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Showing posts from April, 2008

Afan Jump School 13 April 2008

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Last Sunday I met up with Griff, Lee, Ben, Andy & Ross at Glyncorrwg. We rode up Whites Level and had a play on the jump section of Energy which was riding well. Andy then proceeded to give us lessons in how to jump. I was a pretty poor student being far too old for this sort of thing. Griff did a good impression of Biggles with his Dambuster goggles. How much higher would he have gone if he was not wearing them? Ross then showed us how it should be done. Griff thought it was as easy as falling off a log.

Devizes to Westminster 2009

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What is Devizes to Westminster (DW)? When first conceived it was the longest Non Stop Canoe (Kayak) Race in the world. Its starts every Good Friday, surprisingly, at The Wharf Devizes in Wiltshire and finishes at the steps to the Festival Hall opposite The Houses of Parliament and next to the London Eye. The Race is 125 miles long, 54 miles are undertaken on the Kennet & Avon Canal the remaining 71miles are on The Thames which is joined at Reading. There are 76 locks which have to be portaged (ran around). Juniors (K2's and K1) and singles (K1) are required to race over four days whilst Senior K2's have the option to go straight through. A typical target time is to beat 24 hours whilst racing crews go well under 20 hours, the record is sub 17 hours. DW 2008 was particularly tough due to the weather which was extremely cold. There was a fifty per cent drop out rate and numerous injuries such as broken bones, bruises and various degrees of hypothermia. The subject was