newsletter 127 spring 2010 01

8/14/2019 Newsletter 127 Spring 2010 01

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Marlow Canoe Club Newsletter COVER Spring 2010/01

Spring is just around the corner in fact what with all this globalwarning it might well have been and gone by the time you read this. Itsas good a time as any to think open boats and maybe using them forwhat they were made for. A trip or a tour. Lee Niven has put a piecetogether to introduce you to the joys of open boat tripping and toanswer any concerns the inexperienced may have. This months covershot is of Lee, Jack and Storm (photo taken by Suzie) as they paddled

LOCH NESS, Easter 2009, in their Venture RANGER.


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Marlow Canoe Club Newsletter - 2 - Spring 2010/01

EDITORS PIECE

EDITORS PIECEThose of you who attended the AGM will

have heard that I have decided to call mytime as an active committee member and asnewsletter editor. Just 4 more issues for meand Id like to use that time to achieve aseamless transfer to a new editor. Theres alittle more inside telling those who areinterested whats required.Im not getting any younger (this is not whyIm calling it a day) and when I look aroundthe club there is a growing contingent oflikeable people who are going to be the

nucleus of the club in the years to come. Itsthey who will decide what will become ofMCC and where it will go. I know where Iwant to go and its to the sea. To that end Ihave joined another canoe club (Portsmouthand District CC) specifically to improve mysea skills / confidence. I hope to assist withthe coaching this year but I think its time toput me first. MCC is likely to always be my

no. 1 club it is they who coaxed me (along with an unwitting sprog) back on the waterfollowing an earlier foray on the Wye which at the time was quite unnerving and

unnecessary ad I bothered wit a little training first.But back to this issue First up is a little report on the new Brookbank shop that Rob and Ivisited just before Christmas. Its worth a visit, but dont forget our local shops either. Itsabout this time of year, with a new season coming, that filling all the D.O. slots becomes abind. There are a lot more people in the club able to fulfil this roll than the no. thatcurrently do and they may not be aware of this. Andy Maxteds item explains all volunteers please step forward. There is a TOP TIP, a short DVD review and a boat forsale. With the increase in popularity of waterproof cameras Ive asked the owners of 3popular models to comment on them, and provided a link to a comparative test written bypeople who know what they are talking about. Most years, just after Christmas Rod andother go for a little WW. Heres a little account of running the unpronounceable. LeeNiven has done a bit for the club and has produced a piece to allay any fears you mighthave about touring from boats. Its worth digesting A single or multi day trip or touropens up so much more of the waterways to you. Pay particular attention to the calendarof up and coming events and speak to Lee or any of the more experienced members ifyouve any concerns.Then there is the AGM. A new format this year and a new contributor to the newsletter.Jennifer Burns has put together a few lines explaining all that went on during thisprestigious event.Finally there is the club calendar and contacts pages to finish.

THE EDITOR FEB 2010

CONTENTS

BROOKBANK (LONDON) 3

SO WHAT DOES THE D.O. DO? 4

TOP TIP 5

GORDON BROWN DVD 6

FANCY A TOURER? 7

WATERPROOF CAMERAS 7

CHRISTMAS ON THE CEIRW 8

NEWSLETTER EDITOR 9

TOURING TRIPS 11

AGM REPORT 14

WHATS ON, WHEN & WHERE 15

CLUB CONTACTS 16
http://www.portsmouth-canoe-club.org/http://www.portsmouth-canoe-club.org/http://www.portsmouth-canoe-club.org/http://www.portsmouth-canoe-club.org/http://www.portsmouth-canoe-club.org/http://www.portsmouth-canoe-club.org/


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BROOKBANK LONDON

Rob wanted a new buoyancy aid for Christmas so it seemed an opportune moment to visitthe new BROOKBANK store near to the proposed Olympic canoeing course. Not much ofthis could be seen from the road except for the posters telling you how good its all going

to be.

We went on possibly the coldest Saturday of 2009. Its about 50 miles from Handy Crossand mostly on motorway or dual carriageway. The final 2 or 3 miles look like they could bea problem if you went in the working hours but we were there within the hour. For us, atStokenchurch, we are bang on halfway between this and the new Warwick outlet.The store was barely a week old but the ancient space heaters had chosen this week tobreak down. Tea / coffee / mince pies etc. kept the spirits high but failed to fight the cold.Temporary heaters were giving it all they had but this building is cavernous. A highvaulted ceiling was a magnet to every watt the heaters produced.

BROOKBANK, as well as being a paddlesport retailer also dabble in sailing. This ratherlarge outlet provides ample room for both lines to be stocked and displayed. Theres manya boat on show and all are accessible without having to worry about treading on theadjacent display. There is a good range of craft from many disciplines though out and outracers were a bit sparse. A mezzanine floor to the rear is well stocked with clothing andessentials. There are some comfy sofas here allowing you to view various kayakingvideos should you feel all wore out after some extensive retail therapy. Being a largestore gave ample room for stock and on all the lines I looked at there seemed to be a fullsizing range. Rob was able to try on many BAs before confirming his original choice of aPALM EXTREM EV.

But perhaps the best reason to visit this store is to visit the sailing section. There is a lot ofequipment that could be considered crossover, particularly for the early days paddler.Some of the clothing seemed to be quite suitable for paddling and being designed for awatery sport will probably do better than high street offerings. A good selection of juniorsizes was available too. To date, Ive lost 3 watches in the river, cheap Casios that breakacross the pin fitting, and Ive been looking for a replacement. Suunto do something thatsas bulky as the wad of spondoolies required to purchase it, but here in the sailing section Ifound the OPTIMUM TIME range. It may just be the answer to my quest. If you go hereId certainly allow some time to have a good look around the sailing section and see whatsavailable some of it might surprise you.

To sum up, this was easily the biggest and best stocked BROOKBANK that I have beentoo, and the service from the staff was beyond reproach.

TOP TIP If you go in the warmer weather why not look up the LEA VALLEY PARKwebsite. Theres wildlife a plenty to see on the quieter sections of the river but on thesection opposite BROOKBANK its more industrial. I seem to recall Griff found a fewthings of interest along this stretch. Dont forget to mention the club; its good for a 10%discount.

FINALLY I have no problem writing a report about a large retailer, you can be sure I will

write what I found, good or bad. But as always I ask you to remember our local retailers,
http://www.leevalleypark.org.uk/http://www.leevalleypark.org.uk/


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all listed on the back on of the newsletter. Subject to room this stores details will beposted there too.

From the manager - Thanks John and appreciate the opportunity to read this - I will passon your comments to the staff and as always there will be a brew ready for anyone from

Marlow!! Good news also is that we have taken receipt of one new gas heaters to replacethe broken ones - the other is expected next week so it should be nice and cosy for yournext visit!!

TO VISIT THE WEBSITE CLICK ON THE LOGO BELOW.

John Norris DEC 2009

SO JUST WHAT DOES THE D.O. DO?

Marlow Canoe Club, just like most other clubs, relies on a small army of willing volunteerswho try to ensure that the club house, equipment and coaches are just where theyreneeded for club sessions.

Central to any Tuesday evening or Sunday morning session is the Duty Officer, or DO forshort, but just what does the DO do? Its a question sometimes asked by new membersbut perhaps not a role understood by many established ones. So heres a quick guide

Perhaps the first thing to bear in mind is that the D.O. is not necessarily a coach. Whilemany of those who volunteer to do D.O. may be coaches, you dont have to be a coach tobe DO. So when you come to a club session please dont expect the DO to take you onthe water!

The DO is essentially a safety officer. Their primary responsibility is to ensure that the clubhouse is open at the beginning of a session, that club equipment is serviceable, that those

wanting (or needing) instruction are allocated to a suitable instructor and that all are off thewater and the club house is secured at the end of a session. Not much to it really!

Being a DO is quite straightforward for most summer sessions. Tricky moments dohowever come after heavy rain when the river is high (generally whenever the traffic lightsat the rowing club opposite are on Amber or Red). In these circumstances the D.O. sresponsibility is to advise members that they shouldnt go on the water unlessaccompanied by a minimum Level 3 Coach or above. Of course, it is then up to membersto heed that advice, or not! This is not usually a problem for adult members, but juniorscannot by law be expected to make a judgement as to whether conditions are suitable forthem. In these circumstances the DO has no choice other than to stipulate that juniors goafloat only with a parent or guardian or a Level 3 or higher coach.


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Most of our summer water sessions are run by Level 2 and Level 1 coaches and all junior members not being looked after by their parent or guardian should be under thesupervision of a coach. The clubs coaches will provide leadership and instruction to anymembers seeking this, but good practice says they should only be looking after amanageable group of perhaps six or eight paddlers. Level 1 coaches are generally

qualified to work between Higginson Park and the head of the lock (while keeping wellaway from the weir) while Level 2s are qualified to lead short journeys, typically from theclub house up to Temple Lock or down via the lock cut to Longridge. The clubs operatingprocedures specify that a Level 3 (or higher) must be present when shooting or playing onthe Thames weirs.

What about the DO? Well if they are qualified as a coach they can look after a group onthe water within their coaching remit. If not they can paddle as a responsible adult, eitherwith a coach, or with other responsible adult members.

The club is always looking for more DOs. As you can see, you dont need to be a coach

indeed you dont even need to go on the water but if you are a responsible adult andprepared to help out on a couple of sessions a year do let a member of the committeenow. Youll be given a safety briefing and a club house key and know youll be doing yourbit to keep the club running smoothly.

Andy Maxted JAN 2010

TOP TIP (ANOTHER IN AN OCCASIONAL SERIES)

Heres an oft repeated scenario. Youve just finished a trip and you are getting changed,maybe a car park, or a field perhaps from where the shuttle has been arranged. Could bea bit muddy, might be a bit stony. Nows the time you wish you bought (or not forgotten)your NOOKIE changing mat.

How those cold feet look admiringly at their brethren whose owners have treated them to

one of these. But help is at hand. All you need to do is whip out the foot mat from yourcar. Once changed, return to the car and place something under the mat to protect the


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carpet or turn upside down. Hose down when you get home. Me, I just try hard not toforget the mat, a rinse in the washing machine (check drum for nicks) and its all ready fornext week. Click on the pic for link to NOOKIE or purchase from a local dealer. Also goodfor standing on the cold changing room floor which wont be warming up much before Mayat best.

John Norris JAN 2010

GORDON BROWN DVD

Gordon Brown is a top coach. He is a L5 sea and inlandcoach and also an Advanced Open Water Coach in theAmerican ACA system. Like all the L5s Ive ever met heknows what hes talking about. In 2008 I got his book forChristmas. Its not a bad read detailed and informative,but books cant illustrate like a DVD can. Last year I gothis DVD, which is the book on the telly. I like this, I like ita lot. If I wasnt such a wimp Id be trying some of this outnow instead of waiting for the warmer weather. Putsimply Gordon takes a group on a multi day trip alongsome of the impressive Skye coastline and along the waytakes time to demonstrate a variety of strokes from thosethat we think we all know to those that we wish we knew.Strongly recommended for all those that would like to goto the sea. Pleasant viewing for those with no particular

marine desire. Before watching, pour a nice TALISKERto get that SKYE feeling and dream of Summer.

Gordon (& Morag) Brown run SKYAK ADVENTURES. Click for link. If you catch theweather SKYE is one of the worlds most picturesque locations and probably more so froma kayak (unless you are a serious scrambler / climber).

Hi John

Thanks for the opportunity to read and comment on your review of the DVD. It was a loadof fun to make but very frustrating at the same time. It is also quite ironic that as soon as

something hits the streets it is well out of date. I have fairly different ideas now from when Iwrote the book and again when filming for the DVD. I always welcome comment (negativeas well as positive) and encourage everyone to experiment with everything and not takeanyone's word that things are really as they are. The best way for our sport to moveforward is for every club member to try something new.Your club looks great with loads of different activity going on and something for everyone,keep up the good work.

Best wishes

Gordon

John Norris JAN 2010
http://landingpage2.taliskerwhisky.com/?Lang=en-us&BrandId=SO&RefUrl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.taliskerwhisky.com%2fTemplates%2fRedirectToURLTemplate.aspx%3fNRMODE%3dPublished%26NRNODEGUID%3d%257b17071ECD-5481-46A7-8559-EB51E43569B0%257d%26NRORIGINALURL%3d%252f%26Nhttp://landingpage2.taliskerwhisky.com/?Lang=en-us&BrandId=SO&RefUrl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.taliskerwhisky.com%2fTemplates%2fRedirectToURLTemplate.aspx%3fNRMODE%3dPublished%26NRNODEGUID%3d%257b17071ECD-5481-46A7-8559-EB51E43569B0%257d%26NRORIGINALURL%3d%252f%26Nhttp://www.skyakadventures.com/index.htmlhttp://www.skyakadventures.com/index.htmlhttp://www.skyakadventures.com/index.htmlhttp://landingpage2.taliskerwhisky.com/?Lang=en-us&BrandId=SO&RefUrl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.taliskerwhisky.com%2fTemplates%2fRedirectToURLTemplate.aspx%3fNRMODE%3dPublished%26NRNODEGUID%3d%257b17071ECD-5481-46A7-8559-EB51E43569B0%257d%26NRORIGINALURL%3d%252f%26N


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WANT A TOURER / RACER?

ZEPHYR SINGLE KAYAK FINISHED IN BLUE & WHITE - 200.00 o.n.o.

Large cockpit and under stern rudder, the ZEPHYR is an ideal kayak for Thames touring.Reasonably stable and fast, the ZEPHYR held the record for crossing the English Channel

in the late 70s.

The epoxy Kevlar EAGLE FLIGHT (behind the ZEPHYR in the picture) is also for sale.

For further details of either boat or to make an offer please contact ANDY COOK;

TEL. 01494 816402 or [email protected]

WATERPROOF CAMERAS

Digital photography has made picture taking more easily affordable for everyone. A smalldigital camera that, performance wise, knocks spots of me mums old KODAK Browniecan be had for a comparative pittance and no development costs post picture reduce theoutlay further. A small chip to replace bulky film rolls and mind boggling miniaturisedelectronics have led to a number of interesting developments.From the paddling point of view perhaps the most useful of these is the waterproofcamera. These cameras (not to be confused with diving models) are usually rated to astandard giving them underwater usage to a depth of 4m or more. Within the club we

have owners of possibly the 3 most popular of this genre and Ive asked what made thisthe camera for them. It might help you should you wish to purchase one of these foryourself. It is not a full blown photographic test but I have included a link for those thatwant to know more.

OLYMPUS TOUGH 8000 Dave Goddard

The first thing that strikes you about this camera is its wieght, itsheavy compared to others of a similar size. It feels tough like ablock of stainless steel with a steel shutter. This gives youconfidence in the claimed 2m shock proofing and the 10m depth

rating quoted by the supplier. The 12mp picture quality is clearalthough ive seen better video. I have used this in the surf on
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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holiday with the kids and had some great action video and bright pictures with wavesbreaking over my head. This is a great camera that you can abuse in the outdoors andforget about in your bouyancy aid. If you want to win compitions with your compesition youmay do better else where.

CANON D10 Rob Norris

A strange looking beast this one not having a flat surface on itanywhere. But it feels as tough as it looks. Comes with aremovable azure cover but other colours are available (at extracost) for the vain. Its easy to hold because its bulkier than theother two but it will still fit in a BA pocket just not as small a oneas the others. With 10m depth rating youll need an aqualung

before the camera leaks. Big controls are easy to handle and the menu is reasonablyintuitive. This is the most expensive camera of the 3, currently available for around

210.00 from the UK Camera store where Rob got his. The service was second to none!

PENTAX W60 John Norris

Its slim, light and the lowest spec. of all and the cheapest.I got it for 152.00 and there is a refund from PENTAX offthis as well, or at least there was when I got it. Its the onlyone of the 3 to do HDTV (not full) but only at 15 frames persecond so that sort of makes the HDTV pointless, but itdoesnt look TOO bad. Fits in a BA pocket very easily and at10mp resolution its not too low, but youll never match thequality of a larger sensor. Good for 4m depth itll do most

things you want it to. Biggest disadvantagemore menus than a Michelin Guide. It caneven tell if your dog is smilingbut by the time youve found the right option the dogs longgone. Stick it on auto and practise.Please note this camera has now been superseded by the W80. If you are interested inone of these read the comparative test link at the end of the feature.

For a recent comparative test on waterproof cameras click on the link below. These3 are tested by some photo enthusiasts along with a few others. If you want awaterproof camera, youd do well to read this first. Id also recommend looking at

the manufacturers blurb as well. These cameras do not all use the same testingdatum so dont come back to me if your camera leaks a little short of the depth youthought it was good for. Caveat emptor.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q209waterproofgroup/

JOHN NORRIS FEB 2010
http://www.ukcamerastore.co.uk/acatalog/Canon_Powershot_D10.html?gclid=CNnAuMmjz58CFRk_lAod6FhZzghttp://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q209waterproofgroup/http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q209waterproofgroup/http://www.ukcamerastore.co.uk/acatalog/Canon_Powershot_D10.html?gclid=CNnAuMmjz58CFRk_lAod6FhZzg


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CHRISTMAS ON THE CEIRW

Two days after Christmas saw me heading along the snowy road to Wales. Would the A5be blocked by drifts? Would the Dee at JJs be a slender trickle between icicles? As itturned out, Wales had seen a thaw only a slight one, but those hills hold a lot of snow

and the Dee was off the gauge. Viewing the scene over a cup of coffee, Tim, Mark and Ideclined the opportunity to join a group of playboaters on this icy water and headedtowards Bala and the Ceidiog.

Not heard of it? Thats because it almost never has water. Its not a hard river bu t, likemany of these small streams, there are rather too many trees. It leads into the Dee belowBala, so the second half of the trip provides contrast by way of smooth, fast flowing waterto the takeout at Cynwyd. After a mud-splattering experience recovering Tims car from theput in, we headed to Bala Backpackers Hostel.

We had been advised to beware of the mad woman who runs it. It appeared at first thatshe had locked us out, but Mark discovered the door simply needed a hefty push, and theproprietress turned out to be fairly amicable. I can recommend the bunkhouse but not thebreakfast just go and get your own in town.

The following day we headed to the Ceirw, a Grade 2-3 river running parallel to the A5near the Goat Inn. There are two sections with a portage (or Grade 6) in between, and theriver steadily grew bigger, better and less congested by trees as we went down. Below theGoat Inn, it flows into the Alwen which provided a super run down to the A5 Bridge a littlebelow Pen y Bont weir.

This weir looks tempting and innocuous from above. Thats because the lower section isinvisible. Im very glad we read the guidebook and portaged. You can forget all the rest ofthis article but rememberif you cant see to the bottom or the guidebook says inspect,then do it.

We had intended to paddle on the third day but we had to leave Wales early before furthersnow blocked us in. I hope you can join us next year. Its sure to be warmer.

ROD EDMONDS FEB 2010

NEWSLETTER EDITOR

Ive given notice that its my intention to stand down from my role as newsletter editor andsubsequently from the committee, though Ill remain (if requested) as a contact for seakayaking. It seems Ive been doing some sort of volunteering for more years than I care toput a figure on what with Cubs & Scouts / Cycling proficiency / and latterly MCC. I want achange.

Id like to think that Ive moved the newsletter forward a little, no easy task for someonewho does not speak PC, but I think Ive got it to a format that is easy to manage for a new

editor. Naturally, a new editor may have their own ideas and would be welcome todevelop them but its my intention to have 4 blank seasonal copies all laid out ready to go


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for the new editor. Ill hopefully get around to setting the spacing for text around picturesetc. and will have clear and concise instructions for inserting hyperlinks etc. for those noton WORD2007 or later.

What will the new editor need? A PC for starters and a broadband link. And some

enthusiasm! Youll need this to harass the membership for copy (there are a lot ofmembers out there who can do good itemsbut dont necessarily volunteer them). Otherthan that, very little except time to put it all together. Perhaps the most onerous part of itall is dealing with the postal copies and printing a few extras of for those who call in at theclub throughout the summer.

What do I put in the newsletter? I look for a good picture and short description for thecover. I hope to get this from the membership but if not Ill use something from anotherclub or off the web, but I always get permission first. Most people are very happy todonate a picture for no more than a credit and a blog link if they have one. Then I moveon to the editors piece which is usually little more than a preamble for the features to

come. I have used this in the past to make a more political point if I have felt the need todo so, my own views, not the committees.

The following items and pictures are generally those that I get from the membership.Sometimes trips or holidays or maybe a different take on things. Alex & Will Kragg offeredme a piece last year and eventually we got an interview. Not what I expected at all but avery refreshing change and a pleasant read. I do occasionally look on other club sites formaterial but have yet to use anything from them though offers have been made. Finallyyoull need to keep the back pages up to date the contacts might change but once a yearso no problem with that but the whats on, when and where page needs updating eachissue from information collated by the club secretary.

Distribution. Most copies are now going out by e-mail but Im working around to sendinga link to the SCRIBD page rather than a full newsletter so this will not eat into yourallowance if you are on a low usage limit. Postal copies need to printed and folded,enveloped and addressed (labels are currently sent by the membership secretary) andstamped.

What next? Id like to hear from anyone who is interested in taking on the role and amprepared to work with them throughout this coming year to achieve a seamlesschangeover. Then Im putting my feet up for a bit!

John Norris FEB 2010


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TOURING TRIPS AN INTRODUCTION

Touring, not for me........well to kick off you need a beard dont you? And a daft hat, oohand they dont even sleep in tents! I know, I heard one of them actually hangs upside

down from a tree and then encases

himself in his gore-tex wingsOK so its maybe not quite that badbut I have certainly heard peopleunsure about coming on trips,worried about boats, having or nothaving the right kit and thedistances that we might cover, so Ithought I would try to lay some ofthose worries to rest!

BOAT?

Really anything will do. In terms ofcovering distance a longer boat isa better boat. Of course you needto be able to pick it up so size and

weight need to be balanced.At the club there are many options; the open canoes, the easkys (touring kayaks withhatches for storing stuff) or a longer general purpose kayak, or a multipurpose boat.Doubles? - 2 people in an open boat makes a lot of sense you need almost the effort,and you have a person to share kit

like cooker and pans.

KIT?

Againyou dont need much if weare camping then you will need asleeping bag and a camping mat.What no tent? I hear you say wellyes, but you can always share if youhavent got your own, if you really getinto it you may want to get much

more of your own gear but you donthave too especially at the outset!

ITS TOO FAR!

Trips will be organised to suit all paddlers some of our club trips have been 10 miles in aday, some up to 16miles in a day. As with most outdoor activities we travel at the speed ofthe slowest member, touring allows people to share boats and move gear around to keepour group speed similar.As always just speak up, suggest the mileage you think appropriate, or ask the organiser

for advice.


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BUT I HATE CAMPING?

No worries, trips are often planned to stop over at pubs or near a town or village stay inthe pub or a B&B.

WHY BOTHER?

Personally I love touring or moreaccurately Tripping the simple actof getting somewhere of achievingsomething even if its just gettingfrom the start to the end of a journey.

For me one of the best bits is the littlebit of adventure that comes from notknowing exactly whats round thenext corner, finding a hidden gem, agreat lunch spot or in summer a quietplace for an impromptu swim. Inwinter the challenge may be morephysical wind, rain, tide may beagainst you but its a journey and thefun is in the doing on a recent tripthis winter 4 set out and about way

we split into 2 groups of 2. One grouppushed on to the end suffering the weather and cold. The other group navigated crosscountry to a road met some really nice helpful people and had an entirely different butbrilliant adventure of their own!So is it any different to a White Water trip? well in essence no but generally a touringtrip will be on more gentle water often grade 1 2 or on some of the longer rivers, grade 2with perhaps an odd feature. But the focus might well be different in a loaded touringboat build for speed we may walk bits that we would paddle in other boats, our day may belonger on the water and generally we paddle the same river over the course of a trip sothat s only 1 shuttle!Evenings are often around a camp fire, sometimes a pub good food, a few drinks and

good company.


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On longer trips the thrill of navigating a whole river, the flexibility of being able to seewhere we get to tonight and the amazing changes to the scenery as you move frommountain to sea.

UPCOMING TRIPS

DATE Location Description Level CONTACT

20/21Feb.

Thames Great trip - nice and local - goodpubs and great scenery. Campingat a pub in Lechlade.Full details on facebook page.

Easy localpaddle

Lee Niven

20/21March

Severn Middle Severn Iron Bridge toBridge North. Local camping or

Pub B&B

Grade 1 2 Lee Niven

4-7 April Scotland Either the Tay or the Spey 2 ofthe best bits of touring water in theUK! Location tbc depending onyour feedback!

ClassicScottishpaddling grade2 2+

Lee Niven

30 April1st May

OCA CanoeFest 2010, coaching,lectures, demos etc

RichardWilliams

Oct-10 BALA

N/Wales

UK Open Canoe Symposium

coaching, lectures, demos etc

Lee Niven

26t June ConwayN Wales

The Conwy Ascent is an upstreamcanoeing event, taking advantageof the flood Bridge and is rich inwildlife and beautiful scenery.The event comprises of both amarathon race and a tour, andpaddlers may race or tour in anycanoe or kayak of their choice.

approximately15km The riveroffers manychallenges inreading waterand weatherconditions

Lee Niven

Oct-10 AxeEstuary OCA organised weekendCamping at Seaton in Devon.Introducing paddlers to openwater and the delights of creamteas.

Lee Niven

ITS YOUR CLUB TELL US WHAT YOU WANTWe have a face book page, club website and a club yahoo group keep in touch, tell mewhat you want, I will do my best to organise something.

Hope to see you on the water

LEE NIVEN CLUB TOURING REP. FEB 2010


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REPORT 2009 AGM

The 2009 AGM was held on the 1st Feb at the Kings Head in Little Marlow. It got off to agreat start by everyone congregating at the bar for a drink (or three) before we wereherded off to the meeting room.

It was attended by 30 members. This was a good turn out (free food was NOT the reason!)compared to last year and included a high percentage of new members.

Adrian kicked off the AGM by going through last years minutes, approving annualaccounts and the election of committee members. Most existing committee membersagreed to stand for re-election. Kelvin Abbott replaced Paul Crichton as treasurer leavingone post unfilled, that of womens representative. A new post for course co-ordinator wasadded and Simon Knowles kindly volunteered.

Adrian also paid special thanks to the coaches and members who have given their time inthe running of the club and in the training of new members.

There were prizes given out for the best newsletter piece (Julie Briggs on behalf of themystery author), for the best improved seniors (male - David Briggs and female HelenKragg) and junior members (Alex & Will Kragg). Swimmer of the year went to PaulCrichton for the only OBE on the clubs 2009 Northern Alps tour.

With the routine stuff out of the way, Adrian closed the AGM and we got onto the fun bits.Food was served and this proved to be of excellent quality. Not only was there the usualarray of sandwiches, there was also a variety of warm dishes, much appreciated by all due

to the cold evening.

Lee did a grand job as quiz master, setting questions that had a nautical theme, apart fromthe beer section, the famous-people section, the sights-around-the-world section, themusic section, the name-the-countries sectionsmaybe not that nautical after all!However, questions covered a wide range and he was very firm when awarding points forcorrect answers. Well done Lee.

There was nail biting excitement throughout the quiz as there was hardly any difference inpoints for the top three places. This changed right at the end when xxxxx (my teamincluding fellow members Kelvin, Melinda, and Glenn) scored nearly full marks in the last 4

rounds and won convincingly. Excellent job guys.cant wait for the prize. Well done alsoto xxxx who took the wooden spoon!A good time was had by all.

The next AGM was set for Monday 7th February 2011.

Jennifer Burns FEB 2010


15/16


WHAT'S ON, WHEN AND WHERE

The complete and authoritive guide to all that the club hopes to do in the forthcomingmonths. Please note that at the time of going to press dates cannot be guaranteed and

that the programme can be subject to changes.

ALLSUNDAYS

CLUB SESSIONS; ON THE WATER FOR 10:00am. SEE D.O.FOR FINISH. CHECK NOTICEBOARDS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS

D.O

ALLTUESDAYS

TUESDAY SESSIONS FROM 6:30 pm, ON THE WATER FOR7.00pm. SEE D.O. FOR FINISH, CHECK NOTICEBOARDS FOR

EVENTS etc. (PUB PADDLE or ALTERNATIVE)D.O

01 MARCH COMMITTEE MEETING MARLOW DONEY 19:30 ALL WELCOME AM

6-7 MARCH WHITE WATER TBA WHITEWATER DG

13-14 MARCH CANOE CAMPING RIVER SEVERN TOURING LN20 MARCH COACH UPDATE EYOT CENTRE HENLEY COACHING BCU

20-27 MARCH SCOTTISH WHITEWATER WHITEWATER DG

28 MARCH KENNET AND AVON CANAL KINTBURY TO NEWBURY TOURING TT

EASTER CANOE CAMPING LOCH TAY + RIVER TAY TOURING LN

13 APRIL TUESDAY EVENING SESSIONS COMMENCE ALL WELCOME D.O.

25 APRIL RIVER THAMES DONNINGTON BRIDGE TO ABINGDON TOURING TT

30-01 MAY OCA CANOEFEST VENUE TBC TOURING LN

8-9 MAY OUR FIRST 2010 BEGINNERS / 1* COURSE COACHING TT

10 MAY COMMITTEE MEETING MARLOW DONEY 19:30 ALL WELCOME AM

23 MAY RIVER THAMES ABINGDON TO CLIFTON HAMPDEN TOURING TT

SEA TOURING / TRIPS CALENDAR HAS YET TO BE CONFIRMED. ANNOUNCEMENTS WILL BEMADE ON THE YAHOO GROUP AND THOSE INTERESTED WILL NEED TO FOLLOW THE

INSTRUCTIONS THEREIN. NOTE! ALL SEA TRIPS ARE PEER GROUP AS WE HAVE NO SEACOACHES.

KEEP A LOOKOUT ON NOTICEBOARDS AND THE YAHOO GROUPSOME TRIPS JUST SUDDENLY 'APPEAR' IF CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT.

THURSDAYEVENING

9.00 - 10.30

SWIMMING POOL SESSIONS AT GURNELL POOL, WEST LONDONGET TUITION IN ROLLING, PRACTISE 3* SKILLS OR ANYTHING

YOU'VE GOT A BIT RUSTY ON. SEE WEBSITE FOR MAP & DETAILS

ORGANISER / MCC CONTACT FOR ABOVE EVENTS

AC ADRIAN COOPER 01844 344580 [email protected]

AM ANDY MAXTED 07730 852760 [email protected]

LN LEE NIVEN 07824 828024 [email protected]

JN JOHN NORRIS 01494 483833 [email protected]

CP CHRIS PORTEOUS 01628 485049 [email protected]

PC PAUL CRICHTON 08708 806962 [email protected] DAVE GODDARD 01494 863862 [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://[email protected]/http://[email protected]/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://[email protected]/http://[email protected]/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


16/16


THE COMMITTEE & OTHER USEFUL NUMBERS

A list of those members who serve on the club's committee, their role, a contact no. and ane-mail address should you need to get in touch.

POSITION NAME TELEPHONE E-MAIL (all hyperlinked)

PRESIDENT TIM WARD 01494 482959 [email protected]

CHAIRMAN ADRIAN COOPER 01844 344580 [email protected]

SECRETARY ANDY MAXTED 07730 852760 [email protected]

TREASURER KELVIN ABBOTT 01753 654923 [email protected]

MEMBERSHIP ROD EDMONDS 01753 671389 [email protected]

COACHING TIM TWITCHEN 07833 995289 [email protected]

EQUIPMENT CHRIS PORTEOUS 01628 485049 [email protected]

NEWSLETTER JOHN NORRIS 01494 483833 [email protected]

WOMENS REP. VACANT (Temporary Melinda Livett, see social)

YOUTH REP. ALEX MILLARD 07787 978036 [email protected]

SOCIAL SEC MELINDA LIVETT [email protected]

WHITEWATER CHRIS PORTEOUS 01628 485049 [email protected]

TOURING LEE NIVEN 07824 828024 [email protected]

SEA JOHN NORRIS 01494 483833 [email protected]

1*COURSECO-ORDINATOR

SIMON KNOWLES 07786 836012 [email protected]

OUR NEAREST RETAILERS / SUPPLIERS

RIVERSIDE OXFORD 01865 248673 http://www.riversideoxford.co.uk

MARSPORT READING 01189 665912 http://www.marsport.co.uk

BERKSHIRECANOES

READING 01189 425640 http://www.berkshire-canoes.co.uk

WWC SHEPPERTON 01932 247978 http://www.whitewaterthecanoecentre.co.uk

BROOKBANK WARWICK 01926 640573 http://www.paddlesport.co.uk

BROOKBANK LONDON 01992 711611 http://www.brookbanklondon.co.uk/

Please advise the editor if any contact details are incorrect or if you wish to add an alternative no. / e-mail address to the list.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.riversideoxford.co.uk/http://www.marsport.co.uk/http://www.berkshire-canoes.co.uk/http://www.whitewaterthecanoecentre.co.uk/http://www.paddlesport.co.uk/http://www.brookbanklondon.co.uk/http://www.brookbanklondon.co.uk/http://www.paddlesport.co.uk/http://www.whitewaterthecanoecentre.co.uk/http://www.berkshire-canoes.co.uk/http://www.marsport.co.uk/http://www.riversideoxford.co.uk/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

newsletter 127 spring 2010 01

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