Hemel Hempstead Canoe Club 
Press Release
14th September 2008
Slasher manages Division 3 promotion at ripe old age of 35 at Henley Hasler Race
Interval training in preparation for the long spring races. It mimics the conditions on longer distance races without the need for paddling for hours on end. It's great fun and the group dynamic makes it easier to perform, plus it develops racing boat skills, balance, turning and turbulence (plus capsizing!). |
The Henley Hasler race was held on the Thamesand it proved to be bumpy, blue sky, warm and an extra 4 miles.
I called up the race manager to find out whether or not I had missed the pre-entry deadline and could avoid the four pound late entry fee to find out firstly that I had missed the boat, but also that I had been promoted after the Nationals at Worcester. Being promoted is always a double edged sword - well done. now paddle harder; but this particular promotion also means racing over 12 miles rather than 8. So after an extra helping of fish pie and a tea total evening I went to bed early.
Henley Reach is a lovely piece of water but I have had an emotional moment there in the past when my balance let me down and I found I was spending more time doing support strokes than paddling forward. On Sunday the club had wisely decided to put a number of play boaters on the water to help rescue any swimmers as it was rough, but I was personally pleased to see them make the effort to run the race rather than take the easy option and cancel. The Eyot centre also has a shiny new club house and is impressive to say the least. So if you add sunshine and blue sky to this mixture you had the perfect day.
Not so for many paddlers though. There was only one bloke in Division 2 and consequently he negotiated to race with the Div 3 lads (all 3 of them) with a bungee strapped to his boat. Whilst this slows down his straight line speed it still meant that his superior boat skills would put him in first place and the race was effectively to see who could hang on to him the longest.
On the start line I managed to squeeze myself between one of the Div 3 competition and the Div 2 fella and found myself on his wash after 100m. The bloke I squeezed out - was duly dispatched after the sprint and found himself with a long tough paddle. Meanwhile I hung on until the standing waves covered the front of my boat and the old wobbles got the better of me. This left me in 3rd place and the race positions were set. The Portage around Hamblen lock was long and the weir coming in afterwards was a horrific sight for the return leg. Having turned around the Islands 6 miles down we threaded our way back up against the current and the fourth place boat caught up 100m by getting out and running. I was surprised and annoyed to see him on my wash but applied a little brain power and slowed my boat slightly to save a little energy for the finish. Finally with the finish line in sight I was able to put some sprinting power in cleanly and stay ahead.
So for my first Div 3 race this was possibly not the best conditions for a wobbly old bloke, but good weather and no demotion points added up to a great day out. Thanks to Henley guys for looking after us so well. Hemel Race next sunday, bring on the portages.
Chris "Slasher" Preston
