue Hawthorn “Don’t expect split second timing, don’t take it too seriously, do come and have fun”

Andy & Deb have more info so call us if you’re interested.

Warm, sunny day, lazing by the river bank eating chocolate brownies… well that was my experience anyway.

Others went racing (and I was insanely jealous) but Shropshire produced some cracking results.

Kate and Dave are nudging close to promotion with a tidy second place (”Just as well” said Kate “I was gtting bored with coming third all the time”) - only a boat length behind the winners of div 9 and would have come 4th in div 8 on that performance.

Marcus & Cam fought their way up the field to come second in div 7 - half a boat length behind Kath Nadal and her div 6 partner and a long way ahead of the team who came third.

Ellie had a reasonable race coming mid field in div 7 k1 but was beaten by Tom Lusty of Solihull who crossed the finishing line with the words “I beat Ellie, I’m happy now”. Ellie crossed the finishing line about 40 seconds later saying “I hate marathon; its three and a half miles too long). Personally, I think that sprint racing is 199.5 km short of something worth getting out of bed for - just as well paddlesport caters for lot of different paddlers!

Matt had a brilliant start and a great finish but was hampered by a dodgy shoulder in the middle. Andy (who was mostly having a bad race - but blaming it on the fact that I made him weed the veg bed yesterday ‘cos I can’t breath and bend over these days) overtook Matt part way through but Matt, clearly remembered Geoff Barber’s instructions to Jenny at Andy’s first race and dodgy shoulder or no, pulled  a trickout of the hat and “beat the bald guy”.

Connor has a lot of the race on film so it will appear here shortly!

Results to follow but here is some footage of last week’s sprint regatta. The weather was utterly hideous.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KV0ldEThTrQ

Shropshire Paddlesport is offering people the chance to come and try paddling (canoeing, kayaking and bell boating) on the afternoon of 6 June.  Sessions will last 2 hours and will run from 2-4 and 4-6. 

We are also offering a 1* course starting on Monday 8 June from 6:30 to 8:30 lasting for 4 weeks.  This leads to a recognised British Canoe Union qualification  and will give you basic boat handling skills and is the recommended minimum standard for club trips and saturday morning sessions.

Further courses are available in July and August.

Places are limited for both the Come and Try It and the 1* course so booking is essential.  Please contact Deb on 07747 535341 or deb[at]shropshirepaddlesport.org

(Please note that due to IT work, e-mails may not be picked up after Friday night)

From June into into July is a busy time for the flat water people in the midlands with the following races coming up:

June 6/7 Nottingham sprint regatta

June 14  Burton hasler

June 21  Hereford hasler

             Also Trentham lightning day

June 28  Shropshire hasler

July 4/5 Nottingham sprint regatta

July 12 Cardiff Sprint

July 19 Reading K4 race (10k)

If you are interested in entering Burton hasler or the July sprints, please speak to Dave Barnes.  Speak to Deb about entering any of the others!