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).

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

Scotland 2012 – So Far

We’re having a blast in Scotland so far. Despite levels being low for the first couple of days we’ve managed to get some decent paddling in. After a day paddling the Orchy on Saturday we ran the Spleen George and the Roy Gorge yesterday with plenty of carnage and a fair share of faff, true to SUCC tradition. Today we’ve had a little Etive session in the rain. In fact, so much rain that by the time we walked up to the Allt A’Chaorainn it was absolutely stonking. A few of the guys ran it: check out all of the pictures below.