shropshirepaddlesport.org - the 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/

The 2009 flat water racing calendar has now been published. Selected highlights have been added into the club calendar on the blog. I have included all of the Midlands hasler races, the Sprint regattas, the descent races for next autumn and I have also included some extras - including some North West 10k races, the NW lightning events and fun races like the Ross Warland and the Reading K4s.
If anyone can provide me with entry level slalom and WWR events I will happily include them on the diary too.

The Avon Descent took place on Sunday 9th November. Having been stood up by not one but two women, Gari was unable to defend his title but Bruce had a go.

It was described on UK Rivers as"River in flood, squally wind blowing against the flow; eddies, boils, standing waves ... everything. Some weirs washed out, others very interesting - the 4' standing wave at Welford was fun. Not as long as the Exe; not as big as the Exe, but definitely as much fun as the Exe."

Bruce said he could confirm that it was entertaining, successfully making four of the six weirs. The photo below shows his boat - and his arm travelling down Weldord Weir. This was one of the less successful shoots.

He came 5th in the K1 race though which isn't bad