WKCC

Thursday 2nd Pool Session Cancelled/ Now Eckington to Nafford

gpt27 — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:36:29 +0000

Clive has verified today that the New College Worcester pool will not be available until week commencing 6^th September. Therefore Thursday 2^nd pool sessions are cancelled and will be replaced by a session at Nafford. Meet at Eckington bridge at 18:30 to paddle up to Nafford weir.
Our first pool session will now be Thursday 9th September.

A Little Bit Of Rain

gpt27 — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 08:00:07 +0000

The river is High! and the paddle up to Wyre weir shows us the wisdom of keeping out of the flow and gives us a chance to put into practice some eddy hopping and ferry glides.

Once at the weir we sit and stare, the small weir is anything but! and crossing the exit flow from the bigger weir ushers us quicker to the new canoe portage ramp. Time to get out and have a proper look. The inspection party decide it is possible provided you hit one of the two green tongues, although it might be a bit bouncy. Clive takes the first run in his “new” open boat, and he’s down without the usual wet ending. While Fitz and Adam go for the second tongue I follow in Clive wake, it’s over in a flash the boat simply glides over the initial and subsequent waves.

With everyone down the weir safety it’s time to have another look at the stopper, Adam goes in and makes it look very sticky but turns round and pulls himself out. Fitz is next up, In, a little paddle and he’s out, making it look easy. with Clive declining to get his new boat wet it looks like it’s my turn, Adam gives me another quick demo and I head in.

“Approach it slowly and then let the boat drop into the wave”, seconds later I’m in the stopper I hear people shouting “just relax into it” and my body and brain are trying to come to terms with the conundrum that is, relaxing but keeping good contact within my boat whilst sitting on wave that feels like a bucking bronco. So time to try and get out, paddle paddle, pull, oh I’m now heading backward into the wave again. Back paddle a few strokes so i can try and turn the boat to face the “easy” exit. That didn’t work and I’m heading to the green tongue this could be a bumpy exit, wait for it, … and paddle, two strokes and I hit the second wave sideways, where was my support stroke when i needed it! OK i’m upside down, keep my head tucked in, don’t want a repeat of Symonds Yat, I haven’t got a clue which way the waters going, But somehow I manage to roll, only to find Adam next to me and we’re already at the far back. A quick limb count and then it’s time to head home, an easy cruise in the flow.

Luke

So, after a few weeks off the water due to pulling my shoulder trying a reverse something or other roll, I thought with the last couple of day’s rain the weirs at Pershore might provide a new shape of wave for me to try out. We turn up at PRSC with want looks like a good number only to see half the group come up with feeble excuses and disappear to the pub!The river is High! and the paddle up to Wyre weir shows us the wisdom of keeping out of the flow and gives us a chance to put into practice some eddy hopping and ferry glides.Once at the weir we sit and stare, the small weir is anything but! and crossing the exit flow from the bigger weir ushers us quicker to the new canoe portage ramp. Time to get out and have a proper look. The inspection party decide it is possible provided you hit one of the two green tongues, although it might be a bit bouncy. Clive takes the first run in his “new” open boat, and he’s down without the usual wet ending. While Fitz and Adam go for the second tongue I follow in Clive wake, it’s over in a flash the boat simply glides over the initial and subsequent waves.With everyone down the weir safety it’s time to have another look at the stopper, Adam goes in and makes it look very sticky but turns round and pulls himself out. Fitz is next up, In, a little paddle and he’s out, making it look easy. with Clive declining to get his new boat wet it looks like it’s my turn, Adam gives me another quick demo and I head in.”Approach it slowly and then let the boat drop into the wave”, seconds later I’m in the stopper I hear people shouting “just relax into it” and my body and brain are trying to come to terms with the conundrum that is, relaxing but keeping good contact within my boat whilst sitting on wave that feels like a bucking bronco. So time to try and get out, paddle paddle, pull, oh I’m now heading backward into the wave again. Back paddle a few strokes so i can try and turn the boat to face the “easy” exit. That didn’t work and I’m heading to the green tongue this could be a bumpy exit, wait for it, … and paddle, two strokes and I hit the second wave sideways, where was my support stroke when i needed it! OK i’m upside down, keep my head tucked in, don’t want a repeat of Symonds Yat, I haven’t got a clue which way the waters going, But somehow I manage to roll, only to find Adam next to me and we’re already at the far back. A quick limb count and then it’s time to head home, an easy cruise in the flow.
Luke

Canoe Three Star

CarolineAR — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:10:16 +0000

Paul H, Ben, Graham and I are lining up to do our Canoe 3 Star on 30th / 31st October in Wales. There are places if others are interestedThe cost is £120 for the 2 days, plus overnight (£35ish a night), plus BCU cost (£17.50). Will be Wales, maybe Bala or maybe the Wye. We’ll be practicing beforehand as focus is on the assessment. If you’re interested e-mail .

West Midlands Regional Go Paddling Day Sunday 22nd August

gpt27 — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:50:29 +0000

Our region is planning a go paddling day on Sunday 22nd August with a morning paddle from Arley to Bewdley. It clashes with our last Sunday paddle but may be a good alternative to paddle with lots of different people. See poster for details.
regional go paddling day

Symonds Yat – Another good day on the river

CarolineAR — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 22:06:08 +0000

We started later this time, 2pm rather than the normal 10am start;and that was a good idea, as we had the rapids almost to ourselves (just 3 guys from Swindon). Car park was a bit of a nightmare though, full of folk visiting the pub. Any how Wendy, Rita, Graham, Paul C, Richard, Nick, Ross and John H all had a good time on the rapids, finshing with a swim at the end. Happy days…

BBQ and Bring and Buy – Postponed

gpt27 — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:06:03 +0000

The BBQ and Bring and Buy sale scheduled for Sunday 1st is postponed as the organiser is on holiday.
They will try to reschedule for September when the holiday season is over.

Eckington to Twyning

CarolineAR — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:49:01 +0000

A good paddle this morning. In Canoes Paul, Tina and Nathan; Caroline and son(Gareth). In Kayaks Graham and Jane. A bit windy which as this was in our face most of the way made the whole trip hard work. I managed to forget to brace/ paddle on Strensham weir – and over we went – Gareth will not forgive as he thought I knew what I was doing! Finished with an excellent lunch at the Fleet, and nice time in the playground (Nathan), CAR
To add it’s about 8.5km but into wind all the way it felt like a lot more. Graham

July Weekend 2010

gpt27 — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:30:21 +0000

The July weekend this year was another success thanks to the organisation of Tina and Pail Haggett . Thank you.Despite the water levels being low the trips were still interesting with everyone doing the same trip on Saturday with a nice long break in Hay-on-Wye. On Sunday morning Caroline arranged delivery of breakfast from the local pub for us lazy ones. This was followed by a short trip for some while the rest of us had a great time mainly swimming and practicing rescues in the rapid at Monnington Falls.
Many thanks again to Fitz and Adam for doing the towing and Dave for entertaining the juniors.

Here’s the odd 100 plus photos from Nick Green so if anyone else has any more or requires the instructions to load video to our YouTube site then let me know.

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Sunday 18th Change to Programme

CarolineAR — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 16:19:51 +0000

Given low water levels I suggest we change PRSC session to be a trip from Eckington to Twyning. PRSC 9:30am to pick up boats. 10:00am at Eckington Bridge to start shuttle. Canoes will be good, but (long) Kayaks would work as well. Contact Caroline if interested

Wye 100 Mile Trip – May 2010

gpt27 — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 15:28:47 +0000

At long last I’ve got time to compress the 500mb of photos and load them so you can see what we got up to over the first May bank holiday 5 day paddle. Thanks to Eddie and Caroline for their articles. I’ve been promised more so maybe this will prompt you for more. I’ve pictures from Adam, Ben, Caryl, Eddie, Fitz and me.
I personally thought it was well organised by Adam as I know it was a lot of hard work with a lot of logistics and people changes. Additional special thanks go out to Tony for transporting is there and back in a minibus, to John G and Fitz for running ferries and John G for camping at Hereford rowing club and overnight trailer storage and safe car storage for the week , to John H for arranging camping at Monmouth and for Jackie for collecting those who could only do 3 days. Hopefully I’ve not forgotten anyone.

As you may know we had a collection for Adam as his kit was so bad and you should be able to see him on a river near you wearing his bright yellow Shred reddy Full Cut helmet as a result.

100 Mile Paddle Report from Caroline

100 mile wye trip by Eddie

Adam

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