MANCHESTER CANOE CLUB

Newsletter November 2005 No 175.

Chairman Mark Davies

Editor Peter King

BUMPER EDITION

With an INTERNATIONAL FLAVOUR

Chairs Chat

Get ready for a cold one. The long term forecast for this winter is for it to be a lot colder. With the average temperature in Northern England for the past two years being 4.2 oc and 4.6 oc respectively, and the long term average being 3.5 oc, this winter (Dec. to Feb.) is forecast to be 2.4 oc. Why does this concern us? Well unfortunately it's also going to be a dryer winter, therefore less water in the rivers etc. But also for all you newer people to the sport it might also be worth thinking about buying some new kit. There is nothing more off-putting in paddlesport than a very bad experience in cold water. It's icy cold, it takes your breath away, it takes the heat away from your body 26 times faster than air does, and it can be deadly. Get some advice and get some winter kit.

It's worth getting kitted up because the best paddling on rivers tends to be during the winter. Although Gill does a fantastic job of attempting to cater for everybody's needs regarding training, nothing is better than getting out there and experiencing it first hand. In many people's eyes, it is the only way to progress. It is, at the end of the day, what it is all about. The club is looking to run a number of river trips this winter for members who are up to it and have suitable kit. So keep your eye on the calendar. And if you're an experienced paddler yourself, and wanting to give something back to the club and run a trip, then please contact Mike Camden and he'll put it on the calendar.

Mark Davies

MCC T shirts

The club now has a selection of T shirts for sale, samples of which are on display in the clubhouse (red or black).

Polo Shirt(embroidered emblem)adult sizes £11
Childrens £9
"T" Shirt long sleevePrinted£8.50
"T" Shirt short sleevePrinted£7.50
HoodiesAdults £17Chidrens £12

If you wish to place an order either leave your details and requirements on the list in the clubhouse or contact Dave Higson on all.higham@tesco.net

Editorial

What a news letter. There's a whole range of stuff in it, and what's more a whole range of new writers. One or two have been reluctant and others could easily have written much more about exciting trips. But they have written and a huge thank-you to them. Because of what they have done I don't think there's much for me to say apart from - now they have set an example lets have bits from the rest of you. You might not have been to exotic parts but members would like to hear about what you have done. Georgina's Mersey tour is to the point. Some old hands may have done it a dozen or more times but there are lots of newer members who are just wondering what its like to go on a club tour.

Ian's article which lays bare his (short) paddling career, will I hope encourage others to follow whether in print or on the water.

A couple of notes of things on the grapevine. Dave Higson had an interesting paddle in Turkey while Ian Beecroft had a fab trek in Nepal. In the summer Mark and Gill went to Austria and were met by torrential rain and floods.

Lots of people have done good things at Slaloms. Some are reported and some not. Please more reports

Quite a few years ago now a wisp of a girl called Heather Corrie was brought to the site. Congratulations are due at her latest selection to the British Slalom Team. While Heather has lived away from Manchester for quite a time, she never fails to ask how the club is going and ask if there's anything she can do to help.

I hope you will find this a good Newsletter. Its been easy because stuff has just rolled in. Please write something for the next one even if its "I joined last week and it's a smashing club"

Articles best sent by e-mail as an attachment. Best in Word 97 Arial 10 point or I have to convert them.

Something Local

THE BIRTH OF THE GOYT.

Clive Howell Williams

High up in the clouds above Buxton just of the Cat & Fiddle road, there is a dribble of water oozing out of a giant sponge the peat moors.

It is joined by hundreds or even thousands more to form a trickle then a narrow stream cutting its way through the ancient peat.

The peat gives way to stone and the stream is joined by more streams and forms a river flowing over and around limestone rocks with some rocks drops until it flattens out and joins the Errwood Reservoir.

You can only paddle this section approx 2 miles long of G3/4 after heavy rain but it is a bandit run as the Water Board don't accept plastic.

To paddle this spate river you need to enter the Goyt Valley off the A5004 cross over the dam wall turn left and drive to the car park at the far end of the reservoir drop a car of off here then carry on up the one way lane for approx 2 miles drop your boats off at the stone bridge.

Drive on up for 1/4mile up the lane to the car park at he end of the lane. Jog back down jump in your boat and blast down the river no stopping for a picnic on the way, at the reservoir turn left and paddle along to the car park.

Throw your boats on the car drive back up the lane to pick up the other car then go to the Cat & Fiddle pub on the A537 get changed swap boats over and have a pint.

Ed and in 30 years I've never paddled above the Black Brook. If there's not enough water this is a very beautiful section to walk along.

Marathon Success For MCC.

Ned Price

Two members of MCC, Ned Price and Rod Steele, along with a third paddler, Dave Faulconbridge, recently completed the annual Cheshire Ring Race. This race takes place over 97miles of canal and includes some 96 locks and 5 tunnels, all of which must be portaged.

Both Ned and Rod have previous Marathon experience but for Dave it was a baptism of fire only getting into a racing boat for the first time some 2 weeks before the race.

Rods previous races include both DW and the Liffy Descent but he had not raced for some time.

Ned was the only member of the team to have completed the race before but the last time was in 1985 (also the last time in a Marathon boat )

The team had trained hard prior to the race (it was certainly needed) and prepared well so a reasonable performance was hoped for.

The race is open to a number of different classes from all the way K1 to a 10-man K2 relay. Times vary with the absolute record being some 13 hours 47 minutes (k1 / 5 man) to in excess of 24 hours. The teams initial goal was to achieve a sub 18 hour time but the 3 person K1 relay record of 17 hours 10 minutes set only last year by Freestyle CC was definitely at the back of the mind.

Race conditions on the day were ideal with very little wind and much lower temperatures than had been seen during the previous week. The race began at 10.00 am at the Miners Arms Poynton and from the outset the team were performing well with times just ahead of schedule. Early highlights? included running down Canal Street boat in hand and some interesting navigational challenges for the support crews. As the day wore on and night loomed the team continued to perform well despite a swim for Dave somewhere near Middlewich and another in the dark just outside Congleton. Darkness brought its own challenges including looming locks, aggressive swans and dense mist rising from the canal, which in the lights of a headtorch was a bit like driving into fog.

Eventually at around half past two in the morning Rod completed the final leg with a flourish completing the Ring in a time of 16 hours and 26 minutes knocking over 40 minutes off the existing record - not bad for as team with a combined age of some 128 years.

The event was also completed this year by several all the way solo paddlers, by several K2 crews and even by an open C2 team.

Prizes were presented on Sunday lunchtime at the Miners Arms with medals and certificates for all finishers plus vouchers donated by Brookbank Canoes.

Congratulations must go to all the paddlers who completed the race and many thanks must go to MADCC for their excellent race organisation, marshalling etc.

Last but not least thanks must go to the teams support crew, Helen Price, Annie Price and Sue Steele without whom nothing would have been possible.

If this sounds like your thing maybe next year MCC could attempt a more sizeable presence in the race, there's a whole year to think about it !

Well does anyone feel like accepting the challenge and organising a team for next Year. The club has the boats, have you the bottle? Ed

Getting away from it all---a long long way

Wet and brown!

Elizabeth Wells

This summer I was lucky enough to be part of an expedition to Venezuela in South America.

Part of our time was spent working with the Rio Caura River Project, teaching children in a village school. The Rio Caura is a tributary of the Orinoco River which runs through the whole of Venezuela. Like the Goyt it is wet and brown but unlike the Goyt it is a major transport highway, the only way of reaching many of the isolated villages situated along its banks. To reach our destination (a village called La Poncha) we travelled by what is essentially a dug out canoe with an outboard motor. Carrying 12 people it is an efficient means of transport but is quite hard on the bottom after 4 hours!

The river canoes are a major source of employment for the men of the villages, however as well as transport the river is used to provide food and for washing (us and clothes - no wonder it was brown!) The villagers took us fishing for piranha. We had to catch Catfish first then use these as bait for the Piranha.

The dug out canoes are common throughout Venezuela. We used them again to travel to Angel Falls, named after Jimmy Angel, an American pilot who crashed his plane at the top. This is the highest waterfall in the world. (979m) That makes it so high that the water reaching the bottom is just mist.

Venezuela is an amazingly diverse country. As well as canoeing through the jungle we trekked into the high Andes up above the snowline. We saw Andean Condors, the biggest flying birds in the world.

It was a fantastic experience but I don't think I would like to tackle those rivers in a slalom boat.

Beth sent a super photo of rafting but it was beyond my skill to reduce it to black and white. You should however be able to find it on the webb site.

And from even further afield

Sea Kayaking - Abel Tasman National Park - New Zealand.

Broni Jones - August 2005

I have just returned from a 4 week trip travelling around New Zealand. I had heard what a wonderful country it was and got told that I wouldn't want to come home. I expected it to be a beautiful place, but not to the extent that people raved on about. I now know what they mean - it is the most diverse, inspiring and wonderful place I have ever been. Words can't express how I feel about the adventures that I had and the sights that I saw. Snow capped mountains, crystal clear lakes, rugged coastline and deserted beaches - all in one country.

During my trip I had many different experiences, swam with dolphins - a life time dream come true, sky-diving from 12,000 ft, free falling of the side of a canyon, walking in Mt Cook National Park and sea kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park - which is what I am going to try and write about. I say the word try as it's hard to express in words what a magical experience it was.

Waking up at 5.30 AM to catch the bus to the National Park was not the nicest start to the day, but seeing the sun rise over the sparkling sea was well worth it. We arrived at the Sea Kayak Company and got kitted out and set of on a 20 minute ride to where we were setting off from. It was on this journey that I realised that this was going to be much more than a sea kayaking trip - as our guide Jeremy started to tell us the first of one of his many stories.

We set off towards Fisherman's Island, the sea was crystal clear and the golden beaches deserted. There were 6 of us on the trip, and along with Jeremy it felt as though we were the only people in the world that existed. New Zealand is a country based on Maori legends, and over the day we were told many stories of how the Islands were formed. After about an hour we reached Fisherman's Island and we beached for coffee and carrot cake and more of Jeremy's fascinating stories.

We then set of to explore rocky coves which were full of marine life. We saw cormorants, even though we all at first believed that they were white longed necked penguins! (Don't believe everything your guide tells you!) Fur seals were basking on the rocks totally unperturbed by our presence, dolphins and penguins may also be sighted but didn't want to play that day. After exploring many more coves and rocky outcrops we stopped at yet another deserted beach for lunch. Fresh bread rolls and roasted vegetable soup - and of course the sand flies!!! The beaches are only accessible by boat or foot, so you don't have to fight with the crowds for a good picnic spot.

Paddling back we spotted numerous sea slugs and star fish in the crystal clear waters, looking around us - there was no one to be seen, not a sound to be heard, this really is a very special place. The mist started to settle on the horizon and merged into the mirror of the ocean, it was perfect. There was calm all around us, it was easy to see how the Maori see parts of this country as sacred land and I felt privileged to be there. As the sun started to set we headed back to the beach where we finished our adventure. We loaded the trailer up, it was then it started to rain - it had held off for us all to day, allowing us to experience this magical place to its full extent.

This was much more than a sea kayaking trip; it was an experience that has to be done to be truly believed. Abel Tasman is meant to be one of the top sea kayaking destinations, I don't have much to compare it with, but it would take a lot to beat!

Marple Slalom September 2005

Ian Carpenter

It all started 2 years ago, my first visit to Manchester C.C. site to watch the annual slalom event. I took my position on the bench at the foot of the steps and watched in awe at the skills of these paddlers. Having recently purchased a kayak and still not able to manage more than 5 stokes in a straight line, I sat there transfixed at the array of twists, turns and grace of these paddlers. Even more intriguing was the range of ages, I guessed from 7 - 70.

Having enjoyed the event enormously I returned home wondering if one day I could achieve such prowess. I sent of my application form to join the Club with the intention of merely gaining a modicum of these skills.

Over the next 2 years after achieving some basic skills I was encouraged to attend the evening training sessions which take place on Tuesday evening (club night) and Thursday evenings which are dedicated to slalom training. Some of these sessions at times were quite scary, particularly as winter approached and the waters rose, no worries however as the experienced paddles keep a watchful eye over newcomers, their commitment and ''patience'' being unbelievable at times.

New season 2004 was approaching with no thoughts of competition in my head when Dave 'Mr Slalom' Bradshaw (now C1 Premier) suggested I should enter some of the forthcoming slalom events. I thought don't be silly that's not for me, what could I possibly achieve ? Pondering this suggestion, I entered the Stone Slalom, gaining a less than average result. I entered the home event in April and after much cajoling and encouragement from a certain Mr Peter King a message came over the Bing Bong ''would Ian Carpenter please attend control'' wondering why my presence was requested at control I was greeted by Peter King congratulating me on ''scraping a promotion'' to Division 3. I thought ''wow'' can I actually do this, thinking back to my thoughts of only 7 months earlier.

Next was the purchase of a Slalom boat only to be met by disaster 3 weeks later, when dislocating my shoulder in the top rapid.

I spent the next 4 months attending Physio just waiting for the words 'you can start again'. The day arrived in late October full of trepidation and excitement I was back on the water.

The next few months were full of highs and lows, some results good, some not so good. I picked up some encouraging points at the April Slalom but then as September approached 'Mr Slalom' uttered the words 'well Ian what's it to be Div 2' I thought 'no chance'.

The weekend arrived with 7 weeks hard training tucked firmly under my ample belt I thought 'here goes'. Saturday morning arrived I went straight down to the river to 'weigh up' the competition, the first person I saw was wearing a black bib, he looked 'a bit useful' I thought, oh well perhaps 'Mr Slalom' had got it wrong this time, this wasn't going to be easy. The first run came, I had a good run but picked up 6 penalty points after every touch I could hear the words of Peter King 'Ian, keep it clean, keep it clean', lying joint 3rd after the first run, there was only 2 points between the first 5 competitors, I couldn't believe it, Div 3 and the competition was so fierce. The 2nd run came, I thought, well nothing to loose 'go for it' I knocked 5 seconds off my time but had 8 penalties, I could hear those words again, however I had managed 3rd place.

Going home with mixed feelings of satisfaction at my overall progress but disappointment of the day's work not being quite good enough. I added my points up to find that I needed a first or a second on the Sunday. Arriving at the site the next day, who should be the first person I clapped eyes on but 'Mr Useful'. Again with words of encouragement from 'you know who' I thought "this is it, go for it." To my amazement I did my best run ever, 'clear' I was 7 seconds ahead. Dave and Peter told me I had done it, though I wasn't so sure. 'Mr Useful' was on that river at the lunch break, carefully eyeing up every gate. The 2nd run arrived, I thought right, no complacency 'Mr Useful' wants this as much as I do. Having been given an early assessment of my time by Alan Wells at the finish line I knew it was as quick as the first but I had a couple of touches, was 'Mr Useful' going to pull that time back? It turned out that he did indeed pull back 3 seconds but not enough, those two guys had been right again, If only I had half of their belief!!

The day finished, I had won and gained promotion to Division 2 the feeling was, to use that old cliché unbelievable, What a sport, I couldn't believe the intensity of competition at this level was so immense.

If there are any new members reading this wondering what is in this club for them, the answer is everything, just get paddling and enjoy it!

Footnote: Just come back from my first Div 2 at Sowerby Bridge, came last!!! Looks like I know where those cold winter Tuesday and Thursday evenings need to be spent.

Shepperton 2/3/4 Slalom

Dominic Wells

The Slalom is run at Shepperton Weir on the River Thames. The stream below the weir is about 50 yds wide and for the most part over 10 ft deep. At first glance there are red and green gates scattered across the river in no particular order. However after a while a pattern emerges. The slalom course runs up one side of the weir stream, across the bottom of the weir and back down the other side to the finish.

Running the course requires care. For the first part red gates are in the direction of the course with green 'breakout' gates. The lst part of the course is more natural with the green gates in the direction of the course and red breakout gates. The gates across the face of the weir are just confusion with plenty of opportunities to collect 50 penelty points. There is no water coming down the river so the whole course is on completly flat water. Slalom - yes, but not as we know it.

We competed both days (Elizabeth Saturday only). Clare Wells came 3rd in Division 3 on Saturday (3 points short of promotion) while Elizabeth and Dominic collected some useful points in Division 2.

On Sunday Clare won Division 3 and with that promotion to Division 2.

The site is very pleasant especially with the sun shining and we were well looked after by Shepperton Slalom Canoe Club. (Apart from problems on the Saturday when the event did not get underway until the afternoon.) Manchester came away with a sucess.

Saturday
Div 2 Men 23 competing
20Dominic WellsDVManchester C.C.104129.100124.40124.40136
Div 2 Women 16 competing
15BETH WellsJ18Manchester C.C.0151.200147.03147.0313
Div 3 Women 6 competing
3Clare WellsJ14Manchester C.C.4145.002149.00149.0067
Sunday
Div 2 Men 19 competing
17Dominic WellsDVManchester C.C.4122.100122.80122.80158
Div 3 Women 6 competing
1Clare WellsJ14Manchester C.C.4142.402144.30146.30100

Don't be mislead. Shepperton with the sluices open can be BIG.

Congratulations to all those promoted during the season. If your name isn't in print please write up the race/slalom or whatever. For some reason I've had three verbal reports about Sowerby but nobody has written anything. General opinion Gate 9 was a little awkward. (I think that's what they meant.)

Mersey Tour Saturday 10th September 2005

Georgina Clark

The trip along the Mersey started at Jackson's Boat and finished up at Little Ees Lane by the cricket club. (I am convinced that the trip had been planned to coincide with the Beer Festival at Jackson's Boat, but saying that there was no one that was drunk in charge of their boats although Ben did get some rude comments from the bar maid when he walked in his full kayaking kit?!.) There were 10 paddlers who took part (Peter, Peter and Peter, Ben, Lance, Georgina, Piers, Tom ,Dominic and Kieran.) . The trip was a good one especially for us novices as the rapids were well spaced and were also fun to play on. The playing did cause a couple of dunkings which in the Mersey river was not to be recommended and if drinking of brown liquid was required it should have been the beer at the pub not Mersey water!?!??! . Impromptu games of water polo with washed up footballs added some more excitement to the flatter sections. It was a great afternoon and thanks go to Peter King for organising the trip and also Piers (or was it Tom's) father for the shuttle service from Little Ees lane to Jackson's Boat.

Polo

National League polo arrived in Stockport on 15th October.

Since the demise of Irlam pool the BCU have been proactive in searching out a new venue for national events in the North West, and were successful in securing Stockport pool. Graham Helsby, Christine and Ben spent a few happy hours setting up the goal hanging arrangements and the pool was ready.

The inaugural event was Division 4 meeting and went very well with both pool management and teams satisfied with the outcome and facilities respectively. The next meeting , on 5th November, is Division 2.

New Members

The club welcomes the following new members

Baths sessions

The baths sessions are now up and running, and are proving very popular already. We have added a few coaching sessions to the calendar this year, which could be ideal for a lot of people

2* Wet skills training6th NovSession 1Cost £5 + (if needed) £1 boat hire + £1 Non member fee
3* Wet skills training6th NovSession 2Cost £5 + (ifneeded) £1 boat hire + £1 Non member fee
Safety Training18th DecDouble SessionCost £5.50 (for everything)

If you are looking to do either your 2 or 3 star next year, then I would recommend doing the wet skills training, we will show you what you need to be able to do & give you coaching points to work on - so you can have the chance to further practice in the baths before we do the skills on the river / canal - far better doing it in the warmth of a pool !!!

The safety training is a double session aimed at giving you ways of rescuing others & how to be rescued yourself - if you're thinking of doing your canoe safety test next year, or want to be able to help each others out, or even rescue your own kids, this is an ideal session to attend.

These courses are repeated after Christmas, 2 & 3* wet skills 12th Feb, Safety 2nd April

If you're interested in these courses, please book with me asap as the baths will be open for general use as well, so it's a case of first come first served. I would require a cheque to cover the costs mentioned above, made out to Manchester Canoe club & sent to Gill Hay (address in yearbook)

I seem to have almost a page to spare so try this:-

You are participating in a race You overtake the second person. What position are you in?

Answer: If you answered that you are first, then you are absolutely wrong! If you overtake the second person and you take his place, you are second!

To answer the second question, don't take as much time as you took for the first question. If you overtake the last person, then you are...?

Answer: If you answered that you are second to last, then you are wrong again. Tell me, how can you overtake the LAST Person?

Note: This must be done in your head only.

Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000. Now add 30. Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000 Now add 10. What is thetotal?

Did you get 5000?

The correct answer is actually 4100.

Fourth Question:

Mary's father has five daughters: 1. Nana, 2. Nene, 3. Nini, 4. Nono.

What is the name of the fifth daughter?

Answer: Nunu?

NO! Of course not. Her name is Mary. Read the question again

Calender

Sat 5th Nov

Mersey trip - grade 1/2 (suitable for anyone 14 & over, or younger if accomplied by a paddling parent / guardian)

Gill & Mark Davies

November 5th

Bonfire night at Site Starts 5.30. BYO fireworks, wood in advance Please. I guess there will be coffee and some food but that's only a guess.

12th-15th November

Advanced Scottish trip Dave Bradshaw

Sun 19th November

Mersey Race Quinzaine and DivB and Open.

From Sale water Park to Cricket Club. Entries at Main carpark from 12.30. Race start 2.00 Dave Bradshaw

Sat 26th Nov

Grade 2 training - Matlock - (need 2* or some river experience, 14 & over)

Gill & Mark Davies

Sun 18th Dec

Xmas paddle - Derwent - Grade 1/2 (suitable for anyone 14 & over, or younger if accompanied by a paddling parent / guardian)

December 26th

Boxing Day Race and Tour further details in next Newssheet

On all tours, you must book with the organiser,as they will turn anyone away who just turns up (even ring us the day before if necessary). In races those 13years and under should be accompanied unless they are personally known to the organiser to be competent.

I have also had a note of a series of lectures at the Mountaineering Centre which is near the Keswick exit from the M6. If anyone is interested Dave Higson or I can tell you the dates but the document is a bit long to put in here.

Next NEWSSHEET due Mid December Items especially calendar to me by Dec 3rd Please