WINTER 2012-2013

Volume 4, Issue 1

Cambridge Club Newsletter http://www.cambridgecanoeclub.org.uk

Logo Redesign – The Votes Are In! By Ali Limentani Get Involved! The votes are in and I’m happy to announce that This newsletter relies on the sea horse will continue to contributions from the club’s represent Cambridge Canoe members. Club as its logo.

If you have been on a trip, When we counted the have a point of view or news, votes we discovered that only write it down and send it in 10% of the clubs members voted,d, to: newsletter@cambridge out of those 3 voted for the ‘wave’e’ canoeclub.org.uk. logo, while the rest of the votes Articles should be between were split between the other twoo 75 and 200 words long and logos, the sea horse winning by onlyonly can be accompanied by a one vote. picture. CAN YOU HELP? Volunteers Required for CAM Marathon Sunday 24/03/13 Inside this Issue: Email Jon at [email protected] Logo Redesign and Vote 1

December Dart Trip 2 We will need help with catering, marshalling, timing Helping out at the Club 3 Cam Marathon Call for 4 the race, safety and rescue on the upper/middle river, Help monitoring and general help - the list is large! November Ouse Trip 4 To get the club's diary of events and ad-hoc messages about club Meet a Paddler 5 activities and the quarterly newsletter by e-mail please send a Long Distance Races 6-7 blank message to: River Cam Update 7 [email protected] is an assumed risk, water contact sport. The views and opinions expressed in such reports are entirely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Committee or the Club.

Cambridge Canoe Club Newsletter WINTER 2012-2013 December 2012 TripTrip to the Dart By Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Twigg

The morning started (as paddling trips often do in December) cold and early. The difference being this time, it was a Thursday morning. After a long trip down to the South West, the anticipant paddlers arrived at Newbridge car park in National Park within a few minutes of each other - almost as if it were planned. The Dart loop was at a do-able low level which was somewhat of a surprise considering the amount of rain in the previous days and weeks. Those who have only paddled the river during the hustle & bustle of weekends would have been pleasantly surprised at the solitude of this classic G2/3 river which didn’t disappoint.

The day over and with some Tribute fuelled confidence, we decided that the Friday should be a stab at the upper Dart – one of the most famous (and sadly, infamous) Grade 4 runs in England. walkerslk andd outdoortd enthusiaststh i t throughoutth gh t theth The river had come up a good six+ inches since trip, one of which at least regretted he couldn’t the day before, giving a nice medium level – the come with us! Charlie did a great job leading us ‘upper’ is perhaps different to some other rivers in down and having negotiated a somewhat iffy that a lower water level doesn’t necessarily make looking weir close to the get-in, we ran a number of it easier as the gaps between the boulders get grade 3 boulder gardens. The valley sides smaller! After an interesting mix of over-caution steepened and, although the temperature dropped and throwing that self-same thing to the wind Mr so the atmosphere increased with a low-lying mist Quick commented that is was all very much “the hanging over the water and steep wooded valley blind leading the blind”. We nearly added a 3rd sides giving a real feeling of isolation and being part part to this age-old saying, very nearly finishing the of the countryside. Luckily the mist didn’t impede whole thing in the dark! Having said that, it was too much as the grade dropped off through to the possibly one of the most exciting days paddling I get out at Steps Bridge. have had in a long time. Saturday night saw us back in the pub where We put the world to rights over a cracking home- we exchanged tall paddling stories and ideas over made curry and a few beers and decided on a where our next adventure should be, after the strategy for Saturday. Boldly, we opted for 12km obligatory blast down the loop on the Sunday. of the unknown Teign on North Dartmoor, mixing Having tidied up and completed the loop in 1hr 15 up grade 2 and 3. After some speculation as to before the crowds arrived, we headed back to the where the get out and get in might be, we threw flatlands of the east. Many thanks to our illustrious the boats off the roof and headed downstream in chairman for arranging the superb accommodation, the watery winter sunshine. Expecting some and both he and Pete Williamson for the many hassle from fisher folk we saw not one, and were miles of driving. Thanks also to Joel, Charlie and happily encouraged on our way by a variety of dog Simon for the great paddling and great company.

For further details on upcoming trips please check out the Calendar page of the Cambridge Canoe Club website at; cambridgecanoeclub.org.uk/index.php?page=calendar

Cambridge Canoe Club Newsletter WINTER 2012-2013 Volunteer Opportunities at the Club By Andree Scovell One of the best things about Cambridge paddling experience at all – just the desire to ‘take Canoe Club is the way in which members pitch in part’. You can be any age and it is one of the best to help out, whether it be on social events, ways of getting to know other club members. organising trips, being part of the Committee or supporting coaches each year during the training If you would like to volunteer – simply season. All of these helpers are ‘volunteers’ and download and complete the Volunteer Registration without them the club would not be the active and Form from the ‘volunteers’ section of the Members friendly group that it is. You can give as much or as tab on the website and email it to little time as you can spare and there are lots of [email protected] or post it volunteering opportunities, some requiring no to the address on the form.orm. Helping Out at the Club By Logan Crawford Robert and I helped out at a race Our main recently. Nobody seemed to want the tail end task was to rescue Charlie duties at the Plough turn. We decided to sinking racers, of take the Canadian, however we couldn’t find the which there were correct spanner to detach it from the bike so we none. The only ended up with a couple of plastics. The day dawned casualty was Pats cold, crisp and sunny. On arrival at “The Plough” we buoy, which was nearly lost. I mean really, how made ourselves known to the landlady, explained hard is it to hang on to a plastic tub? We feared what we intended and asked if we might use the for the health of the last few racers as they were pub as a base for operations. She kindly agreed, on clearly nearing the heart attack stage. They all the basis that we purchased a pint or two of her fine passed without incident we indulged in a pleasant ale. It was at this point that we remembered Pat’s upstream in search of Pat’s buoy, “challenge” to get a photo taken in the pub in our which she had rescued by that time. We removed canoe gear. Well Pat, as the photo attests, you’re our own professionally placed buoy, now covered going to have to come up with something more in weed and duck effluent, disrobed and retired to challenging next time. the pub for a well-earned pint.

Following the successful completion of Pat’s So, helping out at the club: chore or “Challenge” we commenced launching procedures. pleasure? I’m sure there are times when hanging Our initial attempt at an advanced aerial seal about in the rain, counting sweaty K2 pilots pass launch met with failure as the launch pad was, as I mayy not be fun, but we had a great day pointed out to Robert, too far fromm the wet bit (he andand would do it again at the drop has the looks, I have the brain cell).ell). ofof a ppaddle.addle. A second attempt from the pub “harbour” proved more Logan and Robert ‘helping’ at successful. We then the Cambridge Hastler proceeded to position the high tech turning buoy (a pile of bricks on a string with an plastic drum on the end) centre stream and waited for those more energetic than us to go around said buoy and head back home.

Cambridge Canoe Club Newsletter WINTER 2012-2013 Cam Marathon – Call for Help. By Jon Bray. The CAM Marathon will be on Sunday 24 about 3.00pm on the day, but if you can't be there March 2013. It is one of the largest races in our all of the time let us know when you can. region. Racers come to participate from all over the UK as well as the rest of Europe, and the We need volunteers, if you want to be CAM Marathon is the biggest event that our club involved please contact Jon Bray at hosts. In order to do this we need some help. [email protected]. It is generally a hectic time but it’s also a lot of fun! NON-PADDLERS: This is a strenuous event, sometimes it is nice to sit back and watch 200 PADDLERS: This race is fast and draws some of the people hammer it out. It's a big spectacle and best competitors around. For the more populous social event with loads of helpers and supporters divisions the Backs can end up a maelstrom of chop from clubs all over the country. We always need and boats charging between the bridges. Excellent people to help out and it is great fun to be part of fun! This is a hard and crazy race on home turf. It such a large event. You do not need to know is suitable for all ages. For more info, check out anything about racing to join in. the club web pages: http://www.cambridgecanoe Involvement will be from about 9.00am until club.org.uk/index.php?page=cam-marathon November 2012 Trip to the Ouse By Francis Turton On Sunday 18th November, seventeen club This is a pleasant part of Cambridgeshire members headed up the A14 for an agreeable half- amid water meadows enclosed by three day’s paddling on the Great Ouse near the picturesque villages. Notable waterside landmarks Hemingfords. Star attraction among the boats was were the church at Hemingford Grey, and Houghton a green fold-away canoe, manned by Povl and Mill. A nice and easily accessible change from the Jeremy, that looked robust enough to weatherer a trip Cam! across the Atlantic. It certainly performed impeccably in the conditions – admittedly less than hair-raising – of Huntingdonshire on a still, sunny autumn day.

The trip involved tracing a wonky figure-of eight around a network of waterways associated with the Great Ouse. This avoided the need for car ferrying, or returning the way we’d come. It also gave thee opportunity for people to drop out at the halfway nexus, although we were all sufficiently fired up by that stage to hold out toto the bitter end.

The first part was a gentle paddle through a narrow, reedy connecting waterway; the pace then increased somewhat as we hit the Great Ouse and headed upstream. Three or four short portages were involved. One weir was sufficiently small and wet for a gentle drop.

Cambridge Canoe Club Newsletter WINTERWIWINTN ER 2012-20132012-2013 Meet a Paddler By Emma Foxley

Who are you and what do you paddle?

I’m Emma Foxley, a late entrant to the wonderfully varied sport of canoeing. To date I’ve tried the full range of boats the club has to offer; kayak, canoe and racers and I am the proud owner of Dagger Mamba. Emma testing out her skills in the sluice What is your favourite stretch to paddle and why?

First and foremost it’s the company thathatt DoD you have h any paddling ddli advice? d i ? makes memorable, whether that be their banter, encouragement, casual coaching or rescue Don’t get in an open boat with me? skills. I enjoyed the annual trip to the Wye Valley, Seriously though, try all the boats the club has to its stunning scenery and downhill water provided offer, including the opens and the racing . my first non-Cam paddle experience. I’d highly There’s always someone on hand to give you a few recommend it to any beginners unsure about where pointers. When I joined I was thinking only of next to paddle. and reluctantly, via signing up for the 2 star, tried the opens. It was hard going in the What is your favourite boat? beginning, but now I’m so glad I persevered.

Any boat I stay in. At present, a mixture of Do you have a particular bit of kit you rely on? my own Dagger Mamba or one of the newer opens that the club acquired last summer. My paddles; a Werner Sherpa 45 degree feather 197cm kayak paddle and wooden canoe Do you have a funny story you can share? paddle. Whilst it’s nice owning your own well fitting, not so smelly kit, the club offers good Many, all swim related. Ask around and enough PFD, boats and cags that don’t detract you’ll find several of my friends only too willingly from your skill acquisition. But with your own give you quick summary of their top 5. Lets just paddle you’ll notice the difference instantly. Ask limit it to just two, filed under “capsizing an open / your fellow paddlers if you can try theirs out and get or swimming from an open whilst rescuing others”. a feel for how they differ. When I got mine I hired a  number of makes from Brookbank to demo. Toby Foxall has a favourite that renders him  senseless as he tries to retell how, during our 2* What does your paddling future hold? rescue training, I after assisting him into the open, over balanced and swam. Still, he was safe in the First and foremost staying injury free. My boat – surely job done? My 3 star open course targets for the year are to progress my rolls from mates and their now deleted video footage capture the pool to the river, but that’s on hold until the sun a similar event, which thankfully never made You- starts shining again. I hope to complete my Level 1 Tube. I blame the flow on the river that day and coaching award and help out with the courses Alan Weeks giggling as we teetered on the edge. being run this year. Other personal targets include Rescuer and victim both swam – quite a improving my confidence on moving water, with an long way! aim to go for my 3* kayak WW in autumn this year.

Cambridge Canoe Club Newsletter WINTER 2012-2013 Cambridge Canoe Club - Long Distance Race Records By Bill Block Long distance racing has featured quite a bit in the Club’s history and I have collated information on the results for our members in various events.

DEVIZES TO WESTMINSTER RACE (125 miles)

The Devizes to Westminster International is one of the most demanding open-to- all endurance canoeing events. 125 miles by kayak or canoe from Devizes in Wiltshire along the Kennet & Avon Canal to the River Thames at Reading and down the river Thames to Westminster in the heart of London. Some 70+ portages and the London weirs to be avoided! It is not for the faint hearted but the Club’s DW record is quite impressive.

SENIOR K2 (non-stop): 1985 W Bailey & A Sharman 23h 30m First recorded CCC paddlers 1989 D Green & W Block [23h 35m] Retired at Kingston (106 miles) 1990 D Demery & W Block 24h 53m ” D Green & R Smith 25h 04m ” A P Ashcroft & M Norman 25h 39m ” R Stagg & A Baker - Retired at Henley Marsh (61 miles) 1991 D Demery & W Block 25h 58m Veteran’s Trophy 1992 R Stagg & S Peyton 19h 44m First boat to finish 1993 R Stagg & D Demery 19h 56m 1994 R Stagg & D J Poolman 19h 25m 1995 R Stagg & I Newman 21h 18m 1996 D Glover & M Norman 24h 47m 1997 R Stagg & D Guthrie 20h 06m 1989-99 No entries 2000 R Stagg & M Norman [19h 25m] Estimated time (race abandoned by organisers when paddlers at Teddington) 2001 Race cancelled due to Foot & Mouth 2002-03 No entries 2004 A Ringer & J Williamson 19h 00m 3rd senior K2 ” I Huntsman & Ruth Allin 21h 06m 1st mixed K2 (11th overall) 2005-08 No entries 2009 P Jones & S Bentley 26h 47m 2010 J Bray & D Reynolds 14h 55m Retired at Boulter’s lock (77 miles) ” P Shelly & R Dawkins* 17h 46m 3rd senior K2 2011 C Pyle & P Lott* 27h 40m ” P Shelly & R Dawkins* 19h 44m 7th senior K2 * = non - CCC paddler

INTERNATIONAL TRANS-PENNINE RACE: LEEDS TO LIVERPOOL (114 miles)

The Trans-Pennine Canoe Race is relatively little known and I think does not take place now. Starting in early morning in Leeds on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal the initial sections have many locks to as the Canal rises up into the Pennines. Special features of the race include two tunnels (Foulridge and Gannow Tunnels, the former c.1 mile long) and the Wigan flight (21 locks). The race

Cambridge Canoe Club Newsletter WINTER 2012-2013

ended at Maghull on the outskirts of Liverpool and it could be done as a fun event or a race in K1s, K2s and open Canadians.

SENIOR K2 X 2 TEAM RELAY (non-stop): 1991 W Block & D Demery ” R Stagg & S Peyton 19h 15m 1st out of 13 teams 1992 R Smith & S Peyton ” W Block & D Demery 18h 14m 1st out of 8 teams

INTERNATIONAL ARCTIC CANOE RACE

The Arctic Canoe Race is an international event, which since 1983 has been arranged at the top of Scandinavia - from the mountain world of Kilpisjarvi to Tornio on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia. The river runs along the border of Sweden and Finland for much of the course (335 miles) and there are 136 classified rapids. It was held at midsummer as a 7-day event. The Club has had some notable paddlers in this race in the 1990s.

1994 D Demery (WWR K1) 1994 S Peyton (WWR K1) 1996 D Guthrie (K1) 3rd K1, Arctic Challenge Trophy 1997 R Stagg (K1) 5th K1

This year Cambridge Canoe Club has a couple of teams entering the Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Marathon in March. Very best of luck to Rob Smith and Piran Shelley and to Will and Richard Stagg, lets hope all the training pays off. Cam Chat: A River Cam Update By May Block

Environment Agency Regional Navigation Group Update on the CamToo project

The interests of canoeists are still part of the Amazingly this is still being remit of the Environment Agency and amazingly this floated with a request from the quango has survived the savage cuts within the Project Manager to Cambridge City Agency. It is a forum for all ‘navigators’ on Council for its views on the Environment Agency waters within Eastern Region, possibility of a section of the camtoo from narrow boats, pleasure craft, liveaboards, flood relief channel becoming a rowing, sailing, canoeing and swimmers. Much time national course. is spent in discussion on the licensing system and the Apparently Canoe England is state of the locks, but also the effectiveness or not of seeking a suitable site for a 1,000m ‘strong stream advice. If you have comments or sprint course in the South of suggestions that you would like the Environment England. A request has also gone to Agency to consider under the remit of Navigation South Cambs District Council to please contact; [email protected] recognise the project as they update their Local Plan.

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