Frome Canoe Club
Dart weekend: did they really do it like this?
For more about the Dart trip see P10 - 14. And for a full set of photos look in the gallery on the website! (See back page for answer to question above)
Grand Social P5 for details Volume 35 Issue 12 December 2011 Frome Canoe Club is affiliated to the British Canoe Union and is a Registered Charity (Number 1104728) 1
FCC ‘THROWLINE ’ CLUB MAGAZINE
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President Graham Warnecke Vice Presidents Richard and Jane Arney Jim and Catharine Croft Chairman Andy Bell Vice Chairman Rich Carter Treasurer John Kent Secretary Pam Dixon 16 Blagdon Walk, Frome, BA11 2YH Committee Members Debbie Ashdown Howard Charlesworth Sam Charlesworth Mandy James Alun Jones Gareth McGiveron Karl Waldeck Sara Withall Jack Smiles (Youth voice) Kit Officers Tim and Sally Smiles
In this issue CALENDAR: details
3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7
Calendar in brief River Barle or Exe New Year’s Day paddle River Dart Club Social Pool sessions DVD night Tryweryn weekend
REPORTS
8 9 10 11
River Barle trip River Frome trip Dart Weekend by Rich Lower Dart by Pip
SPECIALS
14 15 16 17 18
Members’ comments about the Dart Cartoon The Alternative Frome Trip Bits and Pieces Photo competition
Send articles for the next issue to th pam@dixon.org.uk by 28 December 2
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Calendar 2011/12 Date
Event
Standard
Contact
4
Sunday morning session
All
Pam D
18
River Barle or Exe
One Star +
Rich C
21
Wednesday DVD night
All
Pam D
23 and 30
NO POOL SESSIONS
All
Pam D
1
New Year’s Day paddle
Passport/One Star
8
River Dart
One Star +
John K
18
Wednesday DVD night
All
Pam D
21
Social and Awards ceremony
All
Pam D
29
Welsh rivers
Two Star +
Alex N
5
Sunday morning session
All
Pam D
8
AGM
All
Pam D
12
River Usk
Two Star +
Arthur B
19
River Frome
Passport/One Star Rich
26
River Dart
One Star +
Sam C
Tryweryn Weekend
Two Star +
Alex N
December
January
February
March 9-11
+ in the table above means that you must have had some moving water training or experience, eg Tiverton Training or the Dart Training. 3
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Calendar in detail - day trips Barle or Exe: 18th December
New Year’s Day Paddle
Meet 8am at the Clubhouse Cost £12 Organiser - Rich Carter
Meet 10am at the Clubhouse Cost £3 Organiser - Rich Carter
This trip will either be the Barle or the Exe. Not sure which at this stage. Depends on water levels.
This trip is likely to be the River Frome from Woolverton to Langham Farm. Well that’s what it has been since anyone can remember. (Apart from Graham!)
At low/medium levels the Barle offers pretty much continuous grade 2 conditions. It is a very pretty river into the bargain, and suits most levels of ability.
You need to have recovered from the partying of the night before because it’s better if we don’t have anyone over the limit on this trip or any sleepy heads!
The Exe has good weirs and rapids with a lot of flat/gently moving water between. It’s the river we did at the Tiverton training weekend, but if we do the Exe today, we will run right down to Bickleigh.
Seriously, this is a lovely paddle and gets you out of the house, doing something energetic after those days of eating and sleeping and being polite to the family.
Whichever we do, you will need warm paddling gear, sensible thermals and lots of energy food.
You do need to have sensible waterproof kit and warm thermals, because it can be very cold.
And as usual you can pick up any club kit you need to borrow when we meet at 8am.
NOTICE THE MUCH LATER THAN NORMAL START
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Calendar in detail - day trips River Dart: 8th January
Club Social
Meet 8am at the Clubhouse Cost £15 Organiser - John Kent
21st January At Trinity Hall, Frome
We’ll be doing Lower and Loop today, and possibly the Upper. Lower: This is the same stretch as some will have done on the Dart weekend, Buckfastleigh to Staverton, a total of around 5 miles. We will get on just below the stepped weir at the South Devon Railway. There are numerous small rapids (grade 1/2) all the way to Staverton. There is a good boulder garden for eddying in and out and some other gentle play spots which are good for surfing.
£5 adults £3 youth members
Loop: The trip will be from New-
Food is included in the ticket price, plus a complimentary first drink, then buy more drinks at the bar.
bridge to Buckfastleigh, about 7 miles. With its many play spots and rapids, it makes a really good paddle.
You need to sign up or let Pam know so that there is enough food to go round.
Check with John or Rich if you’re not sure which section to do. At this time of year it can be cold and the light fades quickly. Remember to wear warm clothes and bring food and drink for the trip.
This is the night that we present our annual awards for members who have shown great promise or made significant achievements.
Meet at 8am at the clubhouse where you can borrow all the club kit you need .
Turn to P17 to see last year’s winners.
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Calendar in detail - Club sessions DVD night
POOL SESSIONS FROME LEISURE CENTRE FRIDAYS, 8-9pm
Third Wednesday of the month At the Clubhouse 7-9pm Come to December’s meet where we shall be watching the Relentless River of Everest, The Dudh Kosi. This is a film about 6 kayakers who started at the Khumba glacier and canoed 90 miles of freezing water. With the river running unusually high and at over 30 miles an hour in places, the canoeists battle with waterfalls, stoppers, whirlpools and giant waves where the slightest mistake could be fatal.
REMEMBER NO SESSIONS ON 23rd and 30th DECEMBER
Regarded by kayakers the world over as the best film ever made about their sport, this one is different from the others we watch on a Wednesday evening, because rather than being a compilation of drop after drop, it tells the story of an epic first descent.
Cost £2.50 for Youth members £3 for Adults Pool sessions are for everyone. Come to learn how to roll or capsize, or come to just paddle about. You can bring your own boat provided it is dead clean!
Viewing commences about 7.30pm. Tea, coffee, mince pies and soft drinks will be available from 7pm.
December 21st
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Calendar in detail TRYWERYN WEEKEND MARCH 2012 We’re going to North Wales for a weekend to paddle that wonderful river, the Tryweryn. We leave Friday as early as possible after work and travel to the bunkhouse hidden in the heart of North Wales. The bunkhouse is booked for two nights, Friday and Saturday. It has beds made up, central heating, self catering or you can book meals. Bill says the breakfasts are very good. There are drying facilities there but they are not brilliant, so two sets of thermal are advised. The bunkhouse is a 20 minute drive from the CT. The river we paddle has got a harder upper section (3/4) and a more gentle lower section. Alex is organising this weekend and is planning to have the flexibility so that people can paddle the section(s) they want. A £24 deposit books you a place in the bunkhouse. Catering will be yours to arrange. We know there are lots of good (cheap) places in Bala and there are pubs local to the bunkhouse. Or you can self cater. Transport will also be yours to arrange. But we expect people to share cars and nearer the time we will get lists of drivers and help match people up. It’s a little while since we did a club trip to Tryweryn, so be sure to get on the list for your place in the bunkhouse.
Staying Friday night 9th March and Saturday night 10th March at Tyddyn Bychan bunkhouse Paddling on the Tryweryn, Saturday and Sunday The sign-up list is in a folder, which is available every session. Deposits secure your place in the bunkhouse. (ps the bunkhouse this time is NOT Stella’s) 7
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Reports - The Barle 23rd October Bumping down the Barle 23rd October By Alun Jones
with unexpected capsize practice, rescues, route finding, coaching and group leadership.
The day began with the usual preparations at the clubhouse and discussions about the water levels. The Barle can be run providing the gauge reads 250mm or above, we expected a bumpy paddle based on the reports.
Although there were some anxious faces during the trip these were replaced with smiles in the car park at the end. Thank you to all the coaches and leaders for their help on the water and the drivers for making the trip possible.
We arrived at Tarr steps in the sunshine and warmth, a new experience for many of the party who have become to expect a cold wait for the shuttle to be completed. Our group was bolstered in number by some regular Barle veterans, Pip of course and Chris who brought some friends Ricky, Lynda and Shaun.
Points done, and to all the others who remained upright dry, congratulations. Ed: Points and paddlers were in last month’s newsletter.
Frome Trip Paddlers
The journey was punctuated with stretches of shallow water and punting off the river bed to make progress but we soon began to find the deeper water routes and were able to appreciate the views and wildlife.
See next page for report Girls:
Ellie H, Lia H (3), Isi M and Philippa T Boys: Ben L, Ben N (1), Nathan H (3 for a swim and 2 awarded for a short tow!), Rich N Ladies: Amy B, Jane T, Lynda S, Pam D and Sam N (3) Men: Alan C (3), Chris H, Ian J, Jona than H, Mark B, Nick K, Rich C, Ricky, Shaun and Stuart M.
At our regular lunch stop we enjoyed the sunshine and took a rest before pushing on the outskirts of Dulverton and the excitement of the weir and the fast flowing water. We had paddlers with a mixture of abilities amongst the group and we were able to occupy many of them
23 paddlers. In open boats were Lia and Sam, Amy, Alan, Stuart. 8
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River Frome - 30th October There were treasures to be seen Copper and bronze, silver and gold. Autumn’s arrived and the leaves are all changing. They glowed in the sunshine And shimmied in the breeze. It was good to be out and enjoying the air. And I spied in the sky Three herons up high With their huge floppy wings, silent and strange. You cannot deny it was peaceful and pretty Placid and calm: warm for a change.
So what of the hazards? Well yes! Anglers as usual, but only five!
Trees were the obstacles, lying over the water. We’ll have trouble with those when the level gets high But today they were fun as we wiggled and squeezed. The water was low and some weirs quite dry We felt cheated at Beckington: no stopper to play But that didn’t stop us enjoying the river And even the walking was OK today. A good trip? Yes! One of the best! Well that’s what we said. Ed: see back page for the photo of Ben and Mark on the very dry Woolverton weir.
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Reports - Dart Weekend Dart Weekend
Sunday paddlers at Powdermills, w
12th/13th November By Rich Hi, all of you paddlers out there! Did we have a good trip or what? We had groups on the lower, middle and upper sections all at the same time and on both days! Paddlers were able to pick their groups, move around on the different days, and hopefully get some training. Even if they think they are not, they are better paddlers than when they started on the Saturday morning. The only fly in the pot is that we are restricted to the number of paddlers we can take by the size of the bunkhouse where we stay at Powdermills, a great place about 3 miles from Princetown, quite literally in the middle of Dartmoor. Except for the entry road you are surrounded by marshes. By good accounts no snoring was to be heard this weekend.
Paddlers for all or part of the weekend Girls: Ellie Boys: Aaron, Ben N, George, Kurt, Rich Ladies: Amy, Becki, Bex, Bryony, Chloe, and Pam Men: Alex, Alun, Arthur, Carl, Chris H, Jonathan, Mark, Mike, Nick, Pip, Arthur and me free to do the Upper on Sunday. Saturday on the Upper saw a small group of brave or foolhardy under the leadership of Nick. The water was a good level for them by all accounts. Sunday’s Upper trip was joined by 6 paddlers from the Loop and Arthur and myself. Fortunately the water levels were perfect for those want-
We had Pam and John with our Devon contingent, Pip, leading the Lower group, with John swapping to take a lead role on the Sunday on the Loop. Also leading on the Loop were Arthur, Gareth, Bryony, Rob, Mark and myself on the Saturday. Alun helped on the Sunday, which left 10
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Reports - Loop continued and Lower
with that view over the moors
miss that rock. And for me in new boat, I rolled first time in a boulder choke, and yes Andy, it must be 15 years since I last saw you swim. Oh happy days! My star paddlers of the weekend were Ben Nicol and Rich Norman. Really up and coming they are, and I will be looking at them soon to rescue me, I expect. With Pam leading the feeding of us, and lots of help we how could it go wrong? So sorry if you could not make it, but let’s hope for a good trip in 2012. Hope to see you on the water soon, Rich.
h N, William Hazel, Hilary, Kate, Linz, Megan, Nadine
Gareth, Guy, Jack, Joe, John C, John K, , Rich, Rob, Stu, and Terry. ing to learn, and for Arthur and me because we were a bit nervous, not having done it for a long time. But I do know the Saturday’s Upper crowd would have liked a higher level. Swimmers: we had a few, but more importantly, smiles of joy, armfuls of excitement and eyes of wonderment, of how did we get that eddy, wave or
Oh how my voice went up a pitch!
OR A little of what went on at the Dart’s lower section By Pip Some of Saturday’s group started a little nervously, negotiating the first ‘ferry gliding’ with heaps of concentration and the odd twitch as their kayak caught a wave. Oh what had happened to those supports stokes....well this was soon remedied after Pam’s instructions and most excellent demonstrations. Soon Hazel, Amy, Hilary and William were ferry gliding like experts. Continued on next page 11
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Reports - Lower Dart continued trying to get it on was a real struggle. So if my voice had gone up an octave or so, you know why.
I should mention at this point that Megan, John K and Chris H were also with us providing extra cover. Not much more to say about this day .... well just maybe one little thing .... in the process of trying to rescue Amy, I also had to be rescued .... so let’s just leave it there, no more to be said.
Sunday found a smaller group of us (Amy, Hilary, William, Chris H, Pam and myself). Oh what a difference a day makes, as all of our three were straight in to breaking in and out, ferry gliding, both forwards & back, eddy hopping and riding any wave that could be found. With the river slightly lower, we could find many more small eddies behind rocks and a competition started to see who could
Now for a word of warning to any paddler who has a brain lapse as I did. Having a soaking wet ‘long john’, I thought it would be a good idea to put it in the tumble drier ready for next day....Oh no...as next morning
ALUN AT EUTHANASIA ON THE UPPER
Looking good. Smiling too! On course for a good line...
OH dear! Where IS he going? 12
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Reports - Lower Dart continued hit the most. Oh yes Hilary continued to have a few swims, but only because she was trying so hard and the odd eddy line caught her out.
down much of the way safely. A most lovely comment I heard was from one of the ladies who said ‘doesn’t Pam make paddling look so effortlessly when she is demonstrating a manoeuvre. Thank you to all my fellow paddlers, but especially to Amy, Hilary, Hazel and William who put every effort into their paddling and showed such an improvement. Cheers for now. See you soon, Pip
As we proceeded down the river the coaches soon noticed the increased confidence of the paddlers, all smiling as they tried different manoeuvres and strokes. Several times we all got out and walked back up the river to have another go at a stretch, taking the opportunity to look at the rocks and river layout to see which eddies we could get in to. William led us
OK, back with us ..... But....
Not for long! Over he goes. What a shame! Did he swim, we wonder? 13
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Comments from members! I thought I should write a few words about the Dart weekend. I had a great time as I know my kit was getting very dirty and smelly, so I was able to give it a pre wash on Saturday, with a full wash on Sunday, and yes it has come up like new. So my thanks go to FCC for organising this fantastic washing weekend. Yours Soggy.
Fr o
Fir
mH az st tim el: aw eo e n t some he Loo week en p, a ll g d. ood !
From Andy V: Great weekend, thanks to the organisers, cooks, leaders, and fellow paddles for making it fun. And thanks to Rich for being so entertained with my swim. I would like to say it was just for you, but unfortunately it was actually due to the high atmospheric pressure, inadequate frictional properties of Dart valley riverbank rock face, and the wrong type of water.
ng to nythi ing A . s t p r er hu much clap d l u o y sh too ich: M ll, or from R m Fro y ro ? ith m do w ndy swam A n whe What a weekend to try your new boat! With a good river level, the boat did what was asked of it, my hips worked lovely, feet were nice and snug and I was able to use arms with out hitting the boat. The only question I have is ’Is it meant to float so low in the water?’ Apart from one little swim it was great, bring it on. Yours Sporty.
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Was there any of this on Sunday’s Upper trip?
Reproduced by kind permission of Foxy from Blind Probe.
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The alternative River Frome trip What a beautiful day! A trip down our very own River Frome. Spoilt, I’m sorry to say by Jane’s uncharacteristic bad behaviour on the day and Isi’s and Philippa’s inability to splash properly – lift and throw! Not that splashy splashy nonsense! You’ll get there, girls. Just keep at it. There were, I suppose three different groups on the water. There were the graceful gliders Stu and Amy, who because of their age, chose to paddle in gert long boats making it much easier for themselves. Then there was the ‘I’m a big boy’ group: Ben N and Rich N who spent most of the time trying to do things with their boats that most ordinary people do with their old tin bath when they are not sitting in it: that is hang it vertically off something. And then there were the sensible Sunday paddlers ie Jack a recently qualified instructor in basket weaving, Rich (in his tank), Jane (who did nothing but giggle and misbehave all trip), Nick the wobbler (he needs to get a bigger boat or learn more support strokes), Chris H (I was the only one to see his boat go over in the huge stopper at the bridge), Nathan (‘the brave’ as he is now known) and Ellie the leader. All the other paddlers distributed themselves amongst these groups.
Mark enjoyed getting stuck on top of the first weir or rather half way down it. A hugely sensual flick from those hips managed to dislodge his boat without any problems. Rich N managed to drive the front of his boat continuously under the rear of Jonathan’s for the sheer hell of trying to upend it, all in the spirit of providing rescue practice for would be coaches, you understand. Although Pam refused to play in the stopper at Rode weir, others were brave enough to have a go. Even Rich with his tank did well, despite carrying two spare sets of clothes, 4 spare paddles, food for an army, a mini metro, cuddly toy, 2 road cones and 4 JCBs. (Vastly overstocked: we only used 2 JCBs to get Stu back into his boat after lunch.) We saw a moorhen’s nest with three eggs in it and a kingfisher. We walked some of the weirs because they were awfully dry and we emerged at Langham Farm all in one piece. Well done to everyone for their sheer stamina and tenacity. And well done to the River Frome for just being there. Aren’t we lucky? The weekend before I paddled with someone from the Isle of Wight. Advised her to take up sand dancing or move nearer to Frome.
Well all three groups had wonderful Ed: first seen in a newsletter in 2004. times – all different times of course. No changes then - except the people! 16
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Bits and Pieces Here are our winners who were awarded prizes at the 2011 Social
Mandy James Stuart Miles Kate Johnson George McGiveron John Kent Danny O’Gorman Sam Charlesworth) and Jack Smiles ) Alex Nicol Jack Smiles
Steve Allen Trophy (best newcomer) Ivor Morgan Trophy (coaching) A special prize from the President Youth Cup Bayman Trophy (best result in a national competition) Langham Trophy (best result at Langham Farm shared the Volunteers Cup, Editor’s Award (best contribution to the newsletter) Coppernose Clip Award (most swims)
Do you have an article for the newsletter? Send it to pam@dixon.org.uk
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A rubber band was confiscated from an algebra class, because it was a weapon of math disruption.
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Bits and Pieces
CONGRATULATIONS TO JIM AND CATHARINE Recorded in the BCU Slalom ACM minutes: A Canoe England award for
“Services to Paddlesport” was presented to Jim and Catherine Croft on behalf of the Eastern region. Ed: About time! And congratulations from the Somerset contingent too!
Photo competition: can you guess who these two are?
Entries to pam@dixon.org.uk for a chance to win a box of chocs at the Social!
Christmas present idea! Buy an article of FCC clothing for your nearest and dearest(s). Find the link on the Website and go mad with colours and wording! Andy has added a new version. Take a look! 18
Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.
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Bits and Pieces Have YOU looked at our FCC facebook page? Our 100th facebook member: Mark Baines
Get to see what’s happening, what members are doing and saying. It’s all quite light hearted and good fun really! To make it easy for you, John has put a link from the web page (top right).
LAST ONE FROM THE DART: I have to report that, yes, I did take a swim on the Dart. As part of the Dart weekend I was trying my best but I am not up to it any more, I think my age is getting to me. Should I give it up for a life of being looked after? It has been many a year since I have swam out of my boat, or was that swimming after my boat? I hope you will let me come again as I need the company of good paddlers to help me get back to my old self.
Calendar information In the event of you losing your Newsletter during the course of a month, go to the Calendar section of the Website and click on ‘more details’’. There you will find info relating to the event which might avert that frantic call or email to Pam!
COPPERNOSE POINTS The final tally for 2011 will be available at the Club Social. We start a new list for 2012 on 1st January, The New Year’s Day Paddle.
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CONTACTS Chairman: Andy Bell 07966 203309
Mark and Ben at the dry Woolverton weir on the River Frome Trip (P9 and P16 for the reports)
Vice Chair: Rich Carter 01373 864623 r.carter305@btinternet.com Treasurer: John Kent 01225 765168 jfkent@blueyonder.co.uk Secretary: Pam Dixon 01373 473836 pam@dixon.org.uk Youth Voice: Jack Smiles canoedude@hotmail.co.uk
Kurt on the Upper Dart at Surprise Surprise
www.frome-canoeclub.org.uk Check out the photos of club events or put a comment on the message board!
Get all your canoeing things from the Family Adventure Store at Hilperton. BA14 7PJ
Dart photo answer: No, of course they didn’t do it like this! They took this rapid, called Euthanasia, one at a time and waited till each was through before the next one came! Nick Kent just used the wizardry of photoshop to compose the picture! Nice one Nick!
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. 20