Notes of Meeting of SW Team - 18th Jan, 2002
SW Region AGM Chairmans Report - 23rd November 2001
Paddlesport Development Officer Report
Paddling in the Antarctic - Paul Mayne
River Severn, Going with the Flow
These awards were established to recognise the work, time and effort of people who have voluntarily given help to others to go canoeing over a number of years at a local/club level. The award aims on behalf of the BCU and the wider canoeing community to go some way towards saying thank you for the enormous value of work volunteers do to make canoeing happen across the U,K, They are special in that the very people who have been helped are those who have made the nominations. The award takes the form of a specially designed certificate and inclusion in the BCU Role of Honour for volunteers held at the BCU offices. A presentation for those in the SW Region who were awarded the BCU Millenium Paddler Award was held at the Regional AGM on the 23rd November last when David Green, Chairman of the BCU Marathon Committee and a very well known figure in the region, presented the awards. Those in the SW Region to whom the awards were made were:
|
Malcolm Acreman |
Mollie Green David Green Brian Greenaway Alan Hale Andrew Hawker Jim Hayward Richard Hobba Keith Hoskin Ian Johnson Peter Lacey |
Doug Manning Bill Mattos Delie Perry Rosemary Purkis Alastair Randall Richard Scullard David Seward Christopher Tudor Richard Ward John Westlake |
It was in 1981 that Adam attended his first SW region AGM representing Exeter University CC. of which he was an active member working towards coaching qualifications. After gaining a post in the Geography department at the Queen Elizabeth School, Crediton where he has achieved Head of Geography Department as well as being teacher/governor, he also formed a canoe club which is now open to present and former pupils. From 1983 to 1987 Adam served the region as Treasurer and in 1986 took on the roles of Access Officer for the R. Exe and Regional Access Officer for Devon and Cornwall, posts to which he still gives his time. His work on the Dart deserves special commendation, together with Icarus and Fiona Edmonds a system has been achieved that controls what could have been chaos on the water and raises money which has been used to purchase two areas of river bank for the region. Adam is now a well known and respected voice for canoeing to riparian owners, management committees and government bodies and his input and sound advice is welcomed.
Parts of the country rise and fall several inches every day, ie parts of Cornwall by 4 inches. The country sinks as the weight of water increases on the Continental Shelf and rebounds as the tide recedes. From a recent newspaper report satellite technology is to used in a project by scientists to produce the first accurate map to forecast this movement in any part of Britain. The project should help to ensure that engineering works such as dams, bridges and tunnels meet in the middle of valleys or hillsides.
The tree sparrow once a common sight in hedgerows is in danger of becoming extinct in many parts of Britain. Their number has fallen by 90% since 1970 and there are only 50,000 pairs left Officials at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds have appointed the country's first recovery officer to ensure that they do not vanish altogether. In the past 20 years the number of pairs has declined from a million because of disappearing hedgerows, changes in farming and increased use of pesticides that kill the insects sparrow chicks need to develop. An RSPB spokesman said "The problem is that they restrict themselves to set sites and do not colonise other areas". Farmers will be asked to set aside areas for nesting, conservation and for insects to thrive. Winter food will also be provided by conservationists. The RSPB is lobbying the European Union for more agri-environment subsidies.
The Tamar Canoe Association has been awarded £500.00 by the Saltash Partnership towards new kayaking equipment for young people. This award will allow them to continue to offer young people in the local community the opportunity to take up kayaking and Canadian canoeing and enhance their paddling experience. Club nights, meeting every Thursday evening, start at 6.30.pm. at Brunel Green on the waterside at Saltash. People of all ages are welcome to take part in this exciting and fun sport. All ability ranges are welcome. Coaching and assessment sessions are available for those who wish to improve their skills and undertake BCU star tests. The summer programme includes weekend trips to various estuaries and sea paddles. The winter programme includes negotiating local white water rivers including the Tamar, Lynher and Dart.
Further information from The Club Secretary Tel: 01579 363 179
AXE VALE CANOE CLUB has won praise from Lottery officials for the way it has made good use of grant money.
The Club has just undergone monitoring by consultants of Sport England who have praised them as an example of 'best practice and for providing a fine example of work with young people'
All organisations who have been awarded more than £25,000 from the Lottery have to undergo a follow up inspection. Axe Vale had benefitted to the tune of £25,600 and the money has done wonders for the thriving Club which goes from strength to strength.
The Club started 15 years ago, born out of Axe Valley Youth Canoe Group which had started some 5 years earlier. Peter Lacey, the organiser at that time, was left with youngsters he had trained with nowhere to go. He called a public meeting and the Club was formed.
The Club is now so popular that there is a waiting list for beginners wanting training. Anyone wanting to join should get their name on the list now!.
Geoff Hunt, Peter Lacey and Bob Ottley, long serving members of the Club, spent many hours with the Lottery consultants. A letter received from Sport England highlighted the time and effort they had all put in and made all their hard work worthwhile
" The Club has witnessed an avalanche of activity, culminating in an
increase in Membership, Coaching programmes and usage across the age ranges.
The Club has also been highlighted as an example of best practice for providing
a fine example of work with young people and a well developed community
ethos.
I wish all those involved in the Club every success with future
endeavours and on behalf of English Sports Council would like to congratulate
you for bringing such a worthwhile development to fruition and for providing
valuable sporting opportunity for the local community"
Geoff Hunt. July 2001
Election of Officers:
(a) was persuaded to be Chair on condition he
could share the post with (b) - it was decided that a sofa was better than two
chairs and so (a) and (b) are now the official Club Sofa!”.
23/24th September, 2000
At the end of September Langham Farm was the venue of the national canoe slalom. This event attracted paddlers from all over the south west. A beautiful day packed with excitement and good paddling. Paddlers representing Bristol C.C.; Frome C.C.; Salisbury C.C.; South Avon C.C. and Thameswey C.C. all gave great performances.
The first 12 to be announced earlier this year included CORNWALL and the ISLES OF SCILLY.
This Government initiative being carried through by SPORT ENGLAND aims to create an effective and sustainable sporting infrastructure in areas of high social and economic deprivation, with special assistance and resources to ensure a better participation in sport. A Zone Manager is being appointed.
We need to focus in on the chance to benefit canoeing.
Contact Sport
England South West Tel: 01460 270406
A number of local concerns have joined forces in a venture to build a fishpass at Otterton Weir to help the salmon and sea trout swim upstream. This weir has barred them to the higher reaches of the river for many years. (Courtesy E.A.).
The Environment Agency’s new fisheries patrol boat “Nemesis” is now on duty in the Devon estuaries and along the coast from Plymouth to Portland. It has a wide range of hi-tec equipment and will help stamp out poaching and protect valuable fish stocks. It will also help with water quality and tidal waters investigations as well as joint enforcement with M.A.F.F., H.M. Customs and the Police. (Courtesy E.A.).
Southern England is sinking by 6mm per year. At the same time the climate change has meant that, over the past 10 years, during storms, the height of the sea tide has risen by up to 1 metre. (Courtesy E.A.).
The Environment Agency’s £12.7m scheme has been completed. It protects more than 100 houses and businesses, 2000 chalets and 300 caravans from tidal flooding of the Bristol Channel. (Courtesy E.A.).
One hundred and twenty Father Christmases and elves from fifteen countries are meeting now to discuss whether they have any role to play in the third millenium. At the thirty seventh congress near Copenhagen, Denmark they are asking if children still believe in them or if next Christmas, which ends the second millenium, will be their last. The elves say that Father Christmases should shed their beards and lose weight and that their own pointed shoes should be replaced with roller skates. But the proposals will be resisted by those who want to keep their traditional appearance.
June 6th 2000.
79, Atlantic Way, Westward Ho!, Devon, EX39 1JG.
On behalf of Bideford Canoe Club I would like to thank the Open Canoe Association, and Bob Ottley in particular, for thinking of us when disposing of Keith Thomson’s canoeing equipment. His Pyranha kayak is a welcome addition to our kayaking “fleet” and will most certainly be put to good use throughout the year. It will be a poignant reminder, to those of us who knew Keith, of a much respected friend and colleague. Although gone, he will not be forgotten.
Sincerely - Sue Ambler Treasurer, Bideford Canoe Club.
The B.C.U. had a meeting with the Under Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, Chris Mullen, M.P. in March when we put to him our concerns about the small amount of legal access to water for canoeists and the difficulties of obtaining more by Voluntary Agreement. The Minister, the Rt. Hon. Michael Meacher MP, subsequently made a statement, as Ministers do, part of which I quote:
“We are considering the conclusions of that meeting, but the general feeling of all present was that there were not enough hard facts on the availability of waterways, the scope for new access and the scale and nature of unmet demand”.
WE NEED FACTS
PLEASE SEND DETAILS TO:
B.C.U. Development Department, Adbolton Lane, West Bridgford,
Nottingham, NG2 5AS.
e-mail: development@bcu.org.uk
WE HAVE THE EAR OF GOVERNMENT WE MUST NOT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY
John Westlake July 2000.
Nearly 15% of Cornwall's heathland has been destroyed by fire this year. 125 acres of the national nature reserve on Goss Moor, four square miles at Kynance Cove on the Lizard peninsula and a similar area at Zennor.
These fires have caused huge environmental damage, killing birds, reptiles, insects and butterflies and destroying habitats which conservationists fear could take more than a decade to recover and the species return.
The damage is a big setback to the re-creation of 1800 acres of heath on former clay pits. It was to be the largest regeneration project of its kind in Europe.
Access to 14 miles on the HUNTSPILL RIVER AND KING'S SEDGEMOOR DRAIN
From 15th March to 15th June 2000
For details and a Licence - £3. 00.
John or Veronica Westlake. Tel/Fax: 01452 531218. 33, Golden Vale, Churchdown, Gloucester, GL3 2LU.
The Association of Cornish Competitive Paddlers has put in for a Millenium Award to help cover some of the costs of the Interceltic 2000. If this fails we will be hoping to purchase racing sea kayaks for the Cornish Team. Please contact Roger Thomas (01872 276 840) if you have any requests for next years bid.
A way of saying "thank you" to those whose dedication or selflessness helps to make canoeing better than it would otherwise be. If there is someone out there who is worthy your Regional Team would be pleased to receive a nomination. As guidance an award can be made for:
Competitive success will not normally be a basis as such success offers its own recompense
NOMINATIONS SHOULD BE SENT TO: DENNIS WALLS OR JOHN WESTLAKE.
There have been three canoeing successes for grants from the "Millenium Awards for All" scheme.
CONGRATULATIONS
Mike Twiggs gave a presentation at our A.G.M. on the E.C.A. and English Clubs development:
He stressed the need to make use of the channels of communication. The Region has representatives on the National Committees. It is for the Clubs and paddlers to make these representatives aware of their ideas and their worries. This two way traffic is vital if canoeing is to have a strong voice in todays society.
Mike left us with a keyword - P people E english structure O organisation for the new millenium - E.C.A. P partnerships L listening E excitement and fun.
Dorset Coaching Panel are planning a wide variety of courses. For up to date information please contact the Local Coaching Organiser: Nigel Tuffley at Wareham Youth Centre, Worgret Road, Wareham, BH20 4PH. Tel: 01929 552934
Garden Centres are being asked by the Environment Agency to stop selling plants which are causing problems in rivers canals, lakes and ponds in the South West. Of particular concern are:
These are non-native and, with no natural controls to stop their spread, they form dense floating carpets deoxygenating the water and killing fish and invertibrates. The E.A. are trying to add Australian Swamp Stonecrop and Parrot's Feather to the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) to make it an offence to plant or grow these species.