Spring 1997
In this issue
A proposed new constitution – no big changes, but a lot of little changes that bring it up to date
Youth Section Charter, and consent form. We aim to kick off sometime in May with a Youth section that meets one evening a week at the docks.
Plus all the usual sections – News, Slalom, White-water, Marathon. Etc. The next magazine should be out by the end of May.
Chairpersons Report
Since the last magazine, the Club has experienced a tragic loss with the death of Phil Millener. As an act of remembrance, the Club made donations to the Marie Curie Nurses and the Macmillan Fund for Cancer Research. I have since received a card from his mother, Maureen Millener, thanking all Philip’s friends at the Canoe Club for the donation and for the messages of sympathy.
The strength of our Club comes from its members. Those of us who knew Phil will never forget the fun and thrills shared with him in our sport of canoeing, and his many contributions to our Club.
The Youth Group within the Club has begun to take shape. Rob Hignell has contacted a number of organisations including the Bristol City Council and BCU for advice on instigating the group. The main objective of this group is to take 13-18 year olds (excluding Justin Sims and Simon Curtis!!!!!), who can already paddle to BCU 2 star, and encourage their continued commitment to our sport. It is planned that this Group will met on a Tuesday evenings during the summer. A number of Club members have already offered their assistance, and the Committee has given its full backing to the group.
Please also notice that the Club is holding coaching sessions at the Pool on Wednesday evenings; so if you’ve forgotten how to draw stroke to BCU regulations_ come along! Check the Club Programme for details.
Finally, the Committee has begun discussions about a permanent Club House, to provide our own boat and equipment storage, changing facilities, and possibly more social activities. The availability of lottery money etc., and our plans for the Youth Group make this discussion a little more than pie in the sky. If any one has any thoughts on this matter, or better still, a plot of land around the docks, please come and see me.
See you on the water or in the pool_.
Mark Gillette, BCC Chair
Time To Review The Constitution?
Prompted in part by the work involved in setting up the Youth Section, and finding out what requirements we will have to meet to gain city council support, I have been investigating the club constitution. As part of that effort I have retyped it and asked the BCU for comment on the content.
Attached is a copy of the constitution with suggested additions and deletions suitably marked. This proposed revision incorporates some minor editing and the BCU’s suggestions.
The constitution can only be amended at the AGM but it would seem worth starting the debate now so that any additional suggestions can be incorporated in good time for September.
Rob Hignell
Youth Activities Consent Form
Elsewhere in this newsletter is the latest information on the creation of the Youth Section. Attached is the proposed permission /indemnity form which it is proposed will be the basis of the agreement between youth paddlers, their parents, and the club. Any and all comments and suggestions would be gratefully received.
Two Star and Three Star Surfing.
Claire Knifton, the BCU’s Local Coaching Organiser, is proposing to organise a surfing weekend, probably April 12-13, to train and assess people for their 2- and 3-star surf awards. After 1 April 1988, Level 3 Coaches (Sea) will no longer be deemed to be qualified to teach on and organise surf sessions, so there may be a shortage of qualified people to run surf trips unless more become qualified this year. Further details closer to the day can be obtained from Rob Hignell on 9043875.
Fish of the year
It would be unfair to nominate Conor for his swim on the dart rescuing Clive from the top drop of the triple drop. Although, he might qualify for the excuse of the year (to be presented by a passing troll) for his “new backrest” excuse.
Canoeing and Technology.
We often hear how developments in household appliances, like Teflon, are by-products of space development projects or, like radar, of military research. Sometimes development goes the other way as well. Most people know that many features of road cars are developed from racing research, but not many people know the role that canoeing has had in new technologies development.
In the early 60’s kayaks were used in the development of fibreglass. An all-glass boat, weighing under 30 pounds, and stiff and strong enough to paddle on Grade 4 water tested the technology to its limits, and many of the design features developed by companies such as Prijon found its way into the mainstream of fibreglass manufacture. In the 70’s Epoxy, Diolen, Kevlar and Carbon Fibre were introduced into boat construction, and again white water paddling proved an ideal testing ground. The 80’s saw the development of the Romer helmet with help from the BMW safety laboratory, which was able to simulate different loads that the helmet might experience. This research led to the discrediting of chin cups which had been in vogue; conventional design went back to an adjustable strap as being a safer alternative.
Now, in the 90s, we are in the era of intelligent machines that can respond to external stimuli, even the emotional state of the driver. Rover Cars, in conjunction with Bristol Canoe Club, have been working on a new safety device that will actually prevent the car from being driven somewhere that the driver perceives as hazardous. Using technology borrowed from some of the early remote anti-theft products, if the sensors detect high anxiety levels then they fire up a sequence that cracks the windscreen and blows the radiator. This then prevents the driver from driving to the activity that was causing the anxiety. So for example, if you are planning a nice Grade 4 paddle at the weekend, but it keeps on raining, and you think “It’s going to be at least a Grade 5, and I might swim” then your car comes to the rescue by immobilising itself and giving you the perfect excuse. Further details on the project are available from Mark Gillett
Rob Hignell
Editors Bit
Somewhat disappointed that there’s no Polo or Sea Kayak reports this issue. Get your biro’s out paddlers. Write down those reports while you’re waiting for the car shuttle or while the other matches are being played. And no pictures this month. Please get your cameras out and get photos to me in good time for including in the summer issue.
Like everyone else, I was saddened by the news of Phil’s death just after Christmas. I remember how Phil watched me trying to hand-roll in the pool, failing to complete every time. Phil showed me place my paddle next to the boat and rest my fingertips on the blade for just that extra bit of support as I rolled up. I know everyone has their own memories of Phil and will miss him
Nick
The Usk River Trip – 5th January 1997
Only the ‘Sad Few’ ventured out for this one! Seven in total, for some the adventure started early experiencing breakneck speeds of Mach 3 in Nathan’s Car. Having all arrived safely it was a case of “Shall we, or shan’t we?”
The ever resourceful Nathan offered great encouragement with his Thermometer! You can’t argue when the temperature reading hovers at +3° C. (It has to be said that sitting the Thermometer on the Engine does wonders to the temperature reading!) Kit off and after the fastest Car shuttle known to mankind (Nathan driving again!) “Sorry Nathan someone has to have a dig at your driving!”
Having got on the River and spent the first half hour waiting for Nathan to get his new Spray-deck on, we finally set off. Alas we might have been better of pedalling down the River on Mountain Bikes, Suffice to say water was a novelty, rocks were in abundance, this must have been the first river trip with the exception of the Exe where I had both Blisters and Splinters in my Bum (and not a sympathetic Soul to pick them out either!) despite having little or no water Dave Brain managed to capsize (and roll again!). With water levers being low it would be fair to say play waves were somewhat lacking, Justin and that Nathan not wishing to loose out found Ice breaking an adequate substitute (Kids – what do you do with them?)
Overall the paddling was ‘bloody knackering’, however, the scenery and the Pub were jolly nice!
Paul Coyne
River Dart, Jan 11th – 12th 1997.
The first week of January was freezing cold, with no water anywhere. I listened closely to the weather forecast on Friday evening, and I rang the access officer (Icarus Edmonds). The forecast was ‘much warmer, with drizzle’, so we decided that we would go.
On Saturday morning, we arrived at Newbridge to find only about five canoeist’s cars there, unlike the normal fifty or so! At Dartmeet there were two other groups of paddlers who, having already got changed, were putting their boats back onto their roofs. The water level by the car park was extremely low. However, the water level at the get-in was much better – there must have been a lot more water coming down the west dart.
The river scenery was beautiful. About six inches of ice was wrapped around each rock, and there was a gentle mist. It had warmed up substantially over night, now being a few degrees above freezing. The sun even came out later in the afternoon.
The trip was technical, but not extremely thin. We didn’t portage anywhere except Euthanasia, and two of our group (out of four) paddled that. The trip was great fun, with lots of very technical and fast manoeuvring needed (my Corsica-S was almost too big – the other boats were a Microbat, Spud, and Rotobat). There wasn’t much power in the water, but there were still places where you could easily have been kicked in, and there were a few bruised elbows from slipping through small slots. When there’s six inches of ice around each rock, the gaps all end up a foot narrower! The last mile or so was a bit of a rocky slog, but no worse than the Barle often is.
On the Sunday, a bunch of the newer paddlers in the club joined us for the loop. Again, relatively few paddlers on the river. This meant that we had a chance to play in all the bits, and get our newbies to play too. I’ve hardly ever managed to play on the washing machine and triple drop without hordes of other paddlers there. The top drop of triple drop can give a nice popout, and the newbies were surfing the second drop too. This made it a very worthwhile trip.
One day I’ll manage to not be the driver when we go to the London Inn in Ashburton, and then I’ll be able to sample their beers properly…
[ Paddlers were – Saturday (Upper Dart) Conor, Janet, Nathan, and Andy (a friend of Nathan’s with a broken leg!)
Sunday (Loop) – Conor, Janet, Paul C, Jan, Clive, Paul N, Dave, Nick, Mark G, Justin ]
Conor O’Niel
Marathon Success
In the Stour Time Trial two K2 teams from Bristol took part in this years Stour Descent. From Sturminster Newton to Bryanston School, Dorset, 14 miles of fast river (stream) many twists and turns, eddies and overhanging trees. The junior crew of Dan Hurleston and Lee West set off very fast – so fast that they were not recorded at the finish. Chris Gazeley with his wn timing – there were the last juniors to start and the first to finish and (it doesn’t take a genius to work this out) were only awarded first place weeks after when Brian lodged a complaint.
Rich Bullock and I had our best race for a long while against top opposition. We were very quick away and took many crews in the technical bends early on. A fast portage and weir shoot then a short cut across flooded grass where a metal steak ripped the bottom off my lovely blue stiletto – thank god for Kevlar. We finished very strong and hoped for victory only to be pipped into third place by Mike Smith and Rich Lewis (Bradford) and Andy Maycock (Exeter) A good day for Bristol.
Please Support the Bristol Marathon June 8th and the National K4 event (Oct 11th). Both should be good money spinners for the club
Steve Bennet
SLALOM REPORT (1)
Although we have lost some of the old stalwarts in slalom competition over the last few years ,this has had the effect of concentrating the minds of those who are left in progressing slalom interest and introducing newer talent into the gentle art.
One of those slalomists who has gone has been Martyn Green who has been a great asset to us as our only premier paddler and a person who has helped us out in designing courses for Llandysul, our thanks must go to him for rhis and hope he flourishes in Lancaster where he now lives.
Conor has successfully run Llandysul slalom this year and seems set to do so next year as well. We made the usual useful profit for the clubas the accounts will show ,and the event continues to be well thought of in slalom circles as one not to miss. We can always do with more support from the general club membership for this event, it is well worth the effort.
Slalom generally has been suffering from a lack of participants and other problems for a number of years now and following last years stormy AGM has grasped the nettle and carried out an in depth examination of the sport to see what needs to be done to improve the position. Conor and Mark Aplin attended a special general meeting voting on our behalf on the issues. These seem to be non contentious and something we can all agree with, [see the report] ,which we hope will tip the balance towards improving the whole of slalom in the next five years.
On another tack, it seems that we may be able to get Holne Park Slalom site back again if we want it since the BCU SW Regions involvement down at the River Dart. We are still looking to run an entry level slalom somewhere local if a site can be found, keep your eyes open please.
People have been entering slaloms across the season with varying degrees of success, currently we have Martyn in prem, Janet Adcock and Beccy Smith in Div. 1, five people in Div. 2, with Justin Sims being promoted at Woodmill, and Avis Noott promoted at Mile End Mill, Conor remains in div. 3, with five people in Div. 4 and three people in Div. 5.
Quentin
Slalom Report (2)
Winter is a quiet time for slalom, with very little happening. However, it is also the time when the year’s results are totted up, the rankings are issued, and promotion (and demotion) for the year is decided. I am very pleased to be able to say that three club paddlers have gained end-of-year promotion. They are:-
Daniel Goddard promoted to Div. 1 K1
Mark Aplin promoted to Div. 3 C1
Jan Prior Promoted to Div. 3 K1
Congratulations to all three, and especially to Daniel, who, at the age of 13 has been selected into the England Canoe Slalom Team Under 14’s.
The past year has seen a number of club members take up slalom, and we hope that the coming year will see more success, and more new competitors.
The full list of club ranked paddlers in the 1997 yearbook is as follows:
| Martyn Green | Div. 1 Bib 11 |
| Daniel Goddard | Div. 1 Bib 145 Div. 2 C1 Bib 35 |
| Beccy Smith | Div. 1 Bib 20 |
| Janet Adcock | Div. 1 Bib 43 Div. 4 C1 Bib 25 |
| Bernie Cole | Div. 2 Bib 124 |
| Mark Aplin | Div. 2 Bib 128 Div. 3 C1 Bib 51 |
| Justin Sims | Div. 2 Bib 154 |
| Lisa Gunton | Div. 2 Bib 42 Div. 4 C1 Bib 42 |
| Avis Noott | Div. 2 Bib 56 |
| Conor O’Neill | Div. 3 Bib 88 |
| Lee Nichols | Div. 3 Bib 233 |
| Jan Prior | Div. 3 Bib 65 |
| Paul Niblett | Div. 4 Bib 155 |
| Andy Millener | Div. 4 Bib 170 |
| Declan Sheridan | Div. 4 Bib 247 |
| Nick Wainwright | Div. 4 Bib 253 |
| Alison Day | Div. 4 Bib 4 |
| Kath Cotton | Div. 4 Bib 35 |
| Jenny Jewell | Div. 4 Bib 59 |
| Paul Coyne | Div. 5 (no bib issued for Div. 5) |
| Richard Gunton | Div. 5 |
| Alastair Laing | Div. 5 |
| Ben Wainwright | Div. 5 |
| Tom Wainwright | Div. 5 |
| Ginny Crawford | Div. 5 |
In C2, the following pairs are listed:
| Mark Aplin & Justin Sims | Div. 4 Bib 55 |
| Mark Aplin & Lisa Gunton | Div. 4 Bib 58 |
| Lisa Gunton & Kath Cotton | Div. 4 Bib 65 |
Well done to everyone. It is very nice to see 25 names in this list!
Conor O’Neill
Bristol Canoe Club Youth Section
Registration & Consent to Participate in Activities
Please read carefully
| Youth Paddler Name Address Ward City Post Code Home Phone Date of Birth | Legally Responsible Adult Name Address Ward City Post Code Home Phone Relationship |
Membership (please tick) Full o Youth o Family o None o
Previous Experience/Qualifications
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Swimming Ability …………………………………………………………………………..
Interests
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Other Significant Information (including relevant medical information)
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I have read the Youth Charter and I understand that Bristol Canoe Club or any organisation providing facilities, their Agents, Servants, & Employees accept no responsibility for loss damage or injury causaed during attendance at any Bristol Canoe Club organised activity except where such loss damage or injury can be shown to result directly from the negligence of Bristol Canoe Club, its Agents, Servants, o Employees.
Agreed by Youth Paddler ………………………………………… Date ………
Parent/Guardian ……………………………………… Date ………
Club Rep ……………………………………………… Date ………
YOUTH CHARTER
The purpose of the Youth Section of Bristol Canoe Club is to provide opportunities for a variety of forms of canoeing for young people primarily between the ages of 13 and 17 who have completed basic skills training.
- In order to promote the safety, health, and well-being of young people undertaking canoeing activities with the club, the items overleaf are agreed between the club, its youth section leaders and instructors, the paddler, and his/her parent/guardian.
- It is acknowledged that the sport of canoeing is potentially hazardous, and that while compliance with normal safety precautions significantly reduces the potential for and probable severity of accidents, no challenging adventure sport such as canoeing can ever be regarded as completely safe
- Appropriate safety precautions will be followed at all times. In particular, paddlers under the age of 18 will wear appropriate buoyancy aids at all times on the water, except when specifically authorised not to by a recognised coach or instructor. Crash helmets will be worn for all white water and canoe polo activities.
- All novice sessions will be led by instructors qualified to at least the minimum British Canoe Union standards for the activity and type of water. The instructions of such qualified instructors are to be followed at all times.
- For more advanced trips involving Youth Paddlers who have demonstrated sufficient ability and experience, it is expected that participation will on occasion involve consent to accept the level of risk involved. Parents/Guardians will be informed of the situation in such instances, and their agreement obtained in writing prior to the activity taking place.
- Slow moving urban water such as is found in the floating harbour is known to expose paddlers to the risk of Leptospirosis. This disease, resembling ‘flu in its early stages, is extremely rare, but can be fatal if it deteriorates into Weil’s Disease and is not properly treated with antibiotics. Paddlers who develop ‘flu-like symptoms after paddling, particularly on slow-moving water should ensure that they inform their doctor of their activity and alert them to the possibility of Leptospirosis being involved. Should a ‘flu-like condition continue to deteriorate beyond the normally expected prognosis for ‘flu, strenuous efforts should be made to get the doctor to consider the possibility of, and provide treatment for, Leptospirosis.
- Background checks will be carried out by the club on all leaders and instructors who work with youth paddlers. Where possible, a police check will be completed, but where this is not possible, character references will be taken up. It is acknowledged that such checks can never be 100% effective in preventing access to youth by undesirable people.
- Whenever an activity organised by the club is planned to last overnight or for more than 12 hours, at least one leader or instructor of each sex of young person on the activity will be in attendance. For shorter activities the club can not guarantee that instructors/leaders will be of the same sex as the paddlers.
- Youth paddlers, their parents and guardians, club officials, instructors and leaders accept joint responsibility for communicating significant information to each other. Such information includes, but is not limited to, notification of sickness or medical conditions which might affect the safety or enjoyment of the activity by the paddler or others, warnings of delays or cancellations, and notification of accidents or incidents.
- National law on the use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs by young people will be conscientiously observed.
- Failure by a youth member to observe any of these conditions may lead to sanctions ranging from exclusion from club activities for a prescribed period to expulsion. Appeals against such sanctions should be made initially to the Youth Section representative on the club committee, and thereafter to the chairman. Youth members shall ultimately have the same rights of appeal against expulsion as all other members.
Bristol Canoe Club Proposed Revised Constitution
- TITLE
- AIMS
- MEMBERSHIP
- General Conditions for Full Membership
- Other Forms of Membership
- Election
- Application Fees
Payable by all applicants and by lapsed members. This payment is not required for renewals paid within the first month of the club year.
- SUBSCRIPTIONS
- Annual
- Supplementary
These may be decided upon by members in General Meeting and shall be due immediately after the meeting. New members after this meeting may also be required to pay all or part of this subscription.
- CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP
- If a member has failed to pay their annual subscription by the next November 30th, or has failed to pay their supplementary subscription within one month of its being due, or the next AGM if sooner, then they will be deemed to have resigned from the club.
- Any member may resign on giving written notice to the secretary.
- Any member committing a serious breach of the rules, or considered to have acted in a manner detrimental to the Club, may be required to explain their conduct to the Committee, who are empowered to suspend or expel such a member, should satisfactory explanation not be forthcoming. Any complaint that a member has acted in breach of the rules, or in a manner detrimental to the interests of the club, must be made in writing to the chairman, and be signed by two current members of the club. The decision to expel a member must be a unanimous one, with all a quorum of 75% of the committee members present, unless the member in question is one of the committee, when all of the remaining members must be unanimous. The secretary must ensure that all members of the committee are informed of the date, time and venue of the meeting at least two weeks prior to the hearing. A member so expelled or suspended may request a special general meeting (QV) and at it, appeal for re-instatement.
- No member may receive in part or in whole a subscription refund on cessation of membership.
- COMMITTEE
- Composition
- Eligibility for Election Onto Committee
- Election
- Committee Meetings
- Co-Option Onto Committee
The committee may co-opt suitable paid up members to fill those vacancies either unfilled at the end of the AGM, or occurring during the club year. All At least 75% of current committee members must be in favour of the choice.
- The committee shall be the sole authority for the Club rules. .
- GENERAL MEETINGS
- Annual General Meeting (A.G.M)
- Special General Meeting (S.G.M.)
A Special General Meeting must be called at the joint written request to the secretary of 25% of the Voting Membership. .The Secretary must then call the meeting within 2 calendar months of the notification, and give at least three weeks notice of this meeting to all current members. Requests for Special General Meetings must reach the Secretary at least five weeks prior to the date that the meeting is to be held.
The Committee may call a Special General Meeting at any time provided that three weeks notice be given in writing to all members by the Secretary.
- Notes On General Meetings
(c.1) Not less than 25% of paid up voting members shall constitute a quorum.
(c.2) Should a quorum not be present after one hour, the meeting may be dissolved and may be re-convened at the discretion of the Committee, provided that the members are given at least two weeks notice of the new date. The re-convened meeting shall be called to order and proceed in accordance with the procedures above, at the appointed hour, regardless of the number of voting members present.
(c.3) Accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to, or the non-receipt of such notice by any member, shall not invalidate the proceedings of that meeting.
- FINANCE
- A proper set of accounts of all the Club’s financial dealings shall be kept by the Treasurer, to the satisfaction of the Club Auditor(s).
- The Club’s banking accounts shall be maintained at suitable financial institutions at the direction of the officers of the club. All cheques drawn from the current account are to be signed by no less than two officers of the club.
- Other than for minor expenses such as postage, etc. normally incurred by a duly authorised member in execution of their duty, no more than £10 (£20 in the case of the Secretary or Editor) shall be expended from the club funds during the course of the year without the majority consent of the Committee.
- Transfer of money to and from the Club’s reserves, together with the acquisition and disposal of assets, shall be by the consent of all 75% of the committee.
- The Committee or any officer of the club may not raise any form of loan without a majority vote at a General Meeting and the full consent of all the Committee.
- TERMINATION DISSOLUTION
- ALTERATION TO THE CONSTITUTION
Apart from the provisions for termination, any item in this constitution may only be altered by a two thirds majority vote of those paid up full members present at a properly constituted General Meeting. Members proposing changes or amendments must notify the Secretary at least five weeks prior to the date of the meeting in order that the necessary arrangements may be made and notifications issued in time.