Maximising potential, opportunities, excitement and fun: Paddle the wild side
The Hamble Sea Scouts Arrive at Manor Farm
The Southern Boat Series (SBS) race finale for 2016/7 Wild Water Racing (WWR) Season was held at Manor Farm Country Park on the River Hamble (where the TV series War Time Farm was filmed) on 8 July 2017. Like last year the sun shone brightly and after some competitive racing many paddlers (as the song goes) “Went messing about on the River” practising rolling and just having fun.
The SBS series this year consisted of eight events, both national ranking WWR/wavehopper and non-ranking open races, held at seven different venues across Hampshire and Dorset run by/or in conjunction with Itchen Valley (IVCC), The Sharks, Hamble Sea Scouts, Winchester and District (WDCC) and Poole Harbour (PHCC) Canoe Clubs and the Hamble River Raid Committee. Thank you to the many venue managers who gave their facilities for free to the events.
94 different paddlers ranging from age 8 to 78 from 13 clubs raced with over 28% racing two or more races. The aim of the Series was to encourage paddlers to try racing, in particular WWR, and commit to the discipline by racing regularly. The series winner’s points were structured to reward frequency of racing, rather than just winning as the winners were rewarded with trophies at each event.
Destiny Cullum age 11
The SBS winners for 2015/17 were:
Team
1st: The Hamble Sea Scouts Runaway Team victors with 53 entrants
2nd: Winchester & District Canoe Club 29 entrants
3rd: Itchen Valley Canoe Club and Poole Harbour Canoe Club 28 entrants each.
Overall Men’s and Ladies Champions
Richard Davis (fore) and Richard Kent
Richard Davis age 79 Itchen Valley Canoe Club closely followed by 54 year old Richard Kent Hamble River Racing Squad then 70 year old Danny Dalrymple Itchen Valley Canoe Club. Last year’s men’s winner, Dr Selwyn Richards coming in Fourth.
Ladies Champion, not surprisingly as she had to attend every race as the organiser!!, was 59 year old Susan Templeton, Itchen Valley Canoe Club, second 13 year old Rachel Jones from Winchester & District Canoe Club and third 11 year old Elizabeth Akhurst from the Hamble Sea Scouts.
Rachel Jones
Rachel also won the under 14 prize of a signed copy of Dr. Gillian Mara’s inspiring book (kindly donated by the author) “Climbing Back” of her comeback from a 200 foot fall. Dr. Mara was a GB WWR and dragon boat paddler and rowed the Atlantic with four other women in July 2016.
Age Group Champions were:
U12W ELIZABETH AKHURST HAMBLE SS
U14W RACHEL JONES WDCC
U16W JASMINE BAKER ADUR
U18W LUCY BROWN WYCC
U23W DANI BROOK HAMBLE SS
MASTER W SUSAN TEMPLETON IVCC
U14 C1M PHILIP SMITH WDCC
MASTER C1M PHILIP BROWN HAMBLE SS
SENIOR C2 M SCOTT & STEVE MCELENEY PHCC
MASTER C2M =1ST DANIEL GUSTERSON & LEW PEREN ADUR
MASTER C2M =1ST PHILLIP AND TOM BROWN HAMBLE SS
U12 C2 MIX JACOB LINES & AIMEE COLLINS FROME CC
MASTER C2 MIX DAVID MCKAY & SUE BELL WDCC
U10M NOAH DANCE PHCC
U12M JACOB LAW WDCC
U14M RORY ANDERSON WDCC
U16M ALISTAIR BROWN HAMBLE SS
U18M PATRICK WILKINS HAMBLE SS
U23M CONOR BUCKMAN HAMBLE SS
SENIOR M JOHN DYKE HAMBLE SS
MASTER M RICHARD DAVIS IVCC
Jacob Lines and Aimee Collins
The organisers’ favourite moments, aside from the competitive racing, were variously; how everyone (paddlers, friends and parents) pulled together to support each other young and old to run the races, get to the races and help each other on and off the water. Paddlers encouraging each other and pushing themselves to improve over the season. Young Alfie Hoey age 8, Hamble Sea Scouts, in his first race, battering the banks either side of the river but being encouraged to finish by everyone and his smile getting his first canoeing medal. A number of paddlers having started the series this year, or previously, branching out on their own and doing other canoe events/disciplines. Finally, the camouflage theme of one race, in homage to the Cockleshell heroes, with young and old getting into the theme.
Young Jacob Law in camouflage
Next seasons events are already taking shape with a new and exciting venture with the New Forest Kayak Club, Wendy Stowe the Beaulieu River Harbour Master and by kind permission of Lord Montagu. A River Beaulieu ranking WWR/Wavehopper and open race, two distances 1.3 miles and 5 miles (latter up to Beaulieu Palace and back) both starting from the historic Bucklers Hard (ancient ship building, smuggling, secret SOE (Special Operations Executive) war venues nearby, second world war Mulberry harbour production) and of course the world famous National Motor Museum and Beaulieu Palace yards up the road/river. Date Saturday 7 October 2017 not to be missed, make a weekend of it, race and see the fascinating history and Motor Museum with Top Gear exhibition.
For Great Britain Wild Water Racing events and news go to http://www.wildwater.org.uk/
Susan Templeton
Southern Series Wild Water Racing Manager
Itchen Valley and The Sharks Canoe Clubs http://www.thesharks.org.uk/