Chris Wheeler
It is with great sadness that Kingfisher Canoe Club learnt of the tragic death of Chris Wheeler whilst kayaking on the River Dart this weekend.
Chris was a great friend to many of us, and a long-term member of the KCC. As a paddler and a friend he was the best. We are all devastated by the loss.
Chris was an extremely experienced kayaker with an infectious enthusiasm for paddling on both the river and the sea. Anyone who met him or read his numerous magazine articles about his travels and experiences couldn’t help but be inspired to go out and paddle. At the end he was paddling his favourite river at a level that he would have been delighted with.
Our deepest sympathy and thoughts go to his partner, his family and friends.
- Kingfisher Canoe Club
KCC Christmas Meal 2009
Once again all members and their families and friends are invited to the KCC Christmas meal 2009.
- When: 7pm Wednesday 9th December.
- Where: The Coseners House, Abbey Close, Abingdon. OX14 3JD
- Cost: £27 each
- Buck’s Fizz reception at 7pm, Dinner served at 7.30pm.
- Bar open from 7pm till Midnight.
Again, we will be holding a ‘Secret Santa’. Could everyone, including guests, bring along a wrapped gift for a tombola. Suggested gift value is around £2.
To avoid disappointment, please book your places early. Everyone is welcome.
Send your choices and payment BY 20th NOVEMBER to Dave Hodgkinson.
Booking form with full menu details can be downloaded by clicking HERE.
Whats going on?
AGM
This years club AGM will take place on Monday November 2nd 2009 at 8 pm. As usual it will take place at Wantage & Grove Cricket Club.
Members should already of received an email with full details of the agenda. If you haven’t then please let me know.
Christmas Meal
Dave Hodgkinson has once again bravely volunteered to organise the Christmas meal this year. This will take place on Wednesday 9th December so keep that date free. Menu and further details can be found in the seperate posting on this site.
Club Paddling
Wednesday evening paddling has officially finished until next year now. Though some souls may brave the dark and cold to visit the weir. During the winter months there are usually paddlers out and about on Sunday mornings. If anyone is planning on doing this regularly then please let me know so I can let anyone inquiring know.
Abingdon Weir
Is shut whilst work is carried out on the foot path until the 23rd October.
Pool Sessions
Pool sessions start on 5th November the full timetable and further details can be found here: http://kingfishercanoeclub.co.uk/paddling/pool/
Pool sessions are an ideal opportunity for club members to practice rolling and other skills in warm clean water. If you are a L3 coach and would like to volunteer to be the lifesaver, please contact the club secretary. The sessions cannot go ahead without your support.
KCC Newbury Trip 3rd October 2009
The proposed trip to Symons Yat on Saturday 3 October has been cancelled. This is due to low water and the fact that we now know of at least 3 universities who are taking their freshers groups there that day. Instead we as running a trip to Newbury loop. This is only half an hours drive away and will give people a chance to paddle somewhere different and as such would count as a 2 star trip. We are meeting at the hut at 10am Saturday. Please let Dave know David.Walsh@aeat.co.uk in advance if you are coming and if you require kit.
An excellent introduction to whitewater suitable for all.
The Plan - We will meet at the Club hut at 10 to sort out boats and transport over to Symonds Yat. During the day we will paddle the rapids and possibly a little further up the river. The return to the hut for early evening depending on the amount of time people want on the water.
Meet – KCC Hut 10am
Cost – Fuel costs plus usual kit hire (if you need it)
What to do about it - Dave Walsh is the man with the plan so if you want to go on this trip contact him (let me know at the usual address if you need his contact details). Please let him know if you need to borrow club kit and if you can drive and give lifts.
26th September 2009 Update
Monthly Meeting
The next meeting is Wednesday 7th October in the Fox Inn, Steventon at 8:30ish. Come along and see what’s going on.
KCC embraces new technology (about a year behind everyone else!) get updates from KCC on Twitter, become a follower at http://twitter.com/kingfishercc
Wednesday Night Hut Duty
Wednesday (30th Sept) will be the last officially organised paddle of the season though I’m sure some of us will be heading straight to the weir for a while yet.
Forthcoming Trips:
- KCC Symmonds Yat Trip Sat 3 October. Contact David Walsh for more Details: David.Walsh@aeat.co.uk
- Canoe Camping Club River Dart Trip 16-18 October. Photos from last year’s trip here: http://kingfishercanoeclub.co.uk/photos/dart-october-2008/.*
- KCC River Dee 8-9 November – still at the planning stage. Contact Louise.Royle@googlemail.com if interested.
If you can help with arranging anything along these lines then please let me know and if you need help or support with the organisation we’ll do our best to assist. Remember the club can only work with the help of its members so if you can help with any of these then please let me know.
* I sent out the booking forms for Tony’s trips in a separate e-mail. if you’d like me to send them again just let me know.
AGM
This is provisionally booked at Wantage Cricket club for 2nd November, more details soon. In the meantime if anyone has an idea for a presentation to accompany the debate(s) please let me know. We were thinking of a ‘what everyone in the club has been up to this year’ slide show, if anyone would like to contribute to this then let me know.
Also we need nominations for the club trophies. Please send all nominations to the Chairman (Lousie Royle) or me. The following require owners:
- Waterline Cup for the year‟s best beginner
- Julian Howells Trophy for the most improved paddler
- KCC Trash of the Year Award for the most spectacular swim
- Outstanding Achievement Award
Other Goings on
Pathfinders Youth Canoe Club presentation Evening, Monday Sept 28th at Abbey Sailing Club, Wilsham Rd, Abingdon.
You are invited to an evening to present what Pathfinders Youth Canoe Club has been doing over the last twelve months.
The programme is still being finalised but will include
Presentations on activities on the river locally and on trips
Presentation by Team Slovenia
Pathfinders The Movie –Premiere!!
Surprises!!
Refreshments
Bar
All Pathfinders, parents, friends, canoeists, kayakers and others are welcome. In order to help with catering please let me know if you intend to come on davidsurman@hotmail.com.
If you have any dates for trips and or courses you would like added to the cub calendar then please let me know. The calendar is here if you’re interested: http://www.google.com/calendar/render?tab=mc&gsessionid=W6i39-8MfSrGicPIEB53yQ
In the post: Freestyle British Championships
3/4 October – Holme Pierrepont whitewater course.The BCU Freestyle Committee would like to invite your club to come along to this years British Championships as there will be lots of extra features which we hope will be of interest to your members and coaches. Alongside the normal competition we will be running a club championship and are planning to offer a new Jackson kayak to the winning club.
Points will be won by individuals in a freestyle event – either the main competition for the experienced or the novice competition for newcomers – and in a Team Boater Cross event. Now that the course has been rebuilt it offers a wide range of features and lends itself to running several events concurrently.
We are also planning to run coaching sessions where you can learn skills as a paddler or pick up top tips for introducing the new 3 Star Freestyle Award as a coach. Demo boats will be available to try if you don’t have your own.
It should be an exciting weekend of action with all the top British Freestylers showing off their skills and offering encouragement. Where else can a novice measure his achievement against a World Champion?
Please register your interest by e mailing trward@tesco.net or peter@petermeares.com and we will send out further information as it becomes available.
Tim Ward
BCU Freestyle
If you have any other news or information you would like distributed to the club then please let me know.
