Sunday, May 15, 2011

A dry winter

No blog updates here for a while. Winter has been very dry and there hasn't been much opportunity to get paddling. On the upside on the few days I did get out I managed to get to run some of the local Wicklow runs which have up to now eluded me. I got two low water Dargle runs and a medium level run of the Glenmcnass in. A visit to west Cork saw us get a nice run (if a bit scrappy) run on the upper Bandon, but I still haven't had a chance to run the Clare Glens and the Upper Liffey.

Upper Bandon from Eanna Ryan on Vimeo.

Eanna captured our Upper Bandon Run on video

I have still managed to get out paddling a lot on Club trips with DCU and WWKC and it's great to see many more new paddlers getting into the sport!

Competition wise, I took part in both the varsities (for the fifth and final time :( )and the Jacksons Boatercross, "Wacko in the Jacko".


DCU Polo Team which came in impressive 3rd.

Varsities largely went well, DCU overall came forth and I competed in all 4 events. Polo was first and DCU did very well to finish 3rd, we were unlucky to loose the semi final to runners up trinity and did well to beat a strong and aggressive UL team in the 3rd place play off.

The next event was the Boatercross and the team of myself, Ashling Conway and Alan Barret were very happy with a 3rd place finish on the Upper Bandon.


DCU team on the lead in to the main drop on the Bandon.

The Long distance race later that day did not go as well as my boat turned out not to be waterproof and a stop half way to empty it as well as dragging a few gallons with me ended my chances of a good finish. Freestyle at Cork Sluice was next and even though I didn't feel it went great the judges saw more then I did and we finished a respectable 5th place.

Getting ready for the freestyle comp!

The Jacksons' boatercross was another great event organised by Total Experience and held for the first time in a number of years. I didn't make it through the second round however which was pretty disappointing given the good run of finishes I'd had in boatercrosses up to this. None the less it was a great weekend and hopefully it keeps going strong over the next few years.


Leading heat one over Jacksons Falls.

Next adventure is Italy, heading in two weeks and hoping for good water levels over there!