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