Kilcock Canoe Polo Club

The final race of the season on the Lower Liffey from Palmerstown to Chapelizod concluded an enjoyable and challenging series of races with Kilcock Canoe Polo Club winning a new EXO Fastwave WW racing kayak for the best new entrant to the discipline this season..

Throughout the series Chris, George, John, Pat, Sean and Shane competed in both the GP and WW Racing classes using a selection of different kayaks to test their skills and develop the techniques required in this canoeing discipline.

Pre-season start, plastic GP kayaks were the initial preferred option for stability and manoeuvrability in white water but in terms of speed they are extremely slow. On the other hand speed is achieved with the use of the long, slim, narrow hull racing kayaks, but stability and manoeuvrability then become the disadvantages. The challenge for the racing paddler is to master the techniques required to maintain good control of the racing kayak and take full advantage of the straight line speed.

Chris, Shane and Pat initially competed in plastic GP, then switched to lighter fibreglass GP kayaks and then to the "Wavehopper". George and John competed in the "Wavehopper" made by Perception, a plastic version of the purpose designed composite WW racing kayak, faster than the GP, but very heavy to handle. Sean dusted the cobwebs off the Gola Sprint which is generally regarded as one of the fastest composite GP kayaks, specifically designed for racing. It's faster than the Wavehopper but less manoeuvrable. Paddle design also plays a significant role in the competitiveness of the racing paddler. Although we tried out some racing paddles, the preference was to stay with the more stable river paddle. Next season perhaps!

Throughout the season we received tremendous support from the Irish Wild Water Racing Committee with logistics and the loan of kayaks. We would sincerely like to thank Martin McCarthy and the Irish Wild Water Racing Committee, for their friendship and support. We would also like to thank Colm Healy of I-Canoe, sponsors of the WW racing series and the Fastwave kayak won by KCPC.

By Pat Hendrick.