Our DW2011 blog is
http://dw2011.blogspot.com/
How's everyone else's training going?
27 December 2010
24 April 2010
23 April 2010
05 April 2010
DW2010
Final post from teamGT for DW2010
| 701 | Yeomans | Michael | Male | Kirkcaldy Canoe Club | 19:31:07 | 9 |
First well done to Michael Yeomans, number 9 in the world at K1 ultra marathon, didn't just beat his intended sub 23h 05m but went sub 20 hours- well done, we'll see you in Scotland later this month!
Richard and myself didn't paddle this year, however, we did have a great DW2010.
Friday & Saturday tagging in Devizes. Saturday evening we met up with Brian and went to run the check point at Bray. This was a pleasure to be part of. We had no problems with supporters or competitors and Keith, the lock keeper, couldn't have done any more to help us. We only pulled out two paddlers who actually went on to finish the race.
Bray Lock
The first boat was through 20 minutes earlier than expected, the last boat was through almost 2 hours earlier than I was expecting. So we repatriated Brian with his car and Richard and I moved on to Westminster.
Westminster was our most comfortable night, well if you ignore my road work impersonation snoring! 4 star hotel- for the price of a Travelodge! Today was great. I was on the steps pulling out boat, paddlers and the most boats I pulled on my rescue line was 13 kayaks, 2 canoes and 1 RIB. This was easier than Richard's job- controlling parents and support crews.
Overall this weekend was the hardest DW I've had but easily the most enjoyable. I must thank all the paddler and support crews who thanks us all, everyone who I worked with and especially the organisers who worked so hard to make it easy for us to do our jobs.
Next year I'm going to take the easy DW option, paddle the race. As there are only 380 days until the start of the next DW I'm going to take my washing out of the washing machine and go to the gym
...and yes I have started the blog for next year DW2011
Thanks to everyone,
Tom
21 March 2010
Waterside D & DW
What a good start, absolutely flying. Tried a new sensation of passing
other boats, very radical!
However, just before the Bruce Tunnel by mutual agreement we decided
that we were trying too much too quick and have pulled out of doing DW
doubles
I'll take this opportunity to thank Emlyn for everything I learned
from him & a very big thanks to the support crew.
In the words of Bono, "We've got to go away and dream it all up again!"
Tom
other boats, very radical!
However, just before the Bruce Tunnel by mutual agreement we decided
that we were trying too much too quick and have pulled out of doing DW
doubles
I'll take this opportunity to thank Emlyn for everything I learned
from him & a very big thanks to the support crew.
In the words of Bono, "We've got to go away and dream it all up again!"
Tom
09 March 2010
08 March 2010
Devizes
I've seen that this year!
07 March 2010
Waterside C
Paddled 300m, portaged 5km
At Wooton Rivers, first portage on DW we decided that portaging a
glass Condor any further was a bad idea.
At Wooton Rivers, first portage on DW we decided that portaging a
glass Condor any further was a bad idea.
Came back to Newbury and paddled the last two portages inorder to
paddle the mill stream
The bucket seats felt more stable. Next week we'll do a session in
Shrewsbury and decide if we do K2 DW.
Word of advice to other crews, when I tell you the flight will be
frozen you need to believe me
Good points- Crofton (1.6km) is no longer an issue and we were stable
in bucket seats!
Tom
04 March 2010
Knowle Locks- Grand Union Canal Part 2
Tonight we paddled on the Grand Union Canal Knowle Locks.
We've decided to try an alternative Condor with bucket seats. Changing partners at five past the eleventh hour is usually a no, no. So as we've thrown the rule book out the window we can change boats too.
We've decided to try an alternative Condor with bucket seats. Changing partners at five past the eleventh hour is usually a no, no. So as we've thrown the rule book out the window we can change boats too.
When we stopped tonight to move the footplate we discovered ice on the boat, paddles and ourselves.
ice on my buoyancy aid
Anyway Waterside C on Sunday is the acid test were we decide yes or no
I'm now going to have a shower and then an early night.
Tom
Grand Union Canal
Union Canal.
Eamon and I are going to try portages and we've got lots of locks here!
I'll update this when I get home & say how it goes
Tom
01 March 2010
32 days
I wrote my first post for teamGT with 315 days to go until DW 2010 in New Zealand, I'm writing this on in the UK and there are 32 days until DW2010- 283 days of ramblings.
Unfortunately since Waterside B we've had to dramatically alter the team logistics. Richard got hurt so I pulled us out of that race. Rather than permanently injure himself he's waiting until DW2011, only 416 days away. I think he's made the right choice. However, that left me with a choice too. K1 or don't paddle at all.
Craig, from Marsport, made a suggestion to me. Antony Murr had been left without a partner, would I consider paddling with him? This weekend we go together and gave it a go.
We paddled Crofton Flight to the Bruce tunnel, through the tunnel and back on Saturday. Sunday we paddled a modified Thameside 1 turning right at Kennetmouth.
We had to do a lot of work on paddling together but for someone I've never paddled with before I was really happy with the ground we made, although we are still walking before we run.
The highlights were Fobney Lock- the landing stage we used was underwater, however, we got our feet wet instead of wet and muddy and survived it. County Weir looked worse than two weeks ago. The water was higher and there were 5 standing waves on the weir itself. In reality it was actually easier, even if a little choppier, because it was washed out the recirculating eddie wasn't there. I'm afraid there's no pics or video because sorting ourselves out less than 5 weeks before DW was more important to us. Well done to the two newbies we met for looking at County and doing a 400m portage- If you're not sure walk until it's safe!
The best thing I learnt this weekend was my portage approach technique- I've spent the past 7 years going in parallel, Antony changed me to 45 degrees and this has made the world of difference.
So what about Richard, he's still involved but I've offered him to another team as support crew for the 4 day event for the mere sum of 1 camel and 2 goats.
I need to sleep now,
Tom
Unfortunately since Waterside B we've had to dramatically alter the team logistics. Richard got hurt so I pulled us out of that race. Rather than permanently injure himself he's waiting until DW2011, only 416 days away. I think he's made the right choice. However, that left me with a choice too. K1 or don't paddle at all.
Craig, from Marsport, made a suggestion to me. Antony Murr had been left without a partner, would I consider paddling with him? This weekend we go together and gave it a go.
We paddled Crofton Flight to the Bruce tunnel, through the tunnel and back on Saturday. Sunday we paddled a modified Thameside 1 turning right at Kennetmouth.
We had to do a lot of work on paddling together but for someone I've never paddled with before I was really happy with the ground we made, although we are still walking before we run.
The highlights were Fobney Lock- the landing stage we used was underwater, however, we got our feet wet instead of wet and muddy and survived it. County Weir looked worse than two weeks ago. The water was higher and there were 5 standing waves on the weir itself. In reality it was actually easier, even if a little choppier, because it was washed out the recirculating eddie wasn't there. I'm afraid there's no pics or video because sorting ourselves out less than 5 weeks before DW was more important to us. Well done to the two newbies we met for looking at County and doing a 400m portage- If you're not sure walk until it's safe!
The best thing I learnt this weekend was my portage approach technique- I've spent the past 7 years going in parallel, Antony changed me to 45 degrees and this has made the world of difference.
So what about Richard, he's still involved but I've offered him to another team as support crew for the 4 day event for the mere sum of 1 camel and 2 goats.
I need to sleep now,
Tom
16 February 2010
Lent
Starbucks I can do 40 days without coffee!
Tom
(18 02 2010 - Today my Tigger mug passed away, slid down the curtain and joined the choir invisabule!)
15 February 2010
Thameside 1
Sunday 14th February 2010
No Richard, therefore, it was either kidnap or opt for paddling K1. I opted for my K1
This morning I was in two minds as to paddle TS1. When we left Buckinghamshire this morning it was snowing. In Berkshire the weather got better but it was raining on and off. It was also cold in my book, I'm not sure how cold that means mortals find it
In the end I decided to paddle. Apart from yesterday, it was quite some time since I had paddled my Epsilon. Until Theale I was going OK but was having problems with some of the chop especially the back wash in narrow sections. I decided to move my seat back a click at Theale to keep my tail down and the rudder in the water- note to self; move the foot plate back if I move the seat back and don't do it during a race!
The portage at Fobney amazes me, why am I the only one to use the easy route?
At county I tried an early get in as an experiment to see what would happen. The current from the recirculation off the tow back was so great that I couldn't get any speed up and it just turned me around. Deciding that this was a bad idea I went for the normal put in. Unfortunately a ladies K1 capsized, therefore, getting her safe was far more important than any race. A mens K2 crew sorted out her boat and I got her out. This was her 5th swim of the day, she was cold, tired and had no support and was looking for her team mates or coach. They were nowhere to be seen. This was a good (or bad) example of someone in the wrong boat and the boat was in a poor condition (At the end we were going to speak sternly to her coach- there was no need for this she was more than capable herself!).
Overall I was pleased with my finish and overall race. I did comment that it was a personal best for me.
When we got back to Remko's he went on line to look at the times.
Without subtracting time for the rescue I was still shocked-
VK1
Position Name Club Class Div Time P/D
1 STUART DUNN LEA V 01:43:16
2 MIKE MARTIN LBZ V 01:43:23
3 JAMES TREADGOLD RDG V 3 01:43:44
4 GRAHAM HOLMES RIP VM 01:54:41
5 RUSSELL CROWLEY TON V 5 02:00:22
6 IAN LAVARACK RIC V 02:00:38
7 BRIAN HAMMOND RDG S 6 02:08:13
8 JEREMY CLARK TON V 7 02:13:40
9 CHRIS JONES BAN VM 02:15:41
10 MALCOLM WILSON RDG V 8 02:25:22
11 Clive Baylis IND VM 02:32:42
12 Tom Westwater IND V 02:43:14
13 LOUIS VAN ZYL EXE V 02:46:36
DAVID GALLIMORE IND V ???
I was expecting to be over three hours. This took over 30 minutes of my previous PB and I was within 1 hour of the winning VK1 boat all be it 59 min 58secs. I will do a timing from the video to give myself a corrected time. Not to try and get my time changed just for my own reference.
How did I manage to take such a large amount of time off my PB? Easy, I got Paul Ralf (and Craig) to do some work on my technique. The lesson for everyone, look at yourself on video and get some critical analysis to see where you could improve.
I'm a very, very happy teddy bear! Many thanks to Paul, Craig and Remko.
Tom [I will put up video this week]
No Richard, therefore, it was either kidnap or opt for paddling K1. I opted for my K1
This morning I was in two minds as to paddle TS1. When we left Buckinghamshire this morning it was snowing. In Berkshire the weather got better but it was raining on and off. It was also cold in my book, I'm not sure how cold that means mortals find it
In the end I decided to paddle. Apart from yesterday, it was quite some time since I had paddled my Epsilon. Until Theale I was going OK but was having problems with some of the chop especially the back wash in narrow sections. I decided to move my seat back a click at Theale to keep my tail down and the rudder in the water- note to self; move the foot plate back if I move the seat back and don't do it during a race!
The portage at Fobney amazes me, why am I the only one to use the easy route?
At county I tried an early get in as an experiment to see what would happen. The current from the recirculation off the tow back was so great that I couldn't get any speed up and it just turned me around. Deciding that this was a bad idea I went for the normal put in. Unfortunately a ladies K1 capsized, therefore, getting her safe was far more important than any race. A mens K2 crew sorted out her boat and I got her out. This was her 5th swim of the day, she was cold, tired and had no support and was looking for her team mates or coach. They were nowhere to be seen. This was a good (or bad) example of someone in the wrong boat and the boat was in a poor condition (At the end we were going to speak sternly to her coach- there was no need for this she was more than capable herself!).
Overall I was pleased with my finish and overall race. I did comment that it was a personal best for me.
When we got back to Remko's he went on line to look at the times.
Without subtracting time for the rescue I was still shocked-
I was expecting to be over three hours. This took over 30 minutes of my previous PB and I was within 1 hour of the winning VK1 boat all be it 59 min 58secs. I will do a timing from the video to give myself a corrected time. Not to try and get my time changed just for my own reference.
How did I manage to take such a large amount of time off my PB? Easy, I got Paul Ralf (and Craig) to do some work on my technique. The lesson for everyone, look at yourself on video and get some critical analysis to see where you could improve.
I'm a very, very happy teddy bear! Many thanks to Paul, Craig and Remko.
Tom [I will put up video this week]
08 February 2010
Waterside A 2010
Sunday 7th February 2010
This was our first race together, it was also Richard's first ever kayak race.
It was overcast and at times a bit chilly.
There are a few issues we need to resolve:
This was our first race together, it was also Richard's first ever kayak race.
It was overcast and at times a bit chilly.
There are a few issues we need to resolve:
- Portages: Quicker, faster, slicker
- Synchronisation: staying together and me not changing the rhythm
- Better food preparation
- Trunk rotation, not arm power
- Paddles face all in the water
- Fix the rudder tracking
However, we finished, most people did today. The criticisms are negative they're constructive. We've been held back by everything being frozen or thundering too fast. All in all I was pleased with how much we achieved today. A big thank you to our support crew and cameraman. The video lets us see what needs improving.
We're now videoing in Full HD, if anyone can tell me how to upload either HQ or 1080p to YouTube please let me know.
Tom
04 February 2010
Hmmmmm, what will the weather be like in Devizes?
For those who like their finger on the pulse of the centre of our universe, they need look no further than our Blog! I have added a weather gadget, and I haven't told Tom! We shall see over the next few hours if he approves or not, but for now at least, this is the forecast for Devizes............................
Rich
Rich
01 February 2010
It is less than 2 months away....................
Hi, not been writing for a while, so it's about time I did something. This is also the first post of February 2010!!!
In the absence of any decent ice free canals or rivers not flowing at lightspeed, I have joined a gym to keep in shape. Fortunately I am fit from playing rugby so this is really to tackle those muscles I don't usually bother with. Things like stomach muscles and funny ones in your back and shoulders that all help to paddle a kayak. I am used to running and using arms to try and grab hold of my opposite number or pass the ball, so if you ask me using arms to propel me 125 miles is a silly idea, and I am surpised this race has actually caught on!
Tom is ill and so am I! Actually I think I am healthier than Tom at the moment, as he isn't far wrong with saying he has plague. I think Tom should think about putting this sticker on our boat to warn of pestilence!
Bye for now!
Rich
In the absence of any decent ice free canals or rivers not flowing at lightspeed, I have joined a gym to keep in shape. Fortunately I am fit from playing rugby so this is really to tackle those muscles I don't usually bother with. Things like stomach muscles and funny ones in your back and shoulders that all help to paddle a kayak. I am used to running and using arms to try and grab hold of my opposite number or pass the ball, so if you ask me using arms to propel me 125 miles is a silly idea, and I am surpised this race has actually caught on!
Tom is ill and so am I! Actually I think I am healthier than Tom at the moment, as he isn't far wrong with saying he has plague. I think Tom should think about putting this sticker on our boat to warn of pestilence!
Bye for now!
Rich
31 January 2010
60 days
There are 60 days until the start of the 4 day event of DW2010 and it's turning into a bit of an uphill struggle.
The train was 6 minutes late, but unlike UK trains ran with snow on the track
Today I flew back from Sweden, well actually Copenhagen, in Denmark. We were delayed by an hour and a half due to snow and frozen planes
I decided to take a detour on my way from Stansted to the West Country and have a look at the Kennet and Avon Canal.
There was still ice at the start line at Devizes Wharf on the canal.
Richard wasn't feeling 100%, our training support crew is ill and I've got bubonic plague, will be off work for a few days and it's a week until Waterside A.
I think vertical is a better description than uphill!
We will get there
Tom
30 January 2010
teamGT planning- Sweden
At the moment I'm in Eslöv in Sweden. At the moment, 23:30 (CET) it's -17C. That's quite cold.
This was a bit of my ice driving today in Sweden, in a Volvo if that wasn't predictable enough!
The reason I'm here is team planning with Martin. Martin is driving our support bus for the DW.
One of the main things I don't like when you paddle the DW is being smothered by too big a support team at every portage. It is a fine balance to get it right but so worth taking the time to plan it down right.
Well I fly back to the UK tomorrow and hopefully Richard and I will find some canals that aren't frozen
me driving in the snow, on ice in a Volvo
Tom
29 January 2010
Bouncy Casle
Is this the first blog entry from a bouncy castle? This is Martin (and Joeseph his youngest son) who is the support bus driver in Sweden.
Tom
20 January 2010
Spot
No not Spot the Dog,
Spot Satellite Messenger
The Swedish part of the support crew, not Agnetha from ABBA who's going to marry me and we're going to live in her Volvo palace- that's a palace made out of Volvos, but Martin our driver. However, the Spot wasn't just bought for the DW it was bought to Spot the Dog.
Well to be able to see where Amber goes on her mad runs to chase wild boar!
Amber dog
Spot is a live satellite tracking link which once activated sends messages to show where we are on our map page,the link is at the top right of the gadget bar
Tom
18 January 2010
Our first race...
Richard and I travelled to stay Saturday night in London to be close to the start of the Frank Luzmore race.
This morning at 07:34 we got a phone call from our support team, Remko. He informed us that he wouldn't be able to support us on the Frank Luzmore due to parking his car in a tree but assured us he wasn't hurt.
He said the recovery was coming to get the car, a mate was coming to pick him up and because we couldn't help to go and race.
We went to the modified start of the FL. The Thames had dropped but was still very fast. We weren't sure if the race would still go ahead. We then go the news that the water was 25cm above the rollers, I've taken a K2 down the main drop at the Nene so what's the problem with that?
We then got the news that the race was still on but was further modified. I was starting just above Richmond Canoe Club, up past Teddington to some bridge turn around and back to RCC (at warp speed). We went down to RCC where we further assessed the river. I decided that we were not racing, the negatives out weighed the positives and the magnitude of the consequences of a swim were far to large to accept.
We went to see how Remko was. He was OK so we took him to meet the recovery truck and said goodbye to one of the GT team cars.
We made the decision that we weren't travelling this distance and like last time not being able to paddle. We headed back to the Crofton Flight to do it and head to the Bruce Tunnel.
When we got there there was some ice still in the lock cut but a lot more liquid than last visit. So we paddled. We couldn't get much past the top of the flight because it was frozen. A narrowboater had broken the ice on the middle section we paddled up from the road bridge that afternoon. We thanked him for this.
We were a bit wobbly to start with and I couldn't see a good reason why? Because the section, as those of you who have paddled the Crofton Flight will know, was quite short I got out and had a look at Richard's seating position. Before we got back in we adjusted the seat to see if there was a difference. The difference was immeasurable. This meant we were able to concentrate on going forwards rather than worrying about our wobbles! The speed we have got the boat running at is good.
The next area to be looked at was the portages. These aren't Brian Greenham out of the boat before you've actually got to the portage speeds, they weren't graceful, they weren't particularly efficient but they were faster than we were doing previously.
Because this was such a good session I decided to add another variable- raising my seat by one notch. It felt a better paddling position but has changed the centre of wobblyness. It isn't going back down. The next challenge is getting Richard up to the second notch too!
So all in all from a day that started off on quite a bad foot where everything seemed to be going wrong it actually turned into our most productive session so far:
He said the recovery was coming to get the car, a mate was coming to pick him up and because we couldn't help to go and race.
We went to the modified start of the FL. The Thames had dropped but was still very fast. We weren't sure if the race would still go ahead. We then go the news that the water was 25cm above the rollers, I've taken a K2 down the main drop at the Nene so what's the problem with that?
We then got the news that the race was still on but was further modified. I was starting just above Richmond Canoe Club, up past Teddington to some bridge turn around and back to RCC (at warp speed). We went down to RCC where we further assessed the river. I decided that we were not racing, the negatives out weighed the positives and the magnitude of the consequences of a swim were far to large to accept.
We went to see how Remko was. He was OK so we took him to meet the recovery truck and said goodbye to one of the GT team cars.
We made the decision that we weren't travelling this distance and like last time not being able to paddle. We headed back to the Crofton Flight to do it and head to the Bruce Tunnel.
When we got there there was some ice still in the lock cut but a lot more liquid than last visit. So we paddled. We couldn't get much past the top of the flight because it was frozen. A narrowboater had broken the ice on the middle section we paddled up from the road bridge that afternoon. We thanked him for this.
We were a bit wobbly to start with and I couldn't see a good reason why? Because the section, as those of you who have paddled the Crofton Flight will know, was quite short I got out and had a look at Richard's seating position. Before we got back in we adjusted the seat to see if there was a difference. The difference was immeasurable. This meant we were able to concentrate on going forwards rather than worrying about our wobbles! The speed we have got the boat running at is good.
The next area to be looked at was the portages. These aren't Brian Greenham out of the boat before you've actually got to the portage speeds, they weren't graceful, they weren't particularly efficient but they were faster than we were doing previously.
Because this was such a good session I decided to add another variable- raising my seat by one notch. It felt a better paddling position but has changed the centre of wobblyness. It isn't going back down. The next challenge is getting Richard up to the second notch too!
So all in all from a day that started off on quite a bad foot where everything seemed to be going wrong it actually turned into our most productive session so far:
- We improved our portages
- We were running the fastest we ever have
- We had a positive chat with a narrowboater
- We had a positive meeting with some fisher people (they had a fisher woman with them) who caught a 6.8kg (15lb) pike and actually talked in a positive way with us- just check hell hasn't frozen over!
Let's hope that we have some more thawing before Waterside A
Tom
10 January 2010
Things can only get better
Apparently the weather's going to improve over the next week according to the BBC, the Met Office say otherwise.
As everyone will still be worrying about my Strat I've finished the surgery. It wasn't all good news, one of the machine heads is damaged but they're on tighter now so hopefully it'll hold tune better
I also cleaned up my plastic kayak to take it into the swimming pool. For hardcore racers a plastic kayak is less than 5.2/ 6.5m and isn't made of vac pac carbon Kevlar
Tom
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)