Photo - John Norris

A heavily laden sky frames 'All Saints' church at BISHAM, before

venting it's fury on competitors in the 2008 Devizes to Westminster
Canoe Marathon. Rob & I saw a no. of junior crews struggling to make
headway in atrocious conditions, (the adult crews were faring little
better) but none were about to give up just a mile from D2 finish.
Someway off was our own ANDY COOK, who completed the event in
25hr. 49mins. 17secs.

Marlow Canoe Club Newsletter COVER Summer 2008/01

 IN THIS ISSUE PAGE
NO. EDITORS PIECE
Editors piece 2 The astute amongst you may have noticed
a slight change to the newsletter. For some
Printing your newsletter 3 time now various members have been
asking if I could make the newsletter a little
Useful tip 3 more friendly, put in a few more pictures - in
general could I exploit the benefits of the
Plas Menai 1 4 PC to produce a tome more in keeping with
today's features.
New Boats 7
Getting into WhiteWater; For one whose first option, when anything
8 goes not quite as planned on the PC, is to
A learning roadmap resort to actual physical violence against it
Buoyancy Aids 12 the task could prove expensive. Let's just
say it was a steep, almost vertical at times,
So just what does the DO learning curve (?).
13
do
As most copies are delivered by e-mail now
Lock keepers petition 14 my first prerogative was to make it easier to
A final thought 14 read on the PC. Text is now full width
rather than column based as before. I have
What's on, when & where 15 also put in a wash background and made
the text a complimentary colour, the intent
The Committee 16 being to reduce glare when read on the PC.
For those that want to print a copy at home
or elsewhere instructions to remove the
background have been included. A
different colour wash and text will be
employed to reflect seasonal changes for
each issue. I'm hoping to stick to a more
rigid publication schedule; Spring - 01/03,
Summer 01/06, Autumn 01/09 and Winter 01/12.

Perhaps the most demanding task was finding a solution to the PDF problem. All those on
the YAHOO group and newsletter distribution list got a plea for help and I'm thankful to all
those that replied. There was a lot of hit and miss but gradually the problem was narrowed
down and hopefully eliminated. If you are reading this on a pale yellow background then it
certainly has. If not, back to the drawing board. Suggestions came from far and wide,
even from across the pond and all were helpful to a greater or lesser extent.

Please note that despite the changes, those members that require a hard copy will still get
one, no one will be excluded. All that awaits is to find out if it meets your expectations and
I hope the next issue will contain a page for your plaudits / brickbats, (though I'll probably
only include the plaudits). Read, digest, enjoy and comment. I certainly hope I've
achieved my aim of taking the newsletter to the next level.

John Norris – EDITOR.

Marlow Canoe Club Newsletter -2- Summer 2008/01

PRINTING YOUR NEWSLETTER
The aim of the modifications to the newsletter has been to answer the concerns raised by
the majority who receive the newsletter by e-mail. As it comes as a PDF it's not easy to
change and this version will be costly to print. Even in monochrome (unless you've a
fancy printer that offers the option not to print background) your printer will try to put a grey
hue to the pages to replace the colour.
For the members who receive a posted hard copy I'll do a separate version without the
background. It is this version I'll be sending to Big Dave for addition to the website. If you
want an economically printed copy go to the website and download from there. If you wish
to retain the seasonal flavour, print it onto a coloured paper similar to the 'e' version.

USEFUL TIP (courtesy Rob Yates L5K @ Riverside)

The first of the new BCU 1* courses is behind us, and the next just around the corner.
That bane of new paddlers, keeping the boat straight, will likely surface throughout the
year as our new members build on their initial skills. Let's try to remember that that first
trip to Temple will be a marathon for some and they will be needing the assistance of more
experienced members, coaches or otherwise. Often we solve this problem with a sling
tied on the back of the boat sometimes in conjunction with a suitable stick if one is handy.
This solution is no more than an update to the tried and tested version and might be easier
to store in your boat. You'll need the following :-

1x wide necked soft drink or water poly bottle (with top).

5mm floating rope x 3m length.
Optional locking karabiner.

Drill a 5mm + hole in the bottle top and remove all sharp edges. Thread the floating rope
through the hole and tie a reliable knot in one end. You might choose to use a little heat
here to form your knot into a blob that will not pull through. Make a loop on the other end
of the rope big enough to pass the bottle through, or attach your krab. To use the device,
pull out the rope, pass it through a grab handle or toggle on the end of the boat and then
pass the bottle through the loop. Unscrew the bottle top and half fill the bottle with river.
This will provide drag and tension the rope directly behind the boat and will assist the new
paddler in achieving that all important 'straight line'. When not in use stuff the rope into the
bottle and store safely in your boat. The design can be improved upon by using two tops,
one with the thread removed, the other with the centre removed. This will allow you to
store everything (inc. krab depending on size) in the bottle.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PADDLER REQUIRING ASSISTANCE

SHOULD NOT BE LEFT ALONE USING THIS OR ANY OTHER FORM OF
SLING AND THAT SPECIAL ATTENTION SHOULD BE PAID TO ANY
SNAGGING HAZARDS THAT MIGHT BE FOUND ON THE WATER.

Marlow Canoe Club Newsletter -3- Summer 2008/01

PLAS MENAI – 1
by JOHN NORRIS
I‟m doing my bit to re-introduce sea kayaking to the club‟s agenda. If I get to be anywhere
near as successful as the WW boys I‟ll consider it a job well done. So far as I‟m aware
there are no active practitioners of the art within the club, though offers of assistance have
been received from some of the older members. Considering all of this I booked a
weekend at PLAS MENAI – „An introduction to sea kayaking‟, and what a weekend I had!

Friday dawned miserable, but the forecast for North Wales had improved from heavy rain
and howling gales to just howling gales. It‟s a 5hr. trip to the centre and an early arrival
gave me the chance to re-visit some mountain bike skills on their newish track. Just the
one hiccup as the track turned a lot sharper than me, but no harm done so I finished with a
ride up the coast. Later, in the bar I meet my colleagues. 4 coppers from Northampton,
but none the worse for that. Like me they had minimal sea experience though one, „Dutch‟
Hollands, was a L4K. The others, Carl(os) Sturman, Mark „Evo‟ Evans and Chris „the dog‟
Few had a little paddling behind them and were looking to gain experience for a yacht
based paddling circumnavigation of the I.O.W.

Saturday starts with a breakfast of limited choice but plenty of it. Long gone is the time
when I could down a big breakfast or three but the evidence remains to this day. A quick
intro. to the centre and then meet your instructor. We got John Domoney, an Irishman and
aspirant L5 sea coach, whose pleasant manner and „at ease‟ delivery allowed him to talk
of „man eating eddies‟
and suchlike without
scaring us (too much).
We discuss a plan and
decide to do a section of
the Menai Straits.
On to Llandegfan Sands
where there‟s not much
sand when the tide is up
and the wind being
channelled into the neck
of the straits kicked up
continuous large waves.
It was a short hop to a
safe bay but the swell got
the better of one of our
no. Carlos struggled
bravely but was
eventually beached by a
combination of onshore
wind and wave. JD towed the boat back and Carlos returned overland to the put in. We
made for an easier access down toward the Menai bridge. We took lunch and got on at
the bowling club „beach‟, a very small bay where the tide could be viewed racing by just
metres out. Moving off we broke into the current and headed „downstream‟ thanks to the
ebbing tide. Passing under Telford‟s suspension bridge we entered the „Swellies‟ – the

Marlow Canoe Club Newsletter -4- Summer 2008/01

narrowest part of the straits and one not to be entered without a guide or considerable pre
planning. JD took us on a route roughly central with a detour to either side on occasions.
It makes a very high R. Thames look pedestrian but can be safely negotiated by those in
the know and John‟s earlier confidence in our abilities was justified as we all exited under
„Britannia Bridge‟ without a swim. Although the tidal ebb was beginning to slow, large
eddies and whirlpools could be seen.
We paddled back to PLAS MENAI crossing the strait several times using the ever
decreasing flow to experience certain tidal features and flow characteristics, with a brief
stop for an afternoon snack and some stroke practice in Y Felinheli Harbour. The trip itself
did not seem all that tiring but I was pretty much done for at the end, a condition no doubt
exacerbated by the NDK Romany I paddled. A highly respected boat in many quarters,
the low deck really hurt my thighs after a short while and I knew I needed a different boat
tomorrow. Just time to touch briefly on tides and safety etc. before dinner. Later that
night, in the bar, it was an effort to finish our drinks and I called time after a single bottle of
Bass. The boys didn‟t manage many more.

Sunday, and a most welcome breakfast of fried comestibles + coffee set us up for the day
ahead. The boats had been left on the trailer overnight and as soon as I had swapped the
Romany for a Rockpool „Alaw Bach‟ we were away. No destination decisions as JD had
already worked out that Rhoscolyn Bay on Holy Island would provide all the conditions we
required. A blast along the A55 and then a less well defined route bought us to a pleasant
little bay with a small swell and some slight tidal activity. Into the boats and away. JD set
us a course to some rocks giving leadership to one of the lads while I discovered it‟s better
to launch and then put on your spraydeck than to sit on the beach while a dumping surf
fills your boat. With a little deeper water, but still relatively calm we practiced many of the
standard strokes. Slight modifications to the strokes bought about similar results to those
achieved in the shorter boats we are mostly accustomed too. Perhaps the most difficult is
turning the longer sea kayak, as sweeps need to be combined with an element of edging
+ additional paddle support. Sharp turns can be made with advanced edging and even
more so with the cross deck bow rudder.
We made our way around a headland into heavier conditions using our new found skills to
hug the coastline, visiting small inlets, turning the boats in little more than their length and
using the rise and fall of the waves to take us through some narrow gaps.

JD‟s next exercise got us heading straight out to sea, turning round a lobster pot marker
and back. You did not have to get far from the coast before the waves built up, but the
„Alaw Bach‟ is a very stable boat inspiring sufficient confidence for me to race back with a
marathon style stroke. Next up – head out to sea against the wind, turn, and comeback
down wind. This is dreamland with the boats‟ bows‟ rising high on the wave crest and
crashing down into the trough. Just like Kate Silverton. Coming back downwind the boat
needs quite a bit of course correction. Paddling into the wind is physically demanding but
technically easy, whilst paddling downwind is physically easy but technically difficult. But
paddling down wind gives you a chance to surf. Power up on the paddles and just try to
overtake the crest of a wave, then ride down the face. Evo was doing well, but one
magical moment later I got everything right and shot past him like he was standing still.
It‟s hard to estimate speed and I wished I‟d had the gps on the boat but when it all came
together it felt like a push in the back and I‟d not be surprised if told I was close to 15mph.
Sadly it was all a little too much for Carlos who sat it out. The P & H Easky is perhaps not
the best boat for these conditions being better suited to river and estuary touring. Paddling

Marlow Canoe Club Newsletter -5- Summer 2008/01

 back to the bay we
beached for lunch,
during which Carlos
tried a different boat
but decided to sit the
afternoon out.
I was keen to „bag‟
my first island
circumnavigation and
what might appear
too many as a large
rock, looked like a
small island to me.
JD got us round it in
an hour or so but
made sure we got
plenty of revision on
things taught
previously and some
new, such as towing. The sea is not so forgiving as the river for towing and a long line
(15m +) needs to be employed to avoid the towed boat surfing past you. Special attention
has to be paid to attachment as well as sea tows can often be long affairs and not just get
you to the bank jobs. We had hoped to finish with a rescue or two but „the dog‟ was
already chilling and unnecessary immersion was probably best avoided. The truth be
known I was feeling a little chilly myself despite a good cag and a new IR heavyweight
fleece top, so was not shouting out for more when we beached.
Getting back to Plas Menai we had a coffee or two and a chance to ask questions. JD
advised on what we should consider next, and said he was always available if we had a
question to ask.
On the way out of the car park I passed the lads packing their car, and wished them well
for their I.O.W. trip. I don‟t know whether I‟ll ever see them again, but I hope so – they
were a great bunch of blokes.
All in all it was a great course at a good centre with a coach whose efficient, but quiet
encouragement ensured we all got something from the course. If you want to try sea
kayaking you‟ll struggle to better the conditions found around here and I‟d thoroughly
recommend PLAS MENAI as a centre worth considering. Look them up on the web at:-

http://www.plasmenai.co.uk/index.php?lang=en
I‟m hoping PLAS MENAI – 2 will follow later in the year when I might get the opportunity to
improve on the skills I‟ve started to acquire.

Marlow Canoe Club Newsletter -6- Summer 2008/01

NEW BOATS
by JOHN NORRIS
Occasionally the club gets an opportunity to replace some of its older boats. You may
have noticed in recent years the addition of some PYRANNHA INAZONES & DAGGER
GT'S, both in varying sizes. These have been supplemented with an occasional purchase
of a member's older boat if it suits our needs at that particular time. All of these boats tend
to veer toward the downstream / whitewater type boat, though few would call them cutting
edge when you consider what's available these days.
Just the other night, on a leisurely paddle up to Hurley the choice of available boats was
raised, a question that also featured at a recent committee meeting.
Personally I'd like to see a few boats that move toward the touring side of things rather
than the WW side. We do have a few members who have indicated their preference for
such boats but as these members do not subscribe to the YAHOO group perhaps their
views are not being heard.
So here is your chance. If you want your views on boat selection heard you should let the
committee know - the secretary's e-mail is on the end page, but you could contact any
committee member. There are Brookbank catalogues in both changing rooms with
illustrations of most popular designs should you need guidance, or you could even do a
little net research for yourself. You can also ask any of the more experienced membership
should you need additional advice.
Amongst boats worth considering might be the Dagger BLACKWATER 10.5 or perhaps a
little larger the Wilderness Systems TSUNAMI 120 & Perception CAROLINA 12 (looks like
those two came out of the same mould), or a Venture EASKY 13 (you're almost into proper
sea boat size here - but it is exceptionally stable). Look at the links and see for yourself.
If we were to put in an order for a specific no. of boats we may be able to get a dealer to
bring a few demos' to the club.
One comment made though, in a recent round of banter over this topic was that whatever
we get we need to make sure it's used. Go for the next star award, apply for a club key
and paddle when you want too. But please don't go looking for something that's of little
value to the current and future club membership.
A final point though, if you sit back and do nothing you can't complain if we get more of the
same. I know what I'd like to see and I'll be voicing my opinion at the next committee
meeting. The rest is up to you.

NB! Those boats listed above are just a few of the boats available from a small selection of
manufacturers. A look through the Brookbank catalogue will reveal many others and a net
search might tell you what others think about them.

Marlow Canoe Club Newsletter -7- Summer 2008/01

GETTING INTO WHITEWATER;
A LEARNING ROADMAP
by CHRIS PORTEOUS
So, you want to make the transition from splashing around on flat water to being a white
water warrior? Good idea!
Although looking at white water can seem a bit daunting at first, with a bit of help, you can
quickly develop your skills and this is where the club comes in! We are always looking for
new people who are interested in white water as having more people makes trips more fun
and benefits you and the club.
We are fortunate to have a lot of white water paddlers who are more than willing to spend
time getting you “up to speed” with white water paddling, from simple messing on the weirs
to running Welsh rivers. All it needs is for you to be willing to learn and not mind getting the
occasional dunking (it is a water sport after all!)

HOW TO MAKE THE MOVE?

OK, so you are happy paddling on flat water, feel in control of your boat and want to give
this white water lark a go. What next?
The best thing to do is to talk to one of our current white water paddlers or get in touch
with me (chrisps@gmail.com). We can then arrange someone suitable to be around on a
Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday evening session to dedicate some time to helping you out.

STEP 1

To start off with, it's good to get an idea of “edge control”. This basically means getting
happy with leaning your boat onto its side as opposed to sitting flat. The ideal place to
practice this is the Temple Weir
spillways, as it is extremely friendly
and we go there pretty much every
week. Just let someone know that
you want to have a go and we can
keep an eye on you and give you
some advice.
At the same time, if you can learn to
roll, either at the pool or in the
Thames, this will give you a huge
amount of confidence. It takes a while
to crack the technique, but again
there are a lot of people who are
more than willing to teach you.

Marlow Canoe Club Newsletter -8- Summer 2008/01

STEP 2

So, you enjoyed having some

water rushing under the side of
your boat on Temple? The next
step is to get used to edge
control in deep water, where you
don‟t have a concrete spillway to
guide you. This can be done on
any of our local weirs. Marlow
and Temple are particularly
good. Again, just let one of the
white water paddlers know you
want to try and we can give you
a bit of training and a few demos
on how to “break in” to the flow,
then you can have a go.

STEP 3

Now it starts to get interesting! If

you‟re happy with “breaking in” to
moving water on the weirs, you have
two choices. Either you can come up
to the mighty Hurley Weir with us
(which is about 2 miles upstream of
Marlow) or come on an away trip
with us.
Hurley is the logical place to go next
because its close, safe, and will give
you really good experience of big
volume water.
However, if Hurley looks a bit big
and intimidating for you, then our
trips to Symonds Yat, The Wye or
The Dee will be great for you. They
are all good rivers that you can
practice techniques on and you get
the added fun of being on an away
trip.

All photos' supplied Chris Porteous; featuring in no.1 ANDY HIBBERT (edging at Temple)
No.2 is CHRIS himself having a go on something a little tougher, and in No.3 PAUL
CRICHTON who seems happy to take on just about anything these days.

Marlow Canoe Club Newsletter -9- Summer 2008/01

COMMON CONCERNS

I'm scared of going under water!

This is very much something you have to get over in your own head. What you have to
remember is that everyone can hold their breath for at least 10 seconds underwater (try it
next time you‟re in the bath!). Presuming that you have told someone you are going to
practice white water technique, this is easily enough time for someone to either rescue you
or for you to make a calm and controlled exit from your boat.
Being able to roll is another good way to get past this fear, as it gives you the confidence
that you can get yourself back to the surface again.

I am worried / embarrassed that I might swim

When I was first experimenting with white water, this was a big one for me. Again, it‟s a bit
of a mind game you have to sort out for yourself. But remember, there is nothing to be
embarrassed about – we have all done it / do it lots and people don‟t get annoyed by it; it
gives others good practice in rescues. Being in the water isn‟t a big deal either. On nearly
every river we use (including the Thames), it is easy to swim to the bank and get out.

I don’t have the right kit

Nonsense! The only real kit you need is something that will keep you warm. Ideally a
fleece and a dry cag. If you don‟t have a cag, then you can borrow one of mine, or
someone else‟s until you can get your own. For everything else, you can use club owned
kit.

White water is expensive

This is down to personal judgement, however to clarify things, here is what it will cost you
to come on a trip with us in the summer:
Petrol (based on 3 people in a car): Approx £20 for the weekend. Camp site fee: £7
Dinner: up to £20 (or if you want to, bring your own, then its free!)
That‟s it! So, presuming you have dinner at a restaurant on the Saturday, that‟s under £50
for the weekend, or under £30 if you bring your own dinner.
If you feel this is too expensive, then come to Hurley. It is extremely good fun, gives you
just as good experience and wont cost you anything!

Isn’t white water dangerous?

Well, it goes without saying it is an assumed risk sport. However, the key thing is only
doing what you are happy with. You would be extremely unlucky to get in to trouble on
Hurley weir or grade 2 rivers. Obviously, as river grades increase, the risks do too.
However, your skills also improve, mitigating the risk. Or, if you feel happier, you don‟t
have to stray away from Hurley / grade 2 water (although you probably will end up wanting
to  ). Always remember that you are far more likely to be hurt while driving to work than
on a river!
Anyway, the main message from this is give it a try – if nothing else, you can decide if
you like it or not!

Marlow Canoe Club Newsletter - 10 - Summer 2008/01

UPCOMING WHITEWATER EVENTS
The following a list of events coming up. Note that experience levels are only guides and
not limits. Speak to Chris or Paul C (the white water reps) if you are unsure.

Hurley Sessions – Ongoing Look at Yahoo Groups or Talk to Chris

Location Hurley Weir – 2 miles upstream of Marlow
Recommended Experience Someone with a bit of WW experience through to
serious play boaters

Pool Sessions – Every Thursday Talk to Chris / John Norris / John Parkin
Location Gurnell Leisure Centre, Ealing, W. London
Recommended Experience You know one end of a boat from the other

June Surf Trip – 7th / 8th June 2008

Location A South Wales Beach – To Be Confirmed
Recommended Experience Anyone With Some WW Experience

French Alps Trip – 21st – 29th June 2008

Location Southern French Alps
Recommended Experience G2 + Paddlers (Speak to Paul C)

Upper Tryweryn Summer Trip – 19th / 20th July 2008

Location Canolfan Tryweryn, North Wales
Recommended Experience G3 Paddlers

Symonds Yat Intro Trip – 23rd / 24th August 2008 (or individual days)
Location Symonds Yat, South Wales Border
Recommended Experience Anyone wanting a taste of white water

August Surf Trip – 30th / 31st August 2008

Location A South Wales Beach – To Be Confirmed
Recommended Experience Anyone With Some WW Experience

SO, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR - GIVE IT A GO!

Marlow Canoe Club Newsletter - 11 - Summer 2008/01

BOUYANCY AIDS (COURTESY OF KOKATAT Watersports Wear)
Let's face it, the clubs' ba's take a lot of stick. We purchase ones made to 'centre spec' so
that they'll take a little more rough and tumble. But it irks me to see that few bother to
adjust them. And it irks me even more so when people use the wrong size, sometimes
depriving another member of the correct size. So I was leafing through the KOKATAT
catalogue and saw this feature on how to fit a life vest ( that's what our colleagues across
the pond refer to them as). I though it useful and asked if we could use it.

Marlow Canoe Club Newsletter - 12 - Summer 2008/01

SO JUST WHAT DOES THE D.O. DO?
by ANDY MAXTED
Marlow Canoe Club, just like most other clubs, relies on a small army of willing volunteers
who try to ensure that the club house, equipment and coaches are just where they‟re
needed for club sessions.
Central to any Tuesday evening or Sunday morning session is the Duty Officer, or DO for
short, but just what does the DO do? It‟s a question sometimes asked by new members
but perhaps not a role understood by many established ones. So here‟s a quick guide…
Perhaps the first thing to bear in mind is that the DO is not necessarily a coach. While
many of those who volunteer to do DO may be coaches, you don‟t have to be a coach to
be DO. So when you come to a club session please don‟t expect the DO to take you on
the water!
The DO is essentially a safety officer. Their primary responsibility is to ensure that the club
house is open at the beginning of a session, that club equipment is serviceable, that those
wanting (or needing) instruction are allocated to a suitable instructor and that all are off the
water and the club house is secured at the end of a session. Not much to it really!
Being a DO is quite straightforward for most summer sessions. Tricky moments do
however come after heavy rain when the river is high (generally whenever the „traffic lights‟
at the rowing club opposite are on Amber or Red). In these circumstances the DO‟s
responsibility is to advise members that they shouldn‟t go on the water unless
accompanied by a minimum Level 3 Coach or above. Of course, it is then up to members
to heed that advice, or not! This is not usually a problem for adult members, but juniors
cannot by law be expected to make a judgement as to whether conditions are suitable for
them. In these circumstances the DO has no choice other than to stipulate that juniors go
afloat only with a parent or guardian or a Level 3 or higher coach.
Most of our summer water sessions are run by Level 2 and Level 1 coaches – and all
junior members not being looked after by their parent or guardian should be under the
supervision of a coach. The club‟s coaches will provide leadership and instruction to any
members seeking this, but good practice says they should only be looking after a
manageable group of perhaps six or eight paddlers. Level 1 coaches are generally
qualified to work between Higginson Park and the head of the lock (while keeping well
away from the weir) while Level 2s are qualified to lead short journeys, typically from the
club house up to Temple Lock or down via the lockcut to Longridge. The club‟s operating
procedures specify that a Level 3 (or higher) must be present when shooting or playing on
the Thames weirs.
What about the DO? Well if they are qualified as a coach they can look after a group on
the water within their coaching remit. If not they can paddle as a responsible adult, either
with a coach, or with other responsible adult members.
The club is always looking for more DOs. As you can see, you don‟t need to be a coach –
indeed you don‟t even need to go on the water – but if you are a responsible adult and
prepared to help out on a couple of sessions a year do let a member of the committee
know. You‟ll be given a safety briefing and a club house key and know you‟ll be doing your
bit to keep the club running smoothly.

Please note that a small deposit is required against a clubhouse key.

Marlow Canoe Club Newsletter - 13 - Summer 2008/01

LOCK KEEPERS PETITION
by JOHN NORRIS

I'm sure that by now most of us will have heard of the EA plan to sell of or rent out most of
the lock keepers properties. I spoke to our man at Temple the other day and generally
enquired as to his well being - his particular property not being featured on the list. He is
not quite sure where he stands as the published list is list 1, and further lists are likely to
follow and that this property may be on one of them.
You might ask 'why should I bother', mostly we portage around the locks or drop over the
weirs on the downstream part of any journey we make. We do on occasion use the lock,
particularly when there is a large group of us and though we are generally very safety
conscious the lock keeper can see things we cannot and advise accordingly if deemed
necessary. We should not forget an incident a few years ago when one of our members
got stuck across the weir at Marlow and was unable to extricate himself due to the
pressure of the water. A very capable paddler, he had done nothing more than to ignore
advice given to him by older members - and who amongst us has not ignored the advice of
our betters at some time or the other. Fortunately the lock keeper was on hand to
manipulate the weir gates and affect a safe rescue, but it could all have ended so very
differently.
But there is another issue to consider here, that of access to the river in general. Lock
side properties have been sold off previously (mainly on canals and lesser used rivers)
and it has been noted that in some instances new owners have used 'nuisance' laws to try
and restrict access around the property, and that might cause us a problem. We might
feel protected, being on a major river but I'd ask you think about footpaths (essentially
what the towpath is). Many a time I have come across a deliberately blocked path, which
is subsequently cleared, but not until a few weeks legal wranglings have ensued. I may be
painting an unnecessarily gloomy picture here but I for one am struggling to understand
how this action will be of benefit to anyone other than the EA's short term strategists. You
can only sell an asset once and when the capital has gone you are worse off than before.
What can you do about it. The easiest thing to do would be to make sure that you sign the
petition available at every lock. Then there is a petition on the PM's site. Consider the
proposal at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Thames-locks/ and sign that too. Finally, a letter to
your MP will at least ensure the issue is bought to the attention of those in the corridors of
power. Should you wish to find out more about this a simple search on the net (lock
keepers cottages) will provide you with copious information. It's a bit one sided though - I
can't see anyone other than the EA itself agreeing with this proposal.

A FINAL THOUGHT

There's a river somewhere that flows through the lives of everyone.

Roberta Flack

Marlow Canoe Club Newsletter - 14 - Summer 2008/01

 WHAT'S ON, WHEN AND WHERE
The complete and authoritive guide to all that the club hopes to do in the forthcoming
months. Please note that at the time of going to press dates cannot be guaranteed and
that the programme can be subject to changes.

ALL CLUB SESSIONS; ON THE WATER FOR 10:00am. SEE D.O.

D.O
SUNDAYS FOR FINISH. CHECK NOTICEBOARDS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS
ALL CLUB SESSIONS; ON THE WATER FOR 7:00pm. SEE D.O. FOR
D.O
TUESDAYS FINISH. CHECK NOTICEBOARDS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS

07/08 JUNE NOVICE COURSE 2 - VOLUNTEERS PLEASE TT

07/08 JUNE SURF TRIP CP
14/15 JUNE IMPROVER COURSE 1 - 2* AWARD PART 1 (+TUESDAY 17th) TT
21/22 JUNE IMPROVER COURSE 1 - 2* AWARD PART 2 TT
21-29 JUNE ALPS TRIP PC
05/06 JULY NOVICE COURSE 3 - VOLUNTEERS PLEASE TT
07 JULY COMMITTEE MEETING @ MARLOW DONKEY (DATE T.B.C.) AM
19/20 JULY RIVER TRYWERYN CP
02/03 AUG. NOVICE COURSE 4 - VOLUNTEERS PLEASE TT
09/10 AUG. IMPROVER COURSE 1 - 2* AWARD PART 1 (+TUESDAY 12th) TT
16/17 AUG. IMPROVER COURSE 1 - 2* AWARD PART 2 TT
23/24 AUG SYMONDS YAT - RIVER WYE CP
30/31 AUG. SURF TRIP CP
01 SEPT COMMITTEE MEETING @ MARLOW DONKEY (DATE T.B.C.) AM
06/07 SEPT NOVICE COURSE 5 - VOLUNTEERS PLEASE TT
20/21 SEPT GET INTO WHITEWATER - RIVER DEE CP
05 OCT. COACHING UPDATE FORUM - LONGRIDGE BCU

EVERY SWIMMING POOL SESSIONS AT GURNELL POOL, WEST LONDON

THURSDAY GET TUITION IN ROLLING, PRACTISE 3* SKILLS OR ANYTHING
EVENING YOU'VE GOT A BIT RUSTY ON. SEE WEBSITE FOR MAP AND
9.00 - 10.30 DETAILS

ORGANISER / MCC CONTACT FOR ABOVE EVENTS

AC ADRIAN COOPER 01844 344580 adrian@familycooper.fsnet.co.uk
AM ANDY MAXTED 07730 852760 morven@ukonline.co.uk
DL DAVID LYDIATT 01753 887773 david@lydiatt.plus.com
JN JOHN NORRIS 01494 483833 j.k.norris@btinternet.com
JP JOHN PARKIN 07973 820515 johnnyp@medusamusic.com
MP MARTIN PLAIN 01628 483252 martin@longridge.org.uk
TB TERRY BELCHER 01628 851001 terry@amoffice.co.uk

Marlow Canoe Club Newsletter - 15 - Summer 2008/01

THE COMMITTEE & OTHER USEFUL NUMBERS
A list of those members who serve on the club's committee, their role, a contact no. and an
e-mail address should you need to get in touch.

POSITION NAME TELEPHONE E-MAIL (all hyperlinked)

PRESIDENT TIM WARD 01494 482959 dianne.ward@tesco.net

CHAIRMAN ADRIAN COOPER 01844 344580 adriancooper@googlemail.com

SECRETARY ANDY MAXTED 07730 852760 morven@ukonline.co.uk

TREASURER PAUL CRICHTON 08708 806962 p.crichton@blueyonder.co.uk

MEMBERSHIP ROD EDMONDS 01753 671389 r.edmonds@etoncollege.org.uk

COACHING TIM TWITCHEN 07833 995289 timothy.twitchen@btinternet.co.uk

EQUIPMENT CHRIS PORTEOUS 01628 485049 chrisps@gmail.com

NEWSLETTER JOHN NORRIS 01494 483833 j.k.norris@btinternet.com

WOMENS REP. TOR EDWARDS 01494 dianne.ward@tesco.net

YOUTH REP. ALEX SHEILL shiellalex@yahoo.co.uk

SOCIAL SEC MELINDA LIVETT Melinda.livett@yahoo.com

MARATHON THIS EVENT WILL IN FUTURE BE HOSTED BY LONGRIDGE C.C.

WHITEWATER CHRIS PORTEOUS 01628 485049 chrisps@gmail.com

TOURING VACANT

SEA JOHN NORRIS 01494 483833 j.k.norris@btinternet.com

OUR NEAREST RETAILERS / SUPPLIERS

RIVERSIDE OXFORD 01865 248673 http://www.riversideoxford.co.uk

MARSPORT READING 01189 665912 http://www.marsport.co.uk

BERKSHIRE
READING 01189 425640 http://www.berkshire-canoes.co.uk
CANOES
WWC SHEPPERTON 01932 247978 http://www.whitewaterthecanoecentre.co.uk

PADDLESPORT COMPTON VERNEY 01926 640573 http://www.paddlesport.co.uk

Please advise the editor if any contact details are incorrect or if you wish to add an alternative no. / e-mail address to the list.

Marlow Canoe Club Newsletter - 16 - Summer 2008/01