Marlow Canoe Club

Newsletter 1 39 Spring 201 3

www.marlowcc.org.uk

3 Cut off by the tide

INSIDE YOUR SPRING 2013 ISSUE

Sunken wrecks, dead ends, two pubs, tidal traps. Oh and glorious sunshine too. Yep, Andy's tour was a treat alright. Be prepared to really get cut off by the tide in 2013. And that's just on the canal tour. Here is what Andy Maxted has planned for you. She's tall with short curly hair and ever so slightly mad. I don't write this stuff, Sharron does. Here is what Salty has in store for those of us crazy enough to follow her lead. Choice set of photos, supply your own captions!. Canoe England Volunteer and Recognition Awards. Dominic is the new Imelda Marcos. Prepare yourself for the sight of a beer belly, clothed in blue breathable fabric. Note the sessions. new timings of our regular

6 Tourer, tourer, tourer

7 Salty says hello

8 Welsh, wet and white

10 Regional awards 2013 11 Oooh new shoes

11 A fit of the vapours 12 Pool sessions

13 Changing the locks 14 2013 AGM

Sainsburys, Tesco, who might it be? Adrian takes charge of the rabble.

15 Committee members & Retailers 16 Calendar

Dates for your diary.

Adrian takes charge of his executive rabble

Spring is finally on the way and with it come lots of new beginnings. The AGM in February brought several changes to the committee. Jon Garner takes a well earned break from the Club Secretary role and we welcome Penny Newton on board to keep us all organised. James Hughes takes on whitewater and Sharron Bartlett takes on the formerly vacant Sea kayak post. It is good to see the new committee members all making an immediate impact. After some debate, the AGM also concluded that most members were quite happy with the newsletter staying more or less as it is. So here we go again then! In this issue, Andy Maxted whets our appetite for inland touring with the tale of last years pub crawl on the Hamble, and then goes on to invite you to six more tours in 2013. How could you possibly resist, apart from the threat of being tasked with doing the writeup for the newsletter? Sharron introduces her plans for Sea kayaking and invites those of you madder than her to come along too. But do not call her Salty, she seems to like it too much. The whitewater community have initiated a caption competition in the centre pages. I invite suggestions to be broadcast on the yahoo group! A couple of kit reviews in there too, some scary rumours about Temple lock and an invitation to put yourself forward for an award. Oh yeah and the joke on the back page definitely sets a new standard. Enjoy!

EDITORIAL

Rodney Casbierd, Editor.

A little legal stuff....

COVER PHOTO

The cover photograph for this newsletter was sup plied by Rodney Casbierd and is entitled "Boat envy on the Hamble".

This newsletter is a free publication for the Marlow Canoe Club.

Whilst every care is taken, the newsletter and the Marlow Canoe Club do not accept respons ibility for the opinions expressed or the goods and services mentioned in this publication. 2013.

Cut off by the tide

TOURING by Andy Maxted
Wed caught the time and the day just right. It was August, high water was at lunchtime and the sun was shining. We were a party of 17 in total paddling a variety sea kayaks, touring kayaks, play boats and open canoes and in good spirits. The morning had started launching close to a busy marina, but we were soon under the massive M27 flyover and passing Manor Farm Country Park and the Cricket Scout campsite. There is much to look out for along this stretch. The remains of one of Henry Vs warships, the HMS Grace Dieu, can allegedly be seen at very low tides. We missed that, but the regular rectangular bays cut into the bank where landing craft were marshalled ahead of D Day were clearly visible.

The water was lapping gently around the jetty as we went ashore for lunch. It has been a fascinating and warm mornings paddling and we were hungry and thirsty. Fortunately the pub was open and food was being served. We were at the Horse and Jockey at Curbridge having launched onto the River Hamble at Swanwick and paddled with the flood tide taking us upstream into some wonderful Hampshire countryside.

At the YMCAs Fairthorne Manor centre the river splits. We took the left hand channel and made our way up a muddy and narrowing creek to the village of Botley. Theres something almost voyeuristic in paddling quietly past suburban houses and gardens although the silence was soon disturbed by children and their dogs playing and then interrupting their play to gaze at us curiously as we made our way upstream under the trees. Our exploration ended at a small weir barring further progress but the tide was running strongly and we were keen to return to Fairthorne Manor and take the other fork to our intended lunch stop. What had been a muddy creek was now a broad and clear river and it didnt take too long to return to the junction and, now paddling with the tide once more, make our way around to Curbridge.

The Horse and Jockey is a quiet rural pub and is certainly highly recommended.

TOURING

Upon arrival we were greeted by Sue Bunce, the south coast paddler and former owner of the pink (or is it fuchsia?) sea kayak that the club acquired in early 2012. Judging from her mood, attire and lipstick Sue was clearly feeling in the pink although she was not impressed at the grubby state of her former charge!

Some of the group discreetly ate the lunches they had brought with them while others selected from the bar menu those taking the latter option waited a while, but the food was worth the wait!

Wed not been long at the pub when word was passed up from the waters edge that the jetty had disappeared. The last few inches of tide had come in very fast and where we had landed in a small bay there was now a very large lagoon, filling the space from the pub garden to the road bridge and across to the fields opposite. But when, an hour or so later we came to leave the tide had ebbed away equally quickly and the water was significantly lower than when wed arrived. It was clear that this pub was only reachable at high water and we realised that we had been incredibly fortunate with our timings.

Had we arrived an hour later we might well have been stranded with insufficient water to paddle back wed have been cut off by the tide! Lunch over we swiftly repacked our boats and followed the tide back downstream to the junction and then through wide estuarial waters, sparkling in the sunlight under a cloudless sky and filled with other boaters. It felt good to be travelling with ease and in good company on one of the few real summer afternoons that we had last year.

We passed back under the M27 as first thoughts and then suggestions of afternoon tea surfaced. Rather than head for the Swanwick shore we kept to river right and soon saw the welcoming landing stage of the Jolly Sailor Inn.

TOURING

Club members of a certain age will remember the pub playing a starring role in a once popular Sunday evening television soap Howards Way a role which is celebrated in photographs within the pub today.

Mooring at the inn was somewhat limited and we had to moor boats broadside on in a raft and clamber across to reach the safety of the jetty. One member of the party, suffering from chronic alcohol withdrawal symptoms, decided that this was taking far too long and, having resorted to clambering out onto a bridge, nearly got stuck in the railings. But once ashore these difficulties were soon forgotten and I have to confess that we spent another happy hour at the pub taking tea and, for one or two, something a little stronger. But it was that sort of day. An 11km/7 mile tour, good company and two pub stops. Im looking forward to going back again this summer. Who knows, we might find the remains of the Grace Dieu next time!

For those members interested in exploring some different waters, the club is once again offering a series of monthly full day tours between April and September. Details and dates for 2013 can be found on the next page.

Tourer, Tourer, Tourer!

by Andy Maxted

TOURING

The club will once again be offering a monthly flat water touring programme this spring and summer giving members the opportunity to enjoy a variety of rivers within a reasonable travelling time from Marlow.

Tour lengths vary between 1116 km or around threefour hours paddling time. All trips are suitable for members paddling kayaks or canoes and a number of the scheduled tours follow the Canoe England selected paddles. The tours offer an ideal opportunity to log trip experience for the BCU Two Star and Three Star Touring Awards (see http://www.canoeengland.org.uk/testsiawards/personalperformanceawards/ paddlesportstarti1to3star). There is no cost to MCC members to attend these events although guests will be asked to pay a day visit fee in the usual way to ensure insurance cover.

All trips are planned to take place on Sunday mornings, meeting at the start venue at 10:00 am and enabling members to return to the Marlow area mid/late afternoon. Programme details are shown below, complete with grid references for the start and finish points, and have also been added to the calendar on the club website. Any offers from volunteers to lead or assist on these trips will, as always, be welcomed!

21 April

Thames/St Patrick's Stream Start : Waterside Centre (SU736739) Finish : Marsh Lock (SP487094) 11 km (7 miles) oneway trip A Thames classic taking in St Patrick's Stream and the Hennerton Backwater.

19 May

23 June

Great Ouse Start : Huntingdon (TL245718) End : Huntingdon (TL245718) 11 km (7 miles) circular trip See Huntingdon and Godmanchester from the Ouse before diverting into the countryside via Cook's Stream

Thames/Cherwell Start : Donnington Bridge (SU525045) Finish : Donnington Bridge (SU525045) 13 km (8 miles) return trip A trip into the heart of Oxford and then through the water meadows to the 'Vickie' Arms and back

21 July

18 August

Hamble Start : Swanwick (SU495093) Finish : Swanwick (SU495093) 16 km (10 miles) return trip A tidal treat in the home of British yachting to the Horse & Jockey and back

Arun Start : The Black Rabbit (TQ025085) Finish : The Black Rabbit (TQ025085) 13 km (8 miles) return trip Another tidal trip paddling up river through the spectactular Arun Gap to the Bridge Inn and back

23 September

Kennet & Avon Canal Start : Newbury Wharf (SU473672) Finish : Aldermarston Wharf (SU603672) 14 km (9 miles) oneway trip Relaxed canal paddling with locks, swing bridges and pubs

SEA KAYAK

Salty says hello

by Sharron "Salty" Bartlett

Following the AGM in February, the club has a new committee member to represent the Sea touring community. Me! A quick profile: Tall, with short curly hair and ever so slightly mad. Have started answering to the name Salty well lets face it, anything is better than Sharron! Other interests include mountains (hiking/skiing) and photography.

I started sea kayaking about 5 years ago, with the odd day trip here and there, and knew from my very first day out off the Cornish coast that I loved it! I have even reached the dizzy heights of a 2 star paddler, all achieved through the club and its excellent coaching programmes. So far I have kayaked Devon and Cornish waters, around the Isle of Scillies, off the West Coast of Scotland and I have done the Scottish coast to coast challenge (Fort William to Inverness). I am sure that I should be better than I am by now .....but i live in hope!

Intro to sea courses Club trips

June fully booked.........availability on the April dates 27th/28th. Please contact me asap. We have one 4* sea kayaker but several 3* competent paddlers and day trips will be organised to suit conditions and strengths within the club watch this space!

Guided trips

Lundy, June 8th June 9th. Guided by Mike Bradford. I have looked around and Mike is without doubt still the most competitive price wise. If others know of good guides please do let me know. Need to be a strong paddler and able to cover distance, see below for Mike's description of the trip: The crossing usually takes around 4 to 5 hours of constant paddling, with a short snack break every hour. You will need to have paddled sea kayaks before and be fit enough to paddle for that length of time. The cost is my time and expertise as a guide for the two days, which is 50 per person, campsite costs on Lundy range from 8 11 per person per day. A safe & enjoyable crossing is dependent upon weather conditions and minimal swell. I will contact you during the week of the trip to let you know if the trip is likely to go ahead. If not, we will look at the next suitable dates & tides. We will camp overnight on Lundy, with the option of a return paddle the following day or returning by ferry. We aim to depart from Lee Bay within an hour of high water to take advantage of the ebb tidal stream.

WHITEWATER

Welsh, wet, white

by Chris

A collection of photographs capturing the action at the recent whitewater club trip to North Wales. Feel free to supply your own captions!

and uncaptioned
WHITEWATER Weston

ADVERT

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Ooooh, new shoes?

REVIEWS by Dominic Hurst

11

Teva Cherry Bomb 2 sounds like a dodgy student cocktail or a bad Hollywood movie. But in fact these are tough yet comfortable boots for white water paddlers.

After buying a dry suit, my trusty Palm Granites were too small. Two club members suggested the Teva boots. They're American and not widely available except online. Sizing is a lottery. I bought one size over my normal shoe size but had to change to another size up. Best to try before you buy (and take note if you buy from Amazon USA to save money). It's more of a squeeze to get my feet inside my boat, so I'll have to move my foot rest one notch forward. But the result is I now have nice warm feet and can scramble up and down river banks with more protection for my feet. Time to celebrate cocktail anyone?

A fit of the vapours

by Rodney Casbierd

I do admit that I am something of a fairweather paddler. So when the cold weather kicked in last autumn I finally decided to get something that would keep my top half dry and protected from the chilly autumn breeze. Having surveyed Marsport's impressive range of candidates, backed up by virtually zero prior market research on my part, I eventually settled on what was essentially the cheapest breathable cag that they had in stock and in my size. For fifty quid, including club member discount, the Palm Vapour is a perfectly comfortable lightweight cag, suitable for novices and occasional paddlers. It claims material waterproofness to 5 metres although I am hoping never to test that personally. The neoprene lined wristbands and neck are all adjustable with velcro to maximise protection from the elements.

It also claims a breathability of 5kg/m2/day. Is that good? All I know is that so far I have not found myself dripping in sweat after a typical Sunday club paddle. It does have a zipped front cargo pocket but it is of limited use as it will usually be hidden under your buoyancy aid. Personally I would have found a smaller pocket in a different position more helpful. All in all, it does the job. But I do regret buying a blue one.

FACILITIES

Pool sessions
by Dave Goddard

12

Marlow canoe club has booked a series of swimming pool sessions for club members at Chalfont Leisure Centre, a 25m four lane swimming pool about 25 minutes from Marlow. These sessions are open to all members and provide a warm indoor environment for you to practice wet skills such as support strokes, capsize drills and the much sought after skill of Rolling or to introduce younger members of your family to paddle sport. They are unstructured session in as much as there is no specific courses or coaching rota, however you will always find experienced members willing to help and can seek specific support through the clubs Yahoo Group email system if required.

The sessions run from 7.00pm to 8.00pm on the Saturdays listed below, it is recommended you arrive and are ready to get in the pool at about 7pm as this is when the pool is cleared of swimmers and an opportunity to sneak an extra few minutes of water time. We need to leave the pool promptly at 8.00pm so we can change and they can close the centre at 8.30pm. The entrance to the swimming pool is down a small service road to the left of the main entrance, we usually pile boats and paddles outside the door before and after the session before getting changed in the swimming pool changing rooms (20p for a locker or take a bag pool side). The pool has ladies and gentlemans changing facilities with warm showers and toilets. Chalfont Leisure Centre Nicol Road Chalfont St. Peter Bucks SL9 9LR

http://tinyurl.com/y5fndsa

Individuals are responsible for collecting and returning equipment to and from the club (Use the Yahoo group to request lifts/shares/access etc) All equipment must be inspected for cleanliness and rinsed off prior to use in the pool. See the back cover calendar for pool session dates. Hope to see you there!

These sessions costs 5 for adults and 3 for juniors.

Changing the locks

by Phil Space

LOCAL

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Council insiders have allegedly leaked plans to close the lockkeepers lodge at Temple lock and redevelop the site as a convenience store for a leading supermarket chain. There had been speculation about the future of the residence ever since the Environment Agency first suggested selling lockkeepers cottages a couple of years ago. The subsequent retirement of the owners of the teashop at the end of last summer had only fuelled the rumours.

Despite the historic character of the property, it has been confirmed that planning consent would not be required for a store due to the established use of the property for the sale of food and drink to the general public. A leaked sustainability report, allegedly states that plans announced in 2012 to upgrade the A404 Bisham roundabout will eventually allow both shoppers in cars and deliveries by heavy goods vehicles to access the proposed new store by road.

In the meantime, however, it is rumoured that they plan to provide access for Marlow High Street shoppers using a riverboat shuttle service. In the absence of adequate HGV road access, consideration is apparently being given to the idea of recommissioning canal narrowboats in order to keep the store fully stocked at times of peak demand.

The supermarket giant has also allegedly approached leading members of the Marlow Canoe Club committee for permission to load their narrowboats using the clubhouse frontage.

Club Treasurer Kelvin Abbott, speaking from his new beachfront property in the Seychelles, added, "I've no idea where these rumours come from, or which supermarket chain might be involved, however I have always believed that the club should try something new today and that such proposals could help members live well for less". In a revealing moment of indiscretion club Chairman Adrian Cooper was recently overheard to say, My initial reaction was to think that this was another outrageous example of the trampling down of the common mans rights under the jack boots of corporate fascists, and that Oliver Cromwell would be turning in his grave. However, on reflection, I am now convinced that the Marlow Canoe Club membership will be fully supportive of this proposal, especially when they see that the proposals include a Starbucks coffee shop and that there is a large cheque in their post. And surely the best thing about Sainsburys is that they do keep the riffraff out of Waitrose. If you wish to comment on the plans then you need to get paddling because the deadline is said to be 1st April 2013.

COMMITTEE

The Annual general Meeting was well attended and proved to be a good test of the car parking skills of club members.

2013 Annual General Meeting

14

The chairman gave a special mention this year to Alex Sheill for his coaching and coaching

programme. Also Rodney for the Newsletter, Rod and Kelvin for work in the background, Jon for Secretary, Tom for the door lock. Dave Goddard has run an excellent programme of white water. The growing membership means that subscriptions have increased by 1000. The door cost 2700. Our surplus remains very healthy at 43k. The accounts have been independently audited. Club fees will remain unchanged in 2013. One important matter is the changing of the trustees. Currently these are Andy Maxted, Tim Ward and Adrian Cooper. However the law has changed and to Most improved paddler register the land with the Land Registry photographs need to be produced. Tim has requested a copy of Erika Taylor any photos containing old images of the state of the frontage before the club had the new frontage built. Volunteering Several new committee members were elected. Simon Millington Penny Newton takes on the role of Secretary. Sharron Bartlett takes on Sea Touring. James Hughes takes Newsletter article over Whitewater. A vacancy remains for the Youth rep Dominic Hurst role. There will be a new coaching programme, using modules. This will allow members to put together Swimmer of the year training that suits them. Awarded jointly to: Is the current newsletter the most valid form of Les Prior (for the Usk) communication to the club? 16 articles were written Dave Goddard (Walkham slot, by John and Rodney, 9 by the committee and only 3 Holme Weir) by other members. It was discussed and decided that the newsletter is still the best form of communication. Short pieces accompanied by pictures were suggested to encourage a better contribution from members. Club trips to have a reporter assigned, possibly the first swimmer.

2013 Award Winners

CLUB GUIDELINE
Responsibility for club boats

If you borrow club equipment, including boats, then you are fully responsible for the equipment from the point that it leaves the clubhouse until you eventually return it. That remains the case even if you subcontract transport of the equipment to another person. In the case of an incident involving loss or damage the committee does reserve the right to take into account extenuating circumstances.

However the default position is that the borrower is liable in full for any loss suffered by the club.

President

COMMITTEE

Tim Ward 01494 482959 wards@btinternet.com

Chairman

15

Secretary

Adrian Cooper 01844 344580 adrianccooper@gmail.com

Penny Newton 07765 226790 secretary@marlowcc.org.uk

Treasurer Coaching

Membership Equipment

Kelvin Abbott 01753 654923 kelvin.abbott@btinternet.com Alex Shiell shiellalex@yahoo.co.uk

Rod Edmonds 01753 671389 r.edmonds@etoncollege.org.uk Tom Bailey blast1102@ymail.com Catherine Harris harrc014@rbwm.org

1* Course Coordinator
Simon Knowles 07786 836012 simonknowles16@googlemail.com

Women's Representative Social Secretary Touring

Youth Representative
Vacant

Melinda Livett melinda.livett@yahoo.com Andy Maxted andymcoaching@gmail.com Rodney Casbierd 07960 900980 rbcasbierd@yahoo.co.uk

Whitewater Sea

James Hughes 01628 485049 jimbige@hotmail.com Sharron Bartlett sb@thebartletts.eu

Newsletter Editor

Website Editor

Chris Porteous chrisps@marlowcc.org.uk

Feel free to contact us to discuss a relevant issue or share your views

Marsport, Reading
01189 665912 http://www.marsport.co.uk

LOCAL RETAILERS

Riverside, Oxford
01932 247978

Paddlesport, Warwick
01926 640573 http://www.paddlesport.co.uk

WWC, Shepperton

01865 248673 http://www.riversideoxford.co.uk

http://www.whitewaterthecanoecentre.co.uk

Saturday 6 April Sunday 7 April 89 April

CALENDAR

Pool session, 7.00 pm 8.00 pm Flatwater Safety and Rescue Refresher Fundamental Kayaking Skills

Sunday 14 April 2223 April

CLUB SESSIONS
Every Sunday
Doors open at 9.30 am. On the water for 10 am. Doors open at 6.30 pm. On the water for 7 pm.

16

Novice Open Water Canoeing Fundamental Canoeing Skills

Weekend 2728 April

BCU Foundation Safety and Rescue

Weekend 45 May
Introduction to Paddlesport

Every* Tuesday

Saturday 4 May Monday 6 May

Pool session, 7.00 pm 8.00 pm Committee meeting 7.30 pm 9.30 pm, Marlow Donkey PH Further Fundamental Kayaking Skills

1314 May & 2728 May Sunday 19 May

Rolling Clinic Intermediate Recovery and Rescues

Saturday 25 May Saturday 1 June 36 June

Once per month

Chalfont Leisure Centre, Nicol Road, Chalfont St Peter, SL9 9LR.

POOL SESSION
* Tuesday night sessions restart in April Refer to the club website for exact date

Saturday 7.00 8.00 pm, see calendar for dates

5 adults, 3 juniors

Pool session, 7.00 pm 8.00 pm Sea kayak introduction weekend Introduction to Paddlesport

Weekend 12 June Saturday 15 June 1718 June

MEMBERSHIP RATES
Adult 42 Family 65 Junior 23 Senior 23 Storage 19 per boat

Fundamental Recovery and Rescues BCU Two Star Award Assessment Paddlepower Passport

Thursday 20 & 27 June Monday 1 July

Committee meeting 7.30 pm 9.30 pm, Marlow Donkey PH

Question : What do you call a fish with no eye? Answer : Fsh.

Only joking