Among the stack of awards for the British olympians I see that Dr Tim picked up an MBE for “services to sport”. Of course whether getting an MBE is recompense enough for everyone finding out that your full name is “Dr Jules Timothy BRABANTS” is questionable …
As it gets towards the time of the year when most normal people’s thoughts are focused on Christmas, there are a small (some would say perverse) group of people who are already thinking ahead to Easter. Yes the DW loonies will be considering that as soon as the last of the mince pies have been scoffed and the remains of the turket fed to the dog they will be starting to ramp up their training so that they can spend their Easter holiday paddling 126 miles along the Kennet and Avon Canal and the Thames.
Marsport have long been involved with the DW and their website has always provided a wealth of information for DW paddlers and support crews. This year they have completely revamped their website and as part of that exercise they have invited three different teams, coming to it from very different perspectives, to blog their life in the run up to DW. The first is Owen Peake, Div 1 Hasler racer and current Waterside senior K1 champion. The second team is “Mr & Mrs Stig” a (currently) anonymous K2 team.
The third spot goes to Shropshire Paddlesport’s own Deb May. We had a call from Marsport a couple of weeks ago as they’d read her contributions to the DW thread on the UK Rivers forum and wanted her to reinforce the “anyone can do this if you’re sufficiently determined” idea. When you consider that we started off two years ago with no idea what we were doing and a borrowed boat…
This is a great opportunity and helps to raise the profile of the club nationally. If you want to read her thoughts on preparing for the DW both on and off the water then her blog is going to be here and should be started over the next couple of days.
[Edit] I see that they’ve now added a C2 team as well.
The observant among you may have noticed that over there on the right in the section marked “pages” there is a new link to the calendar of events. It’s a new thing I’ve just discovered that the blog can do - as well as having these short postings which gradually get pushed down the page as new ones appear on top (and eventually get opushed into the month archive) I can also write pages whcih stay around.
Compared to the main website it’s really easy to edit these “pages” so for things which change quite a lot (like “up and coming events” I’m going to start keeping them up to date here. We’re just beginning to see the beginnings of the race calendar for next year appearing, but I’ll be adding more things as i hear about them. If there are other important dates I should publicise (slalom races or anything from other disciplines) then let me know.
Some stuff, of course, I’ll always post about on the main blog page as well (or anyone else can if they like - you only have to ask), so if you’ve got something you want brought to people’s attention then just let Deb or I know. I’m quite happy to do the “donkey work” but I’d hate to suppress any budding authors.
I mean, how long can it be before a very excited Ellie feels the need to tell us all about her new boat…
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.
Don’t forget that the club is running two “come and try it” events this Saturday afternoon (26th July). If you have friends or family you think might like to come and see what this paddling thing is all about then for £5 a head they can come and have a go.
There are two sessions - 1 ’till 3 and 3 ’till 5. The weather forecast looks great for a warm and sunny afternoon so put the word about and let Deb or Andy know if you have any takers.