2014 07 newsletter

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Frome Canoe Club is affiliated to the British Canoe Union and is a Registered Charity (Number 1104728)

Newsletter

Volume 38 Issue 7: July 2014

Young Volunteer of the Year - in recognition of the outstanding contribution George makes on a weekly basis throughout the year.

Fun and games on the R Avon trip! P10 for report

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In this issue

3 Calendar in brief

4 Open Boat Day

4 Biblins

4 Remaining courses

4 River Avon trip

20 Summer BBQ

5 Market Yard Slalom

6 Langham Farm slalom - report

8 Llandysul slalom - report

9 Ogmore slalom - report

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10 River Avon trip

14 Platinum Ladies Club

14 Bits and Pieces

19 Passport Passes!

20 Tuesday’s Canoe Polo

CALENDAR: details

OTHER REPORTS

SPECIALS

FCC ‘THROWLINE ’ CLUB MAGAZINE

Send articles for the next issue to [email protected] by 27th July

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President

Graham Warnecke

Vice Presidents

Richard and Jane Arney

Jim and Catharine Croft

Chairman

Alun Jones

Vice Chairman

Gareth McGiveron

Treasurer

John Kent

Secretary

Pam Dixon

16 Blagdon Walk, Frome, BA11 2YH

Committee Members

Arthur Belbin

Rich Carter

Richard Heal

Jonathan Howell

Tracey Lemon

Stuart Miles

Kit Officers

Tim and Sally Smiles

SLALOM

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Calendar 2014


Date Event Standard Contact

July

5/6 Biblins All Pam D

9 Passport course (2) starts Participants Pam D

12 One Star course Participants Pam D

13 Open Boat skills day Participants Stuart M

20 Market Yard slalom Div 4/O All John K

27 Go Canoeing Day for general public Help needed Pam D

29 Tuesday Polo Game Volunteers Jack S

August

3 River Avon Fun Trip All Rich C

9 Aquatic First Aid All Pam D

10 Summer BBQ All Pam D

16 Llandysul Div 3/4 All John K

16/17 Harefield Div 3/4 All

September

7 Surf trip (surf dependent!) Adults Rich C

17 LAST WEDNESDAY SESSION All Pam D

21 Wye Rapids or local trip Passport/One Star

October

5/6

Moving water weekend Passport/One Star (+ 10 years or over)

Pam D

19 River Barle Passport/One Star Pam D

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Calendar in detail

Carl, Kurt and Neil on the Allta Chourinn, a steep rockslide in Glen Etive.


Strict adherence to the Club’s code of conduct is expected at all times on club events .

BIBLINS

5/6th July Meet Market Yard : 8.30am £36

A camping and canoeing weekend for youth members. You need to bring a tent, sleeping bag, over-night things, change of clothes and wellie boots. We pick up the paddling gear on the morning. Cost includes, travel, food and campsite fees. You need to check we have spaces left now! !

RIVER AVON FUN TRIP

3rd August Meet 9am at Market Yard Cost £3

Today we will be having fun as we paddle a nice easy section of the River Avon. You will need a packed lunch, change of clothes for paddling and you can borrow club kit on the morning. This one is good for youth members.

OPEN BOAT SKILLS DAY

13th July 9.30am at the Market Yard Cost £10

A day to polish your Open Boat skills. (Note the slightly later start than originally published.)

Stuart will be coaching and will be able to assess whereabouts you are with canoeing in order to help you progress.

REMAINING COURSES

Passport £35 An introductory 7 week course for the under 14s. Wednesdays 7-8pm. Start date: 9th July

One Star £40 An introductory course for over 14s Saturday 12th July

Aquatic First Aid £30 An 8 hour course: Saturday 9th August

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Carl, Kurt and Neil on the Allta Chourinn, a steep rockslide in Glen Etive.


We need help to run this event: 20thJuly

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Langham Farm Slalom - 7/8th June


A resounding success! Wall to wall sun-shine, (after the rain stopped on Saturday!), smiles all round and loads of help: what more could we want? If you have any suggestions of

how we could improve it next year, please do let us know! One suggestion is to move Control away from the toilets. Good point, Alex!

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Langham Farm Slalom continued

Our team, over the two days comprised: Girls: Aimee Collins, Chloe

Collins, Summer Vowell Boys: Alex Hulin, Alfie Lee, Dylan Bell, Keiran Clark,

Kieran Fewell, Matthew Legg, Theo Middleton, Tierney O’Neill,

Women: Kath Norton Men: Andrew Lyall, Andy Bell,

Andy Vowell, Chris Bart-lett, Dav Lee, John Kent, Jack Overhill, Mark Hemmens and Terry O’Neill,

In Control! Ben supports Theo in his run down the course

Alex in the pool. Promotion to Div 3 won’t come till his next slalom

Let’s see a bit of effort please!

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Llandysul slalom, 24th May - Andrew’s report

My observations of the day:

John and I were going paddle a C2

and this was our first C2 race of 2014.

Despite minimal winter C2 practice we

were looking forward to it.

As there had been lots of rain on

Thursday water levels were good,

much better than last year with all the

main rocks covered.

There were 19 gates with some tricky

ones to deal with at the end of the

course when you were tired due to a

large set of rapids.

The winning time for Division 2 men of

approximately 110 seconds was much

longer than the 95 second finishing

time of a lot of recent slaloms which

meant the course was much longer.

There were 75 competitors so the race

was quite relaxed with plenty of time

for practise and no need to wait on the

start line for your go, which is very

useful when paddling a

C2, which is not very

comfortable.

The weather was cooler,

12oC with rain from 1pm

but we were happy with

the flow of water which

continued to make the

slalom quite challenging.

We were third on our first

run with a time of 166

including 6 penalty points.

Despite trying harder on our second run

we could not improve our time coming

fourth out of six overall. We had paddled

well and had only missed third by one

second. Our best race time last year had

been 180 seconds.

Prize giving was at 3.30pm which meant

we could go to the Half Moon pub to

warm up. The food is excellent and made

a change from the Porth Hotel which is

much busier.

John stayed for Sunday’s race to meet up

with other members of the club who

couldn't race on Saturday.

If you are in Division 3 or 4 and fancy

having a go at this slalom the next one at

Llandysul is on 16 August 2014.

Andrew Lyall

Ed: Thank you for this report. Below is a picture of John and Andrew in the C2, racing at a different slalom.(Langham Farm)

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Ogmore slalom, 15th June - Kath’s report


Rich gave me some good advice before Ogmore Slalom. He said “When it’s all going wrong don’t give up”.

I had been feeling a bit disheartened after the Langham Farm slalom, so a bit of a push was probably just what I needed.

Well, what can I say? There was very stiff competition in the ladies Div 4 C1 category. Really? OK, no one else turned up but I still had to get from one end of the course to the other without swimming. We all know how difficult that can be don’t we? So there I was, thinking what a good strategy - just enter a category where there is no competition and guarantee a win - simple!

No, not simple, because I ended up getting promoted which means I am now in Div 3 and that means I now have to work hard to get better, so I don’t look like a complete numpty against the better paddlers!

I don’t want to brag, but I also came second in the 'who can hold their breath longest going through the tunnel on the motorway' event - for the uninitiated this is a game devised by team Lyall and is usually won by

Lorraine. Lorraine is able to hold her breath for miles! Andy gives it his best shot but his desire to keep talking usually wins the day...

Fortunately Andy and John won their C2 event in the slalom so that will probably help Andy get over his disappointment at being beaten by his better half (in a much more physically demanding competition obviously).

Kath

Ed: Yes, some very good advice from Rich! Hard to follow perhaps, but still good! Some stunning results today - see p15.

There is a new Div 3/4 at Harefield on 16/17th August. Is anyone interested in going to that one? It clashes with Llandysul, but as Andrew points out, it is a lot closer!

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River Avon Trip, 22nd June - Jane’s report


‘Write a report after the trip’ they always say. (By “they” I largely mean Pam of course), and I never do because to be honest my powers of concentra-tion and observation skills are rather limited.

On most trips I put on my kit, carry my boat, go where I’m told, wait for the shuttle (unless I’m driving, in which case I drive where I’m told), sit in sun (yesterday) or try to keep warm (other days), go the next place I’m told, and get on water when I am told. As you can see I am very obedient (no snigger-ing at the back please), it’s just that I don’t always take a lot of notice of what else is going on around me. Even on the

water I am either bimbling along communing with nature, making “to do” lists for the week ahead in my head and maybe chatting to my near-est paddling companion or, on moving water, too busy concentrating on stay-ing upright to notice much about what anyone else is doing. So yesterday I did try a bit harder.

Firstly I took some photos as requested by Pam all of which can be seen on the FCC Facebook page. Secondly I tried to notice enough going on around me to write this report.

In summary the day was led with great efficiency, authority and good humour (they paid me to write that) by Stu and Mark and involved: flat water and two weirs (more on these later), glorious sunshine and blue sky, a good mix of

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River Avon continued

open boats and kayaks, paddlers ranging in age from Dylan (2 and three quarters) to, well, quite a bit older, and

paddling experience ranging from years to mere weeks.

Given the weather we were all kitted out in light paddling gear which made the long stretches of flat water paddling less arduous (ie sweaty). The only exception to the light paddling gear rule was Mark in full cag - we never did quite work out which weather forecast he had looked at before the trip or what conditions he was expecting. Did I mention he was leading the trip?

The day being absolutely glorious, the river at Bradford -on-Avon was busy with anglers, rowers, anglers, more an-glers, and the Wiltshire Search and Res-cue Team carrying out some train-

ing. We don’t THINK they were there because Pam had told them who was leading the trip, but I can’t be sure!

Leaving “civilisation” behind we saw several handsome herons (or was it just the same one several times Mark?), remarkably tolerant of our presence and happy to sit and let us admire them as we passed quite close by, plus swans/cygnets, geese/goslings, ducks/ducklings, and people swimming which must be a testament to the health of the river water.

We did engage in a bit of competitive “clearest river I have paddled on” dis-cussion - and OK Rich, you win, we can’t beat your 3 metre deep crystal clear Scottish pool experience.

Reaching Avoncliff Weir George was deputised to assess the best line for those going over and provide a gentle launch for everyone including our

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newest kayakers Karen, Mike, Finley and Craig who all stayed admirably upright.

Then came Julia, with George putting rather more enthusiasm into sending HIS OWN MOTHER over the edge, followed by me launched with double enthusiasm by George and Rich together. Which might lead you to question why I went back up for a second go – and why I was at all sur-prised to find myself going down the weir backwards. I have been trying to work out the “respect your elders” vs “glad they think I’m not a fuddy duddy” equation and have come definitively to the conclusion that being considered by teenaged boys a suitable candidate for backwards over a weir, is the best

compliment a middle aged woman can be paid!

Another flat paddle via a lunch break to Limpley Stoke Mill where the only points of the day were acquired. Mark rolled (or so I’m told, didn’t actually see it myself, see top of this piece) and Julia becoming rather too attached to her spray deck, and requiring assis-tance in her evacuation.

Several of the ‘boys’ took the opportu-nity to go down the weir a few times, which involved conspicuous paddle throwing, I presume to demonstrate a lack of support strokes. Frankly one or two of the participants were old enough to know better – and in Mike’s case rather impressively enthusiastic

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given this is his first season paddling. Watch out future river leaders, the man knows no fear!

Final stretch of paddling to Limpley Stoke, carrying boats up to the aque-duct and into the murky waters of the canal for the final hundred yard paddle to the get out. Or the 400 yard paddle if your leaders take you the wrong way. Which of course would never happen.

All in all, a happy day’s paddle in glorious sunshine. As I flicked through my photos, which are mainly just un-posed snapshots, I couldn’t help noticing the number of smiles on people’s faces. And that, to me, is what it’s all about.

Paddlers and Points

Girls: Bee T, Chloe Mc, Hannah B, Isi M

Boys: Ben N, Finley T, George Mc, Rich N (1),

Women: Jane T, Julia Mc (3), Karen R, Kath N, Sam N,

Men: Chris R, Gareth, Mark B (1), Mike H and Stu M.

Joining us at the beginning and paddling part of the way: Andy, Dylan and Lou.

Last words from Stu about Rich Nor-man’s point “He may have had a little assistance from a third party in his capsize”.

Ed: Lovely article Jane. Thank you! Lots more photos on fb. And yes - loads of smiles!

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PLC - Platinum Ladies Club


Have you ever wondered how much better river trips would be if the fe-male intellect was applied to the Get On and the Get Off? Well wonder no more! Let’s face it, whoever runs the trip, the get on and get off just don’t work do they? There’s all that driving backwards and forwards (and that’s just to park the car) and then there’s the lifting of boats, the carrying of boats and whatever else goes on. Be honest now how many nails have you broken in the process?

Well, you will be pleased to know that on the Avon trip, five, fearless, solu-tion focussed, females (Julia, Jane,

Frome Canoe Club - PLC (Platinum Ladies Club) OR River Avon Trip - 22nd June

By Kath Norton

Sam, Karen and Kath) put their excep-tional minds to solving this problem. And solve it we did!

We have formed the Platinum Ladies Club. This is both an inclusive and ex-clusive tier of Frome Canoe Club. Inclu-sive because we want it to be accessible to all so there is no charge for this pre-mium level of membership. Exclusive, because we have to have standards so not just anyone can join.

You are probably wondering what this has to do with logistical improvements (or you are bored and have skipped to the next article) but be patient, I can assure you it will become clear shortly.

So back to exclusivity – we have devised eligibility criteria – basically you have to meet the following:

Be female (sorry Stu, being a big girls blouse doesn’t count – really, no exceptions!)

That’s basically it for the criteria.

Once a member of the PLC you will be fast tracked on all river trips so,

You will not have to get up at silly o’clock to get to the club house to do that boat loading thing.

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PLC continued


You will not have to drive, or be transported in mini buses and such like, because a chauffeur driven limo will pick you up at a REASONABLE time and take you to the get on, arriving JUST BEFORE you actually need to get on.

At the get on, your boat and kit will already be there for you (no lifting and carrying for you, la-dies!).

You will be assisted into your boat and lowered gently into the water (none of this sending people down weirs backwards – Rich and George and Ben or whoever did that nasty thing to Jane).

The get off will be exactly what it says on the tin – the ‘get off’. Not the ‘get off and break a nail lifting and carrying your boat’ (or even worse other people’s!)

You will get off, leave your boat etc for someone else to worry about and step into your winne-bego for a nice hot shower and glass of champagne.

A massage and pamper session will be immediately available (David Beckham has already ex-pressed an interest in this new career opportunity) whilst your

boat receives a full valet service.

You will have a nice relaxing jour-ney home - to your door - no stopping off at the club house to do more of that lifting and carry-ing stuff.

As we are very exclusive in the PLC, our motto is in Latin. We are very clever you know! OK, we have Google translate. And of course our motto is “non erigamus digitus” – or for those people who don’t have Google trans-late to hand, ‘we don’t lift a finger’ . . . BECAUSE WE WILL BREAK OUR NAILS,

OBVIOUSLY, KEEP UP PLEASE!

But don’t worry guys you will always be more to us than lifters and carriers of boats – we will let you provide safety cover as well because you are quite good at that! (well, maybe not anymore after this article…..)

Ogmore 15th June

Says John on facebook after the event

“What a haul at Ogmore today”

Div 3 K1M Kieran 1st

Div 3 K1W Chloe 1st

Div 3 C2 Kent / Lyall 1st

Div 4 K1M Alex 3rd and Promoted

Div 4 C1W Kath 1st and Promoted

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Get all your canoeing

things from the Family

Adventure Store at

Hilperton. BA14 7PJ

Bits and pieces


HELP NEEDED 27th July is our next starter session day for members of the public to have a go canoeing. We are joining up with the Activity Day organised in Frome, so there will be lots going on during the day, and hopefully we will get lots of interest!

We need coaches and volunteers to help us from 10am till 4pm.

Megan has counted the

vouchers! We have a grand

total of 3783.

THANK YOU EVERYONE!

If anyone has any more

vouchers lurking at home,

we are still happy to receive

them!

http://p6trc.emv2.com/HS?a=ENX7Cqmaqu7e8SA9MKJEJgjnGHxKLGNC0PcStGb5lw8W0bBhOG5mpqVsje_HhdCdZlMc

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The upstairs room in the clubhouse is progressing well and at

the last committee meeting we agreed a vote of thanks

needed to go to Mark Baines for spending so many Wednes-

day evenings over the winter working on the lighting system.

Everything works! Thank you Mark!


Bits and Pieces

A week or so ago graffiti was sprayed onto the clubhouse wall and the containers to the side. The containers can just be painted over, but the paint on the brickwork is taking some time to remove. Thank you to everyone for your kind offers of help and especially to Bex for posting some industrial strength stuff to us. It is a slow process but it is working.

THANK YOU ANDY - for sorting out the puncture on the large trailer,

in time for Biblins. One question - did you do the nuts up good and

tight? The journey of 2009 still remains a nightmare in some of our

heads. You see that was the year when the wheel fell off en route to

Biblins. It was Tim who came to the rescue with nuts from his trailer at

home, so we could continue with the journey.

When we look back on the weekend the most important thing to say is . ..

We counted at least 35 members who helped. John, the organiser, said he had never known a slalom so well supported and with so much help, especially from young people. The exact profit made from the food tent is not confirmed yet, but it will be in excess of £550 (an increase on last year!) Thank you every-one who helped out over the weekend for us, in whatever role.

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Bits and Pieces


From Neil about ‘Hypothermia - A Speciality’, the archive CST article

I was on that course you quoted in last month’s newsletter titled ‘Hypothermia - A Speciality’. My log book says it was on 9th and 10th April 1994! My notes read “Snow on the banks. The hypothermia role plays were for real and no-one wanted to get out of the survival bags.” Of course, group shelters had not been invented back then! Neil.

Zoe Boyle 20

Ian Jones 19

Bex Tanti 15

Bill Fryer 12

Rich Norman 11

Rich Carter 10

Rich Heal 9

Gareth McGiveron 9

Carl Gilder 9

Alun Jones 9

Kath Norton 6

Su Fewell 5

Jack Smiles 5

Stuart Miles 3

Arthur Belbin 3

Summer Vowell 3

Jane Thomas 3

Jack Kimber 3

Ben Trippick 3

Jonathan Howell 3

Pam Dixon 3

Bob Barr 3

Kien Christmas 3

Julia McGiveron 3

Ben Nicol 1

Andy Vowell 1

Mark Baines 1

Who’s been swimming? 3 points for a swim, 2 for a tech-nical rescue (ie someone helped you) and 1 for a roll.

to our recent Passport Passes Hebe Foulsham Niamh O’Driscoll Alfie Lee Bosco Foulsham Daniel Brake Cormac O’Driscoll Jacob Lines Theo Middleton

And a big thank you to Jonathan and Gine for leading them though the course.

THANK YOU to Andrew Lyall. He has sold one of our unused old slalom boats at Shepperton slalom. So win, win , win - we get £20 and we get some space and Sharks CC get to use a slalom boat! Couldn't be better really!

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Canoeing and kayaking are “Assumed risk” – “Water contact sports” that may carry attendant risks. Participants should be aware of and accept these risks, and be responsible for their own action and involvement.

www.frome-canoe-club.org.uk

Check out the photos of club events on the website. And refer to the calendar for all the club activities.

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CONTACTS

Chairman Alun Jones 01373 823513

Vice Chair: Gareth McGiveron

Treasurer: John Kent 01225 765168 [email protected]

Secretary: Pam Dixon 07740 472982 [email protected]

Head Coach: Rich Carter 01373 864623

Youth Reps: Tracey Lemon and Stuart Miles

Volunteer Rep: Jonathan Howell Kit: Sally and Tim Smiles, assisted by Tracey Lemon

This is one of our annual fun events We plan to have games or races in the morning. While these are happening, the chicken pieces

will be cooking beautifully and the salads will be dressing nicely. Then we can relax and eat at

about 1.30pm! At Langham Farm from 11am

Cost £5 adults, £4 young people.

‘Typical FCC polo game on June 24th - lots of shoving, pushing and being upside down - but very entertaining to watch nonetheless!’ said Megan. Next game is 29th July.

TUESDAY POLO and OUR SUMMER BBQ

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2014 07 newsletter