• Editorial
• Chairman's Chat
• The Millenium New Year's Walking Weekend
• On with the Multi
• Mersey Race Division B
• Mersey Race February 11th

EDITORIAL

There is a report on the Mersey Race in this newsletter. 1 should have been there, however it was also Valentines Day and by the time somebody said, "Isn't it the Mersey Race today?" it was far too late. November 21 st is the next one and it is already in my diary. Many paddlers think the Mersey is still a smelly sewer. Not so, there are ducks and the occasional kingfisher to be seen. So put it in your diary as well. And paddle what you bring. Be it plastic or rare.

A warm welcome to Tim Deykin who is our new Chairman. Tim collared me after slalom training last Tuesday and asked if I could give him some advice, "Tell me Mike, just how cold is the water? he said earnestly, after I'd had a swim in the bottom pool!

The Marple Warm-Up Slalom is this weekend 13/14 March. Please come and help if you can. Course erection starts at 10.00am on Saturday and there will be coaching and a sprint slalom in the afternoon. In the evening Roy Bradshaw has booked a room at 'The Navigation' pub and will be showing films of French and Scottish tours starting at 7.30pm. Adults £1 admission. It promises to be a fascinating show. On Sunday entries will be taken from 10.00am with first runs starting at 1 1.00am.

Wednesday evening tours being on 14 April when the 1ight nights start to come back. Phone Geoff Pelham on 01625 261183 to find out where and when the paddle starts. These are relaxed sociable tours suitable for all abilities and usually and up with a half hour in the pub afterwards to catch up on what has happening and what is being planned,

Mike Allen.

P.S. Can anyone identify this paddler?

CHAIRMAN'S CHAT

First of all, I'd like to say a big thanks to Geoff Nelson, the outgoing Chairman, and outgoing members of the Manchester Canoe Club Committee for all their help. I am pleased to say that Geoff has agreed to help us for a further year by remaining as a member of the committee and I am sure his experience and expertise will be greatly appreciated.

For those who don't know me, 1 would like to introduce myself.

I joined Manchester Canoe Club 28 years ago after having started out paddling in a marine ply canoe on the canal at Poynton. I first attended a Manchester Canoe Club event on a rainy day at the Goyt and the river was in flood. That day I spent the whole time on finish watching boats approach and capsize just before they reached the last gate. At that time I had no knowledge of what Slalom was all about but this experience obviously didn't put me off. Apart from a brief lapse in paddling of a couple of years, I have continued to paddle on a regular basis ever since. In fact ten years ago it was while I was paddling down at the club one Thursday evening that I met my wife Alison. Only last weekend we introduced my five year old daughter Molly to canoeing at the baths session at Hazel Grove. It was good to see another generation engage in such a great sport.

Although I spent most of my paddling years training and competing in Slalom, I have tried other types of paddling including river racing, touring and recently I have started paddling a play boat. In the past year I have revisited some of these other disciplines and I must say that I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and it has brought a fresh outlook to my paddling and is something I would recommend to everybody. Perhaps I may even venture down to play polo as well.

On that note I would like to assure all our members that I shall continue to be involved in sampling the delights of all areas of paddling and intend to visit the club's bath sessions, training sessions, tours and trips on a regular basis. So, if any of you would like to express any of your concerns or would like any information, then please do not hesitate to tap me on the shoulder and ask. In forthcoming Chairman's Chat's. I will give you run down on the activities of the Committee and our plans for the next year or so, in particular, our endeavours to secure money from the lottery to build a club house at the Goyt Site.

Happy Paddling!

Timothy P Deykin

THE MILLENNIUM NEW YEAR'S

WALKING WEEKEND

Tim CANNON

I know this is still a long time away, but I am receiving a number of queries and even some bookings already, so to give all an equal chance of attending this once in a lifetime experience here is advanced notification,

This event will be taking place in Coniston from Wednesday 29th December to Monday 3rd January staying at the St. Andrew's Diocesan Youth Centre which is at the centre of the village. As many of you will know, Coniston is an excellent centre for all styles of hill walking, canoeing, sailing, rock climbing, cycling (both on and off road), etc. The village has 5 pubs (one with the best beer in Britain!) as well as a range of shops, cafes, etc.

Accommodation is in the form of two 14 bed bunk rooms and 7 rooms with 2 or 4 beds. The centre has lounge (TV and VCR), dining room games hall (pool, table tennis), well equipped kitchen, garden with barbecue! and lots of car parking. The centre is all heated (except the garden).

The cost is £40 per adult and £ 25 per child (U 16). These costs may vary slightly as the club has to pay for full occupancy of the centre for all 5 nights. There may be a small supplement for the twin bedded rooms.

I anticipate a significant demand for places which will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Any queries can initially be directed to Janet or Peter King or Pete Mansell, but all bookings to be to me, Tim Cannon, with a deposit of £10 per person (cheques payable to M.C.C. please).

Please note new address and telephone number - not as yearbooks

ON WITH THE MULTI.

ROY BRADSHAW

A second meeting of the Working Party on Multi-Divisional Slalom Events took place in Birmingham and was followed by a meeting with the Slalom Advisory Group who were to take any conclusions to the Executive for presentation at a S.G.M. sometime in the summer.

Penny Scaiffe had done some homework and came up with the facts that in the last five years, through the increased number of Double Events and combined Divisional Events, the opportunities for gaining promotion had practically doubled and the number of entrants halved. If anything more was needed to convince those that seemed oblivious to the decline in Slalom and the need for a drastic change it was difficult to imagine what it could be.

The Executive want to reduce the number of opportunities to gain promotion to counter the top heavy situation we have now and also to make the Events that are run financially viable. However people will still want to paddle and the Multi divisional system appears to be gaining popularity as the way to go. There are many things to be considered and catered for but the following is the current thinking by those responsible for guiding Slalom into a new era.

Remember this is still in its initial stage so don't assume this is the final arrangement.

Quite a large proportion of the current Ranking Events in Divisions 2 to 4 will be replaced by Multi-Divisional Events called Club Events.

The format will be Organised Coaching for the majority of Saturday followed by a Team Event with primarily Club Teams comprised of any paddlers from Div's 2 to 4. Sunday will be Individual Events with a Points system based on the number and position of Club Paddlers to find a Top Club.

Each Team will be expected to provide a Judge and there may be a requirement for a Team Manager.

Only Div.4 paddlers will be eligible for promotion. All winners, in Div.2 & 3 as well, will probably receive vouchers to allow then to enter a Ranking Event. Vouchers may also be available for Winning Judges, and some form of recognition of Nonpaddling Judges.

The Entry fee for the Weekend could be £5 for all classes and covers both days. As these are Non-Ranking Events there will be no levy to the BCU, however paddlers must be BCU members or take out day membership.

Those then are the bare bones of the proposal, the intricacies are still to be decided.

We were invited to stay on for the rest of the Advisory Committee's meeting. They discussed possible Rule Changes such as Aggregate Scores throughout the Divisions. It was pointed out that the use of Aggregate scores for Div.1 had been heavily defeated at the last AGM and it would not be acceptable if introduced as a Motion next year.

It was suggested that entry to Slaloms should be limited to Club Members only. This is not unusual in other sports.

Votes at the AGM should be limited to a maximum of 3 per Club. Special arrangement would have to be made for Clubs running the new Club events as at present Votes are only allocated to events that pay levies.

They are trying to encourage Clubs to enter a European Club Event and it was suggested the entry should be offered to the leading 2 Clubs at the preceding year's Inter-Club Event at Cardington.

Jonathon Davies is trying to promote a new Slalom taster system for recreational Clubs. It is to be called the Diamond Award. The principle is that 4 gates are set out in a diamond pattern and paddlers try to negotiate as many gates as possible within 1 minute. If you do 4 then you get a Blue Award, then 6, 10, and 12 get Bronze Silver and Gold Awards. He also mentioned the idea that Slalom clubs should open their doors to Recreational Clubs and put on Coaching Sessions for newcomers and Coaching practise for potential Coaches.

They are trying to create a Slalom Development Plan. One idea, presumably to counter the "lack of time on the water" complaint, is to increase the number of runs by shortening the course and results taken from the best 2 out of 5 runs at Div. 4 to 2 out of 3 in Div 2. An alternative but similar option would be to time the practise run.

The Advisory Committee was set up with the intention of offering the Regional Representatives a more positive role. Previously they could attend Executive Meetings but not really take part or have a vote. Since the formation of the new Committee the numbers attending have dwindled drastically. They recognise the Reps. feel undervalued but have no idea how to encourage them back.

I have tried to give a dispassionate a view of the proceedings. Eventually the club will be asked to vote on any new proposals, so we need to discuss this amongst ourselves. If anyone feels they would like more information, plus any feedback as the final presentation has yet to be completed, please contact me.

Roy Bradshaw

MERSEY RACE Division B

14 FEBRUARY 1999

MANCHESTER CANOE CLUB

RESULTS FROM Chris BOLTON

WWR Class

FOR SALE

Thule Roof Bars for Citroen Xantia £25.

Will fit other cards if 'kit' purchased.

Contact: Simon Booth Tel: 0161 485 3515

MERSEY RACE FEBRUARY 11TH

PETER KING

What's gone wrong with the Mersey? After years of plugging into relentless headwinds we have had a second with nothing more than a gentle draught - not even enough to keep you cool. The level vas almost down to summer levels but the river paddled well enough with few rocks although more effort was needed than in November's high water which was reflected in longer times.

The entry was again low though we were joined by a ranking race which added another 8 to the 12 from MCC. It was nice however to see one of our latest members having a go with a creditable time for a first event.

Roy found at the start that his borrowed boat leaked to an extent that he couldn't get as far as Janet's rescue rope on the first weir.

Once more the veterans were the largest class but the seniors only need a couple more to catch up. We'll see what the slalom season brings.

Thanks again to Janet for her organisation to Anne and Andy for start, Annette and Kayleigh at finish, Jill for help with the ranking race and to the Cricket Club for their hospitality - they appear to have had a good do the night before!

QUINZAINE MERSEY RACE'99