So you've got a new editor. With some views about the newsletter (and newssheets).The Newsletter is an essential in keeping you the members informed of both recent history and what's coming up. Despite rumours I don't know everything and even if I did, my job is not to write the newsletter but to edit it. If we are to include history, eg what happened at Marple 3-4 then I rely on someone to write about it. Sometimes I know that something has happened but still want someone who knows the details to write it up. Often I just don't know. Then I rely on someone to tell me about it.
News can be anything. We won a polo match. I had a spectacular swim at Nottingham. Someone is promoted. Someone else has got engaged/married/ given birth. I went on a course.
There's also future events. Please help put up the course on Friday afternoon. I'm going to Scotland to do some easy/hard/impossible rivers anyone interested in coming. Training either with organised coaching or without.
There's the old boat you want to sell (just get rid of because there's no space for it). Maybe you're searching for a playboat, want to know if anyone's done the Zambesi (or maybe just the Nith) or even knows anyone who has done it.
Then of course you may have views on what the club should be doing or may disagree violently with something in the last issue. Well why not write and say so. It may even be that so many people think your idea is a good one that the committee will be press-ganged into doing something.
The club is very diverse. There are the newcomers who aren't quite certain what its all about, there are the regular site users, both keen slalomists and those who are there for a chat. There is a polo section. There are tourists out many weekends of the year, people who visit odd playspots, Some members have been at it for 30+ years. Some who have no interest in the more energetic end of the canoeing spectrum. The club is here for all of us. The other members are interested in what you have done and what you plan to do next-especially if you would like their company.
But the Newsletter can only happen if you are willing to contribute your bit. The nicest thing that can happen is that I go back to the committee and ask can we afford to publish more and bigger Newsletters. It's up to you. Please don't think that what you have done won't interest anyone: Someone out there is desperate to learn about it. After you've done the first couple of evenings at the Baths you've done more than the chap who's only done one.
Finally try to keep in touch by visiting the club website as often as possible.
First congratulations to Mike and Ian for running their first event. They had plenty of support despite some members being away at Tully.
| Saturday Div3 | ||
| K1M | 1st | Brendan Welsh |
| 5th | Ian Carpenter | |
| 9th | Alistair Kennedy | |
| K1L | 5th | Ruth Robinson |
| 7th | Rachel Shaughnessy | |
| 9th | Claire Wells | |
| C1 | 1st | Peter King |
| Div 4 | ||
| K1M | 9th | Aaron Kelly |
| K1L | 4th | Ashleigh Kennedy |
Ben Davenport Paddling C1 won the Judges event against a collection of Kayaks.
| K1M | 1st | Brendan Walsh |
| 3rd | Ian Carpenter | |
| 6th | Tom Raper | |
| K1L | 6th | Ruth Robinson |
| 7th | Rachel Shaunessy | |
| 12th | Clare Wells | |
| C1 | 1st | Anthony Newman |
| Div4 | ||
| K1M | 3rd | Aaron Kelly |
| C2 | 1st | Davenport/Shaunessy |
| 2nd | Camden/Davies | |
Josh Howcroft was 3rd in the Judges event beating well known paddlers such as Kelly and Bradshaw. Congratulations to Brendan now in Div 2.
The grapevine says that Geoff Wells has been promoted to premier. More Congratulations.
If you want your success's in print make sure I know about them!!! Otherwise don't blame the pianist, It's a lie I don't know everything that goes on. Only teachers have this knack.
We are running a four week course at the club site aimed at young paddlers.
Slalom is a great way to teach young paddlers quite advanced paddling skills, so that when they are older they can either choose to continue racing in slalom, or else use those skills to give them a head start in other aspects of the sport. Competition is fun, and the at the lower division events there is little pressure on the slalom racers.
The course will run on Saturday afternoons from 2.00 to 4.00 pm, starting on the 25th June, and ending on the 16th July. The cost is £20 per paddler, which includes entry to the Quinzaine Mini Slalom on Sunday 17th July, at which there will be special prizes for the paddlers on the course.
Please contact me for more details: email competition@manchestercanoeclub.org.uk(Being me I wouldn't be put off by the title. If you want a go apply to Dave and lie about your age. Failing that talk to me and we'll fix up something for you…on the basis that you feel reasonably happy paddling the Goyt at normal levels. Either 2or 3 on an informal basis or a larger group more organised. I would also be interested in running a short course for Div3 paddlers who want to be pointed in the right direction towards Div2. After which they will know enough to train among themselves. Ed.)
Introduction to Moving Water Course (starting 26th April is FULL. If you are one of the disappointed ones(or want to learn anyhow) contact me and I'll see what can be done. Peter King. Alternatively why not be such a nuisance that the Training Officer runs another?
| Ian Bown & Kieran | Senior & Youth | Sale |
| Martin Delamere | Senior | Marple |
| Dave Brown | Senior | Chester |
| Polo player - GB Womens Coach - Current World Champions. | ||
| Matthew Caunt & Edward | Senior & Youth | Kettleshulme |
| Matt Byrne | Youth | Cheadle Hulme |
| Robert Thorpe | Youth | Cheadle Hulme |
| Jonathan Davey | Senior | Buxton |
| Ross Helsby | Senior | Stalybridge |
If you aren't on this list or in the yearbook and think you should be please tell the editor.
You should have all received your yearbook by now, and will have realised that the format has changed to an A5 ring binder. The contents have been edited so that all changeable information is contained with the first 2 sections. Next year these sections will be amended as necessary and issued with a newsletter following the AGM. All you will have to do is simply change the sections.
Initial set up costs have been higher than production of the previous format but it is envisaged that future costs will be greatly reduced.
Someone's havin' a larf!
The showers in the clubhouse cost 50 pence not 2p. The coin boxes were emptied recently and they contained a number of 2p pieces - ho ho ho!
If you can get away with it good for you, but while you're chuckling away just think about how inexpensive it is for you to paddle at Marple - assuming that you are a member and a regular user of the site, it's probably less than 40 pence a session!
Use of the showers require electricity, water and removal of the waste, all of which costs.
If you can't bear to parted from 50p don't use the showers.
Over the May Bank holiday weekend Kingston Kayak Club held a club event at the Marple Site. There were around 40 people camping. They greatly enjoyed the site and were very complimentary about the facilities. They are hoping to come again in September.
This season has been very fruitful for both the women's and Division 2 open teams. Both are to attend play offs, to be held in Coventry on 21st May, for promotion to Division 1 of their respective leagues. Congratulations to all players.
It is hoped that fuller reports will be in the next newsletter.
Last year an expedition was conceived to complete the first full descent of the River Goyt. A date was set for late November, but unfortunately this clashed with a family party, so the expedition was cancelled. Despite the party a reconnaissance of the river was carried out. The river was high and the team all agreed that they had never witnessed such powerful rapids. Ian Beecroft, leader of the expedition felt that further preparation was required before committing to the New Mills Gorge, and is to undertake a descent of the somewhat more forgiving Zanskaar River in Pakistan / India (?)
[ I think a party led by Ted Smith and Samantha paddled from Whalley Bridge down to Runcorn, having got special permission to do the Ship Canal bit, in 1983 to celebrate MCC's 50th Birthday…can anyone tell us more about this? Editor]
We are trying to maintain an e mail address list however the number of undelivered e mails due to address changes is increasing with each attempted mail shot. If your e mail address has changed can you please advise the membership secretary, either by e mail, or on membership renewals.
I know the print is small…but I can fit more in. Why not punch this and add it to the Yearbook?
Please,please tell me whats happenning.
I have Slalom beginners course see page 2
Presume we will put up the course on Saturday morning. There could well be a sprint event thrown in. But that's guess work Dave brads probably knows.
If you havn't done a slalom before Saturday afternoon is a good chance to practice and with luck you'll also get some coaching….ask if you do!!