August 2005
The first weekend meet was held at a campsite on the shores of Lake Bala in North Wales.
When we arrived at the site on Friday night it was already dark but found someone we recognised and set up our tents.
Saturday morning the group divided up under the direction of our three excellent coaches and set of to practice old skills learn new ones and work our way towards the star awards.
In the evening we had a try at poling and then some of the group went into Bala to eat and a drink but found there was a music festival on and everywhere was overcrowded, so it was back to the campsite for drinks and a chat.
Sunday morning was spent finishing off star awards, lining and sailing.
Then finally after a great weekend, it was time to pack up and head home.
QAC end of 2006 season Skittles Evening held at the Griffin Inn, Swithland
On 13th December there were 15 paddlers of different levels who all enjoyed yet another jolly good skittles evening. The menu was that of a skittles type fayre . . . What else would you expect at a skittles do? The evening started as near to time as normal, and all seemed happy to sit with a well earned drink after their hard day at the grindstone.
We adjourned to the said alley for a warm up session, somewhat different to our normal warm ups! As there was precious little water around for canoeing on despite the recent rain fall! The four teams were – The Faggots, The Mushy Pees, Blind Mince and last but not least The Moose Fritters. After several cheeses were rolled, we decided to sit for supper, which seemed an adequate pause for thought -
All at once as if by magic it was time to give out a massive no expense spared prezzie.
And the winners were . . . The Mushy Pees aka Dave & Helen, Ralph & Tracy.
As for the scores . . . a rollover, but not a complete capsize!
Scouts Canoe/Kayak Session
On Wednesday evenings before the normal club activities, there has been a Placid Water course for 1st Markfield Scouts. There was 11 Scouts taking part, some of them hadn’t been in a canoe or kayak before but before the course had finished they were getting the hang of keeping the kayak/canoe in a straight line and all of them succeeded in paddling the Quorn/Barrow loop.
On the last evening they were assessed for star awards, all of them gained the 1
star and 5 received the 2 star. To finish the evening parents supplied sausages and
burgers cooked on a Bar-
Running the course with me were Helen and Sam and if we needed another person, Dan came along to give a hand, without help from volunteers like these the course wouldn’t have run or been such a success.
The 1st Markfield Scout Group would like me to pass on their thanks to the club and to Helen, Sam and Dan for the course.
Placid Water 1 Star Awards Kayak
Edward Cook Ellis Mawby
George Clayton Joshua Woolman
Rebecca Woolman Samuel Brewin
Placid Water 2 Star Awards
Adam Morris Solo Canoe
Edward Higgins Solo Canoe
Jack Lennon Kayak
Jordan Bloxsom Kayak
Oliver Coleman Kayak
Congratulations to all of the above on their awards and I hope you will continue to paddle and progress further.
From this course at least three families have joined the club and now regularly paddle on a Wednesday evening
A Weekend at Oxford
Open Canoe weekend -
held at the Riverside Centre, Oxford
As you can see the weather was enjoyed by all also the paddling went very well. Here the group is just warming down after their water skills workshops, Colin Broadway had the Poling workshop and Roger Wiltshire, myself took the 3* workshop. There was so much to choose from, Tarps n Tents, all manner of canoe related skills, D.O.E. Expedition preps and Expedition cooking, Viewing, talking and paddling different canoes, in all well over 100 people at this event this year, and next year it will be run on two days, with even more to do!!! Watch this space, for next years date in 2008!!!
Daniel Cockayne
