Happy paddler at NKC over Christmas

Who says it was too cold to enjoy paddling during the cold weather. Remember to say "Hi" to Smiley when you see him there!

Nottingham Hasler Race 2010

I don't suppose that Norman knew it would be the hottest day of the year so far when he fixed the date, but the weather was pretty good for this year's Nottingham Hasler Race. We ended up with more entries than in the past few years and the whole day was very enjoyable. There was a good turn out from club members, with many people doing their first ever race. There was also strong support for helping with the organisation.

Well we all know what the inevitable is here...

OK Shaune you can let him come up about now.

Come on duck we can beat this one.

OK Julie, I reckon we can get you promoted here.

Come on Dave, we can win this.

This is fun.

Thanks to Tim N for the photos - more at http://picasaweb.google.com/nottmkc/NottinghamHaslerRace2010

More photos by Jane at http://picasaweb.google.com/jamillar/NottinghamHasler2010

May Regatta

You could have been forgiven for thinking it was the December regatta or that it was a surf competition. Saturday was punctuated by regular capsizes followed by rescues from the motor boats. NKC members, particularly the juniors, were completely unphased by it all. Well it's pretty much what they're used to on the Trent, just a bit more consistent.

Boys D K4 500 metres

The only one who took a swim can be forgiven as he is an ex-triathlete and was obviously suffering from deprivation as far as the swimming was concered.

Sunday was much better, but there was still the odd mishap.

Results soon

Tim in action again

Despite only having started training again in mid February following a lay-off after winning Gold in the 1000 metres and Bronze in the 500 metres at the Beijing Olympics, NKC member Tim Brabants was up there with the leaders in both 500 & 1000 at the April regatta. He also managed to win the 5km race by a hair breadth. Tim was caught in action by fellow club member Leonard Bobcek. see Tim in action again at Holme Pierrepont on the weekend of Sat/Sun 8/9th of May.

New Mixed Record for DW

The record for the Mixed K2 on the non-stop 125 mile Devizes to Westminster canoe race has been broken by NKC pair, Harriet Farish & Paul Enoch. Their time of 17 hours 30 minutes 31 seconds beats the previous record set in 1994 by nearly 5 minutes.

Not only that, but Paul and Harriet finished in 2nd place overall and first Civilian crew, a really outstanding result for a Mixed pair. As far as I can tell from the race records this is the highest position ever for a Mixed crew.

Portaging Oakhill Lock -Froxfield

Paul and Harriet also break our own "club record" in the placings for Senior K2, previously held jointly by Brian Newbutt/Dave Hewlings in 1994 and Dave Phillips/Kath Nadal in 1981. These 2 crews both finished in 6th place.

So in a year that saw a quarter of the Senior K2 retire including our own crew of Craig Duff & Mark Burton, this is great result - well done Paul & Harriet

Photo: Jane Millar
More photos
Results

Waterside D 2010

There were only 3 Nottingham enties for the 35 mile final race of the Series. I say entries, there were only 2 starters, with Tom having gone to the extreme of hammering his head against a piece of bathroom/kitchen furniture to render himself senseless in order to avoid a greater ordeal. Making a cup of tea? Ha! So a No Show for Becky and Tom.

Josh was rather muted, even at the start, as the realisation that he was about to do 112 x 500 metres all in one go gradually dawned on him. That's about 55.5 km further than he claims is "his distance."

Volume was down to about half normal by the end, even when his result became clear. No doubt it will soon pick up again as 4th place in a time of 5:23:24 is something he will want known. However, that was not the best, as his overall performance on the whole series left him in 2nd in Senior K1, an outstanding performance for a 500 metre sprinter. Not only that, but his technique was spotted by more than one old hand, who wondered if he could really be a Nottie paddler with such a relaxed, efficient style. So really well done Josh - bragging rights mate. Mind you next time you finish a marathon before the end and claim it's because you're really a sprinter, we will all know the truth, after all you've got the teeshirt to prove otherwise.

Craig and Mark looked fresh at the start and apart from a serious twinge in Mark's back looked the same at the finish. Craig still only had one thing in mind and they overtook her somewhere along the course to make his day complete. They went off the scale of possible speeds I had considered likely over the 1st 16 miles, but then settled back to one slightly faster than I would have predicted. Mark accepts all food and drink offered, although I've not tried steak and chips yet. Craig did better this time and didn't spit out anything whilst in sight. Reports of a flasher in rural Berkshire should be discounted as myth.

Their place of 8th on the D race in a time of 5:28:06 was good enough to get them into 4th in the series in Senior K2. Well done to them and to Josh as it is quite some time since Notties finished so well in the series.

Well done too to all NKC members who did any of the races, as the turn out in 2010 has been better than for quite a few years. If you haven't yet had a go, well, there's always 2011.
Waterside D results
Series results
Thanks to Ollie Harding for photos

Waterside C 2010

Waterside C saw less NKC paddlers, but there were still enough to need a minibus and car. Setting off from Nottingham in dark freezing conditions is becoming a habit.

The temperature gauge wizzed up and down between -6 and a steamy -0.5 all the way to Pewsey, where it finally stuck on -2. This obviously meant that the paddling race turned into a running race for much of the 1st third.

Josh was the only K1 but produced a steady performance for 9th Senior K1. He was considerably quieter as he hove into view at the finish than when he set off, but still going strong.

Chris & Zyggy had been first Nottie crew away, but the running was very demanding on them, although they finished strongly for the conditions as one of only 4 Junior/Vet crews to complete the race. 

 Becky & Tom also turned in a good performance to come 9th in the mixed race, but went straight to the top of the leader border for the broken rudder trophy. The spare in the back of the boat was obviously worth carrying. Shaune and Cathy did well to finish just behind them in 10th despite the mismatch in leg stride on the running. Considering that it was a bit longer than your average Canoe Polo pool, Shaune was looking remarkably fresh at the end and Cathy was sufficiently relaxed to sunbathe in the car park briefly. (Sorry no pics)

Paul and Harriet paddled steadily through the field with little incident apart from the need to negociate the packed portages full of Sunday afternoon spectators to win the Mixed K2 class.

Craig and Mark started well, dropping very little time over the frozen sections and working steadily through the field. Craig's clockwork ran down about 16 miles down the course, just after Hungerford and the field started working their way back through them. A few more turns of the key needed for Waterside D.

Mark managed to look fresh all the way down probably due to the steady fuel supply welded to his back.

All NKC crews finished. The day looked to be a beautiful spring one, but the thermometer says, "No!" The organiser summed it up on the Waterside website, "That was a tough one. Respect to all who finished."

Results

Thanks to Ollie Harding for the photos

Waterside B (2)

Photos from Ollie Harding's Waterside B Album

Would you want to sit on this wash on a cold day without a spraydeck?

See all Ollie's paddling Albums http://www.flickr.com/photos/paddling

Waterside B 2010

Watching the Winter Olympics till late at night all week didn't help prepare for racing at Newbury too much, but was definately an asset for the drive there. The slips, the slides, the snow ...

Everyone was on time, loaded and on the road before 6:30. Well I say road, my choice of using the A46 may not have been best, as the car tyres never touched the actual road for the first 20 miles or so. When a snow plough we were following turned off, I wondered if we were going to be marooned near Leicester until the thaw set in. Fortunately that happened before we reached the A43.

Newbury by contrast was almost summery and seemed warmer than it was for Waterside A, 2 weeks ago. The good weather obviously attracted a few paddlers out, with over 250 boats racing.

Zyggy and I cannot be said to have had our finest race, although there were people for us to to catch and overtake all the way, nor did we finish last in the Junior/Veteran class. I was a bit disappointed not to beat 7 times World Champion, Ivan Lawler and his junior partner, who not only won our race, but were 3rd fastest boat on the water. Dave and Tadek were much quicker than we were, finishing 3rd in the same class, and I don't suppose they minded being beaten by Brian Greenaway, another legend of the sport and his junior partner. Dave and Tadek were only 3 minutes down on them. Our 6th was almost 1 hour slower than Ivan's time.

Meanwhile, Tom and Becky were putting in a far better performance than on Waterside A ... they finished.  Tom obviously had new legs, or perhaps it was borrowing Geordie's aging boat that did the trick. 6th for them too in the Mixed class.

Craig and Mark may well have sorted their differences on portaging, although the boat still leaks, and the pump needs some serious maintenance. They finished 7th in the Senior K2 race dropping 2 places on their A result, but were the fastest Nottie boat on the water.

Josh was 12th in the Senior K1 and 2nd fastest Nottie boat.

I console myself with the knowledge that across the classes, over 70 K2s were slower than we were, one of them over 2 hours slower!

That's about it, Spring had almost returned to the Midlands, making the journey home almost effortless. Josh, Tadek and Zyggy were completely hyper when they should have been sleeping blissfully - at least there was little chance of feeling tired driving, although Craig didn't seem to notice.

Waterside A 2010

I suppose after the weather we've been having, Waterside A could be described as sultry. Not that I was out in beachwear, even Ricky found long sleeves to wear, but some people still seemed to think shorts and tee-shirt were right for the event.

Ricky pushed me round and wanted to sprint the last mile, but a mixture of old age, cuts, grazes and bruised ribs made anything like that a bit sore. The ribs had nothing to do with Waterside, but Monday's "basketball." Non-contact - hahha!

Meanwhile back in Wiltshire/Berkshire the rest of the NKC lot were having their own traumas. Perhaps worst off were Tom and Becky who knocked it on the head with about 5km to go - they'd actually done the hard part, when Tom's legs failed to communicate with the rest of him, making things like running or steering a bit grim. (Some of us old fogies live our lives like that Tom, perhaps age is catching up with you early.)

Andrew, steering by the stars, his sat-nav, dead reckoning and Craig's course directions, negociated the 13 miles in just over 3 hours. He managed without following too many of Craig's recomended detours, although he will be turning up for technique sessions with Craig this week, alongside TB apparently. Andrew was slower over the shower/food section of the event than the paddling and missed the bus home, but hitched a ride in a passing car.
This gave Mark and Craig the chance to discuss why Mark was finishing each portage just as Craig was getting out of the boat.Obviously a bit of technique practice needed somewhere in that K2 then.

There was a generally good turn out by the Notties, so there was still chance for some glory, with Paul and Harriet winning the Mixed event in under 2 hours.

Chris and Zyggy managed to beat me and Ricky by 7 seconds, but were still shown as seniors on the results. Craig and Mark actually did OK, despite their claims of some slight lack of coordination, finishing as 5th senior crew. Steve and Duncan, 10 minutes behind them were 11th (out of 33 crews.) And actually Chris and Zyggy were 16th if a veteran and a 12 year old can be counted as seniors.

Cathy and Shane (nee Shaune) were 9th in the Mixed race. Mark and Martin were going well in the Veteran race and finished 13th.

Thanks to Dave and Jane for their driving and support. Without them, out lives would have been even harder!
Look out for the photo gallery link on the website.

Full results here

Photo Mick & Rick - Ollie Harding
Photo Andrew - Brian Gandy

Barrow Race thoughts

"Why?" I asked myself as I drove through the persistent heavy rain towards Barrow. The temperature was about 4oC, mist hung over the fields, it was dark despite the time and everything just looked grey.

It could be that I'd said I would, or that the Soar would be in spate, or that is started and finished at a pub, serving bacon, sausage & burgers with decent facilities, or to support a local race or ... Who knows?

Max, Ricky & Julie also turned up, so I wasn't the only Nottie paddler there. I was going to be paddling an unfamiliar (heavy) boat - no rudder to help, in unfamiliar kit, buoyancy aid on a bit of river I hadn't seen for 30 years. I was still asking "Why?"

At the briefing, the question got louder - the canal paddle to the start was still frozen & kids had been seen walking on it so breaking through seemed unlikely. The river was so high that the footbridge just after the start was only passable by limbo dancers in low-line boats. This all meant that there was a long walk on an icy towpath & footpath to get below the bridge.

Getting the boat on the water, straight off the footpath was little problem, but getting into the Wavehopper that someone had stuck thigh bars to unequally was. However the footrest was adjusted, it was impossible to put equal pressure on both legs, so steering was a bit grim in one direction. Why?

The banter at the start sort of took my mind off the burning question, but being last off with little chance of catching anyone gave time for it to return.

The first 200 metres reinforced the question - shoulders stiff, needing to steer hard with paddles, breathing hard ...

I remembered places as I passed them, but in such quick succession that I was at the next before I had time to take them in. Yes, that's why. It's fun, the water's flowing fast, it's passing quickly, it's a bit of a challange today, it's different from my usual paddling.

No idea where I really came, Rick was first junior, Max 2nd, Michael 1st Senior, Julie 3rd (I think). I got a gong and a mug, not really sure what for, being the oldest, being 1st senior in a Whopper, surviving? Who cares. It was great to paddle with other people enjoying themselves, many in touring open canoes. The welcome made up for the cold weather. It was better to be out there, paddling, than stuck inside. That's why!

See course on Google Maps
See photos
See results on The Boat House At Barrow pub website (not done yet 17/1/10)

Mix & Match K2 Round the Loop

A fair selection of members turned up to paddle Round the Loop on New Year's Eve at varying times. A chilly upstream wind only spoiled the sunny conditions over the last bit from the Suspension Bridge to the club, with some fairly lumpy chop.

Ian, the chairman & Des set off with Jimmy just after 9:00 as Chris was getting off the water.

The juniors with a few extras did my normal 9:30 session making up for the shortage of the regular "mums" this week. Tadek and Olivia talked their way round, a discrete distance behind the nearest boat. Zyggy and Harvey worked solidly all the way. Ozzie made sure that he and his mum were well at the front from start to finish and Ricky pushed me the distance. Noah was the youngest by far and managed the 10 miles with his dad in considerable style, reaching the club well ahead of everyone except Ozzie & Alison.

Shob & Kath opted for going to Beeston up the river & back so Kath could avoid portaging, while Adam set off to do the Loop alone, just as we headed for the showers.

Well done to all the juniors who turned out, thanks to the seniors who partnered juniors.
Some members may well want to do the usual Mix & Match K2 on Friday evening, but those of us who did the extended version in lieu on Thursday morning, propably got the best deal.

For those who have never done The Loop and want details click here.

New Year's Race

This year, the Resolution Race on the Soar was a little before New Year so that we could do the Frank Luzmore K2 as well. It was sad to see such a low turn out this year, but not from NKC. Banbury made up the majority of the race and fortunately the organiser paddled or Soar Valley would not have had a single entry.

They were there doing the rest of the stuff, like starter/finisher, marshals at the key places and cooking the hot food.

The Chairman set a good example by winning the K1 race and Norman & Des did the same in K2. There was enough water in the river to use understern rudders on the old river bed and to make it interesting, but not so much that the measuring weir was a raging torrent. In fact, the wind blown chop on the Trent is probably more demanding.

Andrew deserves a mention as he finished just as the prize giving did, but was in time to collect his can of beer prize. In fairness he did do further than most of us and his GPS track shows that he took frequent detours and managed to make about 10.5 miles. On the other hand, having done the race quite a few times over the past 30 odd years, I only travelled 9.7 miles.

The facilities are not placial, but the very relaxed and friendly atmosphere at Soar Valley together with the "rustic" course, mean it's worth doing if only to shake off the Christmas cobwebs and burn a few calories - make it one of your resolutions to be there next year. Details will appear on the NKC website.
Results here