Ladies Training Weekend

11/12th January 2003

The river Dee, Llangollen provided the venue for the first of this season’s wild water training weekends, organised by Yael (Ladies team coach and British team member), which was a great success.

The group had gathered on Friday evening at the accommodation keen to make the most of the weekends paddling of the classic racecourse from the Horseshoe weir to below Town Falls. Freezing weather required good balance both on and off the water, but failed to deter the enthusiasm of the group. A relatively low level on the Dee made precision paddling all the more important, especially on Town Falls.

The river posed a challenge for everyone’s skills and so training commenced on Saturday morning with short runs on the Serpents Tail, over the sprint course, which ensured everyone was awake. Yael and Pete lead the way on the water and allowed the group to be split into two smaller groups. Top marks must go to Pete’s group who all managed to find their own eddy to breakout on the tail on just one run down! Lunch followed with video analysis of the morning's paddling from the coaches. It could be seen just how much everyone had improved in just the first session.

Once the route down Town Falls had been surveyed, the group was shuttled back to the top to commence the first full run, as a group, down the classic course. The falls were optional, but those who made an attempt certainly got a little wetter.

During the evening there was further reflection on the day's paddling via the video coverage and discussion on training, goals, etc. to ensure all covered a great deal and that was just day one.

Sunday gave the chance of a further full run before the opportunity of trying it at speed against the clock in the midmorning. All had the option of a time trial finishing above Town Falls or the chance to enter the Division B race over the full course, all with rescue support on the bank and videoing by the coaches and also providing intermediate split times.

Olivia raced, winning the junior prize and Kevin (having escaped from behind the wheel of the minibus) finished 2nd overall. The rest of the group put everything learnt so far into practice at speed in the time trial and all did very well.

A final session on the canal, enabling everyone to brush up their paddling technique, concluded the weekend. The combination of the high ratio of coaches to paddlers, along with their wealth of experience and willingness to share their knowledge, the bank support / rescue, the minibus for transportation of boats, kit and paddlers, supplies of hot drinks and high energy snacks ensured everyone got the most from the weekend. Even despite the fact that all but Zoë sampled the water without a boat at some point over the weekend, all managed to stay warm and enjoy the whole experience.

There were firsts for everyone – the first 2003 training weekend, first time paddling on this river, first opportunity to attempt the more tricky bits, knowing the support was there, so everyone could give it a go. Hence all the paddlers achieved so much and would like to pass on their thanks to everyone who made it possible.

Further training is planned over the next few months, open to all interested. Further details will be posted on the website or contact jes.oughton@ntlworld.com

Dee Paterson.