Perranporth surf, Cornwall, October 1997

This was the first major trip of the term – we took two buses to Perranporth in Cornwall, filled with old members, new members and a couple of old gits.

This trip was superbly organised by the President (not that I’m biased or anything) and the buses were ready to leave by 6 p.m. Unfortunately, the first bus got a head start because it took Jamie an hour to drive back to Middle Street and get Kev out of the shower. In the rush to make it to the pub, their bus was photographed by a speed camera on one of the A roads (OK well it was probably someone going the other way – but the ‘Disco Bus’ sign will give the police a bit of a giggle). We arrived at the hut after the first bus to find Neil dribbling into his vodka, and generally being drunkenly obnoxious to everyone (so nothing new there then). Top tip, Neil – not only does Helen Dale date a gorilla, she also has a mean right hook.

We made it on to the surf in good time on the Saturday morning – Joe Lo gave another good lesson on surfing (and another good impression of a wave). The surf was pretty messy but also pretty big out the back, and the wind was strong (i.e. get in at one end of the beach and arrive at the other end a couple of minutes later). Lots of swimmers, including Mr Webb, whose deck-popping excuse is now quite familiar. Several SUCCers decided that canoeing was far too much effort and spent the day body-boarding and building sandcastles. Jo and Kev invested in his ‘n’ hers body boards and spent a blissful day in the surf together.

We were off the surf late in the afternoon, and Christine, Steve and some happy helpers went back to cook dinner while the rest disappered to the tea shop. Herbivore and real chili were followed by a ration of fruit cocktail (about 2 pieces per person) and yummy birthday cake. The washing up was done in record time by eager footie fans, and we were in the pub by 7.30 for the match.

I would report the score here, but I spent the second half on the floor of the pub and had to be taken home soon after. But we enjoyed the usual SUCC Saturday night frolics. Jamie celebrated his 22nd birthday in style by locking himself in the downstairs bathroom and chundering all over the floor. Abellone did one of her disappering acts, only to reappear later having been for a curry. Helen Ford did her bit for club relations by keeping our Cotswolds friends happy. Silly games were enjoyed by all, and the wreckage could still be seen in the morning.

Sunday dawned, and with it a slightly more sober Jamie, whose first task was to clean out his sick bowl so we could put our lunch into it to take to the beach! Ben decided that his wetsuit was just too cold and sandy, and stayed in the hut to do some work (?!?). Surf was better than on the Saturday, although some people still didn’t make it into a boat (Jo B ???). As usual, the sun came out and the wind dropped just as we were leaving.

Back at the boathard in freezing Southampton, someone had stupidly parked their car blocking the bus’s entrance to the boathard, so the trailer arrived back pulled in by all the bus’s passengers.

All in all, a good SUCC weekend – plenty of surf, alcohol, chundering (Jamie), tarting (mentioning no names) and good food ** (if I do say so myself).

** “Hmmm”, says Kev.

Rhossilli surf, May Bank Holiday, 1997

The Premiere trip of the world famous ‘disco tent’. Really, the tent speaks for itself. ……..”Spacious, luxurious, room enough for TEN people”, said the AU. Cool, we thought, but alas, we had been deceived.

Upon arrival at the campsite, the aforementioned tent was eventually put up – not too taxing a task (even though we’d all had a few beers), as there was only ONE pole……hooray!

The first night passed without too much of an event, and we rose the next morning to a full fry up (?!) and then went paddling. Oh yes, and there was some good surf.

Then came the evening, and the pub was attended for dinner at an early hour. Everyone had far too much beer and Karen and Lou renewed long lost friendships with the tarmac and with some very nice people from Essex university who let them sit on the roof of their minibus and chat for HOURS….poor people didn’t know what they’d let themselves in for.

Upon arrival back at the DISCO tent we had a disco of sorts and then settled down to a night of torturous storms. This was the night of the infamous BEN – “my tongue slipped” incident. Not surprisingly, the tent did not provide a lot of protection from the elements and we all woke up the next morning in a puddle of rainwater that had come in through the ‘air vent’ on the side….mmm nice.

The next morning we again went for a surf and then followed a beach barbecue in the evening. For some reason, no-one wanted to sleep in the disco tent anymore, so we collapsed the thing. Jamie’s roastie toastie expensive tent with ‘non-bendable poles’ seemed like a very appealing option to Karen, Kev and Lou. So they made the fatal mistake of putting it up and then went to the pub.

Everyone else was clever and slept in the bus or found other accommodation, but Kev, Karen and Lou spent a night of veritable luxury in the tent of dreams. Their dreams were shattered the next morning when the tent was taken down to discover BENT non-bendable poles, on Jamie’s spangly new tent…..arse.

We left Rhossilli that afternoon, and headed for home. A bonza trip was had by all.

The moral of the story is…….never sleep in a DISCO tent unless you happen to be MAD and like sleeping in ponds. Oh and if you bottle out, sleep in the bus! (sorry Jamie!)

Student Rodeo, HPP, 7-9 March 1997

This year ten of us went to HPP, Nottingham for a weekend to take part in the annual student rodeo. Those taking part were Steve, Chris R, Chris S, Andy W, Neil, Mark and Karen.

The lads spent fifteen minutes in the looping pool and some time in the muncher while the girls spent fifteen minute in the cheese block and fifteen minutes in the looping pool. The idea was to show off as much as possible in the time allowed.

Then from each heat the best two went through to the main final and the worst two went through to the novice final. From Southampton Karen, Steve and Helen Ford went through to the novice quarter finals whilst nobody made it through to the main quarter final.

Karen and Steve then made it through to the novice semi finals and then Steve made it through to the novice final after some impressive (some say lucky!!) hand surfing in the muncher. Steve then after some more impressive moves managed to come third overall in the novice final.

Nearly everybody that paddled that weekend managed to take a swim……

As it was a student gathering there was of course lots of alcohol flowing. We made it to the bar on the Friday night before closing time (Thanks to our Luxury Transport) and of course in SUCC tradition were in the bar within thirty seconds of finding the site. Saturday night was a seventies night. There was a disco and a Stunning Band** and so we partied the night away. (For some reason the band got better towards the end of the night)

Never try to climb a 20ft tree under the influence of alcohol – you end up as a hospital case. This was discovered during the weekend by another uni.

Written by Neil Hopkinson 14th March 1997

** The Stunning Band Three old men with beards who couldn’t sing in tune and played old songs which nobody except Jamie had ever heard of.

Woolacombe surf, Devon, 28th February – 2nd March 1997

In usual club tradition this trip started off with the usual faff. As usual everybody turned up late then we had to drive round Southampton to pick up people, boats and spraydecks. We finally ended up leaving Southampton at about 8PM. We then got on the M27 and missed the turning to Salisbury. Over an hour later we made it to salisbury. A quick chip stop and off we went again, finally reaching Woolacombe by midnight.

The next morning was a surprisingly early start. We were in the sea surfing and it was still the morning. The days paddling went well, Loads of swims (Both Jamie and Andy Swam – both blaming their decks for popping). In fact nearly everybody swam that day. We were back at the hut by 3PM in time to head off down the pub and watch the rugby. This was followed by a vegetable curry and then we vacated the hut by 6.30 to make way for the bingo. We headed of down the pub for a nice game of skittles and a few beers.

Sunday was a later start but we still made it to the surf surprisingly early and with hardly any faffing. The afternoon was taken up by surfing and then to finish off (in usual club tradition) we headed for the tea shop. We then headed back and made it in time to carry out boat cleaning.

Not bad for a trip that was nearly Cancelled.

Lake District, Cumbria, 31st January – 2nd February 1997

The trip started off with the usual Faff Faff Faff. Just like any normal club trip everyone turns up late and we end up leaving the boathard at about 7PM. We then drove around Oxford for ages trying to find peppers.(but with no success) 2AM we arrive at the lakes. Cheese on toast followed and a nice early night (about 3am).

Next morning (just) we were up bright and early (NOT!!!) and some of us went off for a paddle. Well OK more of a bump and a scrape. We set off down the Crake and found that to paddle over the weirs you had to paddle uphill. We got down though. NO swims but lots and lots of scratches and dents on the boats.(Just ask Ross) We then headed back to the hut, via the off licence of course, and sat down to wait for a lovely meal. Unfortunately Kev and Jamie were cooking and the meal had a distinct taste of being burnt (Most of the food is still on the pan as it refused to come off after hours of scrubbing.) Saturday night off to the pub for a nice game of darts and then back to the centre for some usual silly games. Andy W is officially the best at playing silly games. Lou was definitely cheating!!!

Sunday morning started off with some bloke coming round with a bell and waking us all up. We had the usual Faff of sorting out the centre and then headed off to a huge play hole. It was in fact a tiny little wave so we headed off to the tea shop instead. We headed home early and this time managed to find peppers.

Overall a great time but it’s a shame that there was no water!!