2011 07 newsletter

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Volume 35 Issue 7 ~ July 2011

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

LANGHAM FARM SLALOM HUGE SUCCESSES ALL ROUND:

Record level of entries on the Saturday Record levels of help from club members

2 has the details

Another fun event for everyone Market Yard Slalom 17th July

Why not take part in the TEAM RACES? See P4 for details

Canoe sailing: bring it on Stu!

Biblins 2011

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FCC ‘THROWLINE ’ CLUB MAGAZINE

Send articles for the next issue to [email protected] by 28th July

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President

Graham Warnecke

Vice Presidents

Richard and Jane Arney

Jim and Catharine Croft

Chairman

Andy Bell

Vice Chairman

Rich Carter

Treasurer

John Kent

Secretary

Pam Dixon

16 Blagdon Walk, Frome, BA11 2YH

Committee Members

Debbie Ashdown

Howard Charlesworth

Sam Charlesworth

Mandy James

Alun Jones

Gareth McGiveron

Karl Waldeck

Sara Withall

Jack Smiles (Youth voice)

Kit Officer

Tim Smiles

In this issue

3 Calendar in brief

4 Fun day at Bradford on Avon

5 CIWW

5 BBQ and Cardboard Challenge

7 Surfing Weekend

10 Biblins

20 Canoe Safety training

4 TEAM races: what are they all about?

8 Market Yard Slalom - details

9 Report: First Mini slalom

12 Report: Langham Farm Slalom

16 Free entry to Market Yard Slalom

6 A Cardboard Challenge

14 White water coaching

15 Leptospirosis - information

16 Spot the difference

17 Coppernose clip points

CALENDAR

REPORTS

SLALOM MATTERS

SPECIALS

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Calendar 2011

Date Event Standard Contact

July

8 Fun mini slalom at Langham F All John K

13 Adults use slalom equipment Adults on Wed John K

9-10 One Star Course Participants Pam D

17 MARKET YARD SLALOM All John K

24 Bradford On Avon Fun day All Pam D

31 CIWW 2 Star plus plus Andy B

August

5 Fun mini slalom at Langham F All John K

7 BBQ and try-a-boat-day All Pam D

7 The Cardboard Challenge All Pam D

10 Adults use slalom equipment Adults on Wed John K

27/28/29 Surfing weekend Families Howard C

September

3/4/11 Two Star Course One Star Pam D

8/9 Moving water Training Passport or 1 Star Pam D

November

12/13 Dart Training weekend One Star + Pam D


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Calendar in detail - trips and events


Bradford on Avon - a fun trip 24th July Meet at the Clubhouse, 9.30am Cost £3 Organiser - Pam

Everyone is welcome to join this trip even if you haven’t got Passport or One Star. If you can paddle in a straight line you will be fine. If you can’t paddle in a straight line, think about paddling an open boat with someone who can!

This is an easy paddle with fun and games thrown in. So a good trip for beginners, and the not-so-beginners in the club are also welcome!

We drive to the car park by the station in Bradford on Avon and we get on there. We paddle to the two weirs and mess about on them.

We also try to fit in some sinking games: who can sink the instructors before they sink us?! And so on.

Notice the later than normal start 9.30 am at the Clubhouse.

TEAM RACES TRY SOMETHING NEW!

Take part in a team race on 17th July in the Market Yard Slalom 9am at the Market Yard

What are Team races?

Team races are where three paddlers (in kayaks, C2s, or a combination of different classes) race the course together.

You are timed from when the first paddler starts until the last pad-dler finishes. Somewhere along the course there will be a Team gate (marked with a "T" next to the gate number) and all three paddlers must pass through the Team gate within 15 seconds.

The added challenge in a Team run is to be able to work together so that paddlers don't get in each other's way. Remember you can take part in the team races for FREE, just as long as you enter before the day. Use the voucher on P16. See also P8 for more information about the whole event.

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The BBQ, Try-a-boat-day and Cardboard Kayak Challenge! 7th August At Langham Farm From 11am Cost £5.50 adults £3.50 youth Organiser - Pam

Everyone is welcome to join this event, which includes a feast of a barbeque, a try-a-boat-day and the Cardboard Kayak Challenge all rolled into one.

We have a variety of boats for you to try out during the day. You can spend the morning building your cardboard canoe and then race it in the after-noon, or you can get involved with the barbequing and preparing the feast, or you can just chill, chatting to fellow members and friends.

THIIS EVENT CAN BE A PERFECTLY DRY OCCASION.

There is no requirement for you to get in a boat, but of course you are very welcome to.

See p6 for more details about the

Cardboard Kayak Challenge.

Calendar in detail - trips


Cardiff: CIWW 31st July Organiser: Andy Bell Meet 8am at the Clubhouse Costs £13 transport £10 entry fee adult £5 entry for U16 Ideally you should be able to roll, and should be comfortable on fast moving water. The eddy lines are sharp and catch even the most competent paddlers out. But if you don’t mind swimming ....

Email Andy if you need more infor-mation or want answers to ques-tions: [email protected]

Two fish swim into a concrete wall. One turns to the other and says 'Dam!'

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Cardboard Kayaks - a challenge for you!


This is the second Cardboard Kayak Race to be held by Frome Canoe Club and will take place at the annual BBQ.

7th August, at Langham Farm

The principles of a cardboard canoe race are to get from one point on a river to another in a canoe. Sounds easy? But not when your boat is made of cardboard held together with duck tape!!! The photos show two of our last years’ competitors.

So what do you need to do:

1. Form a team of two 2. Sign up on the sheet in the club House, with your team name 3. Collect some cardboard and duck tape together 4. Get building!!! (canoes can be made before hand or built on the day. We will have plenty of cardboard on the day for construction on site) 5. Be ready to paddle it from the weir to the bridge just after lunch 6. We send you down one at a time so that there is no sabotaging of other people’s boats in the frenzy of getting to the front!

Judging of canoe design will be after lunch, followed closely by the race.

Prizes will be awarded for Best made and decorated Best performance i(e, furthest travelled)

ARE YOU UP FOR THE CHALLENGE ?

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Surfing weekend


Suring Weekend 27th/28th/29thAugust

A self catering, camping and surfing weekend.

It’s time to catch some surf! Yes it’s that

time of year again when we head down to camp at Dinham Farm in Cornwall to catch some surf on anything which floats. Last year was very successful with surfers heading out to the waves very early to beat the crowds. This left the rest of the day to spend with the family on the beach or whatever you want. It’s good safe white water practice for both new and experienced. To take part you will need camping equipment because it’s self catering. If you’re under 18 bring your parents and if you’re over bring them anyway. Also bring your chosen surf craft and gear - you can borrow club kit if you need to but be sure to either email Howard (see below) or write it on the list when you sign up.

Costs Transport: variable. (£20-£25) Food: variable (it’s DIY time - you sort it out for yourself!) Camp charges, per person per night:

Adult £6 Child (2 – 12 years £4 Child (13+ years) £6 Dogs £1

Dinham Farm Caravan Park at www.dinhamfarm.co.uk

Meet: Arrangements are variable - most people make their own way there on Friday. Pair up to share costs!

Any questions please email: [email protected]

This trip is not suitable for unaccompanied youth members, so bring your family if you want to come.

http://www.dinhamfarm.co.uk/

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A fun event to take part in


FCC members get free entry to this event. See p 16 for more information And don’t forget the TEAM RACES in this event: see P4 for details

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Reports - minislalom


Langham Farm Minislalom, Race 1, Friday 17th June By John Kent

Moving water for our first minislalom of 2011

Thanks to the ten paddlers who braved the rain and made it through the traffic snarl up around Rode we had a good race, and we actually had some moving water.

Congratulations to Jack Smiles who had fastest run of the evening and to Isi Miles for fastest female. This year we counted the penal-ties for hitting poles (2 for a hit, and 50 for missing a gate). Alex had set up a 9-gate course with par-ticularly tricky gates around the drop above the bridge and in the course of the evening there were only two clear runs, Jack on his first run and Ben Nicol on his second C1 run.

Thanks to Vicky for timing - you must have run miles between Start and Finish, and to Ben M and Andrew for judging.

There are three races in this series, the next one being Friday 8th July.

THE GOOD NEWS is that this is the week before the Market Yard Slalom and will give you an opportunity for some practice.

Points are gained from each race and these are added together to give a total after the final race on 5th August. John

Ed: Ah! Jack can paddle a slalom boat then. And get round the poles. We were beginning to get worried that with all that paddling in Scotland Jack had lost his nerve. Well done Jack. Look out for two more slalom reports: next month: Cardington and Ironbridge.

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Biblins 2011


Well here we are again: same place, same tent, same tables, even some of the same paddlers. But what is missing? Oh yes, Pam! But will we make it through the weekend with-out being organised, fed and looked after as normal? Or did in fact Pam send instructions? Yes you guessed, everybody had their instructions. Meg’s was even in writing, Gareth picked up the food, from Pam’s house, which Pam had arranged, the boats were put on to trailers and paddlers put in transport for the journey to the camp site, all organ-ised for us at the Market Yard Satur-day morning by Pam. But on site

Meg, Jack and Gareth did us proud with keeping everybody fed and a big thanks must go to them.

As for the weather, the water was higher than last year, and it was much less windy, so those who thought it was windy this year should have been there last year. We had a pleasant paddle on Sat-urday, with lots of jumping at seal rock. It was such a pleasant time that we stayed for a long time and when people started to get cold we headed for camp, a well deserved evening meal, followed by a camp fire.

Ed: Pam says thank you to everyone for the card you all signed and sent to her. She says it brought a tear to her eye. She did miss you all. Roll on next year’s event!

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Biblins 2011

Sunday rose with cloud cover and very slowly we all appeared for breakfast. The river had come up by about 400mm over night, which meant that it was flowing a lot faster, but people did make it to the rapids. People had to be very careful as to what they did with the higher water levels: some sat in the sun as it was hot by now; some did a lot of swimming as they needed to cool down. After about 3 hours we headed for camp to eat, pack up and head home. Well we would have, but it was very hot now, and all I could hear was echo-ing around “It’s too hot to do this”.

No pleasing some people.

Thank you to all who worked hard this weekend to make it a very en-joyable event, and to Pam for get-ting it all ready.

Thanks to Meg, Jack, Gareth for get-ting the food on the tables, Gareth for getting everything in and on his van and pulling the trailer, Andy V for pulling the other trailer, Alun J for driving the mini bus, and every-body else for being there and help-ing set up and take down the camp. Oh yes, and thanks to Graham (Herr President) for not swimming. Rich

Ed: Pam says thank you to everyone for the card you all signed and sent to her. She says it brought a tear to her eye. She did miss you all. Roll on next year’s event!

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Report: Langham Farm Slalom

22 club members took part in the slalom competition at Langham Farm and over 35 members helped out over the two

days. It was a brilliant weekend with some interesting weather to complicate events on Sunday!

The water levels changed dramatically on Sunday and the poles needed ad-justing on more than one occasion. Safety cover on Sunday was spectacular with Ben M and James B above the bridge, in the water. We were congratu-lated by the Chair of the Jury for our good response to the changing water levels and our good safety cover. WHO DID WHAT IN THE COMPETITION?

Ben Nicol came second both days in Div 3 K1 Mens, and together with his points from Llandysul was pro-moted to Division 2.

Rowan, 4th on Sunday was also promoted to Division 2.

Isi Miles came second in the Div 4 K1 Women and was promoted to Div 3.

Our other competitors were;

Jamie Creese in Div 4 K1 Mens and he was promoted to Division 3. William Jones, and Rosie Vallis in Div 3 K1. Ben Nicol in Div 3 C1. Andy and Rowan Avery in Div 2/3 C2. James Bennett, James Munn, Mark Hemmens, Liz Kelly, Bex Tanti and Mike Bullen in Div 4 K1. Andy and Summer Vowell in the Div 4 C2. Jamie Creese and Lia Hobbs also competed in this class, but events overtook them and

Continued next page

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Some quotes from the slalom weekend

What a great event.

I wish I'd entered,

especially after see-

ing the water on

Sunday!!! Dave

Bloodworth.

I thoroughly enjoyed the race on Saturday and can't wait to race again in july! It was my first time entering a slalom and I thought that everyone there was very encouraging and suppor-tive. Liz Kelly.

Kate Johnson –

I tell you the

slalom was a

darn sight more

scary than the

Loop. Wow!

Jack Smiles To Linz on Sunday morning: "You look like an upside-down smurf who got dressed In the dark!"

'It was fun and enjoy-able on the Saturday. On the Sunday the water went up and was crazy! It was harder but more fun.'

William Jones.

Vicky Bennett, overheard by Linz on Saturday night "I never realised that lady birds are red with black spots, are you sure about that?'

I've never seen any-one carrying so many

poles and spreaders on their shoulder as I

saw Mike Bullen carry when we were putting away. John Kent

they didn't finish. Andrew Lyall, John Kent, Alun Jones, Andy Avery, Shane Creese and Kate John-son competed in the Official's race.

Andy Bell, the organiser was delighted with the event. He said “It was great to see the new slalom boats being used by our members. And we were happy for other clubs to use them too.

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White water coaching


Free Kayak coaching!! Would you like to progress your skills, get confidant on moving water or explore some new rivers?

A new coaching award requires Rob and myself to coach a group over a period of 1 year. Already a small group of enthusiastic people have volunteered, however we ideally could do with a few more of you! If you’re interested the coaching will be using some of the latest tech-niques in paddling and sports science to help you reach your goals.

We will meet 1 – 2 times a month over 12 months. You will get to give us loads of feedback on how we are doing and we will look at all aspects of your paddling.

Ideally you would be someone that has done 2 Star or is of about that standard, has decided that you like kayak-ing and want to progress your skills on to white water. We need males and females over 14. Some sessions will be at the club probably on a Monday night and others will be on a river at weekends. We will set the dates when the majority can make them and plan all the dates for the year in one go.

The first coaching session will identify what you want to achieve and where you want to get to with your paddling and then each person will have an individual coaching plan to get them to that goal. Examples of possible goals could be to get 3 Star or be a competent, confident and independent white water paddler, be able to plan and run river trips or just to feel comfortable being part of a group. This part is up to you!

If you’re interested please email us. As soon as we have the right number and mix of people we will split you into two groups, get people together and Kick off. When started it would be very difficult to take new people on so please don’t delay if interested.

Thanks Bryony Evered 07816 428236 [email protected] Rob Evered 07980 449218 [email protected]

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Leptospirosis - information


All about Leptospirosis / Weils Disease

Leptospirosis is an infection that can affect people who come into contact with

water where rats live. It can cause a disease called Weil's disease, which feels a

little like flu with a persistent and severe headache to start with. It is far more

serious than flu and it is important that you tell your doctor if you’re feeling unwell

after kayaking/canoeing. As canoeists and kayakers we are all at risk of suffering

from this infection, but following some basic rules can reduce the likelihood of

getting it. Cover all cuts and broken skin with waterproof plasters. It can be a bit

tricky to keep the plasters on, but your instructor will have some ideas for keeping

cuts covered. Wash your hands after paddling and always before eating or drinking.

Better still, have a bath or shower after paddling.

Remember that live on the rivers that we like to

paddle.

Always after paddling and definitely

wash hands before

This article is not to alarm you - it is to give you information. Please be reassured that we are not telling you about Leptospirosis because we have any more concern than normal, at the moment - the last case in the club was about 10 years ago.

Have fun paddling, be aware of the risks and

ENJOY YOUR SPORT.

IN NEXT MONTH’S NEWSLETTER: The Avon trip. Also find out

how our members did at the Cardington and Ironbridge slaloms.

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Bits and Pieces


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Hey ‘Tim’ is this really part

of the one Star Course?

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Spot the Difference

Spot the Eight differences between the pictures

WIN a slab of Cadbury’s chocolate.

Entries to [email protected], or hand in at any club session - One winner only from draw.

This voucher entities FCC members to free entry for the competition on 17th July. Fill up an entry card and hand it in to Pam or Sally at club sessions, or post to John (address on back page). This voucher is only valid if you enter before the event. So come on members, get your en-tries in before the day and enter for free in any boat you wish. You can of course enter on the morning, but you will have to pay!

Hey Rich is this really part of the One Star course?

Hey Rich is this really part of the One Star course?

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Coppernose points


Bill Fryer 24

Jack Smiles 19

Jane Thomas 18

Miles Benjafield 17

Sam Charlesworth 17

Jonny Bevan 16

Arthur Belbin 15

Rich Carter 14

Jonathan waldeck 13

Becki Fryer 12

Chris Harvey 12

Tim Cottle 12

Karl Waldeck 12

Andrew Francis 12

Alun Jones 9

Ian Jones 9

Jaz Shillabeer 9

Mike Bullen 9

Ellie Howell 9

Alex Nicol 8

Bob Barr 8

Joe Gregory 8

Veronica Francis 8

Ben Miles 6

Fred Hobbs 6

Jon Cox 6

Peter Thomas 6

Alex Waldeck 6

Ben Lemon 6

Danny O’Gorman 5

Bex Tanti 5

Mandy James 5

Neil Dixon 5

Stuart Miles 5

Howard C 4

Lily Charlesworth 4

Alan Carpenter 3

Andrew Lyall 3

Ben Lemon 3

Gareth McGiveron 3

Jack Kimber 3

James Munn 3

John Kent 3

Jonathan Howell 3

Kate Johnson 3

Mark Baines 3

Nadine Robson 3

Terry O'Neill 3

Julia Rowley 3

Nathan Howell 3

Andrew Lyall 3

Nick Mayell 3

Hazel Cottle 2

Hilary Pound 2

Isi Miles 2

Katie Hobbs 2

Max Charlesworth 2

Lia Hobbs 2

Sam Nicol 2

Debbie Ashdown 2

Robert Francis 2

Carl Gilder 1

George McGiveron 1

Matt Norman 1

Sam Bloodworth 1

Swim = 3 points Rescue = 2 points Roll = 1 point

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Bits and Pieces

Two Regional events

The Big Paddle When: 2nd October 2011

Where: Exeter What: A Tour and A Race

suitable for any and all abili-

ties.

For the beginner a leisurely

paddle down the historic Exeter

Ship Canal and for the more

adventurous a paddle down the

River Exe shooting the two

weirs then a short portage and

back up the canal.

The event will be suitable for

all types of boats from Sit-on-

Tops to Racing Boats so put

the date in your diary further

details will be published when

we get them.

South West Canoe Show 1st October 2011

Manoeuvre of the month

John, our resident slalom expert, missed a gate in the recent Langham Farm Slalom. YES MISSED A GATE! Considering that not only was he the course director and was responsible for the layout of the course, but he is also an experienced Div 2 paddler, you would have thought he would have known better. When asked about the incident he said calmly ”I lost my way in the course. Someone changed the poles. (Yes that’s the

course director’s job !) How many points do you think he deserves for this manoeuvre?

The New Boat Syndrome Also known as the River Avon trip report - 12th June

Arthur has omitted to send in a trip report and we guess this is due to the embarrassment factor of his two rolls at the Saltford weir. He said it was whilst trying to get to grips with his new Hoss. Yes we all know about that ‘new boat syndrome’ but we don’t believe a word of it, do we? Nick, the other person to gain points, got them at the first weir, where Rich was allegedly "helping him over the weir’. Umm... Girls: Ellie H Ladies: Debbie A, Carol G, Hilary P, Sarah M and Veronica F Men: Arthur B (2), Howard C, Ian J, Jonathan H, Karl W, Nick M (3), Peter T and Rich C.

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Bits and Pieces

TWO STAR The following people have been working hard over the last six weeks on a challenging Two Star course led by Arthur. Carol Gill Hilary Pound Sarah Mayell Nick Mayell Ian Jones Peter Thomas

Many thanks to Arthur who put them through their paces. Thanks also to Stuart, Fred, and Alex who assisted at various points over the course. And to Rich who tested. Ed: it has come to our attention that the Instructor for this course, had a very interesting moment in one of the sessions and earned himself 3 points. By all accounts he fell out of an open boat. It doesn’t matter Arthur, a swim is a swim whether open boat or kayak!

Our 2011 Passport paddlers

We look forward to seeing you all on some trips soon. Thanks to the instructors Vicky, Sam, Megan, Alun and Gareth for putting them through their paces.

Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.

Faith Bennett Grace Beavan Meg Chalkley Ava Daniels Greer Daniels Josie Drake Aurelia Heyworthy Francesca Heyworthy Mollie Rustell Eloise Price Emily Turner

Thomas Bennett Tom Hodgson Nathan Howell Aaron Morse Tierney O’Neill Finlay Osborne Jago Paton Toby Paton Alex Waldeck

MORE FIRST AIDERS IN THE CLUB Jamie Creese, Ben Nicol, Joe Gregory, Mark Baines, Jonathan Howell, Alun Jones and Carl Gilder. I am sure they all thank you Neil for the sore knees they have after all that CPR practice!

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Reports continued - Canoe Safety course

www.frome-canoe-club.org.uk

CONTACTS

Chairman: Andy Bell 07966 203309

Vice Chair: Rich Carter 01373 864623 [email protected]

Treasurer: John Kent 01225 765168 [email protected]

Secretary: Pam Dixon 01373 473836 [email protected]

Youth Voice: Jack Smiles [email protected]

Slalom rep: John Kent 20 Crawley Crescent Trowbridge BA14 9SP

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.

Get all your canoeing

things from the Family

Adventure Store at

Hilperton. BA14 7PJ

Check out the photos of club events or put a comment on the message board!

CANOE SAFETY or FSRT Ten people turned up for this popular ‘swimming’ course.

Hilary Pound Howard Charlesworth Debbie Ashdown Rich Norman Ben Nicol Kate Johnson Mike Bullen Ben Miles Jonathan Howell Jaz Shillabeer

Also there on the day were Jack, Stuart, Gareth, George and Alun. These guys must have some sort of death wish, because they kept throwing themselves into the water, only to be rescued by one or other of the participants. Thanks Rich for leading a very full and wet course.

2011 07 newsletter

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