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