Record Number of Canoeists at Wey !

There was a record number of 20 canoeists at Wey competing in the Dash Hound & H&H's this weekend!

All three canoe coaches Eric, Gabor & John joined by Andy Bonham jumped in to crew with our junior canoiests Kuba,Miki,Saira & Katie in the Dash.

All did incredibly well, with no swimmers - although the 'Drednought' that Miki & Eric were paddling has now been re-named the 'Titanic'!

The turn was obviously the most challenging for all & carnage could have prevailed but all managed admirably!

WELL DONE to all we think you are super stars!

The Hare & Hounds saw 'Big Joe' storming through with Max & Joe C2 in hot pursuit - well done guys !

The Hound Grows in Size !

The u14's Dash Hound race series only in it's 2nd year boasts 51 young paddlers on the start line !

Twenty four of them were Wey kayaker's - all paddled incredibly well,

especially as there was an added element to the race this year called 'fishing line challenge', if fact 'little'Ella actually got hooked & reeled in !

We were also incredibly lucky to have no less than 7 junior canoeists take part in the race , with Kuba,Miki, Katie & Saira being the Wey contingent with their very proud coaches John & Eric paddling along side to give encouragement.

Special mention should go to Miki who I'm sure is the first ever Wey paddler to take part in a C1 race & then jump straight out & into a kayak to do the Hare & Hounds !

Start line mayhem !

Massive WELL DONE to all that took part !

Must not forget Holly, Alex,Lucy,Oliver & Gabi who did the Hare & Hounds - Wey to Go !

Matt The Motivator !

Matt Welch one of our elite senior paddlers very kindly took time out of his busy training regime with the GB squad (& dare I say filming schedule - watch out for him on a bill board near you in the near future !) to come & do a workshop with the U14's.

He concentrated on some key core stability exercises that they could use through the winter months when doing circuits . Then got them all on the 'ergo' & gave lots of useful tips & advice on technique.

Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of Matt in action on the ergo with the kids sitting all around watching him rack the speed up - you'll have to take my word for it they looked very motivated to me !

Matt a big THANK YOU from Pam & all the kids, we think you're great !

Mum's the word !!!

The U14's had their last Thursday water based paddle for the winter & managed to combine it with some Halloween mayhem when off the water !

Guess who's under the loo roll ????

Elmbridge Marathon 2011

A great turn out from the younger members of the club at Elmbridge Marathon .....here are pics. of just a few

Well done to all who took part !

VIP Visit !

The U14's had a VIP join them on their session this Thursday, Rachel Cawthorn - so special in fact she brought with her, her own film & radio crew - (the BBC are making a documentary that will go out in January about Olympic hopefuls & the kids were lucky enough to be filmed in action with her!)

Rachel found time in her busy schedule to come & give the kids a few tips on technique & then joined them on the water for a series of sprint races . She had a 'race off' with the girl's & boy's K4's which proved to be great fun & then couldn't resist having a go in a K4 herself!

The kids LOVED having her at the club & we would all like to say a big THANK YOU to Rachel for spending time with us & being such a good sport.

Don't Ask !!!

I'm not sure if those are the traditional rituals that go with Sumo .......................... !

Sweaty Sumo !

Lots of fun to be had for the U14's to help Ella celebrate her 11th birthday ! Started off very wild & wet with lots of games on the river & finished (on one of the hottest days of the year !!) with Sumo wrestling... or should I say Sweaty Wrestling !

Canoe Boys Shine Again !

The squad of four junior canoeist brought home a large haul of medals from the last National Regatta up at Nottingham :

Joe - 3 golds in c2 200m,500m & 1000m (fantastic results especially after a long illness)

Luke - Gold U18 C1 200m

Bronze U16 C1 200m

Bronze U16C1 500m

Max/Elliot - Bronze C2 200m

Elliot/Luke -Bronze C2500m

Silver for all in the C4 1000m - well done boys !

They are now having a well earn't rest for a couple of weeks & planning a friendly paintball match Wey v Richmond - no injury's please !!!

Olympic Test Event at Dorney Lake,Eton

Rachel Cawthorn ,Johnny Schofield & Liam Heath pictured here with some of our U14's who had gone along to cheer them on at the Olympic Test Event held at Dorney Lake on Saturday.

Lets hope that their great performances will not only inspire the U14's to keep canoeing but also be replicated next year at the real thing!

BREAKING NEWS ! Katie & Saira Beat Joe & Luke in their First Ever C2 Race !

The photo proves it & they do say the camera never lies.......... well this one might just a little bit (Joe tells me that they were giving coaching tips to the girls during their final mixed C2 race - yeah right Joe !) .

Now for the serious stuff .......

Katie & Saira joined Max, Joe & Luke by competing at the first ever C1/C2 Sprint Regatta at Wokingham Canoe Club & came away with an amazing 1st place in the C2 500m & 2nd in the C2 200m with prize money to boot !!

Well done girls you were FANTASTIC ! I know I've said it before but boys you better watch out !

Eric Dust's Off His First (1984!) Olympic Blazer to Attend Chinese Mini Olympic Event at Spectrum

Eric our 'Tri- Olympian' was asked by Boxgrove School to be the guest of honour at the Mini Chinese Olympics held at the Guildford Spectrum. Both he & Anne Milton our local MP kicked the event off with motivational speeches.

650 children from 4 Guildford schools attended the event & all participated in fun physical activities. The day had a Chinese influence as all the schools had been forging links with schools in Shanghai over the last year.

The main aim of the event was to motivate & encourage children to be inspired by the up and coming Olympics & to participate in sport.

Eric & Anne spent the morning mingling with the kids & teachers & Eric even managed to get the Head Teacher's Paul Bull from Boxgrove & John Abbott from Bushy Hill to agree to come down the club in September & see which one could go the maximum distance in a sprint canoe .....so watch this space ??

P.S. & the blazer still fits !!!!! (if you don't button it up that is !)

All In A Day

Bacon butties all round ...... except for Clare, well Eric says "if you snooze you loose" but maybe she had a little sleep to catch up on !

The crew taking a morning stroll along the river & waking up all the house boats along the way !

All ready for the journey back home, this time in the sun ............

Pam & Eric would like to say a BIG 'thank you' to all the mum's & dad's who helped put up/take down tents,Roy for lending us his tent, Caroline for bringing along the picnic lunch, Ade, Ewan & Dave for paddling with the kids & Clare for putting up with not getting much sleep ! x

The Tardis Tent !

Eric looking like he needs a lie down !

Note the precaution of leaving the stinky trainers OUTSIDE the tent !

And So to Bed ..........eventually !!!

Anja leading the campsite sing along after all devoured a MOUNTAIN of mash-mellows !

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..............and who's stupid idea was that (Pam) coz this is the result !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anja I think you needed ear muffs as-well !

Jack you're not kidding any one & Alex the bag suits you !

And these girl's look just soooooo tired... ......

next time we're defiantly going to paddle longer !