2016 01 newsletter

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Volume 40 Issue 1 : January 2016

CLUB SOCIAL and AWARDS NIGHT 16th January

to all our members and their families

Dart Loop: we had some fun today. P13 for more photos

The Teign trip reports - a Beginner’s Perspective p8 from Tim S, and an old hand’s point of view, p10, from Tom K

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CALENDAR: details

REPORTS

FCC ‘THROWLINE ’ CLUB MAGAZINE

Send articles for the next issue to [email protected] by 26th January

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President

Graham Warnecke

Vice Presidents

Richard and Jane Arney

Jim and Catharine Croft

Chairman

Andy Vowell

Vice Chairman

Gareth McGiveron

Treasurer

John Kent

Secretary

Pam Dixon

16 Blagdon Walk, Frome, BA11 2YH

Committee Members

Rich Carter

Richard Heal

Jonathan Howell

Tracey Lemon

Stuart Miles

Jack Smiles

Kit Officer

Jack Smiles

SmokefreeSports Please help us to promote a smokefree club by

refraining from smoking publicly at all our events.

In this issue

3 Calendar in brief

4 Social

4 Barle trip

5 Pool sessions - polo and skills

6 Grade 3 river trip

6 River Frome

7 River Exe

7 River Teign

8 A Beginner’s Perspective by Tim Snook

10 Teign Trip Take Two by Tom Kimber

13 River Dart photos

14-15 Bits and Pieces

16 Some Special People

OTHER THINGS

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Calendar 2016


Date Event Who for Contact

January

Frome Leisure Centre remains closed - so still no Friday pool sessions

1 New Year’s Day Paddle Passport/One star Rich C

2 No Saturday session today

9 Barle trip or other G2 One Star and 10yr+ Rich C

13 Canoe Polo at Paulton Pool Polo players Jack S

16 Saturday afternoon session All Rich C

16 SOCIAL and AWARDS night All Pam D

24 Grade 3 river Two Star and 10yr + Alun J

27 Improve your kayak skills All Pam D


February

7 River trip - local Passport/One star Rich C

10 Canoe Polo at Paulton Pool Polo players Jack S


13 ‘Love Your River Day’ All Pam D

20 Exe or other G2 One Star and 10yr+ Jonathan H

24 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING All Pam D


March

6 River Teign / River Frome Two Star/One Star Andy/tbc

Frome Canoe Club: Affiliated to British Canoeing and Registered Charity 1104728

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RIVER BARLE

9th January

Meet Market Yard: 8am

Cost £12 Organiser: Rich Carter

Now that we are past the festive fun, and in need of some exercise to try to remove those extra pounds gained over the last few weeks, we have a nice paddle down the River Barle.

This is a river on Exmoor, about 7 miles long with one weir, but it is moving all the time with rapids and drops pretty much all the way.

To come, you need to be a stronger paddler, able to cope with low grade moving water. A spray deck is a must, plus warm clothes as we will be on the water for about 3 hours, or longer if there are a few swims.

Any questions please ask me, Andy V or Pam. Otherwise see you on the day.

Calendar in detail

CLUB SOCIAL AND

AWARDS CEREMONY

16th January

At the Clubhouse

Cost £5 adults, £4 youth

7pm for a 7.30 buffet We celebrate all that was good about 2015 in this event and give out the awards to recognise members’ success-es. We also present that important Copper Noseclip for the person with the most swims. Who will it be for 2015?

A buffet and soft drinks are included in the ticket price, but please bring your own alcohol.

So do come to share this evening with us. We need to know numbers, so let Pam know if you can come.

Dress is informal. No dancing is allowed, and no party games! It’s all very chilled.

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Calendar in detail - Pool stuff


IMPROVE YOUR KAYAK SKILLS

PAULTON POOL

WEDNESDAY 27th January Paulton pool: 8pm-9pm Cost £2.50

Support strokes Capsize drill

Spraydeck test Rescue skills

Rolling practice Come for some personal tuition with us at a pool session dedicated to improving skills.

You need to bring your own boat (very clean please) or let Pam know if you want to borrow a club one.

Depending on numbers who come, you may get half an hour on the water.

CANOE POLO

AT PAULTON POOL

13th January and 10th February Paulton Pool Plumptre Road, BS39 7QY 8-9pm Cost £2.50

Another chance to play polo at Paulton Pool

Please bring your own boat or let Pam know if you need to borrow club kit. And boats must be very clean - we got a bit of a telling off in December’s session because of the leaves we left behind.

The club will bring the helmets and BAs.

Meet us at the pool.

Guess how long the club has been running? Well, we started in 1976 - so that’s 40 years! We are planning a big celebration in September and want to invite as many past members as we can. So get your thinking caps on and pass details to Pam.

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Calendar in detail

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


RIVER FROME

7th February Meet Market Yard: 9am Cost £3 Organiser: Jack Smiles Frome trips are always great! And we don’t have far to travel.

This trip is open to all club members at Passport/One Star standard.

If you can’t wear a spray deck, it won’t be a problem but you will have to walk round the weirs. Or why don’t you think about going to the pool session at Paulton on 27th January to practise capsizing with a spray deck.

You will need to be able to keep warm on the trip so thermals and fleeces are essential. Bring a packed lunch too.

You can borrow club kit on the morning.

Jack decides the section we shall paddle on the day and it will all be water dependent of course.

GRADE 3 TRIP

24th January Meet Market Yard: 8am Cost £15 Organiser: Alun Jones

A chance to do a G3 river like the Loop or the Tavy. Or indeed one in South Wales! Alun will choose nearer the time and it will depend on water levels. So watch out for updates on the web-site.

You need to be a good 2 Star standard or above, and you must have moving water experience.

Good warm paddling kit is essential, and a packed lunch. You can borrow club stuff on the morning.

Ask if you are unsure if this is a trip for you.

SATURDAY SESSIONS

January: 16th and 30th February: 13th and 27th

Market Yard, 2-4pm

Cost £2.50 A normal Club session

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What else is happening?


TWO TRIPS ON THE SAME DAY

6th MARCH

By popular request we will be running a Teign trip again, and on the same day, a Frome trip for members who want to stay closer to home.

Meets:

8am for Teign and you need to be a good Two Star standard with moving water experience. Andy is leading this trip.

9am for Local trip and you need to be Passport/One Star standard. The trip organiser will be announced in due course.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

24th February, 7.30pm at the Clubhouse 7pm for a complimentary drink The AGM is your opportunity to hear what the committee did for you in 2015 and how we spent your money.

We vote in the 2016 committee, consider any proposals from the committee and then we listen to your views - good and bad.

Do come! The business part of the meeting takes about 45 minutes and then we mingle, chat, polish off the drinks and nibbles.

LOVE YOUR RIVER DAY

13th February

We are joining into a Frome Town Council initiative and sharing our clubhouse with other water users today.

It’s an event to give people more information about the river, the river users and local developments.

More info later.

RIVER EXE OR BARLE

20th February Meet Market Yard: 8am Cost £12 Organiser: Jonathan Howell

You need to be a good 1 Star standard or above, with moving water experi-ence and be able to wear a spray deck.

Good warm paddling kit is essential, and a packed lunch. You can borrow club stuff on the morning.

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River Exe and Exeter Ship Canal River Usk becomes the Teign - 29th November

A Beginner’s Perspective

By Tim Snook

Gale force winds and heavy rain forecast. I

am assuming that is why only a few paddlers turned up at the Clubhouse that morning. After a brief discussion it was suggested that we travelled south, as the weather looked kinder in that direction.

The Teign was chosen because nobody in the group had paddled it before. The journey down was interesting with rain and heavy winds bombarding us the entire journey.

Upon arrival we were greeted by a mass of likeminded paddlers doing the same. We found the water was flowing at a decent rate and at a high level. From a beginner’s perspective I found the water was a lot faster than I had ever experienced, and breaking out into eddies was challenging - almost catching me out a few times.

The rapids were pretty fast flowing to start with and the added bonus of lots of large boulders to try and navigate around made it more like driving a bumper car for me. I found it impossi-ble to steer around all of the rocks due to the flow and the waves hitting me in the chest and face.

The first weir of the day was a double drop with two nicely sized stoppers running into a section with only one decent sized eddy before another set of rapids. In all honesty it looked and sounded pretty intimidating.

I came to the conclusion pretty quick-ly my line was the portage to the left. Out of our ten paddlers only four decided to run it - Andy, Mark, Tim C, and of course George. All succeeded without too much difficulty but it did seem to swallow most of Andy’s small boat at the bottom, much to our amusement watching on the bank.

Back in our boats and on with the rest of the paddle. A few more grade 3 rapid runs, a couple of bridges and

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River Teign continued

a small offset weir. All were pretty good fun including one set of rapids I accidently followed Tim C down while he was scouting them.

Opps! Sorry Andy. I didn’t realise every-one was holding back. Luckily no major hazards for me to fall foul of.

The next challenge was an ‘S’ shaped narrow drop which Andy nicknamed the wall of death. Not as scary as the name however, it was still a little tricky. The instruction was to stick left then hard right out of the bottom due to a tree stump sticking out. Easier said than done. In left and whoosh, pushed hard left against a wall, down and round as if I was on a water chute.

I tried to go right at the bottom but didn’t manage to get far enough over and ended up hugging the tree stump with my boat pinned. Luckily for me I managed to haul myself round and free, just as potential rescuers made their way across. (Ha-ha big smile. No points there and my paddle still firmly in hand.)

The rest of the paddle was more of the same grade 2/3 boulder filled rapids with the occasional low fallen tree to duck under to liven things up.

Overall we all enjoyed ourselves and the stronger paddlers had fun in the waves and spinning on and off the

boulders. I was even lucky enough to witness Andy’s much coveted paddle twirling skills while wave surfing.

In summary:

The river Teign was a great grade 2/3 river set in a beautiful sheltered forest valley, with a good variety obstacles from start to finish.

With a walking path on either side for almost the full length for por-tage, non-paddlers and a good view point for photographers/walkers.

There was the occasional strangely placed piece of art? Not sure why but makes for a good talking point.

My first big(ish) river, wet windy and paddled with some great people.

Nailed it and loved every minute.

I can’t wait to go back to practise the areas of my paddling I have identified as weak.

Thanks to those who drove and gave me help and advice throughout.

Paddlers: Andy V, George Mc, Jim R, Jonathan H, Keiran C, Mark B, Terry O, Tom K, Tim C and Tim S

Ed: We had so much positive feedback after this trip that we have put another in the calendar. Look out for it on 6th March. It will have to be restricted to about 10 paddlers though! So on that day we will also be running a local trip for others.

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River Teign - Take Two

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River Teign - Take Two continued


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River Teign continued


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River Dart - 13th December

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Bits and Pieces

What happens next?

Slalom Training Sunday 31st January at Dulverton.

Bideford and Taunton Clubs are organising a training day here and have invited us to come along to practise.

The course is on the River Barle at Dulverton where the river narrows. This is the last section of our Barle

trips. If you're interested in slalom you may wish to join this SW training group which has recently been set up.

Let John know if you are thinking about going to the training session in January - he may be able to help with transport.

Four Star Training 11/12th March At Tryweryn £50 for FCC members (POA for non members

It was a brilliant Quiz Night with a real good turn out of members and their families.

Thank you Dave for organising the questions and a big thanks to Brenda who was deprived of all the fun, as she had to mark the scripts and then add up the scores. How does she read all that dodgy handwriting?

Ed: and this time I could actually answer some questions!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/127474607622393/

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Bits and Pieces


Loop Trip, 19th Dec: Paddlers and Points

Boys: Jos M (6), Kieran F (1), Toby W Ladies: Kath N (3), Linz K, Pam D, Zoe B Men: Alex N, Andy V (2), Ben N, Bob B,

Chris W, George Mc, John K, Jonathan H, Mark B, Rich C, Rich N (3) and Terry O.

Thank you Linz, for organising the 2015 Christmas meal at Whiterow Farm.

It was a really good night out!

Do you ever want to refer to the most recent newsletter (or indeed a past one)? John always posts the newsletters on our web site, so if you need to refer to any, just go to the website! Check it out here!

Newsletter

Are you happy with the way the club is running?

Do you want to see different stuff

happening?

There are lots of ways you can do

this. Talking to a committee member

is a good way. Or volunteering for us.

Or get yourself on the committee.

We elect the 2016 committee at the

AGM (24th February). And any club

member, over 18, can stand. Why

don’t you contact Andy or Rich if you

want to know more about what that

entails?

http://www.frome-canoe-club.org.uk/2010/11/whats-new.html

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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.

We have some members who are very special. We see them in and around the club and probably don’t think much about

them other than it’s good that they are there and always smiling and always helpful.

They give up their time willingly and are there for us week in and week out. What is incredible is that they are not paddlers. So

why do they work so hard for us?

Maybe we will never know, but what we do know is that we

absolutely can’t function without them.

Sally on reception every Wednesday

Tracey in the kit store every Wednesday

Brenda on tuck shop every Wednesday

Tim on grass cutting and litter duties every week

Dave on boat duties every Wednesday

A REALLY BIG THANK YOU TO YOU ALL

www.frome-canoe-club.org.uk

Follow us on

facebook

CONTACTS

Chairman Andy Vowell 07584 069432 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 Jack Smiles and Gareth McGiveron Volunteer Rep Jonathan Howell Kit: Jack Smiles [email protected]

Some special people in the club

Langham Farm Slalom

Trophy

Bayman Trophy (national

competition)

Some more of our stars! Here are the award winners from last year’s social.

Volunteers Cup

Youth Cup

Coach Award

Editors Trophy

Best Adult Newcomer

Copper Noseclip

2016 01 newsletter

Documents

Transcript of 2016 01 newsletter