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Author Archives: Emma Buzzard
The Thames Weirs
As you may have noticed, the last month has been a good month for rain and as such, a good month for kayaking. Whilst everybody else across the country has been moaning about the weather we’ve been making the most of the flows with a few trips to the weirs that the Thames has to offer, it’s been great fun. Old hands have been practising their panams, intermediates have been trying to get the hang of those flatspins and blunts and even those that only started paddling this year have been getting to grips with all that the Thames has to throw at them!
It’s been a lot of fun and everybody has learnt a lot. It has been great to watch everybody improve so quickly and seeing everyone gradually getting the hang of moves and techniques that they were wiping out on at the beginning of the day.
Let’s pray for more rain!
SUCC Boat Ball 2012
On the steps outside The Pitcher and Piano
Last night we held our annual boat party, this year sailing up and down the Itchen in search of calm waters…
As well as a good night out with cheesy tunes, good drink prices and custom balloons (?!), the club gained another boat and some kit. Several hundred pounds were raised through the raffle, with Chav Mike donating the complete safety kit (Palm 15m Bullet throwline, Endless Rivers river knife, Palm snapgate karabiner, Palm screwgate karabiner, Palm 5m sling, Aquapac, Palm Aero 3L dry bag & Lifesystems waterproof first aid kit) to the club. In addition, Fresher George and Sherman will be buying the club one of the loaned Pyranha fleet with money raised through the boat ball itself!
For more pictures, see Chris Vian’s album (sources image above), or one of the many galleries on facebook (eg here, here).
Scotland 2012
We took all but one of our Pyranha fleet to Scotland this Easter. With only one day of rain all week levels could have been better but then again we’re pretty well practised in running things low after two dry winters! Levels aside, we had a brilliant time taking on the Scottish classics, newbies and hardened veterans alike. Our last run of the Etive was a particular highlight, with some truly ridiculous showboating being pulled (although not always with great consequences!).
Photos can be found here!
WINNING, EPIC WINNING
Southampton University Canoe Club win biggest freestyle kayaking competition in the world.
Over March 2-4, the National Student Rodeo was held at the National Watersports Centre in Nottingham and Southampton University Canoe Club (SUCC) were out in force, ending the competition with a record 10 finalists and 4 podium finishes. This success, along with the performance of each and every competitor that paddled throughout the weekend saw the prize coming home to Southampton for the first time in the event’s nine-year history.
The National Student Rodeo claims to be the largest freestyle kayaking competition in world with over 1000 students from over 40 universities in attendance. In 2011 SUCC were the winners of the ‘Spirit of NSR’ award, the event’s event’s most lucrative prize which bagged the club sponsorship with the UK’s biggest manufacturer of kayaks, Pyranha, and a fleet of six new boats for a year.
Last year’s taste of success has evidently spurred the club on to bigger wins in 2012, winning the overall points competition to claim the much sought after prize: a brand new, unique, tiger striped! kayak.
The event is run by Leeds University Canoe Club and River Legacy, who provide entertainment and food on Friday and Saturday nights. This year Southampton took 54 competitors, the biggest contingent of any university canoe club for the second successive year.
Finalists included Pete Ainscow (1st place Men’s Novice), Sam Faithfull (3rd place, Men’s Intermediate), Tom Keogh (2nd place Squirt boat), Jack Gunter (C1), Pernille Fladsrud (Women’s Novice), Rich Field (Men’s novice), Matt Wright (Men’s Intermediate), Thom Guy (Men’s Intermediate), Andrew Waterfield (C1), Michael Green and Luke Kelland (Duo).
Words: Thom Guy
Photos: Andrew Sylvester
Article published on wessexscene.co.uk
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