2014 09 newsletter

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Frome Canoe Club is affiliated to Canoe England and is a Registered Charity (Number 1104728)

Newsletter

Volume 38 Issue 9: September 2014

BBQ races - the winners

Congratulations Chloe!

Promoted to Division 2 at Cardington, 31st August

Chloe only started slalom this year with her first one in May at Winchester. A promotion straight away to Div 3 was rather good., but it gets better! A promotion to Div 2 at the end of August. Is this a club record?

P10 for more

A really good response from the membership! Here is just one of the many positive comments:

“I would change nothing. I think the club is amazing!”

The committee now wants your views about an additional way of paying session fees. See back page.

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In this issue

3 Calendar in brief

4 Surf trip

4 Wye trip

4 Tiverton training

5 Starwars event

5 Barle trip

5 An afternoon paddle

14 Harefield slalom report

8 A Rebel in our Midst

9 Caroline’s Bradford on Avon

10 Summer Barbeque

12 The Survey: a summary of results

15 Other courses

16 An alternative way of paying for club sessions - your views requested

CALENDAR: details

REPORTS

SPECIALS

FCC ‘THROWLINE ’ CLUB MAGAZINE

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

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

September

7 Surf trip (surf dependent!) Adults Rich C

7 Starwars light sabre challenge All Stu + Tracey

17 LAST WEDNESDAY SESSION All Pam D

21 Wye Rapids or local trip Passport/One Star Rich C

24 Open Clubhouse (every Wednesday through the winter, but no organised sessions

All

Pam D

28 Afternoon paddle at the club All Rich C

October

4/5

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

Pam D

10 FIRST POOL SESSION All Pam D

17 Polo at the Pool (contact game) All Pam D

19

River Barle A good One Star + moving water training

Gareth

24 Polo at the Pool (non contact) All Pam D

31 Pool session: a coaching night All Pam D

November

15/16 Dart Weekend Passport/One Star (+ 10 years or over)

Pam D

30 Local trip Passport/One Star John K

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

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Calendar in detail

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


TIVERTON TRAINING

WEEKEND

4/5th October Meet Market Yard : 8.30am £40

A weekend to learn the skills of paddling on moving water (rapids).

We stay in a bunkhouse overnight and so you need to bring overnight things and a sleeping bag.

Transport, food (except Saturday lunch) is included in the price.

Limited spaces. So booking is essen-tial. £10 deposit secures your place.

We paddle the River Exe on both days, working in very small groups so that you get quality coaching.

This course is essential for new paddlers who want to take part in some of the winter trips coming up.

We teach how to break in and out of the flow, how to ferryglide, and surf waves, as well as showing you how to stay safe on moving water.

We have an option this year of being able to book a climbing wall and instructors for the activity. This will cost an additional £10. When you sign up, indicate if you are interested.

WYE RAPIDS

21st September 8am at the Market Yard Cost £15

Today we will be having fun as we mess about all day on the rapids at Symonds Yat. You will need a packed lunch, change of clothes for paddling, a towel, and you can borrow club kit on the morning.

SURF TRIP

7th September 8am at the Market Yard Cost £15

A day on the waves! This will take place on the north Devon coast, most likely Croyde area.

The trip is for competent paddlers, around the 2 Star level, and over 10year olds. If you are not good at rolling yet, I would suggest that you borrow one of the club’s sit-on-tops.

If there is no surf we will cancel so watch out for news on the web-page and fb.

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


Calendar in detail

A paddling event with a twist! 7th September, 2pm (No charge to take part. And fancy dress is optional) A Starwars convention (in fancy dress) on the banks of the River Frome, followed by the light-sabre challenge in open boats.

(PS You might get wet in the light-sabre challenge, so be warned!)

Judging of the fancy dress will take place first, and then we hop into canoes in teams for the challenge.

RIVER BARLE TRIP

19th October 8am at the Market Yard Cost £12

This is a beautiful river on Exmoor, graded at 2. It has rapids almost all the way down and is a good river if you have just done the Tiverton Training weekend.

You need to be 10 years old or over, be a good One Star standard and be able to wear a spray deck. Bring a packed lunch, warm clothes and borrow any club kit you need on the morning.

AFTERNOON PADDLE

AT THE CLUBHOUSE

SUNDAY 28th September 2pm at the Market Yard (No charge to paddle)

You suggested, in the survey, some weekend paddles at the clubhouse, so here we go!

The first one is 28th September!

It will be like a normal Wednesday session: fun and games, polo, slalom open boats, and so lots to choose from.

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What happens after Wednesdays stop?


WE CONTINUE TO MEET AT THE CLUBHOUSE We carry on paddling at the clubhouse on Wednesdays till it gets too dark to see.

But sessions are not organised. So on 24th Sept and after, you need to be a competent paddler and go in a group of at least three. Or catch hold of a coach and ask if they will go with you!

Open house every Wednesday You don’t need to paddle on Wednesdays: you can come for the company, the chat and the cup of tea! When it gets too dark to paddle, we stop the paddling but we carry on meeting all though the winter. Sometimes organise activities like a DVD night etc.

AND POOL SESSIONS START OCTOBER 10th Frome Leisure Centre Fridays, 8-9pm Cost £2.80 young people, £3.30 Adults

The pool session will be divided into two sessions, so you get half an hour in the pool kayaking. Bring a swimming costume and towel. We provide the boats, paddles and spray decks. We don’t wear helmets and buoyancy aids in pool sessions. It’s easy.

Pool sessions are for canoe polo, practising capsizes, rolling and for play boating (stay in the deep end). Or you can just paddle about and be sociable. When you are not paddling, you can mess about in the small pool or stand and chat on poolside. If you want to bring your own boat it has to be very clean and you should bring it through the fire exit door.

Deliberate sinking of boats is not encouraged, because it puts people’s backs at risk when they empty them. Normal pool rules apply and so we do what the lifeguards say.

Pool sessions are for everyone!

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Pool sessions are for ...

HAVING FUN You can paddle about with your friends, or practise some play moves at the deep end. We have a Sit on Top and a couple of play-boats for you to use as well as normal kayaks. We also plan to organise a games night once a month. You will get a guaranteed half hour in the pool.

PLAYING CANOE POLO Twice a month we will organise a polo game: once for experienced paddlers (contact game), and the other for less experienced paddlers (non contact game). Polo is really good fun! It improves paddling fitness because of the speed of action and it improves paddling skills. The contact game will be in the second paddling session (8.30pm). The non contact game will be in the first paddling session (8pm). We use the club pool boats and we provide the specialist kit (helmets, BAs and paddles). First contact game is 17th Oct. First non-contact game is 24th Oct.

LEARNING SKILLS (CAPSIZE DRILL, RESCUES, ROLLING ETC

You can book an instructor for part of a session by signing the booking sheet when you pay at the desk. Then in the pool, you ask the instructor to help you with whatever you want to learn!

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A rebel in our midst! (Bradford on Avon, 3rd August)


This was our annual ‘Sink the Instructors’ trip. It was warm and sunny today. The company and the beautiful scenery through the centre of Bradford on Avon made for a brilliant day.

We hadn’t done this trip for a couple of years because of the grief given to us at the top weir a while ago, so we were

slightly on edge as we approached it after lunch. It was Mike who clinched it. He said quite boldly that no one was going to stop him from paddling over the weir!

Yes, indeed we do have a rebel in our midst! No holding back, Mike was going to shoot the top weir come what may! And so he did, along with a few others. It was a joy to behold!

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Bradford on Avon continued

This from Caroline:

As a recent One Star pass, I was slightly apprehensive about the day. This was my first paddling away from the comfort of the club’s stretch of river. I was soon put at ease as we all paddled off downstream, sun shining and a lovely view from the river.

We managed to avoid the rowers, and soon arrived at the weir downstream. Over we went. Everyone managed to negotiate it except for me: my first unplanned capsize ! After lunch we paddled upstream arriving at the top weir. Here we all had more fun playing in the white water and some even went down the weir backwards.

Thanks to all the coaches and especially Stu for helping me back into my kayak (twice). Note to self….need to practice support stokes !

Paddlers and points

Girls: Aimee C, Bee T, Chloe C, India T, Isi M, Philippa T and Poppy

Boys: Alfie L, Jack K, Jamie E (3), Joe T, Ollie and Theo M,

Ladies: Caroline T, (6), Jane T, Karen R, Kath N and Pam

Men: Dave P, Dav L, Jack S, Mike H (1), Rich C, Rich H, Stu M and Tom K.

And joining us for lunch: Alfie’s Mum and Nanny, Linz, Andrew P and Claire.

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Barbeque 2014


All change!

We heeded the weather warning and relocated to Market Yard, which meant frantic emails, messages and all the rest. But we managed and the verdict at the end by those who gave it was ‘Let’s have it at Market Yard next year!’

The races were before lunch and the 6 teams were:

1. Chloe H, Chloe M, Aimee

2. Alfie, Theo, Jamie

3. Chloe C, Millie, George

4. Dave, Wendy, Rich

5. Eleanor, Jack, Rich

6. Xander, Neil, Graham

The races comprised

Throwing balls into the polo goals

Passing paddles through hoops

Negotiating slalom gates,

Standing and paddling

Reversing

Picking up floating balls

And some fast paddling

The Jelly Babies at the polo goals

Paddles go through the hoops

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Barbeque continued

Meanwhile Gareth and Tom with occasional direction from Jack, got going with the cooking. They found a sheltered spot in the front space of the large container, would you believe? It worked perfectly and with the new club BBQ (a gas affair - haven’t we moved up market!), they produced the most spectacular spread.

The turnout was good, the races were good and in the end the weather came good too!

Thank you to the cooks and all the others who helped on the morning to set up the banquet.

Also thanks to Alex for the photography.

Ed: it was indeed a good day and it was great that the dire forecast didn’t put people off.

A special thank you must go to Chloe C and Jamie E for sorting out the teams and the races. We definitely had some fun that day!

Team Ten

The Posers

Jack’s Crew

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Survey 2014


Alex has analysed the results and passed them to the committee for de-liberation. Here are the committee’s initial responses: The over-riding message coming through was extremely positive, indicating that we are bang on track and we are doing the right things. Comments like the following were sprinkled all the way through the responses: ‘I get to paddle in a relaxed

environment with no pressure.’

‘Good fun, good exercise and great for social time.’

‘A wide range to choose from, well organised. The coaches make it fun.’

‘Communication is exception-ally good; prompt responses and friendly.’

‘The club has a very welcoming and

friendly atmosphere. It is great to

paddle in a safe and controlled river

environment, to receive excellent

coaching and have the opportunity

to practise new skills.’

‘An inclusive club.’

You asked for these things and the

committee has already agreed to pursue/decided to change: More time in the pool and more

structure to pool sessions. More/better helmets. Provide a group on Wednesdays

to bridge the Yellow and Green groups.

Allow young people to organise a group for what they want to do.

A course for coaches to help improve knowledge about dis-abilities.

Some other requests which the

committee has discussed but hasn’t made any decisions about: Move adult sessions to another

night. Buy more slalom boats. Improve communications using

more block emails or text mes-sages.

Talk to parents so that the young people know what is coming up.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to answer the questions.

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Survey continued


More courses. Bring in a Paddle-Pass (more

about on the back page).

Some other suggestions which we can’t progress at the moment Organise sea trips (we have the

wrong sort of boats) Buy sea kayaks (specialist kit like

this needs to be purchased by individuals)

Buy competition paddles and buoyancy aids (specialist kit ...)

Buy more left handed paddles (so far haven’t run out)

Provide neoprene spray decks (individuals need to buy own when they are ready for next steps)

Of interest there were sometimes suggestions with equal numbers of ‘opposite’ requests! For example we had a request for more courses to be on weekday nights and in contrast a request for more on weekends. (Which just goes to show you can’t please all of the people all of the time.) And last of all – how about this comment?

‘I would change nothing. I think the

club is amazing – it offers fantastic

value for money and gets young people

outdoors and active. It is a lovely social

group. There is something for everyone

and everyone is very friendly. Well

done FCC!’

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Harefield Div 3/4 Slalom, 16th August

Get all your canoeing

things from the Family

Adventure Store at

Hilperton. BA14 7PJ

Andrew's observations of the day This was a new slalom and close, so we thought we’d go and support it. Set on a weir with two fast moving jets of water and 18 gates, it was a very challenging but enjoyable course. Narrow boats passing through occasionally didn't cause any problem, we just enjoyed the water and a sunny day, with no real pressure. We saw our old 4 metre slalom boats being used by the young people of Sharks Canoe Club (we had sold the boats to them earlier in the season), and it was good to see them in use again. Results: Kath Norton: Div 3 C1, came 2nd.

(See photo) John and Andrew Div 2/3 C2 came 1st.

Kath's thoughts after the Slalom "So run that by me again, I got more points than anybody else but I didn't win? Are you sure?" "Not going to swim, not going to swim, not going to swim....Didn't swim!!!" "Did someone say there was cake?"

There are more photos via Frome Canoe Club website

A Walkie talkie set

Four more stop watches, and

Masses of first-aid stuff for us to

update our kits

Have you spotted that pool sessions timings have changed?

You get a full half hour in the water this winter. See p 6/7 for more.

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Other courses


Weymouth Outdoor Education Centre

BCU / UKCC Awards

REC first aid course Weekend in Oct TBC £120

2 Star Training 17 /18 Sept or 14/15 Oct £129

2 Star Assessment 21 Oct or on request £68

FSRT 19 Sept or 10 Nov £68 UKCC Level 1 Coach 11 to 14 Nov £275

UKCC Level 2 Coach 2 to 5 Dec £275

‘Coaching the mind’ 10 Dec (morning) £35 (Foundation module)

Recreational events

Kayak Skills Coaching 17 Sept or 14 Oct £68

Canoe Skills Coaching 18 Sept or 15 Oct £68

Sea Kayak Skills 24 Sept or 17 Nov £68

Coaching

For full details of these courses [email protected]

www.dorsetforyou.com/woec

4 Star Assessment

6/7th September in North Wales. Cost £150

4 Star Training

11/12th October in North Wales. Cost £140

A week trip to Scotland

25th Oct - 1st November, Classic creeks week. Cost £450 which includes

a free lift up if needed, excellent self catering accommodation and all

guiding and coaching.

Austria/Switzerland Northern Alps

27th Sep - 4th October. White water classics. Cost £595 which includes

free lift over in minibus along with your kayak and gear. Excellent

chalet accommodation and all guiding and coaching.

Contact Andy for more info or see website www.escapetoadventure.com

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.dorsetforyou.com/woec

http://www.escapetoadventure.com

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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.

Follow us on

facebook

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

An alternative way of paying for club sessions A suggestion came from the survey about the possibility of an alternative way of paying for club sessions.

The plan is to offer a ‘season ticket’ which would allow people to take part in more weekly sessions if they choose. So you could paddle at

the clubhouse during the summer months on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday using the ‘Paddle Pass’.

Here are two suggestions:

Purchase a ticket month-by month £10, OR Purchase a season ticket for all summer £50

The other methods of paying (£2.50 on the door when you turn up and the Upfront cards for 6 sessions) would remain as they are.

This debate is in a very embryonic stage but we would welcome your views on the idea.

Please let us know by any method you feel happy with: by facebook, by email, by text or by talking to us, what you think about this idea.

Its prime purpose it to encourage people to paddle more in the summer, keeping costs down, but it could also speed things up at the signing-in desk.

Let us know if you would be interested in a scheme like this.

2014 09 newsletter

Documents

club sessions

club events

club record

wye trip

barle trip

pool session

dart weekend passportone

surf trip surf dependent