2014 12 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 12: December 2014

For Graham’s Exe report, see p8

For more about the Social see p7

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In this issue

3 Calendar in brief

4/5 Calendar in detail

6 Pool Session

7 Club Social

8-10 River Exe

11 Dart Weekend

12 Lower Dart

16 Refresher First Aid

13-14 Bits and Pieces

15 Copper noseclip Points

CALENDAR: details

REPORTS

OTHER THINGS

FCC ‘THROWLINE ’ CLUB MAGAZINE

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

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

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Calendar 2014 - 15


Date Event Standard Contact

December

6 Club session: Saturday, 2-4pm All Rich C

7 River Usk 2 Star + John K

10 Quiz night at the clubhouse All Dave

12 LAST POOL SESSION Polo at the pool (contact game)

All Jack S

13 Christmas Dinner at Whiterow All Linz K

17 DVD night at the clubhouse All Pam D


21 River Dart Passport/One Star (+ 10 years or over)

Gareth M

January

1 New Years Day paddle Passport/One Star Rich C

11 River Exe or Barle Passport/One Star (+ 10 years or over)

Rich C

14 Rescues All Jack S

16 POOL SESSIONS RESTART All Pam D


21 DVD night at the clubhouse All Pam D

24 CLUB SOCIAL and AWARDS All Pam D

31 Club session: Saturday, 2-4 pm All Rich C

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Calendar in detail

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


RIVER USK TRIP

7th December 8am at the Clubhouse Cost £15 Organiser : John Kent

This one is always a cold one and often wet! You need to be at 2 Star Standard or Discover, with moving water experience and be over 10 years old. Access on the river has become a little fraught and so we will be doing the stretch Aberbran to Sennybridge.

RIVER DART TRIP

21st December 9am at the Clubhouse Cost £15 Organiser : Gareth McGiveron

The Dart is a popular trip because it is such a beautiful river with its rapids and drops. We will paddle the Loop, and those wanting a bit more excitement will tackle the Upper section. You will need good paddling gear for this trip, warm clothes and a hearty packed lunch.

DVD NIGHT

WEDNESDAY 17th DECEMBER A NEW DVD

EVERYONE IS

WELCOME!

7.30pm

QUIZ NIGHT

WEDNESDAY 10th DECEMBER AT THE CLUBHOUSE

A NEW EVENT

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

IN TEAMS WE WILL PIT OUR WITS AGAINST EACH OTHER.

Dave is the quiz master and will throw out questions on general knowledge, news, and canoeing

for us to ponder on!

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


Calendar in detail

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

RIVER EXE OR BARLE

11th January 8am at the Clubhouse Cost £12 Organiser Rich C

We’ll decide in the run up to the trip which river it will be and we will let people know on the website and by fb.

Both rivers are good. The Exe has weirs and rapids to play on. The Barle has more continuous rapids.

Both trips need paddlers to wear spraydecks. Warm clothes and a good packed lunch essential.

WINTTER CLUB SESSIONS

AT THE CLUBHOUSE

ON SATURDAYS

6th December 20th December

17th January

2–4 pm

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

LOCAL TRIP

1st February 9am at the Clubhouse Cost £3 Organiser: Alun Jones

A local trip, exact stretch to be decided on the day. Whichever we choose, it will be a good trip. But could be cold so come prepared with plenty of warm clothes and a good packed lunch. Borrow any club kit you need on the morning.

WEDNESDAY EVENINGS

7.30pm

At the clubhouse in December 10th Quiz night 17th DVD ‘Too High’ 24th Clubhouse closed 31st Clubhouse closed AND IN JANUARY 14th Rescues 21st DVD night

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FRIDAY POOL SESSIONS

Frome Leisure Centre Fridays, 8-9pm

Cost £2.80 young people, £3.30 Adults

POOL SESSIONS ARE FOR HAVING FUN

LEARNING NEW SKILLS

PLAYING CANOE POLO

The next canoe polo game is 12th December

Help us to make the sessions go well by: Returning the kit you borrowed after your paddling session, to the floor

next to the changing room door. Helping to hang up your boat at the end of the pool session.

LAST SESSION BEFORE CHRISTMAS IS 12th December. RESTART SESSIONS after Christmas, on 16th January

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CLUB SOCIAL and AWARDS CEREMONY


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th January 2015

Our annual get-together for a social event

Adults £5, under-16 £4

Families are welcome.

We don’t do dancing or games, we just chill and chat.

A buffet is available from 7.30. After that we celebrate

the successes of club members in our

Annual Awards Ceremony.

Dress is quite informal.

Starts at 7pm ends at 10.30.

Food and soft drinks are included in the ticket price.

Sign up on fb, or on the sign-sheet, or email Pam

mailto:[email protected]

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Exe trip: 2nd November


By Graham Warnecke

I had missed the Tivy Weekend and the Barle trip due to other commitments, thus I

wasn’t going to miss the Exe trip. I have paddled the Bolham - Town section more times than I can remember but it has been five years since I have paddled the section on down to Bickleigh, so a quick call to Rich confirmed the start time on the Sunday morning.

I had been thinking on the drive down the M5, bit of a bump and scrape seemed possible. But no, a quick check at Bolham Weir showed that the river level was up by about a foot, or 300mm for the under 45s, on its normal level, to wit, no rocks, just lots of lovely bouncy water and waves to play on.

After the usual bunny run to Bickleigh and back, there followed the ‘yeehah’ launch and off to the first bit of fun, Bolham Weir. The stopper was up, not serious, but if it got you, there would have to be a lot of muscle power to get you out again. Cameron nearly found this out as he started to slip back into the stopper, having stopped paddling too soon.

That was until the Exe valley echoed to the gentle re-assuring voice of Rich requesting that Cameron paddle a little harder. It worked. Out he came only to get it all wrong below the rapids (see picture of Cam in the rapids on front page). He stopped paddling too soon again and ended up in three bits in the eddy and bushes at the bottom, the usual paddle, boat, body. We had only just stopped laughing at Cameron’s swim, when Jim decided to get in on the action and he too floated past in the usual three bits. Nothing new there, not for Jim.

Worth house Bridge rapids followed but was rather boring as the play wave was washed out, so ever on-wards down to Head Weir or Salmon pool/steps. Mark led the brave down

River Exe, Bolham - Bickleigh OR

He, or in this case, She who hesitates is lost. Or is it wet?

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Exe trip continued

the steps and through the bottom hole that had flattened out somewhat, but still had that ‘grab and spit you out’ ef-fect if you got it wrong. As I turned to start down, I noticed three pieces float-ing down under the road bridge. Not Jim, as he was still up here with me, so who, as Mark was picking up the pieces at the bottom?

I dismissed it to concentrate on getting the rest of the group down the sloping weir face and around the afore-mentioned grabby hole bit.

Having ushered all safely through, I arrived at the bottom to be met by a smiling but rather wet female member of the club who had been grabbed and spat out en route. Thus the three bits floating under the bridge, mystery solved. I will mention no names but the copper-noseclip tally may give a clue, and evidently it was all my fault.

Now, I have checked on Google Earth and the distance from the top of the weir where I was sitting at the time of the mentioned swim, down to the location point/swim, the grabby hole bit, is 94 metres, thus I am not sure how. I am convinced there was another reason, thus the story title.

Moving on, Heathcote Weir and the rapids just around the bend were all washed out, though Rich managed to find the only break-out en route. Show-

off! Then the flat, slow section down to Town Weir. Would anyone get it wrong here? No. Oh well, on to Walronds Weir and its play-wave. Time to get the camera out because this was bound to catch someone out. I went through 3 sandwiches, 1 bag of crisps, 6 chocolate biscuits, 1 banana and 3 mugs of flask tea, with not one capsize, swim, nothing. Just a few pho-tos of people trying to stay on the front of the wave.

The final section now, with a good strong flow meant that we covered the section down to Broken Weir in just over 30 minutes. Difficult to be accu-rate as the sun was behind the clouds, we arrived at the weir to find it clear of trees. I have not been over this weir in the last 40 years without a tree somewhere jamming one of the routes, but not today. There was, though, only one route down and this had a large rock dead centre. We sent Mark down first to test the water, so

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Exe trip continued


to speak. Yep, he still bounces well, off rocks that is! Thus everyone down to the left of the shoot to miss the rock. And Jim got it right too.

That was it then, just Bickleigh Bridge Weir stopper to beat and we were home and dry, well some of us anyway. All were instructed about the left-hand breakout immediately below the stopper/standing wave because we didn’t want any swims/capsizes, as it is a long swim to Thorverton, the next access point. The warning worked as all made it to the landing beach in one piece.

There followed the usual stopper paddle/show-off session for the watching pub customers before the long walk round to the car-park. Pam was on traffic duty at the road crossing. No motorist would dare argue with this crossing lady. All loaded and back to Bickleigh for my car. Yes, I got stuck with the bunny run again. Then it was back up the M5 to a roast dinner and soft armchair to fall asleep in. Age is beginning to tell.

It’s always a pleasure to paddle with the club, everyone is always so cheerful even when it’s wet and cold. If anyone gets it wrong there is always someone there to put it right. I tend to take a back seat on trips nowadays, usually taking the tail-end charlie position,

leaving it to the regular and younger paddlers to sort everything out!

I get a lot of pleasure watching others organize bodies, canoes, the bunny run etc and on the river, the right route to take, the some-times mother-hen act by the leaders/instructors and the thrashing of paddles to sort out a rescue if needed. I can sit back and think ‘been there, done that, even got the video’ (no DVDs in my day).

Altogether an excellent trip with an ideal level of water, and brilliant company.

Paddlers and Points Boys: Alex H, Cam F (3) Keiran C,

Kieran F Ladies: Pam D (3), Su F Men: Graham W, Jim R (6), Mark B,

Rich C

Ed: I was wondering if you would indeed let the truth get in the way of this good story! What about the advice you gave us all at the start, and I quote: ‘I have reccied the river at Salmon Ponds weir and the hole is all washed out’. Well I found out after my swim that the hole was very much alive and kicking! Thanks Graham!

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Dart weekend 2014 - the Upper on Sunday

16th November By Rich Carter

Here I go again, on the Upper. Still nervous about this river - never been able to do this stretch without butterflies in the stomach. Must stretch the muscles and get the break outs first time, check the ferry glides are in order, make a tick list in my head, and yes all in order. How are the other paddlers doing? Are they looking good or a bit ropey? Look raound, take a long look. Yes, I do not think I will be the first to swim.

Large drops to start with - who gets the sweet line, and who drops into the stopper? Oh not expecting him to do that! He probably took that line to make it harder, and to show the rest up for taking the safe line.

Big boulder gardens - who can control their boat as it is moved right and left very fast? And who hits the boulders all the way down? Big rapids with lots of white come next. Who goes down forwards? Who goes down back-wards? And some show off by going down sideways.

Then there are the very big rapids, much bigger, with a lot more white, and so much noise you would not believe. At these points the hardest

thing is always the audience, apparently knowing the best line. Some ask for help with their spray decks but finish with “I am just pad-dling to the other side and walking it”.

To be fair, anyone who has tried this piece of river, no matter how good a paddler they are, whether they stay in their boat or swim, or walk around parts (as rocks win every time in a paddler v rock contest), deserves respect. For many the Upper Dart will be their highest goal in this sport.

I can say I did not swim on the Upper this year. It took some large bits out of me, but I survived. Let’s see who wins next year!

Ed: A real shame about your swim at Triple on the Loop then!

Paddlers and points over the whole weekend:

Girls: Aimee C (6), Iona M (3)

Boys: George Mc, George W (3), James B (9), Jos M (3), Keiran F (8)

Women: Kate J, Kath N, Megan J (3), Pam D

Men: Alun J (3), Andy V, Jack S, Gareth Mc (15), Ian J (15) Jim R (9), Mark B, Paul F (3), Rich C (4), Stu M, Tim C (2) and Yousaf M (1)

Day trippers: Bex T (3), Ben N, Chris H, Rich N (2)

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Dart weekend - the Lower


Message from Harry Bloodworth

Hi, here's a link to a live stream of this years Hurley classic. I'm not there this year but some from Frome might be interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc-1QqruvZA

What a great way to start a trip on the lower Dart - as we are getting changed, down comes the rain. And I mean rain, with extra rain in side it! Just so our nice dry thermals become wet and cold before we get on the water. So an already soggy bunch head for the river. Let’s start with a bit of ferry gliding to get to the big eddy on the other side.

This was great except for our Iona, who soon learned that you are not to lean upstream, unless you want an early bath. And yes was the answer, Iona wanted that bath and over she went. We practised break-ins and break-outs, ferry glides, but for Amy it was a stopper that was her undoing. The first

one was no problem, but the second should not have been done sideways. Another lesson learned.

Must admit Paul, George and Jos, had a cracking day, but could not have been trying hard enough because no swims were racked up. As for Big Jim, falling in at the finish as you get out of your boat is bad form Jim! We also had 2 canoes with us Stu and Kath, who plied their craft with great skill and no mishaps. That just leaves Pam, Chris and me.

Yes it was a great day, great people and great chocolate bars. Till the next time - Rich.

minus Andy V who was behind the camera!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc-1QqruvZA

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Bits and Pieces

WWSR course April 18/19th 2015 At Tryweryn £85 plus £24 water charge plus certificate charge. Accommodation and food to be arranged by individuals. Spaces limited to 6 so book early with Pam

4 Star training March 14/15th 2015 At Tryweryn £85 plus any water fees due Accommodation and food to be arranged by individuals. Spaces limited to 6 so book early with Pam

RESCUES

14th January 7.30pm at the Clubhouse Organiser : Jack Smiles

An evening devoted to rescues.

We'll cover throwline practice, typical rescues in moving water and the not so typical ones too!

We'll keep it practical and as dry as possible! You might find we slip in the odd scenario needing a bit of role play, but nothing too dramatic. Should be good fun as well as useful.

Manoeuvre of the month

A cut finger on the Barle trip followed by suspected infection, led Kath into her GP surgery to have it checked out. Turns out it was all OK, but on her way out of the surgery Kath fell down the stairs and sustained injuries to bum and arm, both of which required ice packs. So obviously visiting your GP is another ‘assumed risk’ sport.

at the clubhouse

Wetsuit shoes: £5

Base layers, kids sizes (top

and bottom): £16

Adults base layers £31 for a

set comprising top and bottom.

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Bits and Pieces

UKCC Coach Level 2 Training Course £135 March 7/8th and 14/15th Provider/Assessor Darren Joy. Dartmouth area. Max 12 persons - 5 places already taken. http://www.canoe-england.org.uk/coaching/course-dates/bcu-ukcc-level-1-coach/ Prerequisite is level 1 coach and BCU 3 star (sea or inland).

A promotional day at the Leisure Centre, to let College students know what’s available in the town.

Thanks to Jane for manning the stall and also to George for supplying a rather stylish DVD player, so that FCC’s display was one of the coolest in the room!

Incidentally, the Scotland DVD we showed drew in a fair few crowds!

Courses by Joe Jordon

WWSR: 29/30th November 2014. South Wales. £95.00 pp 3 Star WW Kayak: 27/28th December 2014. South Wales. 3 Star Canoe 3/4th January 2015 3 Star WW Kayak 15/16th January 2015 COACHING COURSES UKCC Level 1 19th-22nd December 2014. Melksham CC UKCC Level 1 including the FSRT if needed , 26-30th January 2015 UKCC Level 2 training 14/15th & 21/22nd February 2014 Bristol area. Full information www.canoesportcoaching.co.uk or email on [email protected]

UKCC Level 1: for more courses look on the Canoe England website: http://www.canoe-england.org.uk/coaching/course-dates/bcu-ukcc-level-1-coach/

http://l.facebook.com/l/qAQGlcmNv/www.canoesportcoaching.co.uk

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.canoe-england.org.uk/coaching/course-dates/bcu-ukcc-level-1-coach/

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Copper noseclip points


Rich Carter 14

Rich Norman 13

Bill Fryer 12

Alun Jones 12

Rich Heal 9

Carl Gilder 9

Julia McGiveron 9

Mark Hemmens 9

Kieran Fewell 9

James Bennett 9

Jos Maxey 7

Alex Hulin 7

Kath Norton 6

Jane Thomas 6

Pam Dixon 6

Caroline Toogood 6

Aimee Collins 6

Andrew Lyall 6

John Kent 6

Su Fewell 5

Jack Smiles 5

Summer Vowell 5

Mark Baines 4

Chloe Humphris 3

Ollie Hale 3

Dave Pilbeam 3

Stuart Miles 3

Arthur Belbin 3

Jack Kimber 3

Ben Trippick 3

Jonathan Howell 3

Bob Barr 3

Kien Christmas 3

Mike Hickson 3

Julia Tuff 3

Chris Reid 3

Cameron Fewell 3

Paul Fryer 3

George Wright 3

Iona McEntee 3

Megan Jones 3

Joe Townsend 2

Oliver Neilson 2

Finley Tuff 2

Ben Nicol 1

Andy Vowell 1

Keiran Clarke 1

Tim Cooper 1

Yousaf Mirza 1

Tim Cottle 1

These are the totals after the Dart weekend. So points from the Frome trip on 30th November are not yet included!

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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

This was the first of its kind - a different sort of activity for a Wednesday evening which was more than coffee and chat! It was a good session and we reminded ourselves of some of the key issues, including that all important CPR technique. See Vicky above telling Mark what to do!

We had a bit of fun too! Gine right, demon-strates a solution for broken legs?

Thank you to Vicky for leading the session and to Neil for the ideas and the teaching resources.

Our next refresher in Feb/Mar will be based around scenarios!

The next Wednesday evenings to look out for are Quiz on Dec 10th

DVD ‘Too High’ on Dec 17th Rescues on Jan 14th

2014 12 newsletter

Documents

club session

club social

river exe

club events

river dart trip

organiser rich c

river dart passportone

beautiful river