1 Star BCU Performance Awards - Coaching/Test Session

Rudyard Lake, 26th April, 2009.

Instructors Matt Bostock & David Coare.

Trainees ... James & Mike Fennell, Adrienne Clarke and Joyce Davies.

A magic day, lovely weather and really quite a large Club gathering. Other Club members turning out to help, support and paddle included Ann, John, Jeanette, Brian and Tim.

James & I met Matt at Rudyard around 9:00AM and Ray kindly fed us with quiche and tea whilst we awaited  the arrival of the canoes and kayaks.

Excellent kayak coaching from Matt, we revisited many of the skills we’d previously been taught including some we’d forgotten. A really intensive 2Hrs morning session. Adrienne and Joyce arrived about 11:00 to join in and just prior to lunch James & I took an open out for a small tour.

After lunch James & I were coached in Open Canoe Skills by David ... again both excellent & fun, we can spin one on a sixpence and steer one pretty well too, in our opinion though maybe not in David’s.

We then went back to kayaks for the getting wet bit. Despite our protests that we’d swam many times before (Rudyard, Kidsgrove Pool, Stone) Matt was adamant that this was part of the course and we had to prove that we could uptip and get out safely either by being rescued or swimming.

I went first and tried to roll, failed again ... no surprise there, Matt is certain that my kayak is holding me back (it’s a challenge). Matt then emptied my kayak over his bow and braced my boat against his whilst I tried to pull myself back in feet first. I wouldn’t like to try that in choppy conditions.

A heartfelt vote of thanks to Matt here for lending James a pair of dry suit style trousers and top. James has grown out of his wetsuit and he didn’t fancy getting voluntarily wet in just a tee shirt and joggers ... THAT WATER WAS COLD! Joyce effected the rescue of James with a little help from  Matt.

So as we now know enough to get ourselves into trouble we’d better do the 2 Star to try and win our “Get out of Jail Free” cards.

Thanks to all,

Mike & James.