There weren’t that many paddlers from the club at Worcester on Sunday, but many people did well. Alice, Tadek and I paddled in div 9 and our race was the first of the sets of divs. Unfortunately Alice started next to a C1 which cut across a lot of boats and cut her completely off and Tadek also got held up but they recovered. But then Alice’s footrest broke and so Mick had to do a quick fix however Alice managed to over take four people!
The course had been changed to a new one which was easier as it was just up and down. Alison, Heather and Geordie, Kath and Donna also passed by on the race and they looked to be paddling well!
Afterwards we watched Rex win the div 4 K1, Mick do a great portage and Craig’s finish too! Not to forget Max’s fly by the finish line and win the under 10 lightenings!
As well as having a great race, the weather was lovely as it was forecast to rain all day although there was a bit of showers during div 4,5&6’s race.
My results were very pleasing as I won div 9 and was also promoted to div 7! Overall it was a great day and I’m really glad Mick talked me into racing, thanks!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Worcester Photo Caption Competition!!!
I've promised that I'll add the first of these photos so that you can all click & zoom in on my face.
All suggestions for the caption to Rex please. Thanks for the photos Julie.
Worcester Marathon 2008 - Divs 4, 5 & 6
We had no paddlers in the upper divisions, but Rex, Mick & Craig provided good results in their respective classes. Most Notable was Rex's outstanding win in Div 4. 
Craig doing his first 8 mile race also aquitted himself well. His dead leg and other incidents on the only portage, were probably memorable from his point of view.
Not to be outdone by his dad, Max deserves a mention for his win in the Under 10 Lightning race.
The weather was generally good with a mixture of warm sunshine and quite heavy showers.
Craig doing his first 8 mile race also aquitted himself well. His dead leg and other incidents on the only portage, were probably memorable from his point of view.
Not to be outdone by his dad, Max deserves a mention for his win in the Under 10 Lightning race.
The weather was generally good with a mixture of warm sunshine and quite heavy showers.
Worcester Marathon 2008 - Divs 7, 8 & 9
It was an early start for some as the start times of the first races was very early for most marathons in the region. NKC was well represented in Div 7 K2 with Kath & Donna plus Geordie and Heather racing.
Leanna & Alice doing their first K1 marathon
joined Tadek in Div 9, while Alison did Div 7.
Alice has a tale to tell - after the first 500 metres, her footrest & tiller dropped out, but fortunately, Craig was doing his guardian angel bit & spotted her in difficulties & summoned the driver/coach/repairman, to do some rapid, on the spot adjustments to the ailing system and then over 500 metres down on the last boat in the class, she carried on. Even then she managed to catch several of the tail enders before the finish. Tadek did a good steady race, paddling up from Under 12s, while Leanna produced an outstanding result by finishing 1st in a faster time than the Div 8 winner and consequently getting promoted to Div 7 ... on her 1st K1 race. She was the only person from the club who was surprised at this outcome, but also clearly enjoying her first real marathon K1 success.
Leanna & Alice doing their first K1 marathon
joined Tadek in Div 9, while Alison did Div 7.Alice has a tale to tell - after the first 500 metres, her footrest & tiller dropped out, but fortunately, Craig was doing his guardian angel bit & spotted her in difficulties & summoned the driver/coach/repairman, to do some rapid, on the spot adjustments to the ailing system and then over 500 metres down on the last boat in the class, she carried on. Even then she managed to catch several of the tail enders before the finish. Tadek did a good steady race, paddling up from Under 12s, while Leanna produced an outstanding result by finishing 1st in a faster time than the Div 8 winner and consequently getting promoted to Div 7 ... on her 1st K1 race. She was the only person from the club who was surprised at this outcome, but also clearly enjoying her first real marathon K1 success.
Once upon a time & the death of canoe marathon ...
Once upon a time, when the world was very young and life was still fun, there was a canoe marathon race course at Worcester.
I did something called National Championships there and it was fun. There were things called portages, that meant climbing and slipping up muddy banks, carrying boat and paddles. There were things called weir shoots at 3 different places and they were exciting.
And in those days many people raced and many came to watch the fun & excitement. The enjoyment was so great, that I wanted to do more and to learn how to climb banks without slipping and shoot weirs without swimming and paddle up fast narrow streams without being washed back. And so, in the fullness of time, I learned all these arts and it was even more fun. And watching was also fun.
As more time passed, canoeists forgot these skills and the ones called boat repair and they wanted easier things, with less challange, because it was told that canoeists from over the seas were not as good at the skills, so to make it fairer for them, we should make canoe marathon less demanding and less fun.
But the course at Worcester was still one of the best, with portaging around natural hazards, and so canoe marathon survived, slightly diluted but with some fun retained.
And yet more time passed and still it was too hard for some people, so more things were removed – concrete paths and cones and red & white tape replaced mud & fences and tree roots. They provided a portage around … provided a portage around … around … er … er … cones & tape.
And the course at Worcester survived, now quite insipid, a homogenised shadow of the course that first attracted me to the fun and excitement. It still had interest, beautiful, scenery, buildings and bridges, but I had no need of the skills I had learned.
And soon the thing called media and the spectre from over the seas, demanded that the fun stop, that canoe marathon was serious, not fun, that spectators wanted to sit at home, not traipse to things called weirs or portages. And so “laps” were born. And the course at Worcester was doomed.
Why go to Worcester? Wasn’t there a lake at Dorney and at Holme Pierrepont and “laps” could take place just as well on those. Media could get there easier, closer and the skills of canoe marathon were no longer needed, so why was the course?
RIP Worcester Marathon.
---------
Once upon a time there was something called 10000 metre racing in canoes and kayaks and it took place on lakes at places like Holme Pierrpont and it was fun. It had skills, different from marathon and it took place at regattas. It worked in” laps” and spectators could watch it and enjoy it. And soon the thing called media and the spectre from over the seas demanded that the fun stop, that regattas were serious, not fun, and besides it was too difficult to organise, or to take part … or something … and it faded away.
----------
In the hands of the great powers that be, and the media and the spectre from over the sea, two branches of the sport have dissolved, faded and vanished. The sport is not for paddlers, but the media and the spectre from over the seas.
Once I watched an indoor “cross country” running race. Once … and I slept through much of that. The media was there and spectators, but it was really just another indoor track run with a misleading name. No mud, no rain, no streams, no country to cross, no fun. And I’ve never seen it advertised again! Maybe it was not the wildest of successes.
Given the London or Boston Marathons to play with, the same great powers that twist and torture our sports, would have them run in stadia. Given the Tour de France and it would be ridden in velodromes, at different venues around France and spectators would not need to climb mountains, or travel great distances or stand out in the rain ….
And what of the legend of Pheidippides and his heroic 24.85 mile run bearing news? The term marathon, honours a legend of heroism, cross country, from place to place, not laps. Perhaps the new sport that is proposed should be known as Canoe/Kayak 40,000 metre racing or Canoe/Kayak Laps. The term marathon misleads and has a hollow ring.
And fun, and excitement, and challenge and skills could all be dispensed with, or at least groomed, and trained, and homogenised and diluted until …
Wii Paddling anyone?
I did something called National Championships there and it was fun. There were things called portages, that meant climbing and slipping up muddy banks, carrying boat and paddles. There were things called weir shoots at 3 different places and they were exciting.
And in those days many people raced and many came to watch the fun & excitement. The enjoyment was so great, that I wanted to do more and to learn how to climb banks without slipping and shoot weirs without swimming and paddle up fast narrow streams without being washed back. And so, in the fullness of time, I learned all these arts and it was even more fun. And watching was also fun.
As more time passed, canoeists forgot these skills and the ones called boat repair and they wanted easier things, with less challange, because it was told that canoeists from over the seas were not as good at the skills, so to make it fairer for them, we should make canoe marathon less demanding and less fun.
But the course at Worcester was still one of the best, with portaging around natural hazards, and so canoe marathon survived, slightly diluted but with some fun retained.
And yet more time passed and still it was too hard for some people, so more things were removed – concrete paths and cones and red & white tape replaced mud & fences and tree roots. They provided a portage around … provided a portage around … around … er … er … cones & tape.
And the course at Worcester survived, now quite insipid, a homogenised shadow of the course that first attracted me to the fun and excitement. It still had interest, beautiful, scenery, buildings and bridges, but I had no need of the skills I had learned.
And soon the thing called media and the spectre from over the seas, demanded that the fun stop, that canoe marathon was serious, not fun, that spectators wanted to sit at home, not traipse to things called weirs or portages. And so “laps” were born. And the course at Worcester was doomed.
Why go to Worcester? Wasn’t there a lake at Dorney and at Holme Pierrepont and “laps” could take place just as well on those. Media could get there easier, closer and the skills of canoe marathon were no longer needed, so why was the course?
RIP Worcester Marathon.
---------
Once upon a time there was something called 10000 metre racing in canoes and kayaks and it took place on lakes at places like Holme Pierrpont and it was fun. It had skills, different from marathon and it took place at regattas. It worked in” laps” and spectators could watch it and enjoy it. And soon the thing called media and the spectre from over the seas demanded that the fun stop, that regattas were serious, not fun, and besides it was too difficult to organise, or to take part … or something … and it faded away.
----------
In the hands of the great powers that be, and the media and the spectre from over the sea, two branches of the sport have dissolved, faded and vanished. The sport is not for paddlers, but the media and the spectre from over the seas.
Once I watched an indoor “cross country” running race. Once … and I slept through much of that. The media was there and spectators, but it was really just another indoor track run with a misleading name. No mud, no rain, no streams, no country to cross, no fun. And I’ve never seen it advertised again! Maybe it was not the wildest of successes.
Given the London or Boston Marathons to play with, the same great powers that twist and torture our sports, would have them run in stadia. Given the Tour de France and it would be ridden in velodromes, at different venues around France and spectators would not need to climb mountains, or travel great distances or stand out in the rain ….
And what of the legend of Pheidippides and his heroic 24.85 mile run bearing news? The term marathon, honours a legend of heroism, cross country, from place to place, not laps. Perhaps the new sport that is proposed should be known as Canoe/Kayak 40,000 metre racing or Canoe/Kayak Laps. The term marathon misleads and has a hollow ring.
And fun, and excitement, and challenge and skills could all be dispensed with, or at least groomed, and trained, and homogenised and diluted until …
Wii Paddling anyone?
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Anker Valley
The weather has been better at Anker Valley in the past, but there was still a good entry from Nottingham juniors and veterans, despite a reminder that summer has not quite arrived. Tadek, Zyggy and Ozzie managed 1 st, 2nd & 3rd in their Lightning races to start the day.
In the second set of races, Heather, Craig & Shobhanaa did the Div 7 K1
While Ricky did Div 9 K1 & Beth did Div 8 K1.
Congratulations go to Craig on promotion to Div 6 where he will have the delights of an 8 mile race and portages in the future. He may even get to race Geordie, who did the Div 7 K2 race with Kath this time.
Leanna did her first ever Hasler race with Sarah in Div 8
K2.
In the longer events, Marysh and Alison raced Div 4/5/6 K2 and Mick did Div 5.
Despite the cold wind, Anker Valley once again proved to be a warm and generous host club and the Lightnings in particular had good results and were delighted with their tee-shirts.
In the second set of races, Heather, Craig & Shobhanaa did the Div 7 K1
While Ricky did Div 9 K1 & Beth did Div 8 K1.
Congratulations go to Craig on promotion to Div 6 where he will have the delights of an 8 mile race and portages in the future. He may even get to race Geordie, who did the Div 7 K2 race with Kath this time.
Leanna did her first ever Hasler race with Sarah in Div 8
K2.In the longer events, Marysh and Alison raced Div 4/5/6 K2 and Mick did Div 5.
Despite the cold wind, Anker Valley once again proved to be a warm and generous host club and the Lightnings in particular had good results and were delighted with their tee-shirts.
Photos thanks to Mick, Rosie & Sarah.
Juniors in print
Funny how the media think that Paddling and rowing are the same thing. The Shape Up Nottingham fitness campaign comes to watersports, or perhaps it is the other way round. So far the weather has not encouraged anyone to try paddling on a Sunday or Friday. Perhaps when the weather picks up a few more people will give it a go.
Good quotes from Richard and Harriet ... not sure about the other one!!
Monday, April 21, 2008
Gailey 2008
The weather at Gailey was some of the best recently, with much of the canal protected by bank and trees. The bit before the Div 7,8,9 turn at the marina was the only really breezy bit on the way back from the 4,5,6 turn. I know many seniors are not that keen on canal races, but there are times when there are distinct advantages, despite shallow water and narrow bridges. The Trent was like the North Sea when we left and worse when we got back to the club.A limited number of NKC paddlers turned out, which was a pity really, as there were good numbers in the lower divisions and as always we were made to feel welcome. Those of us who went, all enjoyed the day and Gailey were generous with prizes, encouraging us to return. Yet again, the race for me, was against Mark from the local club and it turned out to be a pleasant paddle with a 1000 metre sprint, won by him.
Full Results: http://www.marathon-canoeing.org.uk/results/Gailey2008.htm
April Regatta
The weather reminded us that winter was not yet over, with hail, sleet, rain, snow and wind - in fact a typical April regatta. I wonder why people think sprinting is a summer activity in this country? Flat water racing - what's that? HPP was modified to be a wind tunnel at the rowers request soon after it was built wasn't it?
A few hardy NKC members turned out. Tim & Lucy did what we hoped they would in the men's & women's A races and we wish them continued success throughout the season.
If that's what Tim can produce with a bad cold, then imagine the result when he's well. Most people seem to be awe inspired at the drop of a hat these days, perhaps due to a real lack of magnificence in their lives, so I rarely use the term "awesome" due to its dilution in the common usage of English. However, I would actually consider Tim's performances to be awe inspiring, especially when the conditions during the regatta were cold, windy and sometimes miserable.
Hayleigh's K2 went particularly well too, with her racing up in Womens A for that, so we hope that she too continues her success during the rest of the season.
Sadly there was a shortage of juniors, although particular congratulations go to Craig and Ricky doing Boys D in their first regatta. They managed to make 1st finals in their events.
Congratulations go to Sandra for her performances and subsequent promotion to Girls A. Lets hope that her even greater successes in Wild Water allow a few more opportunities to sprint.
In his first season as a senior, Michael produced some good Mens C K1s and followed them up with a great Mens C K2 result paddling with Fern! Mike appears at the next regatta in Mens B.
It was good to see Ian Livsey back sprinting again, now Masters A and Tim Webb returned to racing. With Rex, Pete & myself, we now have a regular group of Masters paddlers in addition to the vast range of club veterans we could call on.
Full results can be downloaded from http://www.weykayak.co.uk/Sprint_Frame.html
A few hardy NKC members turned out. Tim & Lucy did what we hoped they would in the men's & women's A races and we wish them continued success throughout the season.
If that's what Tim can produce with a bad cold, then imagine the result when he's well. Most people seem to be awe inspired at the drop of a hat these days, perhaps due to a real lack of magnificence in their lives, so I rarely use the term "awesome" due to its dilution in the common usage of English. However, I would actually consider Tim's performances to be awe inspiring, especially when the conditions during the regatta were cold, windy and sometimes miserable.
Hayleigh's K2 went particularly well too, with her racing up in Womens A for that, so we hope that she too continues her success during the rest of the season.
Sadly there was a shortage of juniors, although particular congratulations go to Craig and Ricky doing Boys D in their first regatta. They managed to make 1st finals in their events.
Congratulations go to Sandra for her performances and subsequent promotion to Girls A. Lets hope that her even greater successes in Wild Water allow a few more opportunities to sprint.
In his first season as a senior, Michael produced some good Mens C K1s and followed them up with a great Mens C K2 result paddling with Fern! Mike appears at the next regatta in Mens B.
It was good to see Ian Livsey back sprinting again, now Masters A and Tim Webb returned to racing. With Rex, Pete & myself, we now have a regular group of Masters paddlers in addition to the vast range of club veterans we could call on.
Full results can be downloaded from http://www.weykayak.co.uk/Sprint_Frame.html
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
DW, Good Times, as always!
sorry im so late getting this in..better late than never though i guess, and i still beat beth!
Early morning once again, wasnt too bad though, bright and breezy as usual. This DW experience was definatley a different one to last time, however still very enjoyable. Great company and some great paddlers to watch! Well done to all you guys!
Thanks Mick for taking us once again, look forward to hopefully going next year.
My only complaint.......we had to go home too early! hey ho.
x
Early morning once again, wasnt too bad though, bright and breezy as usual. This DW experience was definatley a different one to last time, however still very enjoyable. Great company and some great paddlers to watch! Well done to all you guys!
Thanks Mick for taking us once again, look forward to hopefully going next year.
My only complaint.......we had to go home too early! hey ho.
x
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