UKS19930710 Tryweryn Prem
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
THE PAUL MCCONKEY MEMORIAL SLALOM CANOLFAN TR:YWERYN JULY 10/111993 DOUBLE PREMIER RANKING EVENT RESULTS Organised by Stafford & Stone Canoe Club Sponsored by Arrowcraft Marine WEST °""=-:..s.s: MIDLANDS CA.0N0O1mE CEN;TR E A--~ WE STOCK A TOUGH BUNCH OF ROTO MOULDED KAYAKS WEST MIDLANDS CANOE CENTRE 112 NEW HALL STREET, WILLENHALL, WEST MIDLANDS Telephorw,: Wilhtnhall 634567 . /IM& t A .ulCT1CIII " THE PAUL McCONKEY :MEMORIAL The Man Paul "Conk" McConkey was born on the 13th January 1956 in Wednesfield, near Wolverhampton. West Midlands. He was educated at Ward's Bridge Secondary School in Wednesfield and it was here that his athletic career was determined. He was keen on all sports becoming house captain for cross country running and also swam competitively for a local swimming club. Paul was introduced to canoeing during the Third year (1969/70). Attending regular sessions in the swimming pool. evenings at Ironbridge and several long weekends including canoeing, rock climbing and trekking. Paul joined in with helping make a fleet of canoes for the school and eventually the pupils were allowed to build their own canoes (at a cost of '10 for materials). Using his 'home-made· boat Paul paddled traininr sessions on a canal adjacent to the school using makeshift gates hung across the banks. His canoeing took on its competitive edge when he entered the Wolverhampton Schools Slalom Championships and his first ranking slalom w_~s a Novice at Pontrilas, near Abergavenny. On leaving school Paul went to work at Marston Palmer Ltd. of Wolverhampton as an apprentice sheetmetal worker. On the bottom of his application form he wrote "My sporting ambition is to gain a higher position in the sport of canoe slalom" - dated April 18th, 1974. At the end of the 1973 season Paul finished 29th in Division 4 and was promoted to Division 3. He remained in this division for 1975 also (narrowly missing demotion at the end of 1974). In 1976 improvement was evident when he finished 20th in Division 3 and was promoted to Division 2 at the end of the season. In 1977, with the benefit of rough water training at Bala, Paul was promoted during the season to Division 1. At the end of 1978 he finished 17th, becoming one of the top 52 paddlers constituting the first ever Premier Division. During 1978 Stone in Staffordshire became home of the West Midlands Centre of Excellence and many top paddlers trained under the wings of Ken Langford and John Court. Pauls style and technique advanced rapidly as a result and training with Richard Fox made him even sharper. This intensive training and coaching finally paid off for him that year when he won a place in the Europa Cup Team that competed at Spindal Mlyn in Czechoslovakia. The next two seasons saw Paul consolidate his position as one of Britain's top slalom paddlers. All this while he was travelling about sixty miles every day to train until in 1980 he married (Richarci Fox was 'best man'] and moved to Stone. 1981 saw Paul return to the international scene when be was selected for the Great Britain 'B' Team that toured the Eastern Block. competing in Czechoslovakia and Poland. The following year . .1982. he was in the British Team that went to Merano, Northern Italy for the Pre-World Championships. In 1983 Paul gained selection to the team for the World Championships held in Merano, the Kl Mens class also included Richard Fox, Jim Dolan and Roger Manwaring. Paul united with Richard and Jim to win the World Team Championship and thus reach the pinnacle of his canoeing career. 1983 also saw Paul along with Richard Fox and Mike Berwick winning the Wilkinson Sword Trophy as National Team Champions. this success being repeated in 1984. In September 1985 Paul partnered Bill Berrisford to paddle C2 and help Stafford and Stone Canoe Club win the National Inter-Club Championships, this achievement being repeated the following year. After the birth of his daughter in 1986 Paul became a coach to the National Mens Kayak Team, hr.ving paddled so long at the top he was intent on putting something back into the sport he loved. During his paddling career Paul was an 'ever present' at Stafford and Stone Canoe Club, unselfishly giving advice and help to others and always playing his part in running the Club. He was a friend and inspiration to all who met him. Paul's tragic death in a car accident iri December 1986 has left a great void in the lives of his family, friends, Stafford and Stone Canoe Club and the whole canoeing world. His memory will be cherished and brought to mind constantiy. The Trophy The trophy adopted by Stafford and Stone Canoe Club will be awarded perpetually and is in itself a wonderful tribute to the memory of Paul. It has been created by friends and colleagues at Marston Palmer Ltd. for whom Paul worked for nearly 14 years. The finished piece constitutes a variety of materials and processes, and, the various techniques employed in producing the finished trophy make it a fine work of art, and truly worthy of a champion. It seemed appropriate that the kayak be based on the same lines as the Pyranha Premier II, the design paddled by Paul and Richard Fox to victory in the 1983 World Championship at Merano, Northern Italy. The kayak is beaten and formed out of sheet Bronze. - The wave effect was initially sculptured to the basic shape required in plasticine, the detail finalised in Plaster-of-Paris which was sent for casting in Bronze and then polished to a high grade finish. The figure was also sculpted in plasticine from a photograph of Richard Fox. This was then fashioned into moulds to allow the finished figure to be cast in Bronze and polished to a high grade finish. The paddles are made of 18-8 Stainless Steel plate joined by a rod also made from Stainless Steel. The actual blades were ground and shaped by careful sculpting using fine Tungsten grinders. All the component parts are assembled and mounted on a plinth made from Brazilian Mahogany. The final touches are the three engraved brass plates mounted around the periphery of the plinth and to the rear of the Bronze waves. The first and foremost plate is the main front plate depicting the reference to Paul McConkey with an intertwining Stafford Knot through crossed paddles at each side representing the Club for which he paddled. The second is the small verse by F. G. Hallet which was included in the order of service at Pauls funeral. The third plate is the plate of acknowledgement to all the people involved with the completion of the trophy. Stafford and Stone Canoe Club are deeply indebted to all the friends and colleagues of Paul and especially Marston Palmer Ltd. for commissioning the trophy. Results List for PAUi. l'tcca«EY HEHOR!Al SLALIJ1 - Page l Organised by Stafford le Stone Canoe Club Sponsored by ARRCMCRAFT ~RINE LTD. Saturday 10th July 1993 Class O = Officials Codes 4 ~ Jun UM 6 = Jun U16 Code 8 = Jun UIS 'OFFICIALS' Run I Run 2 Best Pas No, Name Club Cls..Tille Pens Total Tine Pens Total Tohl I 20 S Forsyth Henel Hempstead CC KIN 168.4 10 178.4 161.9 10 171.9 171 .9 2 21 S McIntosh 8 Langleybury CIH 172.7 0 172.7 18!.8 10 191.S 172.7 3 18 N Parr.er 8 Sou th Shore Paddlers KIN 170.5 80 250.5 166.S lO 176.8 176.8 4 47 S Brett Shepperton KIN 167 .2 10 177 .2 165.3 IS 180.3 177 .2 5 25 Daniel CooY. 6 Stafford le Stone CC KIN 185. 7 15 200.7 176.9 5 181.9 181.9 6 16 J DicY.inson Stafford !, Stone CC KIN 192.0 20 212.0 175.8 to 185.8 185.8 7 26 Blain Bishop 6 Essex Sia 1 oo Sq KIN 197 .8 5 202 .8 178.9 10 188.9 188.9 8 17 C Tubb 8 Myedean Canoe Club KIN 198.8 to 208 .8 185.6 5 190.6 190.6 9 24 P BrmMi ch Stafford !, Stone CC KIN< 184.6 15 199 .6 186.9 5 191 .9 191.9 10 14 Gordon Duff Paisley KC KIN 176.2 65 241.2 169.4 25 194.4 194.4 11 42 I Jones West Lothia.n KIL 204.5 65 269 .5 191.4 15 206.4 206.4 12 39 L BlaY.enan 4 Stafford !, Stone CC KIL 210.2 55 265.2 205.7 5 210.7 210.7 13 30 A Cardy Kingston KC Kt!i 195.9 70 265.9 196.0 15 211 .o 211.0 !ti 28 D llroe 8 Inoulse KlH 197.1 35 232. 1 197 .o 20 217 .0 217 .o 15 45 Dave Royle Stafford !, Stone CC CIN 241.2 70 311.2 214.4 5 219.4 219.4 lo 41 Kellv Luton 4 Stafford le Stone CC KIL 205.4 110 315.4 207 .6 15 222.6 222.6 ! 7 23 Nei 1 Nayd!!l<I 4 Stafford le Stone CC KIN 193.4 30 223.4 196.0 75 271.0 223.4 '2 40 J Bl aKman 6 Stafford le Stone CC KIL 231.2 35 266.2 221.7 10 231.7 231.7 !9 35 ~ WalY.er 4 Kinver Canoe Club KIL 201.3 120 321.3 205.0 30 235.0 235.0 20 15 Nei I Pigdon 4 8urgernaster KIN 200.5 125 325.S 201 .0 35 236.0 236.0 21 38 J Maton 8 RRP.