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Apologies for the delay in getting this issue out. Things have been happening, on and off the water. Our polo teams have been active, and Dave Bradshaw has been mixing it with the best - see the reports later in this issue. There's paddling Tuesday evenings at the club site, and Wednesday evenings wherever (easy) we feel like going.
Off the water, the revised plans for the new hut are in hand. Please do look and comment (constructively if possible!) And the chairman has plenty to tell you about.
to Nathan, who has been selected for the GB Junior Slalom Team. This is the first MCC slalom paddler to be selected at national level for a while, let's hope it will inspire others.
Most of us are feeling pretty inhibited with little access to rivers and not much more for those who enjoy walking climbing or mountain bikes. Almost every outdoor activity is restricted which is pretty frustrating. Even more frustrating is trying to find out what is open. I spent 20 minutes on the phone being passed round trying to find some authority to say whether the Mersey is open. It looks as though it should be with footpaths along either bank open but the BCU say take local advice, the EA say ask the BCU and the local councils don't know who should have the answer. I am more than grateful to our farmers on either bank for their agreement that we continue to use the club site (with the strict understanding that we don't land on the far bank). We have told both that if the situation should worsen locally that we will close the site. At the moment the number of new outbreaks continues to fall.
A few slaloms have been held but many have been cancelled including our own Marple 3/4. As it turned out the Goyt was on form that weekend and we may have had to cancel anyhow. Staying with slalom for the moment, we plan to go ahead with Mini slaloms as advertised and even may throw in a couple of extras. To avoid landing on the far bank we will use the practice gates with numbers on. If possible we will use red and green gates as appropriate but we may be driven to using whatever is on the wire!
I don't know the outcome but Paul is negotiating with Bradford and Bingley to borrow their Wagon Lane site for our planned interclub plus Division 3/4 event on June 16/17th. The things we do to run events. Seriously though if we do run this event we will need as much help as possible to get the course up and to actually run the event. We are rather out of the habit of working away from home.
Despite the lack of paddling there is quite a lot going on. The club is now in the eyes of the BCU a senior club with a youth section. What does this mean? Firstly we pay them an extra £3 a year. This depends on the mix of members and could actually be less some years. This will allow any youth member (or family member of the right age) to enter BCU events such as Div 4 slaloms, Div B WWR or tours without having to join the BCU. You will need a club card saying that you are a Youth member.
The really good news is that we have got ourselves a Youth Officer. Tom Carlisle has taken on the job and is going about it enthusiastically. It has several aspects. To help youth paddlers get the support they need to develop their skills. To find out what they want from the club. To organise at least one open day specifically for Youth. To liase with Youth organisations and schools and hopefully arrange visits to the site for them. As if this isn't enough we have also asked him to look at ways to actively recruit youth members. To do all this Tom will need a lot of support. Several people have already committed themselves. Even if you feel you know very little, having extra people about when a group comes to the site (or the local canal) is an enormous benefit when you are trying to get 8 people into decks, hats and buoyancy aids, with the right paddle and into boats. Its also helpful to have extra people on the water whether they are actively teaching or just hanging about to catch the bodies that sometimes get separated from boats. Please offer to help Tom.
Almost in the same vein, we have a new North West development officer. One way and another the last one didn't do a lot for MCC. Len Hartley is newly appointed and will not only be based in Manchester but has already started a survey of NW clubs and is expected to visit us on 1' May which is tomorrow as I write. His attitude is what can 1 do for the Clubs rather than how can 1 get clubs to fall in line with my objectives. Len's appointment is full time so he will hopefully be able to spend quite a lot of time helping us and bringing us fresh ideas.
I always promise to keep you up to date on the Lottery Bid. If you look on the notice board in the hut you will find the architects submission that we have waited so long for. It provides the facilities that we listed a long time ago when Cookie drew the first plans and is expected to come within our budget. If you want to comment on it please feel free to. The overall dimensions are pretty near fixed but the internal arrangement is possible to change. If you don't comment now don't criticise later. Sorry to duck this one but Janet and I are about to flee the country for 3 weeks so comments please to Dave Higson as soon as possible. * My major comment is that they seem more interested in "artistic impression" than keeping vandals at bay.
Well when I started I wondered what there would be to say apart from a good moan about river closures. It's not true that we have got on with things because there's less paddling but it makes you think.
* Editor's note - they're back now!
The National league season has just finished. We have four teams playing for Manchester. Following a serious reshuffle of all the teams last year an excellent season was had by all, we are sure that this coming year will be even better now the teams have established their own styles and have got used to playing together.
Manchester A in division 2, finished in the lower half of the league but managed to beat of several other teams to remain in division 2.Manchester B had an excellent season in division 3 getting through to the playoffs, unfortunately being pipped at the post. Sure to do better next year.
Manchester Xclusive managed fourth place in division 4 but will be training hard over the summer ready for next season's fight for promotion. The ladies team P.M.T didn't fare too well. After gaining promotion at the end of last season to ladies division 1 they have unfortunately been relegated.
On an individual level though, two of our ladies have done very well having represented Great Britain, Nicky Ward at senior level and Karen Faulks in the development squad.
Manchester Xclusive have also secured a sponsorship deal with an IT recruitment firm " Rain recruitment". This is for a complete set of 'off the water' wear for all the team: rugby shirts, t-shirts, fleeces etc, etc. Quite an amazing deal really. This is as well as the support they receive from Dave Brown.
The North West league was again run by Jon Potter, who did a marvellous job. There was a division 1 league ( won by Manchester Xclusive) and a friendly league/tournament (won by Battersea- yes I know they aren't northern, but that's how friendly it was!)
We are all looking forward to the national championships in Doncaster at the spring bank holiday. Following that, the round of summer tournaments. Teams have entered for competitions in Liverpool, Hull, Ieper, Pembroke and Dublin.
So do you want to get involved? Training is still happening on Wednesdays at Broughton Pool, 9-10. This is at an introductory level. It isn't aimed at serious polo players, you don't have to know about polo, just be able to paddle (at least in a straight line would help) and want a laugh. We also have a session at Irlam on Mondays as well, this is aimed at players already in one of the teams or who have previously played polo. If you're interested in any of the sessions contact me on my e-mail:
Tracy_Cropper@hotmail.com Go on - you never know, you might like it....
… have a full programme of courses and events running, including OC1 "tasters". This may have something to do with the fact that their employee Bob McKee won the recent Specialist OC1 Freestyle selection event at Nottingham, and will be on the Irish team going to Sort in Spain. Hope to have reports on this and their trip to Greece in the next issue.
Our annual subscription for use of the Burrs has gone up sharply, and the Committee would like to have an idea of how many members actually paddle there, to decide whether it's worth continuing to pay. Please let Denis Cherrington know if you have used the Burrs site recently, or expect to this year. (Also please let him know if you have been hassled or asked to pay despite showing evidence of MCC membership.
Meanwhile, the changing room key and boat stickers are with Mark Burch at Brookbank.
Len Hartley, Paddlesport Development Officer
BCU Northwest Region
73 Melrose, Stavordale Road, Moreton
Wirral, Cheshire CH46 - 9PG
Tel: 0151-605-1834
Email seapaddlerone@aol.com
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself as the newly appointed Paddlesport Development Officer for the Northwest region. The position is fulltime; I have already gained the sense of challenge that lays ahead in promoting Paddlesport amongst young people in all its variants. To have any impact it will require a co-ordinated and committed approach between myself, and those working with young people. The main focus will be developing positive links between the various clubs in the region 35 last count. There are also other organisations such as Scout & Girl Guide associations, Centres, Youth & School groups. Given the broad nature of the post there is a need to make best use of time and resources to ensure the points listed below can have an impact in sustaining youth development within Paddlesport:
In July of 2002 prior to the Commonwealth games being held. Paddlequest Northwest an event to be held at Salford Watersports Centre Salford Quays will provide a golden opportunity for raising the profile of Paddlesport amongst young people from our region. The event will offer young people a range of Paddlesport experiences and opportunities to participate at various levels Beginner - Intermediate - Advanced. Leading up to the event will require effective training programmes that will enable young people to achieve awards contained in the Paddlepower Scheme providing young paddlers new experiences promoting good technique. Information to be found in BCU N/West May 0 1 Newsletter.
There is a considerable amount of groundwork to be done to attain relevant information from those who work with young people in a Paddlesport context. It is for this reason I have circulated a monitoring form that will enable me to evaluate resources and obtain further information that will assist me in implementing future developments in the Northwest. I will be scheduling a forum in the future, venue & date TBC. This will provide an opportunity and platform to share with providers the strategies that will support Young peoples development in the region. I am aware that completing forms can be time consuming, but would be very grateful for your support I have enclosed a stamped addressed envelope If you have any queries please contact me on the telephone number above between 6.00 - 8.00 pm or feel free to email me,
seapaddlerone@aol.com
May I take this opportunity to thank you for your assistance?
VENUE SALFORD WATERSPORT CENTRE
JUNE 2002
This event is an opportunity for young people to participate in a regional event administered in partnership with the BCU & Salford Watersport Centre
Canoe polo - Bell boat regatta - K1 slalom Flatwater rodeo - K1 sprint racing
Events in each category will allow young people to enter at different levels Novice - Intermediate - Advanced
In preparation for the event clubs/ schools/ youth groups/ uniformed organisations will be supported in running training events that will help with team selection for the various levels
Enquiries please contact Len Hartley Paddlesport Development Officer Northwest
With Foot and Mouth playing havoc with any potential river trips and many slaloms, I took the opportunity to do the Peak Whitewater Challenge again….
I did a couple last year, without much success (in fact I did better in my Stunt 300 than in the Prozone), but I thought that with my increased experience in the Prozone, I could do a little better this time.
For those that don't know how the event is organised, I will briefly explain the rules here. The competition is divided into three events:
The other main rule is that you must do it in the same boat.
There was some practice before the slalom event, but I got the course mixed up anyway, so any practice was useless as far as I was concerned. There were some standard slalom gates, but also you had to do a 360º spin on a wave, you had to wack a board with your paddle while surfing on a wave, and you had to do a cartwheel in another wave.
My slalom experience helped me on the slalom gates of course, and I am now OK at 360º spins, but my cartwheel let me down. At least I got one end, and only a 10 second penalty. The main strength of my run was the wacking of the board on the wave. I had sussed out that it was better to get on the wave, surf to the middle, turn, and wack the board on the way back, as this allowed a better line to the next gate. Not many people had sussed this, and were making a right pigswill of this section. Anyway, I did well enough to come sixth.
Paul Ratcliffe came second, despite picking up a ten second penalty on the cartwheel, narrowly beaten by Matt Stephens. Pete Astles was fourth.
The downriver race was mad. A mass start of over one hundred paddlers near the centre building (on flat water, where the river is wide). I decided that I would be slow in my boat, so started behind someone who I thought would be fast, Steve Askew. After the start, I soon lost him, but managed my plan of wash hanging over the flat water, and so was not too badly placed as we all funnelled down into the Whitewater course. I fought my way past as many as I could down the course. We then had to paddle across the collection pool at the bottom of the course, get out and carry our boats up the steps to the top of the course, and start all over again. By the end I was exhausted. Even Paul Ratcliffe said that it was horrible - didn't stop him from winning though.
Saturday night was spent in the Tolpuddle pub (I don't think that that is quite right). It is not my idea of a pub, being a Beefeater, but the beer was OK, if expensive, but it is situated between the campsite and the whitewater course.
On Sunday we had the freestyle event. This was later on in the day, after everyone had a chance to paddle the course, try out the demo boats from Riot and Pyranha, and attend playboating clinics run by the top paddlers at the event.
I did not expect to do so well in this, still learning what to do in a playboat. However I didn't do too badly, though still finishing behind Paul Ratcliffe (just). I managed a couple of spins, and a couple of blunts, and half a cartwheel, and came about half way up the results. Pete Astles (boss of PEAK) won, and won overall. Second overall was Richard Chrimes, who performed strongly throughout, and third was Paul Ratcliffe. I managed seventeenth.
This was a great event, giving plenty of time to watch and learn from the masters of freestyle paddling.
There are four classes, K1, C1, Women's K1, and also a fun event where you declare that you are not interested in taking the competition seriously, and prizes are awarded for biggest wipeouts, best swim etc.
I am planning to do the last one this year, at the end of October, maybe I will see you there?