Cheshire Ring 2011

My day started early on Saturday the 25th June 2011. I got my taxi to Heathrow at 06:30 and my flight left prompt at 07:55- unusual for Heathrow. I arrived 15 mins early!

Mark collected me from Manchester airport. The start was difficult to find but we got there and met Michael. Graeme had already started on the first section.

The race was billed as:

The toughest UK flat water race? 


I get sceptical with claims like that, it all seemed very civilised. There were no public school children parents telling everyone to get out of their wat because Tarquin & Rupert are more important!

Graeme

My first section was through Manchester city centre. It started with a long portage because of building works on the canal. I had several portages where the canal goes under the city. My orifactory senses were given the delights of gentlemen participating in the consumption of Tennants Super and it's results!

Some of these portages were more difficult than any portage on the DW but I survived. I pushed on through the city where I paddled along with a lady. This was good because the lack of other boats meant gauging progress was difficult. We went past Old Trafford and through Sale where Graeme took over from me.

Mark

My next section was more difficult than my first. At first I was blasted by the heat from the sun and then there were several high and exposed sections with that joyous headwind that everyone was commenting on. I wasn't too pleased with my progress on this section. On the next section a communication breakdown  meant we lost mark and 10 mins time. Lessons to be learnt!

My next section was at night. This was the most difficult so far for me. Along the road the street lights were of some use, however, there were several factories with spotlights that blinded. As I got further out into the countryside and got my night vision it was easier. But this didn't last long as various bouts of light pollution destroyed it and as I came to a bridge right after a supernova I was right against the grass.

I got a little sleep through the night, in reality it was less than an hour. My final section was 11 miles from the end. There were no portages but two low bridges. I left the same time as another K1 but got a better start and because I was gunning for a Banbury K1 that I started to make ground on but then started to pull away I paddled to exhaustion. I really did feel sick at the end of this stage but gained 5 mins over 5km on the K1 that left the same time as me. 

Michael took the penultimate section, caught and passed the Banbury K1. He put in another excellent section and gained us so much time. The final section was down to Graeme to keep the lead Michael had given us and not lose time.

He didn't just do this, he did it admirably!

Our original projected time was 22hr. Our final time was 21hr 24 mins. I was so pleased with this. Personally I thought I had lost us a lot of time over night but to come in so much under the target I am really pleased with. 

The Cheshire ring differs from the DW in that I was a paddler, support crew and driver! In a lot of ways I agree with them that this is the toughest flatwater race. DW has never hurt me this much! There was a small field of less than 20 boats, I now understand why. The spirit between teams was different to DW too. It was friendlier but still competitive. Well done to everyone who took part.

I really have to thank the organisers and my team for pulling me along for a hard but great race!

Tom

K1 or C1

Few things happening this week

I've ordered my C1, J203, but still haven't decided which I'll DW

In the club 5km time trial I took 1m 36s off my PB and, for the first time wasn't passed by anyone!

And after my first Div 6 K2 race I'm being demoted, therefore Southern Region will have to create Div 10 just for me! I find that funny

Tom

Hasler

Today I raced by bi-annual Hasler race, well ~I think it's about every two years-ishs

This was my first race where I was racing up to div 6 and it's 4 or 5 years since I've raced K2 in a Hasler race. I think this was ny first Hasler race with portages, Hasler finals don't count because I said so!

Today was the Oxford Hasher organised by Falcon Canoe Club.

Chris was fine at the start, I wasn't! My head wasn't together and I couldn't do anything right, this is probably the worst start I've ever had in any race. I didn't get my head together until the first turn and then replaced broken head with slidijng around in my seat, mostly to the left. The Kirton Mirage is a stable boat, Chris's paddling was spot on- all the problems encountered today were in my head or just through bad paddling!

Anyway, enough negativity! this was my first div 6 race, therefore, a div 6 PB. I didn't cause us to swim and we finished so got some points for the club!

Many, many thanks to Chris for enduring me for 8 miles!

However, It still hasn't done anything for me deciding on K1 or C1 for DW 2012

Tom

Shepperton 10k

For those of you who have intimate knowledge of the DW from the portage put in at Shepperton to Sunbury Rollers is 3 miles, 5km. I never know that at all, I know very few distances as there is only one target. However, when I mapped it on Google maps it was almost 5km.


View Shepperton 10km in a larger map

The first problem I had was actually finding Shepperton Lock, I know it very well from the river but was useless at finding it on road this afternoon.
When I arrived at Shepperton I was confornted wit another problem- my GPS wasn't charged! No worries, I was there to paddle not to quantify distances.

On the way down to Sunbury there was not really much flow and, as it was overcast, not many other river users. Just a few narrowboats, cruisers, Elmbridge paddlers and a few rowers.

When I arrived at Sunbury Rollers I portaged and found that the width of the rollers is less than 5.2m!

On the return leg the absence of current was welcome but it had started to drizzle a little and there was a bit of a head wind. These were ot a problem and I finished in about 1h 10m - 1h 15m with the lack of proper timing! I'm happy with that as that's a projection of 25hr DW. We'll see when I eventually do K1!

Tom

Marow paddle

Just a little paddle in the Mirage from the club to Marlow Bridge and back

Tom

Longridge 5km

Tonight, well yesterday evening-Monday, I decided that I'd knock out a 10km session in my new Hobby. Note to self, set the boat up before doing this!

I stopped on 5km as I don't believe in damaging yourself just because it has to be done. I took the Hobby off the water and moved the tiller and what a difference that made. I went on to do another 2.5-3km ish paddling around the top island. I'm happy with the Hobby now and we'll see what I can do when I do actually knock out a 10km session in her! I wasn't upset with the time I did before she was set up properly



Tom

In You Head

I thought it best not put up a post on 300 because I would have made some silly reference to the film and I had nothing to say.


I got in a K2 today, Mirage first time since Loch Lomond. My wobbles today were nothing to do with the boat, in the words of the Cranberries,"In your head, in your head..." (Zombie). Anyway, next Sunday's not  about great performance it's about putting in a race and we will finish!


I do have a new (2nd hand) K1, bought a Mk1 Hobby- it will have it's first race with me on the Cheshire Ring. Must set it up properly before then!


Tom