Trip Report

The trip went very well  with all who went enjoying themselves and wanting to come again next year. Shame that the water levels were at the lowest level that I have ever seen (for those who know it was around a foot below the slab at Newbridge) so it was very scrapey especially the upper (no one fancied it on the Sunday).

We ran the Loop a couple of times and then continued down to Buckfastleigh leaving a large amount of plastic on the Weir there , which was more like a cheese grater than a weir.

Video

Chappers’ Pictures

New players get their first session free and then the cost is £6 thereafter. Be there from 7:30pm if you’d like a briefing on the rules.

All competent paddlers are welcome. If you haven’t played polo before, competent means you should be happy paddling forwards and backwards, doing sweep-stroke turns, and removing your spray-deck underwater. We are again splitting the session into polo paddling & playing skills, followed by back-to-back 3 or 4-a-side games.

If you can’t yet roll we won’t push you in until we’ve taught you how!

Guide on adding posts here: http://techtips.org.uk/2011/10/adding-images-to-a-wordpress-post-a-newbies-guide/

Guide on adding images to posts here: http://techtips.org.uk/2011/10/adding-images-to-a-wordpress-post-a-newbies-guide/

But then lashed down:

First, some work on handling skills:

and a demo of rescue techniques:

Lunch on a beach only just big enough for the boats:

An impromtu slalom between the legs of an old footbridge:

Then, as the rain cleared, a journey up the Straits to look at how the other half live:

And then back to the launch site, coping with a stretching headwind and swell.

Later, we drove across Anglesey to meet the Holyhead Coastguard for a couple of hours of highly instructive chat about their work with sea kayakers.

Many thanks to Richard Janes for a brilliant day, despite the sheets of rain.

Shuttle cars to Montford Bridge / pub lunch or picnic for those net involved with the car shuttle and be ready to leave at 1.00

7.5 mile downstream placid paddle to arrive at Montford Bridge ( Wingfield Arms ) at about 3.00 but definately before  4.00

Then travel to Newhouse Farm, Shoothill, Ford. Shrewsbury SY5 9NR for BBQ at 5.00

From Montford Bridge approx 400m on B4380 towards Shrewsbury. Then right onto B4473 and under bypass and past Field Studies Centre.

Then right on A458 towards Welshpool.

Past Shell services on left in Ford. Then aprox 300m and left at junction sign posted Shoothill.

Newhouse farm is on left after approx 400m.

Shower / changing available.

Bring and share BBQ but fire etc provided. Families and friends included.

UNLESS WE GET ENOUGH NUMBERS BY NOON ON FRIDAY I WILL HAVE TO CANCEL.

PLEASE REPLY IF YOU ARE

1.        PADDLING AND JOINING THE BBQ

2.       OR PADDLING ONLY

3.       OR BBQ ONLY

So with that southern-western bias these are all this season’s Div3 SW tournaments:

Cheltenham, 15 Oct
 {Not playing} Aberfan, Celtic, Nomad, Avon D, Bridgend, Cherwell, Cardiff

Stratford, 29 Oct
 Shrewsbury, Nomad, Avon C, Blackwater, Bridgend, Cherwell

Cheltenham, 3 Dec
 Shrewsbury, Aberfan, Celtic, Avon C, Avon D, Blackwater, Cardiff

Cheltenham, 7 Jan
 Shrewsbury, Aberfan, Celtic, Nomad, Avon C, Avon D

Cheltenham, 18 Feb
 {Not playing} Nomad, Avon C, Avon D, Blackwater, Bridgend, Cherwell, Cardiff

Cheltenham, 17 Mar
 Shrewsbury, Aberfan, Celtic, Blackwater, Bridgend, Cherwell, Cardiff

Looking forward to an exciting season.

New players get their first session free and then the cost is £6 thereafter. Be there from 7:30pm if you’d like a briefing on the rules.

All competent paddlers are welcome. If you haven’t played polo before, competent means you should be happy paddling forwards and backwards, doing sweep-stroke turns, and removing your spray-deck underwater. We are splitting the session into polo paddling & playing skills, followed by at least four 4-a-side games.

If you can’t yet roll we won’t push you in until we’ve taught you how!