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Frome Canoe Club is affiliated to British Canoeing and is a Registered Charity (Number 1104728)

Newsletter

River Frome trip - see p10 for report

Cutting the cost of paddling at FCC

Here are two ways of cutting the cost of your paddling sessions:

PaddlePass: You can buy a monthly Pass for £10 and this entitles you to paddle as often as you like in the week (when sessions are going on) during that month. £50 buys you a year’s Pass.

Upfront Card: Buy 5 sessions up front and get the sixth session free! Use this card at any club session.

Volume 40 Issue 4: April 2016

Our LAST Saturday session is 9th April, 2-4pm.

SUMMER PROGRAMME OF RIVER SESIONS

Slalom training: starts Monday 18th April Wednesdays general sessions: start 20th April

Adult-only: starts Tuesday 5th May

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FCC ‘THROWLINE ’ CLUB MAGAZINE

Send articles for the next issue to pam@dixon.org.uk by 27th April

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

SmokefreeSports Please help us to promote a smokefree club by refraining

from smoking publicly at all our events.

In this issue

CALENDAR in detail

3 Calendar in brief

6-7 Wednesday club nights

8 Exeter Canoe Loop

SLALOM

4-5 Slalom - what’s happening?

8 Grand Team Event

REPORTS

10-11 River Frome trip by Rich C

12-15 The day it all went wrong by Graham

OTHER THINGS

1 Cutting the cost of sessions

9 Some info about regional events

9 Volunteers and Coaches: Autism w/s

9 Coaches training day

15 Help needed

16 Kyra picks up award

16 Courses

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Calendar 2016

FCC ‘THROWLINE ’ CLUB MAGAZINE

Date Event Who for Contact

April

9 Saturday afternoon session All Rich C

16 TASTER DAY for members of the public Help needed Pam D

18 Monday slalom training starts Slalomists John K

20 WEDNESDAY SESSIONS START All Pam D

24 Exeter Canoe Loop Passport/One star Stuart M

26 Autism Training Volunteers Pam D

29 Mini slalom (1) All John

May

3 Tuesday Adult-only sessions start

Adults Alan C

8 Grand Team Event All John K

10 Passport and Discover start Participants Pam D

13 Friday Canoe Polo All Jack S

15 Winchester slalom Div 4/Open All John K

20 Langham Farm Friday All Rich C

27 Mini slalom (2) All John K

29 Set up Langham Farm slalom All John K

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

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Our programme of training and racing starts in April. We focus on introducing new mem-bers to canoe slalom, particularly young pad-dlers. Slalom improves paddling skills and fitness, so it’s good for everyone, especially if you want to progress white water skills and/or levels of fitness in general.

Training sessions on Monday and Wednesday evenings start week beginning 18th April and this leads into a busy schedule of events – see the table p9.

For established paddlers there are other races in the calendar at places like Shepperton, Cardington, Llandysul and beyond.

Some things to remember:

Newcomers usually start in Division 4. When you do well, you get promoted. You build up your skill, and work your way up to bigger water and tougher competition. In Division 4, where you start, it won't be too hard - a rush of water from a weir, or moving water in a stream, (or flat like Market Yard).

When you get to Division 1 it will be big and tricky! ( )

Newcomers can paddle any boat - so choose the one you like best.

The aim is to run a rapid river course marked by "gates" fast, and without touching. A "gate" is two poles, suspended over the water. If they are green and white you pass through going downstream. If they are red and white gates, go upstream through them.

Penalties: if you touch a pole with anything – paddle, boat, buoyancy aid, helmet or yourself - a 2 second penalty is added to your time. If you miss out a gate, or go through in the wrong direction, the penalty is 50 seconds.

Each competitor takes two runs, and the best run counts.

There are classes for Kayak, Canadian Singles, and Canadian Doubles.

Some events include team races, where teams of three boats work together for the fastest possible time.

Some more things to remember:

Entries go on Entry Cards. You can get help to fill those out.

Slalom - what’s happening this season?

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FCC ‘THROWLINE ’ CLUB MAGAZINE

From 18th April, Mondays and Wednesdays

Training starts at Market Yard

Juniors 18:00 to 19:00, Adults / more experienced 19:00 to 20:00.

Friday 29th April First Minislalom at Market Yard

18:00. A 12 gate course with minimum organisation. Prizes include most improved over the series of 3.

Sunday 8th May Grand Team Event at Market Yard

Race in teams of 3 boats.

Sunday 15th May North Walls Slalom at Winchester

This is a Division 4 race and is held on flat water an ideal first race. The Open race is for those already in a higher divs

Friday 27th May Second Minislalom At Market Yard 18:00.

Sunday 29th May Langham Farm set-up

No training, we put up the course ready for next weekend

Sat 4th / Sun 5th June

Langham Farm Sla-lom

A Division 3 and 4 ranking race near Rode, which we organise.

Sat 11th / Sun 12th June.

Ogmore slalom Div 3/4 at Bridgend in South Wales.

Friday 1st July Third Minislalom At Market Yard 18:00.

Sunday 10th July Frome Market Yard slalom

A Div 4/Open event which we organise.

If bibs are not being used put the number you have been given on your boat (use sticky tape).

You start in number order. Watch others at the start, and be there when your turn comes

Try to get through all the gates - in the right order!

When you've finished, wait for two more people to finish before you get off - it's your turn to do safety duty.

You can find out more about canoe slalom on www.canoeslalom.co.uk

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Slalom training Canoe polo

Wednesday sessions are busy! With lots to choose from.

All ages: come at 6.30pm

All ages: come at 6.45pm Ability to wear a spraydeck is recommended

To reduce congestion at the clubhouse and ensure people are ready for their session, we are making some changes. Please check these ‘new’ times and start queuing at the times shown.

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Fun and games

Kayak skills Open boating

per person, or use your PaddlePass (find out more about the PaddlePass and Up-front card on front page)

Young people 8-10 years: come at 6.30pm 11-13years: come at 6.45pm 14+ years: come at 7.00pm

Young people come at 7.00pm

Young people come at 7.00pm

Adult-only group come at 7.45pm. Or try the new session on Tuesday evenings. Come around 7pm to be ready to get on the water at 7.30pm.

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Calendar in detail

GRAND TEAM EVENT

8th May 10am at the Clubhouse Cost £3 Organiser: John Kent

THIS IS A REALLY GOOD EVENT ! EVERYONE CAN PARTIPATE!

In teams of three boats, work together to race through the poles fast.

Practice from 10am Race starts 11am approx Your team gets two runs and

the best run counts. A team comprises any three boats. And they don’t have to be slalom boats. Choose the boat you like paddling! And you could have three people in your team (in single kay-aks/canoes) or up to six people in a combination of single or double kayaks/canoes). It is a good event. We will help you sort out a team on the morning.

EXETER CANOE LOOP

24th April 8am at the Clubhouse Cost £12 Organiser: Stu Miles This is to be a canoe trip so get your kneeling pads out!

Last year we got on at Exeter Quay and paddled downstream on the Exe to Countess weir via Salmon Pool, and then back on the Exeter Ship Canal.

Probably a distance of about 7 miles with a small portage be-tween the river and the canal. Look here for a leaflet showing all the ‘loops’. We are likely to do ‘Loop 1’.

We will be in open boats and so we can take barbeque, champers on ice, and the odd canapé. Only joking - no champers or canapés. But there are usually pubs/cafés on the canal sections so we can stop for a coffee.

Do let us know in advance if you are coming so we can allocate canoes.

For 2016: once a month a Friday polo session and Friday Langham Farm session. Information about both in next newsletter.

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Calendar in detail - other things

COACH DAY

19th June

9.30-4.30pm at the Clubhouse Organiser: Rich Carter

This is a new thing for us and is pitched at supporting our coaches.

The plan is to have a day where we can share ideas, hear from Jack and Megan about some of the latest coaching tips (they have both just done a Level 2 Training) and work together on checking our coaching standards are all as one

We will produce a programme in due course, but the idea is to get on the water rather than sit and chat in the clubhouse!

Coaches: let us know if you want us to cover anything particular (eg 'how to teach edging', ‘how to teach bow rudders' etc). Alternatively let us know if you would like to lead a short session in the day.

We want this to be useful and we would like everyone to feel welcome - participating and/or contributing.

Aspiring coaches - this day is for you too.

A TRAINING WORKSHOP

AUTISM

26th April 7.30pm at the Clubhouse Organiser: Pam Dixon

All our coaches and volunteers are invited to this.

We have booked the Disabilities Officer from SASP (our Sports Partnership) to deliver a short session on Autism.

The intention is to cover some of the strategies we can use to support people on the autistic spectrum when they turn up to the club.

The session will last for about one hour.

Come at 7pm for refreshments, the workshop starts at 7.30pm.

Some non-club things

Melksham CC: a Race Series - here SW Canoe show at Exeter - here Hamble River Raid - here

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River Exe and Exeter Ship Canal The Frome Trip - 6th March

Chloe in the Zoom Flume. No problem!

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The Frome trip pictures

Little Jack, game for everything: above left he tries his hand in a wave, with Dad close by, and above right in a canoe with Stu on the last weir. Below left, Linz on Farleigh weir. Below Drew on the Zoom Flume.

Jan at the weir at Iford. Not really sure about it, but the smiles at the end say it all!

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River Exe and Exeter Ship Canal Whoops! The day it all went wrong and very wet

The Exe Trip 20th Feb 2016

By Graham

A paddle on a Saturday down the Exe. “There’s different” as they say in Wales, but it does avoid the canoe crush that you can get on a Sunday, as on this day we had the river to ourselves.

I arrived at Bolham ahead of the rest and decided, as it looked like rain, I would change there and then, hop-ping around on one leg trying to put on canoeing kit in the rain. Mud is great to watch from the warmth of the car, but no fun if you are the par-ticipant. I had just done up the last zip when ten other club members duly arrived in John and Andy’s vans, all loaded up to the hilt with bodies and boats.

After the usual bunny shuffle with the cars down to Bickleigh we drivers re-turned to a new access point involving a seal launch from the top of the bank. Now, I was neither born with flippers or whiskers thus seal launch-ing is not my favourite form of entrance to the river. I always end up to my chest in cold water whilst performing a support stroke that defies any description in the BCU

Handbook, plus it always gives Rich a good laugh as he says my face looks funny when I launch this way.

On most trips I tend to act as tail-end Charlie. It’s a nice place to be just chasing up the stragglers and if some-one gets it wrong on a weir or rapid you simply go another way round. But today was a small group, the river was running well and I know the Exe like the back of my hand. Thus I was in front with Andy on the approach to Bolham weir. I should have stayed at the back as the next bit of this story/epic, call it what you will, is mainly about me. After all I had had to suffer the ridicule of this on the trip, so you must suffer the story about this part of the trip.

Andy dropped over the weir and pulled through the stopper into the slack water beyond and waited for the rest of us. I had intended to wait at the top and see the others over first but as they were a fair way back and in no hurry I decided to join Andy at the bottom. I should have stayed at the top.

I dropped over and down the weir face and pulled through the stopper, a great success on my part. Then it all went wrong. I did a Kath N, and stopped paddling before I was clear of the back flow thus I flowed back

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FCC ‘THROWLINE ’ CLUB MAGAZINE

The day it all went wrong continued

into the V of the stopper to the sound of Andy’s encouragement, “You don’t want to be in there”. But I was in there, well and truly and usually it’s at this point that for some it all goes wet but not for me, yet. Instinct kicks in and somehow you get it right. I was sitting in the V, supporting on my strong side with my left knee locked up against the deck. All was well so far. A sigh of relief as I started to pull forwards towards a break in the stopper 25m ahead. Why I didn’t pull backwards with only 5m to a break is a mystery that will remain with me for a long time, but when you are having fun you don’t always think rationally.

I pulled across with Andy keeping pace from the safe side of the stopper that seemed to have it in for me. Now Andy and Rich will affirm, this one was hard work but I persisted and it seemed that I was to be reprieved, that is until 4m from the break. I hit a very airy patch of water, lost support and headed down. My hair would be ruined, but instead of my life flashing before me, it was Andy’s bow. I have never grabbed a bow so fast in all my life. I was safe, I still had hold of my paddle in my left hand. Things were looking good. Oh no they’re not! The river was pushing Andy’s kayak away from the stopper with me hanging on to the front, and

the stopper was hanging on to my kayak with me in the middle of the two. Something had to give and that something was me. I popped out like the proverbial cork, stood up in 18 inches of water and all I wanted to know was how big was the grin on Rich’s face.

Having retrieved my kayak from the stopper and emptied out, straight-ened my dignity as best I could we all headed on through the rock garden down to Worth House bridge. No arches blocked and play-wave washed out, so on down to Head weir/Salmon steps.

The steps were big and bubbly, not a problem in a high volume canoes but for those with a flat stern it’s a differ-ent story. The front of Jos’ kayak seemed to want to climb the trees as it tried to pirouette its way down. Jos is no dancer however, so out he came to try breast-stroke instead, and like a fish, was retrieved on the end of a line. The rest of the group refused to dance and made it safely to the bottom, dodging the grabby standing wave at the bottom step on-route.

Things were getting samey now so we all pushed on towards Tivy to tackle the great bird battle of Tiverton. We battled our way against the wind down town and I’m sure Stu winked

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River Exe and Exeter Ship Canal The day it all went wrong continued

piece, round the corner to Bickleigh Bridge where we had a quick explana-tion about being swept down to Exeter if you got it wrong in the wave at the bottom of the bridge slope. Over we all went straight into a break-out sharp left at the bottom onto the beach.

You would think at this point all being tired and wind swept it would be straight off for warm clothes and tea, but no. Andy and Rich threw them-selves into the play-wave while I sat in the middle of the river acting as safety boat and despite making three wishes, hunting for a four leaf clover and final-ly offering my soul to anyone, they bounced around a bit and then popped out in one piece which then encouraged Jim to have a go. He dropped in behind the play-wave and despite much knee gripping, paddle waving and a look of bewilderment, his canoe slowly filled with water. With a shrug of his shoulders, he simp-ly stepped out but got bowled over by the flow. Rich, Andy and myself went in for a quick rescue to prevent all be-ing swept down to Thorverton and beyond. By this point we were all feel-ing, dare I say a bit puffed out, but there was to be no let- up. We turned to see Terry being thrown around by the wave. It was a brave attempt but

at a bird that it took offence. It decided that it would have a go at the whole group starting with Kath. Being attacked by a swan is a great way to improve your paddling stroke as we all discovered, and as it went for Stu the rest of us, as they say legged it down over Town weir and safety. That is apart from Jonathan who decided to celebrate the win over the swan with a play in a very shallow stopper that proved his undoing, bent helmet, cut hand, shattered dignity. Oh how the list goes on. He nearly made it to Wal-ronds weir in bits, but Andy insisted on a rescue and a bit of first aid all before we stopped at Walronds for lunch.

After a quick lunch we all headed down stream towards Bickleigh. I say all, but it would seem that the open boaters were having trouble with wind, the meteorological kind, that seemed determined to blow them back up to Walronds. Thus a different tactic was needed, Kath got a tow being a pretty one armed paddler. Stu and Jim had to go with the age old method of pad-dling harder. Where is an engine when you need one? This continued down to the end of Walronds straight where the river takes a left and we made the shelter of the trees and hills which made the rest of the trip down to Bro-ken weir a quick affair. All over in one

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HELP NEEDED

16th April, 11am-3pm At the Clubhouse

A TASTER DAY

Can you help us today?

The taster day is for members of the public to come and try out canoeing.

So we need help to kit out people, choose boats, supervise them on the water and generally do the whole ‘talking and being friendly’ thing.

It can be hard work, but usually very rewarding.

If you can only spare an hour or two that would be very helpful. Please let Pam know if you can help and for how long.

Team work …. will be needed

when you

take part in

the Grand

Team Event,

on 8th May.

FCC ‘THROWLINE ’ CLUB MAGAZINE

Exe trip continued + Bits and Pieces

there was only one way out and with dignity cast to the wind a wet exit ensued, with the bits picked up by the three musketeers. It was at this point we called a halt to proceedings and every-one headed for the cars.

It was a brilliant trip despite the wind and rain; the water level was perfect for the varied ability of the paddlers. With a small group like we had you don’t need eyes in the back of your head when it comes to safety, and all were able to look after themselves.

Having said that it needs to be noted that with our trips if any-one gets into trouble there is always a race by the rest to help out, which makes paddling with our club all worth-while: the laughs en route, the encouragement and banter, even the first-aid with added sarcasm. I doubt you will find a better club and if you didn’t swim on this trip, you have no idea what you missed.

A whole day spent sorting the open boats is not everyone’s idea of fun. But it had to be done. Re-rigging and fixing air bags, replacing

painters and so on, is a job no one wanted to do. Well thanks to Rich, five boats are done. Just two left now! Thank you Rich.

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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.

www.frome-canoe-club.org.uk

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CONTACTS

Chairman: Andy Vowell 07584 069432 Vice Chair: Gareth McGiveron Treasurer: John Kent 01225 765168 jfkent@blueyonder.co.uk Secretary: Pam Dixon 07740 472982 pam@dixon.org.uk Head Coach: Rich Carter 01373 864623 Youth Rep: Tracey Lemon Volunteer Rep: Jonathan Howell Kit: Jack Smiles smiles93@googlemail.com Safety Officer: Rich Carter Welfare Officer: Pam Dixon

For canoeing

stuff

Our course dates are

published now. Pick

up a leaflet from the

clubhouse or look

here.

Kyra picks up her award

We had the pleasure of catching up with Kyra when she attended a regional Youth meeting at the club.

Kyra’s contribu-tion to coaching in 2015 was remarkable.

She turned up week in and week out, energetic and enthusiastic. The smile on her face belied the mischief she was going to propagate in the session for the unsuspecting Yellow group participants. Well done Kyra! We are sorry you weren’t able to be at the Social to get the Coaches award and to hear the amazing round of applause you got.