SLALOM Magazine 1 CONTENTS

siifom Special Features EDITOR: G.D.NEVIN Selection 1991 9 TYPESETTING: Slalom Magazine Inc (Hastings) The official magazine of the B.C.U Slalom Executive, Adbolton Lane, Holme Pierrepont, Notting- Ice, Baby, lcel 10 ham,NG 12 2LU Disclaimer: The views expressed in this magazine News 12 are not necessarily those of the Editor nor of the Slalom Executive. Washburn-a first visit 15 SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions may be obtained at £7 .50 for 5 issues post paid from :- The Best Dreams come true 19 Slalom Magazine, Hertwood Hill Farm, 117 Preston Road, Chorley, Lanes PR& 7AX Training Camps Abroad 20 Special Rates for overseas readers. ADVERTISING Training Programme 22 Rates for the next issue are available from Joe Mulholland Tele: 0332 558 263. 21 COPY Please send contributions to the Editor at Slalom Magazine, 23 Manor Road, Hastings, East Sussex, GB Teams 1991/Ranking 26 TN343LL Fax: 042~718572 Copy date for the next Issue is :- 22nd June 1991 But please send earlier if possible I Regular COVER PHOTO: Clough/Clough Tryweryn Selection Photo: Joe Mullholland Features n ii INSIDE COVER: Richard Barber HPP Div 1 Winner '·i I, -Pheto: Chris Worral Opinion 2 r I Current Affairs 4 ! Next lssue:• Page Five 5 Coaching Letters 16 Conference Event Reports 27 Perhaps we need more one day events, possibly with free use of the water on the Saturday, without the actual course erected and the event, with one practice Having had occasion to attend far more Div 1 events this year I have been impressed by the general high run on Sunday. Of course this wouldn't be suitable for all event s or standard of organisation and prizes. Particular credit all sites but perhaps the new 'Taster' events will lead should go to the timing and results services which are provided by the same people at most events and the the way. number of section judges who do their best to provided a consistant high standard of judging. It must be said, i~~~ili!!!~~t,1!1!111~1 however, that they are not always supported in this by Selection is over again and there have been a few an equally high standard of gate judges. Many are excellent and consientious but too many stop watching unexpected results from well established paddlers. although many placings were as would have been the water to chat to friends. We need a system to expected. It was interesting to wonder about the reward the best and encourage more of the qualified to number of paddlers who may have been selected this attend events. Any ideas? year without the new "No discretion policy", including 1 one who spoke strongly at the AGM against the idea i~li\::l111,1,15(~~1lll~-:n~lt'' of discretion for injury and is now out, injured. Mind you. there are three paddlers who could have been Many event seem to be suffering from a shortage of selected and seem to have been excluded for paddlers this year and there is a noticable downward reasons best known to the selection committee; all of trend in numbers over all. This is a worrying trend whom have had past International success. There effecting other sports as well as Slalom and must be a compelling reason for reducing our 3 undoubtedly is a reflection of the general economic Olympic place chances by 25% in two classes. situation and the high cost of travel. Unfortunately Slalom can be an expensive sport. if no Slalom Magazine has for some time been in favour of more so than many others, but if it undertaked as a a controlled discretionary place and still sees room for family trip a £100 is a lot out of anybody's budget. it, even if only for a reserve paddler.

Copy Copy for the magazine, in order of preference, may be submitted in any of the following formats On 3.5 inch floppy discs, saved as text or ASCII, although many IBM and most Mac wordprosecor texts can be read. As typed text. This can often be read straight into ~e ma_gazine. But it also puts you at the mercy of the computer - most recent typos have arrived this way, although we are wo~krng on 1~! . . . . . Hand written copy. This is better than not sending anything! Mrnd you rt puts you at the mercy of the vagarrtIes of our typrng, which can be worse than that of the computer. How you send it is not as important as your continuing to send it.so please continue to share your thoughts and ideas with us and the readership. Results and Event Reports We are always glad to get these and we do receive many results, but fewer reports. So if you go at event and like it or otherwise lets us what happening out there!

Advertising This should be sent to Joe Mullholland. Please allow plenty of time if you wish us to do the artwork. Even a quarter page takes some time to set out. 1/4 Page Event advertising Send copy to the editor, £10 cheque (payable to the Slalom Committee) to Joe Mullholland.

Photographs Black and white or colour. Preferably 5x7 or larger. Please always write your name, the paddler and the event on a label on the back of each photo. We try to return unused photos, but ususally keep them for several months in case we can use them. Ones unsuitable for reproduction will be returned with a brief explanation if an SAE is enclosed. If you need a photograph returning after publication contact Joe Mullholland, otherwise contact the editor.

Photo~raphs for sale Photographs that have been published may be purc~ased _dtrect from the photogr~pher. The cost of a full sized print (which will usually be between 8x8 and 8x101 at a cost of £8.00 rncludrng postage or £7.50 delivered to an event. This cost is very reasonable considering the investme~t of time, equipment and materials involved. So_metimes our better known photographers have enlarge• ments of chance shots wrth them at events; a reasonable charge for them rs £5. Please encourage them with the odd purchase! ·:.f~~)~}~~t:·~.; .•. ··:: 4 SLALOM Magazine Current Affairs

Annan's first wedding didn't have With this arrangement they can both Olympic Selection another chance at last week walk to work and Peter can see his Places because, contrary to popular opinion, family during the week. he wasn't getting married again. In fact it was John Gosling who was The Criteria for Olympic Selection has now been made in agreement with marrying Jane Williams. Sort the BOA and is as follows:- Autumn Coaching The date of this week has apparently Up to three boats in each class been brought forward a week to 14th subject to our achieving three results Conference to 21st July. Unfortunately too early in the top third in any of three speci• for most people still at school. fied events this year. The specified Those of you who didn't make the events are the Worlds at Tarcen. last coaching conference have a Mezzana World Cup Race and the chance to make amends by attending Court News 1991 Pre-worlds. To qualify each a one day coaching seminar at place must be secured by a different Birmingham University in the Every body who is, or was, anybody paddler in any of the three races e.g. autumn. It is being organised by Alan was at the Tryweryn Selection event. winning all three MK1 Edge and John Gregory.Further races would count as one place, not details next issue Most all of the Executive. the top three. coaches and of course all the top paddlers. People not seen for ages It must be emphasised that these are NRA included the Editor of Slalom 'places. not faces· and the actual Magazine and Jennifer Munro, ex• paddlers who will go to the Olympics The National River Authority has been publicity officer for the sport. must still achieve the required results working closely with Chester Sailing for selection. and Club during extensive work at Chester Weir. The popular Annita Bennett This is pretty reasonable for the sport Chester Weir Slalom will not be and is the BOA's way of avoiding any affected and will run as usual on 6 Some time ago (like last year!) you 'Eddie the Eagles' at the next and 7 July, but all paddlers are wrote to ask if you were the young• Olympics. requested to observe the access est in Div 2 Kl L.. We never did rules that are displayed at the weir manage to find out. However, we can It is also worth mentioning that and have been in force for many now confirm that you are the young• Sports Council and other grant aided years. est in Div 11 funding now comes with a set of questions such as; Who? Why? and This example of cooperation from the 'What were their results last year?' NRA is yet another example of the Top Timer helpful attitude of the newly privat• In the words of Oscar Wilde (almost); ised authority. Brian Tipper, ex-treasurer Slalom. ex• 'To blow it once is unfortunate, to ditto Wildwater Racing and ex-timing blow it twice smacks of Impulse team (or was it the other lot?) has re• careless· .. and forget the funding and emerged as the Venue Manager in a place in the Team as well. charge of timing at the Olympics. These well know manufacturers of Well done Brian! quality epoxy resin canoes and Karen Like? have separated into white water racing and slalom divisions. New Site A new site has opened at Swifen. If, like me, you wondered who the Nick Pink is manufacturing the north of Birmingham, a mile. do~n mystery lady was who came out top from Wychnor bridge. Details ian wildwater racers and the new Reflex in selection, it is good old Karen (0992 228450 or Mick (0543 671728) Davis, now married and apparently in Barcelona from Impulse, Legacy good form. Service Station, Vinegar Hill, Rhos, The West Midlands Regional Wrexham, Clwyd, tele 0978-846507 Slalom Series will be held there 1/2 Talking about and Pete Wignall is operating from: June, also at Stone 30th June and • Unit 6, Creamery Industrial Estate, Lyddington (SOAK) on 21st July. marriage ... Kenlis Road, Barnacre, Garstang, Futher info John Gregory, Athletic Preston PR3 1GD. Telephone: 0995- Union, Munrow Sports Centre, Those of you who missed Roger 600201. Edgason B 15 2TU SLALOM Magazine 5 Page Five

Ladies Prizes

Considerable indignation has been expressed that junior prizes are only Z R cK C_ 0 L being offered to Men at Division 5 events. although strictly speaking a JCY L L U T D !! LK1 would win if she beat all the jujior l~C-ARDINGT ~I~A) )~D men. This oversight has occured because there is not a separate ladies S . J' E class in Div 5 and entries for lady juniors are higher than may have ~/~~u~r RIB\ E been expected. However. now that Q L A the problem has been recognised a I E change is likely, but not before next R,R season. B R\ I J12 Prizes N E Dear Editor,

My Dad read me the article in Slalom I~~ Magazine by Pete Hanover. It said \j \ N that with the introduction of a J12 prize no-one is now competing against other competitors over two years older. R p This is not true. 0 I Andrew Marchment, aged 7. Div 4 C2 and Div 5 K1. Word List

Oops! You'll have to try Winchester 5 APPI:ffREEWicK ~·· -FMRNLEE==• or the U14 Champs at Cardington for OR]tNr)'ftf-'d¥• «GNBRIDGE• ~ the U 1 O prizes - its a bit closer than -~ ·R:8eICFIEL;!fi-- -STONE U12. I saw that you competed at 'f'RYWERYN=- 8AtAs ffiMRffis Richmond Town. let us know when fb\iM:I_::3..-LE-o-o-&-,,='°-"- you reach Div 4.-ED FD JCRJ:MI:£• --M1\R:PJ,E..,,. -~ ~0NO ~ First Div 5 Capsize TEVl:™1fl6E ~~

A team from Viking Club at Words can run across, down or diagonally and Duck~ill have the dubious olsnnctlon ineitherdirection -and it's not as easy as it looks! of being the first to capsize in Div 5. It .._ _. is unlikely that they will be the lastl second slalom I got a. high volume Now I can have a bib like my brother prize because I was the best person and sister havel Debbie's Diary in a plastic boat. on my third slalom I got another High Volume prize and on Debbie Turner (Aged 9) I started canoeing because of my 4th slalom, NOTHING. I'm in a Garstang Canoe Club. Chester Weir. I took one look at it slalom boat now. and said to my Mum, 'I want a gol' Sorry that you didn't win your last she said to me,· You'll have to start April 20121st '91 event, Debbie, but the higher you get the more difficult it will become to canoeing flrst.': so I did. Today won 2nd prize at Richmond I win and the more work you will have slalom, I am still quite angry because April 14th 1991 to do in your boat. However, with I was coming first and then someone your attitude I can see you going all It was my 4th Slalom today at beat me on the second run. but then the way to the top, where the only Wagonlane and I am angry. My first I did get promoted to division 4 and I place to be IS first! -ED slalom at Creal Valley I capsized, my got an U 12 prize. 6 SLALOM Magazine -

Joel Scott - GB Junior Team Tryweryn Select Photo: GDN

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Forbes and McIntosh - Top Div 1 C2 Best Rollers at hambledon Div 1 Photo:GDN 8 SLALOM Magazine

t;i •• i i

Brodie - The Mud Monster The One Person who enjoyed Tully Div 1

* -· Advertise your 1991 Slalom * here and give newcomers to * the sport some idea of what * YOU have to offer. attract * ~~ judges with prize information * - etc .. * * Slalom Tell everyone about the * great food served from 7am : MAY 27 ~ 'til 8pm, the free video show, Ul 1 U12 U14 U16 \ the B-B-Q, the showers, the : JUNE 16 U21 OVER 21 \ friendly help from control. * SEPT l \ Book In On The/ Don't let your talents and * , DoyByl/ efforts go to waste! : B~ring your Own Equ'ipme-nt or- U se ours We can increase your entries * / BCU £2.00 just by putting your event on : ~~ Others £3.00 the map. £10 nominal charge for quarter page including * artwork (or supply your own). * * No charge ifwe don't publish * by our stated deadline! * * Tele: Trevor Chapman 0602-334768 SLALOM Magazine 9 Selection 1991

big thank you is extended to event with a shoulder pain the organisation. a small but that made it difficult to even A cohesive workforce of well drive home. Team Physio, trained personnel who produce the Tim Deykin. together with a m goods without fuss. The profile of the local Nottingham Physio. did g, event is extremely highly rated for the necessary but it was not ~ competitors and it's running efficien• clear until the day before as ~ cy has to be top notch. to whether or not he would 3

be fit to . All credit to "O Roger Manwaring, Ladies Kl coach Tim for reacting fast to ~ Palm, Impulse, Kober, has withdrawn from working with the Melvyn's needs - without a [ squad and he will be missed for top result he would not have • rate technical expertise and proven been in. record of working well with paddlers. Ken Langford has taken over from where Roger left off and without a doubt the Ladies are going to contin• ue improving under his guidance.

Decisions made are always difficult. With a straight forward points system it would appear easy to draw the line but the criteria that apply are not only linked to results from selection but the actual cut-off points are also linked to results from the past years's International performances and also relate to the quality and size of start lines attended. There is no doubt at all that Teams going out have always gone abroad to perform well but now there is more to be done on analysing and using those results to pursue both strong development and elite performance policies. Undoubtedly the BOA criteria has helped to make us more aware of spending elite money and we have to justify our Team expenditure to the Sport's Council with good results. accurate lining up at the top of the slope and at the end a left, followed by a right hand, breakout gave this The points used to select the Senior one a hard finish. Alan Edge, now Team deviated from the norm by The courses set for both events were living in Nottingham and. judging by giving extra credit to top placings. 30, testing and made harder by the 27, 25, 23, 22, 21, 22, 21, 20 etc. pressure surrounding them. Several the course he put together. he is getting to know the slalom site like from winner downwards across all moves required some very assertive the back of his hand. A motivating classes was the method that was paddling and spectators were left in tried for the first time and was direct• no doubt as to which paddlers were factor for putting courses together is being able to create moves that have ed towards the best performers reading the sequences well and getting due credit. The Intermediate producing sharp moves in the right not been done before while maintain• selection worked on the straight places. Graham Gladwin, C2 Coach, ing the flow without getting a reputa• forward point per place system. set a quality course on the Tryweryn, tion for being too inventive. An excel• different from usual and much appre• lent course was certainly the result. A real cliff hanger came from Melvyn ciated was starting above the 'ski• Jones who got off the water from a slope' and finishing in the Grandstand John Macleod session a week before the Tryweryn area. The first gates demanded some 1 Q SLALOM Magazine •••• Ice, Baby, lcel

We left for the ferries in the ea~ ritain was in the grips of a tion of temperature gauges that ~he afternoon, via a supermarket-at leas~ Siberian February. The Arctic French are so keen on showed -13 C, we could take some wine and beer B weather was creating havoc in the sun! Once in Mayenne ~e with snowstorms and freezing condi• found the local canoe club, which back (as presents, of course). About tions bringing the country to a grind• was extremely well appointed. They 1 O miles from the ferry we ran into ing halt. The novelty of breaking the directed us to the slalom site; so back heavy snow which was packed solid ice before doing gate sessions was intothecoldwewent. on the road. This caused at least half beginning to wear off but, luckily, we a dozen French cars to quickly leave had decided to do a preseason We never actually made it to the the road and sit in the ditch. With a competition at Colemont in northern slalom site as we bumped (not literal• little off-piste sledding we got to the . With some creative thinking ly) into some French paddlers w_hilst 2200 ferry. we deduced that as the depression on route to the river. They explained drawing air into Britain from some that the course was too hard; in fact In the cafeteria the cashier said to very cold Northern places was it was solid ice and the slalom was Cloughy, "We had someone on last centred over France then if we got to cancelled. How did we feel? How night who looked just like youl"-he the other side of it the warm air would you feel? Gutted! We'd forged doesn't know how close he would be being drawn in from the through snow in Britain, sailed across came .... luckily we were only interest• equator. Inescapably brilliant logic. the channel, slithered 200 miles into ed in going to sleep in a quiet corner. France and the river was frozen( In So another C2 trip was born - a trip to stunned disbelief we followed the We did find out some useful things the Super Slalom at Colemont. where French back to their base where we on this trip:- the French and Czech C2 teams found the other British contingent of would be competing. Two races in , Rob Soothill and Peter 1. It gets very cold in France two days over 10-1 5 gates with no Buckley. practice and the two results added 2. Sleeping on long, overnight ferry together to give the overall winners crossings is the only way to travel and with big prizes on offer! French TV were there as well filming and the British wondering what to do Perin Shreeve, Ricky Osborne, Ian next and the French spinning around 3. Not doing any canoeing gives and Andy Clough slid a "Midi bus" in their boats on the ice. At least we plenty of time to write the trip report! from Nottingham to Portsmouth had enough people for a couple of where they were met by Clive volleyball teams, so off we went to to Colin Thompson Richardson and myself skating in the Sports Centre. The British from Cardiff. a quick transfer of kit obviously hadn't played volleyball Those who think that talk of ice and into the Midi and we were on the seriously before; the French obvious• snow is way out of date should have 2300 ferry with at least two minutes ly had-they thrashed us. We got our driven through the blizzards and to spare. We found a cinema that own back in the 5-a-side football awakened Saturaday morning to was not being used by Mutant Ninja though. three inches of snow at Washburn Turtles, rolled out the Div 1 !-ED sleeping bags, refused the hot dogs ottered by Ricky and went to sleep. -·-.!.. - I guess that it was a .:- sooth crossing because the next thing I knew it was Friday morning, we were in Le Havre and I was r driving on icy roads ' through snow-free countryside. Not really Jcnov,ir.g v.iher,e 'W6 were going I kept driving until we hit Mayenne, wherever that was. What worried ·- . ·,. ·--• . me was the prolifera- Hard Training for the Event Photo: Robert Soothlll - SLALOM Magazine 11

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12 SLALOM Magazine NEWS -

eenage canoeist Simon account for only 9% of the total Edwards has been chosen for distance. The tributaries of the Colora• the canoeing trip of a lifetime. do river & Grand Canyon often follow T faults. On the south rim the drainage Simon is a keen slalom canoeist and is a member of Tees Kayak Club and is away from the canyon and the Stockton and Thornaby Canoe Club. north side tributaries are, with two He is also a pupil of Northfield School exceptions. quite short. The flow is Billingham and is in Division 3. towards the canyon from the north Simon is the youngest of seven rim and north-side tributaries are other teenagers chosen by the often longer. BCU to be a member of the First British Youth expedition to The rivers rapids are almost all ~ ~ ). the Grand Canyon, to take formed by boulders washed in by ~• ------place in late '91 92 side streams and only at a few sites does bedrock directly withstand the GRAND CAMYOM:.· .had ,a river's erosional force. Flash floods push tributary debris into the river, ------under take two interviews and damming it up and causing a spill• ______O__f_ t_h_e______a canoeing test over (a rapid). The largest flood in a thousand years crashed down Crystal Creek on Dec. 8 1996, washing COLORADO ~~:~::p~~~ immense boulders into the river expedition, but channel and turning a minor rapid into ----. -.-h-v-. -h-E--d-.-.----- to help the 1st 8r1t1s • out xpe 1t1on 1 99 1 dream journey an awesome cataract. Prior to the become a reali• construction of Glen Canyon Dam. ty the 'O' level student hopes to find flash flood debris was regularly swept sponsors willing to help him cover away in the river's large spring run-off the £1800 cost. floods. Now, with the river controlled the rapids only worsen with time. Simon feels his River trips with Stockton And Thornaby C.C. and the The Grand Canyon, which stunningly experience gained with Tees Kayak displays some of the world's most Club at Slaloms helped gain his place awe inspiring geology, contains thirty in the Expedition. thousand feet of sediments, the oldest being 4.6 billion years old. The Colorado River -- An Introduction. Youth Kayak Expedition to the Between Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Colorado 1991. Mead the Colorado river flows for 255 miles, it reaches a maximum depth of 85 feet and averages about Aims:- 35 feet. The river varies in width from The aims of the expedition, are to 76 feet at mile 135 (downstream create friendships between paddlers from Lee's Ferry) to more than 300 from all over the country, promote feet, and drops at an average gradi• canoeing as a sport for people of both ent of about 8 feet per mile. The river sexes and all creeds and colours, drops 1900 feet between Lee's Ferry and Lake Mead. create a next generation of dedicated expedition paddlers, a chance for young people to excel at their chosen Half of this drop takes place in the sport, and most of all, satisfaction and more than 160 rapids but these an experience of a life time for all those who take part. SLALOM Magazine 13

Eastern Region Chat The season stated with the first ever division 5 event to be held in the country at Duck Mill in , along with a Div 4 event. Although the entries were sightly down on last year the event ran well with good water. The following week Ian Bridg• es ran a Div 4/5 event at Batchworth Weir. It was encouraging to have a Premier padler running an event and another, Tony Ambridge, as Chairman of the jury.

The third week of the season was the Cardington 3 event and the selec• tion event for the Eastern Region's trip to Zwickau. A full report of this event will appear in the next issue of Slalom Magazine.

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"Big Bill" Horsman HP Prem Photo: Chris Worrall

f '• SLALOM Magazine 15 Washburn - a first visit

urprisingly, perhaps, I'd never been to Washburn. I had heard both that it was a muddy ditch and also S that it was a good course, rather like a small Trvwe• ryn. People seemed to either love it or hate it; now I could find out for myself. The start sheet obviously assumed that anyone going there to a Div 1 must have been there before, as they , didn't provide a map, either for the slalom site or the camp site. Never mind I thought that as I'd found more \ difficult sites in the past this one should be a doddle to A BCU APPROVED COURSE ADJACENT TO TH locate - after all it would be well sign posted wouldn't it? SLALOM COURSE AT HOLME PIERRREPONT I must admit that I hadn't realised quite how long the 280 mile journey would take or that we would actually arrive in a blizzard (in April?). We found the camp site quite by • SLALOM SCHOOL & chance (on the left, 4 miles east of Harrogate) and only realised that it was the right one when we actually saw SLALOM CLINIC cars with boats on looming out of the snow (I guess every one else had been there before!). There was no sign of life and we weren't about to pitch a tent in those condi• • COMPLETE TRAINING tions so it was time to curl up in the car and pray for a heat wave the following day. PACKAGES& Saturday dawned crisp and white. Several inches of snow INDIVIDUAL TUITION had fallen and looked likely to stay. Tent up and a hot cuppa and a bacon roll later we were ready, if not willing, by to venture forth to the course. Our first obstacle was an • RUN & COACHED old boy at the gate making sure that we had paid, so our next surprise was the cost - £14 for two for the weekend. Leading Slalom The slalom site location was the next obstacle. There were no apparent signs on the main road and only a tip off Coaches enabled us to arrive at all. The site had a further surprise waiting for us - £4 to park the car at the site. Well they do say in Yorkshire 'where there's muck there's brass'! Mind • COURSES FOR you it was a very nice big car park, but a bus to the course PADDLERS FROM would have been appreciated. The course was being erected still and was showing signs of being very unlikely NOVICE TO DIV 1 with no gate 15 and number 19 meant paddling back up the bottom fall. Fortunately Pete Bell seemed to be fine tuning the course and gates were moved to more realistic ALSO locations (gate 19 was called 14a). The gates were in clumps of 4 or 5 with long sprints in between, but not too bad a course in the end. • CAFETERIA FREE CAR PARK By now the snow had begun to sublimate (no it didn't melt - just disappeared) and although still cold the weath• • FREE SHOWERS & CHANGING ROOMS er was far brighter. Several streams ran across the footpath and it was difficult to avoid getting wet feet • FACILITIES FOR MEETINGS Food was available on site but limited in variety and quali• AND ORGANISED COURSES ty to tinned hot dogs and rolls - I made my my own. The event did run quite well on Saturday and Sunday and the prizes awarded were unusual and of good quality. Also the camp site redeemed itself somewhat Saturday night Send S.A.E. for details or phone:• with good inexpensive food and friendly bar s1att. CURRENT TRENDS Well, love it or hate it? I reserve judgement on that until next ADBOLTON LANE, WESTBRIDGEFORD visit (yes, there will be one) Certainly the site has potential, but a little effort could have improved things tremendously. NOTTINGHAM NG2 SAS We have been promised an article from the Washburn Telephone: 0602-81~4 Committee which we hope to publish next issue. -ED

- -- 16 SLALOM Magazine Letters -

creature comfort for the paddlers, by The Last (Finnish) Word On flu, I may lose any chance I had in two or three events ) We then get a providing commercially available facili• Slalom Magazine nine week gap with one event in the ties at this Slalom, proved to be middle, followed by two in a row at highly popular by the vast majority of Toni Fohlin the end of June when a huge propor• people attending the event. VATTUNIEMENKATU tion of Slalomists will have just spent 16 a C 25 00210 a month buried in school/college/ I believe that the cost involved in HELSINKI FINLAND university exams. We have then providing such facilities (less than reached the summer, when most £: 100) is far outweighed by forcing 16/3/91 Helsinki people are able to take holidays to paddlers and support groups to train full-time, and late-night training accept unsanitary and uncomfortable Dear Sue Wharton. is easier, safer and more pleasant An tents, buckets. holes in the ground Thank you for letting me know that ideal time to put events somewhere etc. my subscribing for 1990 is finished. I like Holme Pierrepont or the have enjoyed so much about slalom• Washburn. However! surprise! The finance to provide the portaloos. magazine that I decided to subscribe surprise we get nine weeks free of on this occasion, was raised at the it again.(! almost can't wait the next events, then at the end of the year, event by holding a raffle. In future it number. As far as I know slalom• just as people are getting back to may be acceptable to raise monies by magazine is the only work or College, we get four events adding 50p or so onto the campsite magazine in the world.I suggest in five weeks, concentrating the cost fees. I would welcome the views developing slalom-magazine more of four weekends away, and over a from paddlers on this point (page five internationally, there could be great thousand miles of driving in the Slalom Mag.) Are they prepared to future for your magazine. I don't space of a month. pay extra facilities. know how many oversees readers you have, but the success would be I've only been in Div one for a year I can think of other sites which I guaranteed abroad. and so don't know how long this believe should consider proving such ludicrous timetable has been used, facilities by making enquiries in their Yours faithfully, but it must be about time thought local area (after all with the numbers was put into something so elemen• which attend our events it must be 'loni ohlin. tary, and allow us in Div 1 to enjoy good advertising for the portaloo :f our sport throughout the season, as firms). we used to in 2,3,4, and Novice. P.S At this point I must thank the firm of I WISH YOU ALL THE VERY BEST OF Yours sincerely, John Retalick, Stepney Plant. Bever• YEAR 1991 I!!!! ley,. North Humberside, for providing the loo's for our event and saving the At least we have one reader who Guy Gratton job of emptying the chemical loos at doesn't notice our spelling mistakes what always feels like ten minute and appreciates us! A bit like the Never mind, Guy, your results intervals. radio One listener. -ED haven't been too bad this year even sol Len Wilson Div 1 Timetable Sec. Tees kayak Club Luxury Loos Editor Slalom Magazine Middleton-in-Teesdale March '91 I'm not sure that many events could Dear Editor., justify the cost, although perhaps I have recently seen the slalom Dear Editor, local construction firms could be timetable for the coming season, and persuaded to donate the use of am amazed at the complete lack of In the last few years the March theirs, However, there is no excuse forethought and planning which has slalom at Middleton has had snow, for any event using holes in the gone into the division 1 timetable. it's rained cats and dogs, with the ground. Any other ideas, paddlers? - course in flood, or it's being blowing ED After the start of the season in gale force with tents flattened, To march. there is a gap of five weeks add to all this you had to use those before there are any events at all. silly little green tents, which were Then we have to hope to be able to always falling down or flooded. manage the lime and cost of tour Letters published subject to room anfid events in a row. (As well as the Well that's a thing of the past. an content and may be edited to it problems that if I get injured or catch attempt to bring some semblance of SLALOM Magazine 17

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fundamental of training for and boat control are all imagined start for me to focus my complete competitive sport is that it before they happen. should be specific. that is to attention on the dream. Some A competitors paddle the dream eyes say, training should closely resemble At the 1985 World's at Augsberg I closed, lying down. arms waving the actual competition, so if you want timed the mental rehearsal of Richard to be good at slalom canoeing the about, some jog about the car park Fox in the late evening the day before making pretend bow draws etc. How most important part of training is his race; it took 21 O seconds. Every• whitewater gates. you do the dreaming is up to you. thing was perfect in his mentally Those paddlers who are doing it are rehearsed run, Richard told me he at an advantage because they are in Competing at many events is a good thought 212 seconds or better would control and they are, in fact, actually idea, experience comes from doing win the race. In fifth position after gaining extra "practice runs". lots of events and from many training first runs with a run with many sessions on whitewater. Experienced mistakes in 223 seconds Richard Include mental rehearsal in your train• competitors are not only good on the continued only to dream only of his ing schedule and plan to do do extra water, they are also well practised at perfect run. He won in 210. little races where you can practise being organised before they get on both the paddling and the dreaming. the water. To get to Richard's level of accuracy in dreaming takes many years of Pete Bell practice. Every race run and every "Mental Rehearsal" is often spoken practice run should be preceded by a of as a secret technique of the elite, dream of the complete run taking the Pete has been gaining top 3 results at but all it is is a vivid imagination by same time as it will take to cover the Prem C1 events for some 10 years the competitor of exactly what he is course. It is necessary for me to lie and is considered by many to be our going to do. Decisions of route. pace on my back on the bank near to the best technical C1 paddler. - ED

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Pete Bell in Action Photo: GDN 20 SLALOM Magazine Training Camps Abroad -

endless. In non-paddling time Gareth Paddling proved to be excellent. At 10 March in put his BMX skills to work on a cumecs and being quite narrow, but mountain bike that Maria Francis had with a steady gradient and loads of rocks at the side to produce paddling wo Senior Squad Midibuses borrowed and broke the crank off and Heather Corrie showed the men up eddies, the character of the site is took off to the South of France quite distinct. There are no particular• Tand Spain in early March. Think• at soccer. ly strong sets of waves and in ing of paddling the Pyrenees in the contrast to HPP the eddies are a lot Winter snow was not something The trip to Seo d'Urgell to get a first smaller but with similar upstream anybody laid claim to knowing glimpse of the new site started off speed. Frequent instability within anything about. As it happened with the usual estimated travelling eddies makes some of them paddling temperatures were good time with plenty of allowance for the awkward places to put gates but then and some excellent training ensued. small roads. Four hours it was to be. there are plenty to choose from. The But then two hours of driving through speed of the water is constantly Andorra in the snow had not been Richard Fox led a group of kayaks broken with the rocks and paddling it taken into account! plus Gareth Marriott to a slalom in does not appear fast. It is short in San Sebastian in the North West of distance so a race time of around 130 Spain. They enjoyed excellent good A morning run around the slalom site can be expected. As a training facility relations with the Spanish organisa• at Seo left us in no doubt that with sessions with circulation are restrict• tion judging from the way in which earth and planks in the bottom end of ed and downstream work is neces• they were looked after. Despite being the slalom site we would not be sary. May be the training channel, plied with cider, which they all seeing it running. However, they which was turned off, will offer circu• refused, and local food they were in were keen for us to comment on the lation. good form when meeting the other site and as the river was high with Midi in the South of France on the the rains the top sluice was opened The river, landscaping and proposed Monday. and we had water. The earth at the bottom gradually disappeared with facilities on site are going to make the planks! The state of play was that Seo a front runner in the places to go. Several days were spent on good the generators/pumps would be arriv• That they have produced a pump/ moving water workouts on gates, ing the following week and the river generator scheme site that is although water levels were modest. bed was still being adjusted to supposed to pay itself off in ten years Two of the Spanish Team joined in provide the best water conditions. is an incredible achievement and a with the sessions and by the time the The boat lift was still in the process lead that we cannot afford to ignore. squad left the Swiss had turned up on of being built and there was a lot of a training tour that appeared to be site mud around. John Macleod

Photo:© John Macleod SLALOM Magazine 21 - The :ANewPartnership

An Interview with Bill and get that to succeed. It took a few boats, not 4, per nation would be Endicott years to have that happen but now it counted for World Cup points, but has and we are happy to have that also allowed as many as six boats per by relationship with them. Abergail B Endicott. for nation to race. The WCPC had wanted a system whereby every Slalom Magazine SM: What is your new committee nation could start with at least 3 working on now and have your boats, but any nation which had four Slalom Magazine; As chairman of efforts changed in any way with the boats qualifying for World Cup points the Canoe Slalom World Cup Promo• new ICF partnership? in the previous year could qualify for tion Committee can you tell us what more boats. The new change means your relationship is with the Interna• BE: We're still trying to find an overall that some nations such as the US in tional Canoe Federation at this point? sponsor for the World Cup and we Cl and Yugoslavia in Kl. which have are working on having races in had 4 boats qualifying for World Cup Bill Endicott: In the fall of 1990 the and in Febru• points, will now not be able to count ICF officially recognised the Canoe ary of 1992. The new relationship their fourth boat at all. We're also a with the ICF has not changed this bit worried that allowing six boats per Slalom World Cup and made the effort. World Cup Promotion Committee an nation will mean more lower level competitors and it may be a problem advisory subcommittee of the ICF SM: Has the ICF Slalom and Wildwater Committee. with television that we have to work SM: Has this chan to the World Cu made any changes out. tee's activities in a ngy ewd ayo? ur commit- I how do you feel abpo upt rtohgermam? me and SM: How would you describe your BE: Yes, there have been two chang- , overall feelings about you new BE: It's meant that we've had to es made by the ICF. partnership with the ICF? change only to the extent that we 1 . The ICF insisted on having only 3 now want to coordinate everything BE: Working with the ICF seemed out of the 5 World Cup races count. like the right thing to do and we are we're doing with the ICF and have This opens up the possibility of them sign all documents, such as glad that it has become official. We're people skipping races and is rough on hoping that everything will work out television and host contracts. It's the host sites because they can't be well. So now we just have to give the forced us to move a little slower than sure if having all the top people at in the past. new system our best effort and at the their race. This will be the first year end of the season evaluate what has under this scheme. My hope is that happened. SM: Do you see any other problems close competition will make any top or positive aspects of your new competitor eager to attend all the relationship with the ICF? races to ensure a high standard of Bill Edicott is the US Olympic Canadi• finish. an Coach and the author of 7o Win BE: We always wanted to work the Worlds" and 7he Ultimate Run'. within the ICF channel of command I 2. The ICF also insisted that only 3 -ED

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A structured programme of specific be termed as an endurance phase. Training Logs training is essential to achieve You can also do this in a smaller way success in the increasingly competi• when there is a long time between Record your training in some form. tive world of canoe slalom; the follow• important events. This is important for a number of ing is intended to act as a brief guide reasons: to constructing and carrying out such Note during an endurance phase, 1. It forces you to think about (and a programme.Start by considering power and speed training should not hopefully improves) your training. two important and inter-related be stopped altogether; however it points. should be a minority part of the train• 2. It acts as a record of past training ing. to help you estimate how efficient 1. Level of commitment your programme was and how it may 3) Work first and longest on those How much time (and money) can you be improved in the future. aspects of the sport which require afford to spend training per week? the most time to develop.Le. it takes 3. It is self satisfying to see all your Try to set aside certain times during longer to build up endurance (3-4 hard work written down! the day/week when you can commit months) and technique than it does yourself to a training session - but be speed (6-8 weeks). Training logs vary from blow by blow realistic. accounts of the session to scraps of paper saying 'trained today'. Whichev• 4) It is probably a good idea to fit in 2. Aims er way you chose to record your train• one day of rest per week unless your ing, try to make it neat, clear and easy It is essential to have a target to aim training workload is less than one to read and still try to give sufficient for; ie. promotion to Div 2, 1 or Prem. session per day, in which case you information for future reference. or placing in County, Regional or will getting adequate rest any way. Remember you will (or should) read National Slalom events, but remem• Having decided on your training through it yourself at frequent inter• ber that your competitive targets are outline, it is most practical to plan out vals - if its boring and long winded likely to be predetermined by your the fine detail week to week; i.e. at you've only yourself to blame. level of commitment. it is no use, for the end of the week, plan out the example, aiming to be World Champi• detail for the next week's training, Finally remember the following with on if you can only train once a week, bearing in mind any modifications respect to your over-all training: therefore set targets commensurate that may be necessary in the light of with your work load. past experience. Thus if you feel that a. It takes a lot of time and hard work your sprinting is weak (splits at to get fit, but very little time to get Having decided what you want to be events can help here), you can unfit again: i.e. training should be an and how much time you intend to concentrate on this for the following ongoing process, not merely spend getting there, it is possible to week. The great advantage of week• spasmodic spurts of energy followed broadly outline your training plan, to week fine planning is that it does by lull periods. remembering the following points:- enable you to be flexible in this respect. b. Training does get boring at times - 1) All training plans are worked you just have to stick it out if you backwards from your target event(s). Bear in mind the following points want to succeed. Most paddlers, i.e. if you are aiming to achieve your when fine planning: even with only local flat water gates. best results for a certain event, then can make Div 1 in two to four your training is planed back from that 1 . Know what you are going to do seasons if they really want to. event to the present day. More often before you get on the water and though you will be aiming to peak for c. Remember at all times that having got on, do that preplanned technique is the single most impor• a series of events in a short space of session. time, in that case plan back from tant factor and far outweighs any roughly the middle of the target physical considerations. Never sacri• period. 2. Remember to have adequate fice speed for technique, it rarely timed rest between work periods. works in the long term. On the same 2) The training year is periodised; that lines, train in a boat as much as possi• is, your training should be divided into 3. Do not plan to have two hard ble (as opposed to using weights etc., phases, within each one of which a physical sessions in succession as although weights used correctly at particular aspect of you progress will your recovery period will probably be the right times of year are the best be emphasised i.e. traditionally from inadequate. way of developing power). It is more October to January slalomists have specific and also allows you to work concentrated predominantly (but not 4. Remember that quality rather than on technique as much as possible. exclusively) on endurance or aerobic quantity is the key to success- both work. Thus October to January could in terms of time input and effort. Based on an article by Bumble Knight -

JJ Going for the kill HPP Prem Photo: Chris Worral

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Eritabeth Vowles Vowles 24

,, i.:._ . ..A...... Martyn Hedges Looking to the future, not the past! SLALOM Magazine 25 Midland Development Squad - winter training

n a frosty December Saturday, eyes of their coaches. The single eye Sunday evening came at last and they keen paddlers from all over the of the video· camera also followed the returned home to recover from their 0 Midlands descended on exploits of the paddlers, later to arduous training. The second Holme Pierrepont for a weekend of reproduce their errors, their weekend in January had to be called intensive training. Through the mist techniques which needed to be off as there was so much water in and cold they assembled, met their improved and their good points. the Trent that the slalom course coaches and made their introduc• resembled a lake. The session was tions. After the programme had been So the weekend went on, the activi• re-scheduled for March. outlined they started what they had ties between the Midland and South• come for - canoeing. ern Squads carefully orchestrated to The success of the training, for the make maximum use of the water. So girls at least. can be seen from the They changed, climbed into their much so, that when the Northern fact that currently the top two K1 canoes, avoiding the oarsmen on the Paddlers arrived, lunch time was the Ladies, Diana Woods and Elizabeth regatta course and set out for the only available space on the course. Vowles were both on the course. slalom course. Paddlers from the Between the paddling were land• Southern Development Squads were based training sessions and talks on All in all a credit to the organiser, already on the water, just finishing diet and techniques. Food was availa• Keith Hampton, the ladies coach, Lara their first session. Next followed a ble at Current Trends and the local Tipper and all the many others strenuous hour and a half as small Pizza Parlours did a roaring trade in involved. groups trained on separate sections delivering their hot fare - lots of of the course under the watchful carbohydrate! Robin Vowles 26 SLALOM Magazine GB Teams 1991/ Ranking Lists

Canoe Slalom Intermediate Provisional Top Ranking Team Premier (3 races so farl GB Team Cl World Championships K1M 1 3 Mark Delany 293 D Crosbee A Raspin 2 6 Richard Demoney 261 Martyn Hedges River Sava, N Yugoslavia R Wright K Cambel 3 2 260 4 5 Peter Bell 256 June 19-23 1991 S Pearce 5 4 Richard Comer 223 K1M K1L K1L 1 4 Rachel Fox 296 Richard Fox L Simpson Nottingham 2 1 kXnn Simpson 285 Melvyn Jones Arrowcraft 3 2 aria Francis 278 Tees C1 4 3 Karen Like 273 Shaun Pearce Ouantel R Domoney 5 5 Joan Jayes 249 C2 K1L C2 1 2 Arrowsmith/Brain 272 Karen Like Yat Racers It is pssible that the above list will be 2 1 Meikle/Brown 261 3 6 Clo~h/Clough 256 Rachel Fox Arrowcraft amended as it had not been ratified 4 3 Richar son/Thompson 254 Maria Francis Paddlesport at the time we went to press 5 8 Mitchel/Cooper 212 Joan Jayes Eddylines K1M GB Junior Teams 1 2 Andrew Raspin 2917 C1 2 1 Shaun Pearce 2900 Gareth Marriott Arrowcraft Norway and 3 4 Melw Jones 2885 Mark Delaney West Lothian 4 5 Rob riqht 2870 Bill Horsman Swithland Motors K1M 5 3 Ian Raspm 2869 James Croft Leo Hoare Paul Ebrey Provisional Ranking List Div 1 C2 (4 racesl Clough/Clough ICI Micheal Jesson Cl Richardson/Thompsom Bury 1 7 Jimmy Sexton 357 K1L 2 13 Steve Block 296 Rouch/Ambridge Heme! 3 49 Treena Warman Sally Masters Dave Clark 285 4 17 Andrew Edwards 283 Corrie Johnstone 5(3) 8 Hywell Lloyd 282 Olympic Squad C1 6(31 6 Jason Bennett 268 Joel Scott 7(31 9 Andy Hall 262 8 11 Andy Hill 247 K1M 9(31 2 Crai~ Brown 245 Richard Fox Nottingham 10(31 4 Mic eal Goldring 241 Melvyn Jones Arrowcraft Junior 17 K1L Ian Raspin Tees Czech osl ovaki a 1 38 Diane Woods 385 Shaun Pearce Ouantel K1M 2 19 Elizabeth Vowles 342 Rob Wright Shepperton 3 10 Louise Hilton 336 Dave Crosbee Forth James Croft Leo Hoare 4 7 Catherine Ward 307 Paul Ebrey Stuart Bowman 5(3) 14 Senja Mortlock 284 Chris Wetzig 6 21 Lisa Rae 269 K1L Simon Orange 7 30 261 Reserve: Anita Bennett Karen Like Yat Racers Richard Barber 8(3) 2 Helen Stobbart 250 Rachel Fox Arrowcraft 9 8 Tracy Wells 249 K1L 10(3) 46 Chris Anderson 233 Maria Francis Paddlesport Corrie Johnstone Racheal Docherty Joan Jayes Eddylines Alison Muir C2 Claire Fox 1 Lynn Simpson Hull Lisa Rae 24 Forbes/Mel ntosh 293 2(3) 4 Burt/Elsworth 219 3(2) 23 Woods/Stuart 175 C1 C1 4(3) 2 Southall/Pearceson 13~ Gareth Marriott Arrowcraft Hywel Lloyd Willaim Edwards 5(2) 18 Clarke/Pumphrey 12 Mark Delaney West Lothian C2 K1M Bill Horsman Swithland Motors 1 Forbes/McIntosh Burt/Elsworth 15 Thomas Hutes 3731 Richard Domoney Shepperton 2 25 3681 Roden/Roden Charlie Rob 3 48 Richard Barber 3672 C2 4 92 R~ Garrick 3585 There is also an U21 training 5 38 Simon Orange 3534 Clough/Clough ICI camp at Czecho this month 6 56 Daniel Corner 3612 Richardson/Thompsom Bury 7 29 Jason Gregory 3441 Rouch/Ambridge Hemel and an U 16 Training Camp at 8 69 Chris Chapman 3378 9 23 3194 Mei Ike/Brown Shepperton HPP in August. Chris We~ 10 27 James Car en 3160_ SLALOM Magazine 27 EVENT REPORTS

Cardington was one of the best slalom courses gates whilst the water rippled at the constructed at the artificial slalom foot of the staircase weir. I should Division 3 Ranking site, a tribute to the hard work put in mention that the water is controlled by all those involved. by the local water authority, giving Slalom the organising club a real problem. 16/17 March Results Viking rose to the challenge and a C1 very good course was erected. Gates 1 Philip Carpenter St, Albans 9 and 1 O • both down stream, were This Division 3 event was used as a 2 Nick Woolven Forest close to the staircase, gates 11, 12 selection event for the Eastern 3 Al Green Baldock & District and 13 were on the jets. Gate 11 was Region Slalom Squad trip to the C double spaced giving the competitors class International in Zwickau Germa• K1L plenty of room to negotiate a diagonal ny, with most of the organisation and 1 Iona Price J18 Wyedean line to 12, a breakout at the end of control of the event being carried out 2 Karen Elkins J 16 Olney Slalom 3 Diana Wade Meridan the second jet. Gate 13 was moved by the squad hopefuls, assisted by into the eddy flow to enable Div 5 Viking Kayak Club. K1M paddlers a chance to achieve it. 1 Alan Williams Northampton Because this selection event coincid• 2 Dameon WarnockJl 8 Fairthorne Although during the practice sessions ed with the season's first Premier 3 Scott Mason Jl 8 Northampton quite a few competitors capsized, slalom event, the Region's Premier there was always someone ready to paddlers who wished to be consid- C2 effect a rescue and it was nice to see ered for the Eastern Region tour had 1 Corke/Banner Eyot people like Sue Warne from Corby to dash back from the Tryweryn, so a 2 Watson/Reddington Luton Tigers together with other higher ranked hectic weekend was in store for 3 Davis/Bertrand Blackwater Valley paddlers working with Div 5 groups them. and encouraging them through the K1V tricky gates. The team event proved 1 Alan Cleall Newbury The work constructing the slalom 2 Les Saunders Shepperton very difficult for most paddlers as course began on the Thursday before 3 Danny Daniels Wyedean gate 11 was elected the team gate, the event, with organiser Jim Croft which meant a lot of paddlers being and course designer Justin Barnes Teams washed out of position, but at the (quote - "what a way to prepare for a 1 Saunders/Saunders/Saunders end of the day everyone had enjoyed premier event") working all day to Shepperton themselves and went away still complete the "river bed" design, 2 Manfield/FoleyNJilliams smiling. leaving gate hanging and general site Tupperware 3 Sheldrick/Carpenter/Scaife Sunday dawned still cold and windy. preparation to be completed on St. Albans Friday. A visit to the course told all - despite Mike Elkins greatest hopes to the contrary the Viking Kayak Club The course began with downstream jets were still open and would be for gate 1 on the jet followed by a left• the rest of the day. hand breakout behind a "rock". up through upstream gate 2, back up the Duck Mill Weir The "Div 5" concept worked well, the course and across the jet up to special prizes were much appreciated upstream gate 3, followed by a right -division 4/5 and the event was not only very well hand break-in back into the fast water run by Viking, but also a tribute to the for gate 4 and the rest of the course. 2/3 March 1991 hard work and research done by The possibility of 50s was there and Peter Hannover, Novice Development several paddlers obliged! Div 5 Mill Weir, set in National Trust Officer, who has pushed so hard to Parklands close to the edge of get this scheme launched and The whole event ran well and to Bedford Town Centre, was the site running. The Div 5's who won promo• time, except tor when a river cruiser for the historic first ever Division 5 tion really deserved it in view of the passing by the beginning of the slalom. Usually the water flow at this testing nature of the course. course dumped a quantity of diesel site is fairly gentle, but owing to the fuel into the river, thereby polluting heavy rain during the week, what had Results the river and the slalom course by been a millpond for the Eastern this thoughtless act . Division 5 Region Mini-Slalom the previous The jury, consisting of Penny Scaife, weekend was now more appropriate K1M Sheila Elkins and Pete had little to do to a Div 3 event. 1st S. Colwell Bronley and paddler satisfaction was high 2nd C. Battison Stevenage Corby with many people reckoning that this Two jets gushed from the sluice I 3rd S. Tilley -

28 SLALOM Magazine .... event reports

4th C. Bush Baldock sion is being investigated for a WVvA Results participation. The team will leave 1st Jl SP. Avins Stevenage from the Tryweryn Prem. direct to 1st J 16 I. Banfield Viking for some pre-event training, 1st J14 C. Weatherall-Morris Stevenage K1M 1st Julian Salisbury Loughborough possibly with the U 17 Juniors, with a 1st J12 C. Wilde Viking 2nd Richard Benson Nottingham stop off at Augsberg on the return Nottingham K1L 3rd Simon Crook journey. The intended tour dates are 1st J Kent Baldock 31n8to 11/9. 2nd T. Matthews Baldock K1L 1st Bridget Thomas . Cambridge Several sponsorship opportunities 2nd Lindy Kirk Nottingham have been received pertaining to the c, provision of team tracksuits printing. 1st A.Randall Huntingdon 2nd B McCuster Baldock C1 A team training is desired at the N. 1 st Andy Clough Leeds W. S. C. but is financially dependent. C2 2nd Nick Smith Birmingham Team Management is not an easy 1st Woodgate/ Cowan 3rd Simon Twigger Nottingham affair. The initially proposed event C2 was not included in the ICF calender. Division 4 1st Mantle/Smith Birmingham Having then decided upon a joint WWR/Slalom squad for the Lipno K1M Julian Salisbury had a convincingly International in , there 1st P. Tomkins Baldock was a change of date and subse• 2nd L . Chapple Banbury comfortable win. In the ladies no 3rd K. McGregor Proteus doubt the absence of Lynn Simpson quently the Slalom location was also led much to the success of Bridget changed. Fortunately many of the K1L Thomas. The real excitement took difficulties of Eastern European visits 1 st H. Scaife St Albans place between the three very closely no longer exist. matched C1 boys. C1 The ultimate disappointment is not to 1st S. Warne Corby The standard of judging, in addition to have Lynn Simpson joining us. Her C2 its accuracy, left much to be desired. University examination re-timetabling 1st Freeman/Randal Huntingdon Should a gate judges exam be due to the Worlds, makes her unavail• considered for future years - any able. All squad selection will be Margaret Croft examiners? Although there are 7 dependent upon the ratification by universities represented in Prem, a the relevant Executive Committees. wider contingency of participation could tighten up the competition. The British University British Universities & Colleges Canoe Association voted to combine with Championships the Polytechnics to form a British BUCCA Chairman Student Sport Canoeing Association BUSF Team Manager and for a joint 1992 championship, to be TEL. 081 657 2739 Czechoslovakian organised by Nottingham University. Holme Pierrepont is proposed as a International suitable venue for the organisation of Crystal Palace Pool this larger event at the beginning of The British Universities Slalom the slalom season in 1992. The Slalom Championships on 2/Jrd March culmi• additional participation could lead to nated in a win for Nottingham Univer• interesting competition with medals 16/17 February 1991 sity with Birmingham second ... awarded by the British Student again!). The organisers, Cambridge, Sports Federation. Once again the National Pool Slalom set a balanced Div.2 course on the The British Universities Sports Feder• proved that it doesn't need to be upper Washburn. After reluctantly rough to be tough I paying to park it was gratifying to see ation have pledged £2000 for the a roadway development to the 'S' participation of an elite squad to On Saturday the regional qualifiers bend. Work progressed even during represent them at an I. C. F. event. and some invited prominent paddlers the weekend towards an anticipated After many changes in event logistics race in a head-to-head knockout toilet block. The car park and river• with the Czechoslovakian canoeing authorities, a team of slalomists is competition for places in round 4 and bank path are still swamped in mud, the finals on Sunday. so don't forget the wellies this being selected for an International at season! Spindleruv Mlyn in Czechoslovakia on the 6th-8th September. Some provi- The POOi slalom is renowned for tight aggressive competition with more SLALOM Magazine 29 .... event reports

than the odd shock for paddlers and promised good hard racing for the The water level was perfect, dropping spectators alike - this year was no title and that we got, with Rob Wright from a worrying high level earlier in exception. On Saturday, 6 Kl M, 5 winning a dramatic final against the the week to give good canoeing Kl L. 5 Cl s and 5 C2's were to go National Champion Shaun Pearce. conditions. No wind and an excellent through to Sundays event out of the course designed by Halifax C.C. Div 1 66 starters. Ambridge and Rouch Junior trophies went to Peter paddler, John Cameron, made this headed the C2 class, Bill Horsman ran Buckley, Corrie Johnston and C2's event one of the best Sowerby a good ·2 seconds clear of the Cl Burt and Elsworth. Bridge events yet. A naive paddle field, Junior Sally Masters topped the would have said the course was Ladies class by 3 seconds, and Sooty Congratulations to Don Raspin for a easy- no obvious difficult sequences just won the Men's event by 0.3 very well run event helped by Tony or crunch moves - an easy clear run seconds. A good number of juniors Arrowsmith's excellent timing, a open course. pushed through, including Junior challenging course from Alan Edge Worlds Silver Medalist Peter Buckley, and a team of hawk-eyed ICF judges. The subtle use of staggers (offset J16 Champions James Croft and gates) and choices of approach meant Corrie Johnston and J 14 Champion Results that to do the course fast caused Claire Fox. Out went more top names mistakes to be severely punished by than there is room to mention and so time as well as penalties. to Sunday. C.2. The event attracted competitors from In round 4 on Sunday, the regional 1st Chris Arrowsmith/ as far away as Shepperton (London) qualifiers took on the cream of the Paul Brain and Aberdeen. though most were nation's top paddlers. 2nd Rick Osborne/ from the North and Midlands. The Drama ran throughout the Men's Kl Perran Shreeve event had a high veteran entry and event; first off were Richard Fox and 3rd Andy Smith/Tony paddlers as young as 12, showing Rob Wright, only to be called back for Prown that canoeing is 'a sport for all'. a rerun after a faulty start. James Junior: John Burt/Richard Croft nearly took Melvyn Jones scalp Elsworth Results then made an error on the last gate and basck at the FoxNVright rerun, C1 K1M Fox hit a gate and Rob hit form to knock the World Champion out of the 1st Peter Orton 1. R McDonald Aberdeen 153 finals. 2nd Chris Wilson 2. I Taggart N Wales 157 3rd Bill Horsman 3. D Lacy Leeds 159 Clear runs were the order of the day for the Ladies and Cl's, Lynn Ladies K1 Veterans Simpson and Bill Horsman leading their classes into the finals and 1st Lisa Micheler 1. D Daniels Birmingham 175 Arrowsmith/Brain heading the C2's 2nd Lynn Simpson 2. Gary Smith Halifax 178 even with a penalty. 3rd Heather Corrie Junior Corrie Johnstone K1L The final - round 5 - with the pool a 1. F hart Hull 186 fever pitch of excitement. as was KI.M 2. E jjames Durham 213 Albert Woods who set the scene 3. K Buckley Halifax 220 from the commentary box. 1st Rob Wright 2nd Shaun Pearce C1 The C2 event was packed with quality 3rd Ian Raspin and well won by Arrowsmith and Junior Peter Buckley 1. P Shaw Manchester 170 Brain. No better spectator sport than C2's pirouetting and rolling ! Cl Peter Ray Croft C2 Orion nearly brought the house down with an inspired win justifying his 1. Davenport/Chadburn 177 promotion to Premier this year. Lynn Simpson just lost to Lisa Michel• Sowerby Bridge Andrew Close er in the final, the pirouette and roll again proving decisive. Div3

In the Mens K 1 event, the absence of 23/24 March the world Champion in the final

Back Cover Chris Worrall - The Photographer photographed -

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