TT AALLEESS FFRROOMM TTHHEE RRIIVVEERRBBAANNKK SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007 2007 World Freestyle Championships During April and May this year, two of narrowly missed out by 1 place. (Ben Ribble’s Junior paddlers enjoyed a 2 week travelled to Canada as a supporter with us and trip to Canada’s beautiful Ottawa Valley, to enjoyed paddling with the team during represent Great Britain at the World Freestyle unofficial training sessions). Championships. The dream started at a 2 day selection event held at Nottingham in October The team travelled out to Canada a week last year, when Joanne and Dominic gained before the competition, in order to get in some places on the team and Dom’s brother Ben much needed practice on the mighty Buseater Page 2 September/October 2007 wave, and also to familiarise themselves with On some days we got up at 6am to get the using a towrope to get on to the wave. The water to ourselves, but we never managed it, I Ottawa River carries about as much water as think you needed to paddle by torchlight if all the rivers in the UK put together, so it is you wanted the river to yourself. It was at one pretty powerful, so powerful in fact that of these early morning sessions that we met paddlers can’t ferry across onto Buseater but the man himself, Eric Jackson who despite the instead use a very very long towrope similar pressures on himself to train, was more than to a water ski towrope. One end is tied to a happy to chat to and help the junior paddlers. tree on the nearby island and the paddler holds the other end and pendulum’s out on to the wave, that’s the theory anyway, it sounds easy but only about 75% of attempts are successful. At least that was the plan, but Mother Nature had other ideas, Canada had a winter 40% dryer than usual and a shortage of snow meant no spring run off either. Team training was rearranged to take advantage of whatever feature was available and for the first week we paddled either Waikiki on the Ottawa Main channel, Big Smoothie on the Middle Channel or City Wave in Pettawawa. The big question was, where would the competition be held? Local politicians, sponsors and anybody with influence was being asked to ‘lean’ on the Hydro Electric companies who held the key to water flow on the river. Finally the news came through that 2 of the big hydro companies upstream had agreed to release water for the competition, this was terrific news and it was a massive achievement by the organisers to get these people ‘on board’. To give you an idea of the scale of things, the water would take 3 days to reach us, from when it was released higher up the river. All these waves were bigger than in the UK but none were as powerful as Buseater. BUT and it was a big BUT for us, we could only have enough water for 4 days of Buseater, so that was 1 day for training and 3 days of competition, this didn’t bode well for British medal hopes but at least they would get to paddle on one of the world’s best freestyle venues. On the Saturday we had a rest day and went shopping and sightseeing in Ottawa, it’s an impressive city with it’s replica of Big Ben and other huge buildings, the shopping didn’t amount to much, prices were much the same as the UK. The four Kayak shops were a little www.ribblecanoeclub.co.uk September/October 2007 Page 3 disappointing as they were part of much larger outdoor stores and they lacked that specialist feel that you get over here. On the Sunday it was business as usual for the team paddlers, but the parents and supporters sneaked off to the Algonquin National Park for a spot of open boating, we did an 8 mile trip down the Barron Canyon, complete with 2 portages in excess of 400 metres, these were done in true Canadian style with the Canoe overhead, carried on the shoulders, A 16 foot Kevlar canoe is surprisingly light, I want one! Later that evening both Jo and Dominic, along with 3 other GBR Jackson paddlers, who are sponsored by Squarerock in the UK, got an invite to the Jackson team BBQ at the Jackson Ranch, the pair promptly abandoned their parents and disappeared for the evening. Wednesday was for the senior men preliminary rounds, this served as a rest day for our juniors and a chance to watch and pick up any tips for the following day. 3 GBR paddlers made it through to the final rounds to be held on Friday. Monday was the day of the Squirt boat Thursday saw the Juniors in action first, each competition, so it was an early morning paddler was allowed a practice run, with a session and then off to support the squirt 2nd attempt if they missed the wave on their boaters. What a fantastic start for team GBR, first, Jo took advantage of this and got on the Silver and Bronze in the Womens event and wave on her 2nd attempt. She was scheduled Gold and Bronze in the Mens event, could the to be first up in the women’s event and start float boaters match that performance? the day, could this limit the nerves?... Not bloody likely!... Tuesday was Buseater training day, each And I was only watching! country had a timeslot according to how big their team was, GBR was allocated 1hr The basis of competition was the best 2 out of 15mins for practice, we had 20+ paddlers on 4 runs counting, each run being limited to 45 the water and each person got between 4 and seconds. Jo had a decent first run and got 5 rides or attempted rides. Some of the seniors some points on the board, before getting struggled with the concept of the towrope as pushed off the wave, her 2nd run was a little did many of the juniors. Both Joanne and brief as she caught an edge and got flicked off Dominic had 4 attempts and missed the wave the wave, on her third run she missed the on the first 3, each of them did however get rope, so it was all down to the last run, this on the wave on their 4th and final attempt for run was ok but she was a little preoccupied a very brief ride, catch the slightest of edges trying to stay the right way up to score any and you were off. This could hardly be more points. It was a gutsy performance and described as an ideal situation, but it was the netted her 7th place, even beating a Canadian same for everyone so that was that. entry. www.ribblecanoeclub.co.uk Page 4 September/October 2007 GBR No1 junior woman, Flic Meares, made the finals and eventually finished in 5th place. Friday night was party night and that is Dominic was next up in the junior men’s another story, lets just say we had a lie in on category, Dom also had problems with the Saturday, before a ‘gentle’ paddle down the rope and missed 2 of his 4 judged runs, this lower half of the main channel. was a shame as he looked good on the wave, Dom was disappointed with the result, but Jo and Dominic would like to thank Ribble with both his runs scoring points he made a Canoe Club and certain individuals within very creditable 16th in a large and very (they know who they are) for both their competitive field of junior men. financial and moral support during training and preparation for such a memorable event. Friday was finals day. In the senior Women’s event Fiona Jarvie took a bronze medal for Allan Hacking team GBR and Lynsey Evans just missed out on a medal in 4th place. In the senior men’s, Photo’s: Allan Hacking, Mags Brayfield & GBR had 2 placed in the top 10, a fantastic Peter Meares. result for our ‘amateur’ paddlers, Ed Smith came in 6th and Richard Chrimes rounded off the top 10. Brockholes Quarry Brockholes Quarry is the sand and gravel site The discussions are progressing – albeit fairly next to the Ribble at the Tickled Trout slowly – but one of the concerns of the junction (M6 J31) which was built (dug?) owners is the fact that they have recently had during the widening of the M6. a number of incidents of canoeists paddling on the lakes without permission. Plans are afoot to turn it into a wildlife sanctuary and I’m sure most members are by Please can all members note that at this point now aware that the club is in discussions with in time there is NO access arrangement for the ‘powers that be’ with a view to us these lakes. Please do not attempt to paddle obtaining access to paddle on the lakes. on the lakes since to do so is likely to jeopardise our discussions. www.ribblecanoeclub.co.uk September/October 2007 Page 5 Burgerboy’s Whitewater Swimming Master Class I’ve eventually written an article – I had to really, the newsletter was becoming the Albert & Norman Weekly. An early picture of Norman taken at Burrs in September,1832. This was taken at least 140 years before he met the lovely Pat and they set up igloo together. Anyway enough of having a go at Norman, it’s cruel and futile especially when you’ve got the Dillon Boys to tear into.