Kilcock Canoe Polo Club

The Wild Water racing series draws to a close on the 22nd March with Lower Liffey Classic but KCPC paddlers have been in action throughout February and March……

After the Aghade Sprint and Avonmore Classic in January, the Sluice Sprint in early February was unfortunately cancelled due to bad weather. Fortunes changed however for the Boyne Classic on February 22nd with Christopher and Pat representing KCPC. The 5km race started in beautiful sunshine with 54 competitors in 10 racing classes at Stackallen Bridge. The first sets of features, The Little A weir, quickly followed by grade 2 rapids and then onto the Diagonal weir, were all shot without difficulty. The river quickens up for the Mill Race and the most challenging feature on this stretch of river, The Big A. Then it's a tiring paddle to Slane Castle weir and on to the finish and Slane Bridge. The average time for the run was approximately 32 minutes. Christopher did really well as the first competitor off the line and with 53 other Paddlers chasing him by winning the Junior Boys GP class.

Our luck with the weather turned again for the river Barrow Sprint at Clashganny in Kilkenny, on Sunday March 5th. It was a bitterly cold day but none the less some of the brave KCPC paddlers, John, George, Chris, Shane and Pat donned summer fashion colours to brighten up the day!! In Sprint racing, every second, every paddle stroke, and each decision the paddler makes is critical to putting in a winning performance. It makes this type of canoeing very technical and challenges a paddler to strive for continuous improvement in terms of fitness, paddling skills, river knowledge and race craft. After two practice runs on the 0.7km course some of the decisions for the timed runs were, go over the weir on the left or right of the tree after the start. Turn sharp left and navigate the projecting boulders on river left, or go mid river and risk being slowed by a cross river current. Keep river left or right through the rapids to line up for the finish. Then keep river left over a little weir and down through more boulders or go river right with the cleaner line but duck going under the foot bridge to the finish line. All in the space of ~ 180 seconds! Of the five colourful paddlers, George made the right decisions as he had the fastest time between us. No prizes for KCPC on the day among a very large entry for this popular event but we were certainly glad to get back into our winter fashions when the paddling was over.

KCPC paddlers have participated and represented the club with merit in 8 of 10 races during the course of the season. The Lower Liffey race from Palmerstown to Chapelizod on Sunday 22nd March draws an enjoyable season to a close.

By Pat Hendrick