Christmas Party CAMBRIDGE The CCC Christmas Party already promises to be the great social event of the new year! It is such a runaway success CANOE CLUB that it already is fully booked , but this information is enclosed for those lucky few who are on the guest list. NEWSLETTER This year’s Christmas party will be held at Peterhouse College, Trumpington Street, on the 20th of January at CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 7:00 pm. The dress code (strictly enforced by bouncers wielding paddles) is black tie. The menu is: http://www.cambridgecanoeclub.org.uk Carrot & Ginger Soup To get the club's diary of events and ad-hoc messages — about club activities by e-mail please send a blank Corn-fed Chicken Supreme Stuffed with Chestnuts & Stilton with port wine sauce message to: Creamed Carrots [email protected] Calabrese florets with basil chiffonade In case you already didn’t know, canoeing is an assumed risk, Parisienne Potatoes water contact sport. — Pear & Cardamon Tart with Saffron Creme Fraiche December 2005 — Cheese & Biscuits If you received this Newsletter by post and you would be — happy to view your Newsletter on the Cambridge Canoe Coffee & Mints Club website (with all the photos in glorious colour!) then please advise the Membership Secretary. Contact details Club Diary are shown at the end of this Newsletter. Chairman’s Chat Hare & Hound Races Three races down, four to go, so you can start now and be My first Chairman’s Chat and just in time to wish you all eligible for one of our much sought after prizes, although a very Happy Christmas! not certain what they will be yet. I can award prizes for non racing boat paddlers, or play boats but do have to I am fortunate to be taking over as Club Chairman at a have people paddling them first. time when we have established a steady increase in both paddler numbers and activity within the Club. No one can Our next race will be on December 18th, the 25th is out doubt the impact of the Wednesday evening series and the for some reason ,and we plan to have minced pies and enjoyment gained from all of the trips offered by the Club. mulled wine available to tempt people out. If you want to These activities are only possible with the help of an see what happens at these races and marvel at the speed active Committee, many unnamed helpers and the and finely tuned bodies of our paddlers, yes I will be paddlers who are also keen to have a go. Thank you to all there, then come along. Bring your paddling kit just in who help to make the Club “work”. The increasing case, you may be tempted. popularity of paddling and the growth in numbers at the Club has highlighted some issues that will need attention. Dates for 2006 have been arranged , and will not interfere We are literally bursting at the seams with no room left with the Essex Winter series race dates if you really need for continued expansion. We need more space to rack our to work off the excesses of Christmas. boats and kit to avoid undue wear and tear on these items. I very much hope that whilst I am Chairman we will begin Unfortunately, the first race is two days after the Club to gather ideas for the creative use of space within or dinner , but I should be able to restrict myself to 3 lettuce possibly around the clubhouse. leaves with 100 g of meat and a grape for dessert in my quest for ultimate performance. Finally, I started paddling and continue to paddle because I really enjoy the exercise, fresh air and the company at So,the dates are the Club. Above all, while I am Chairman, I hope that we • 18th December 2005 can progress as a Club and still retain that enjoyment of • the sport at so many levels. Once again I wish you all 22nd January 2006 • 26th February 2006 Season’s Greetings and a Happy New Year. I hope to see • many of you down at the clubhouse for the December 26th March 2006 Hare and Hounds (really an excuse for mulled wine and mince pies) and on the New Year’s Day paddle. and this leads nicely on to the Cam Marathon which will be run on April 2nd 2006, at which our new squad of As always, on or in the water marathon paddlers will sweep the board in all divisions. Terry Elsey 1 Essex winter series dates and locations are:- • 15th January 2006 Sudbury Changes in Canoeing over the next five • 29th January 2006 Barking • 12th February 2006 Chelmsford years • 5th March 2006 Leaside The regional arm of the BCU the English Regional If you are interested in Marathon paddling, our dedicated Development Teams – East met for their annual band of paddlers are always willing to help with advice consultative meeting at the University Athletics Ground, and/or training,contact Richard Stagg if interested. Cambridge on 14 November. After the usual business the meeting was addressed by Richard Ward, English See you in a racing boat Coaching Development Officer on Canoe England Arthur Development Plan 2005 - 09. New Year’s Day Paddle The first area of the plan covers regional development Start the New Year in the best possible way: paddling! On including club development and links with outdoor and New Year’s Day we will paddle from the clubhouse to education centres. It recognises the contribution of the Fen Ditton, where we will warm up with a pub lunch. We sport to health and the development progression delivered will meet at 10:00, aiming to leave at 10:30. Details will by the long term paddler development module in which be posted to Camcanoe and the Clubhouse notice board, there is progression from participation to competition. For or contact Terry. us as Cambridge Canoe Club it also includes linking with community sport partnerships especially for young River Dart people. The annual trip down to the River Dart is taking place on the 14th-15th Jan. 2006. The river is graded at 2-3 but can Coaching will change. The BCU will deliver quality vary depending on water levels. There are many playspots coaching by introducing the UK Coaching Certificate by and this has been a very popular trip in the past! December 2006 which will be implemented through a modular coaching scheme and initiation of the long term We will be staying in bunkhouse accommodation at the paddler development model by April 2007. River Dart Country Park. The trip is limited to 16 places because of the accommodation and coaching cover. Their World Class Competition programme is measured Contact Tim Mitchell by e-mail at mitchell-t@ in terms of medals at the Olympics, World and European ukonline.co.uk for further details and to reserve a place! championships. Though the target is Olympic medals Saturday Series there is also to be the appointment of an Officer to support non-Olympic disciplines. The immensely popular Wednesday evening series has been moved to Saturday afternoons during the winter. The There is a clear BCU policy on access to water and next event is the paddle to Jesus Lock on Saturday 4th facilities and the development of canoe trails. February. Paddle through the backs, into the town, and as far as Jesus Lock. At Jesus Lock we will take a break, The BCU will provide an informative and beneficial grab an ice cream and have a gas! For those more mad in service for its members which is easy to access using the group, take a helmet, wear a spray deck, and we'll seal traditional and electronic methods. launch off the side of the lock! Open to all; meet at the clubhouse at 12:00. Last but by no means least, is the management of an effective and equitable governing body, which will enable Canoeing Activity in the County the BCU to attain level 2 standard of a sport governing body between 2005 and 2009. This will include approved The County Canoeing organisation of the BCU, standards for protection of children and the Equity Cambridgeshire Canoeing Association held its Annual standard to intermediate level. The attainment of Consultative Meeting on 7 November at CCC Club ‘Investors in People’ and ‘Quest’ will be commensurate House. It was not well attended by CCC members or those with these objectives, while undertaking staff satisfaction from further afield. The present officers; Chairman Arthur surveys. Davis, Treasurer Ron Payne and Secretary May Block agreed to stand for a further year. The programme for This is the BCU integrated development plan. What it 2006 was discussed in principle: hire of Cardington (6 means to all of us as members of the BCU is that the BCU May, date tbc) a river tour (Saturday 2 June) and running is moving from an autonomous body to part of an the Huntingdon Great Ouse canoe marathon (24 integrated National Coaching Scheme with many courses September). The Reed Trophy awarded to a promising being delivered as generic courses in common with other youngster was not awarded due to a lack of nominations. sports. Much of this will not be apparent to members, but The Cambridgeshire Marathon Shield awarded to the the titles of coaching awards and some requirements and highest placed paddler in the two marathons at Cambridge standards will inevitably change. And I am not sure that and Huntingdon (awarded on a points system) goes to the transition for present-day coaches to the new scheme John Mallet.