We've got a couple of free Beginners' Kayaking session for juniors in years 7 to 11 taking place on 1 June as part of the Celebrate Sport with London 2012 day. For details of the Richmond Canoe Club programme click here.

If you're a club member and can help out on the day, contact Peter Barnes or Peter Hutchison.

Celebrate Sport with London 2012 is a London wide programme linking the London 2012 Back the Bid campaign with every day sport. There are hundreds of activities being offered free of charge across the capital for people to try out new sports, or just to support the bid. If we get the 2012 Games, sport and leisure facilities in London and the UK will improve. Back the Bid if you haven't already.

Good show by Richmond at the Reading Circuits over the weekend. Piran Shelley took 1st place with Ollie Sims coming in 3rd in Division 3. Simon Bullimore crossed the line 1st in Division 5 with Kathryn Hall putting in a good performance. Jack and Ben Killip came 1st and 4th in the junior fun race, with other teams representing the club in the doubles division 5/6 and division 7/8. Results here.

Racing this weekend at Reading CC with the Reading Circuit Race. Ask at the Club if you're looking for a lift, or drop us a note. Details

Think of it as good preparation for later in the year when we start qualification for the Hasler 2006 finals.

Many congratulations to Tim Joiner on becoming Lord Mayor of Westminster.

In what is set to a busy year Tim will be attending official events as the first citizen of Westminster, as well as community leader and ambassador of the city.

Reading About the current Lord Mayor, it's difficult to imagine this man finds time to sleep. What's more, he sorted out The Shed too - OK, lots of others helped as well, but we'll gloss over the details. More details from the Westminster website here. And a recent Q&A interview with Tim here.

Our job, later in the year, will be to get him down the Great River Race course as quickly as possible.

DW produces aches. Post DW Bash produces hangovers. Big thanks to Rox for arranging another great bash down The Naked Turtle. Anyone got any pictures? Send them through if you have.

Almost makes entering the race worthwhile.

If you're looking to race this weekend, it's the Hastings & District Canoe Club marathon on Sunday 22nd May.

You don't have to go all the way down to Hastings - it's at Tonbridge Canoe Club. Details

On Saturday 21 May it is the Twickenham Regatta.

Please take great care when paddling and try and stay out of the way - the boats are racing after all. Could all coaches make sure groups are briefed to stay well out of the way.

Races are scheduled to start at 8.20 finishing shortly after 1915 in the evening. Races start at the Car Park (Orleans Gardens) finishing downstream of Glovers Island. Bear in mind there will be warming up and warming down going on outside of the racing times and course.

RCC are invited to the post-regatta party starting at 8pm at Twickenham Rowing Club on Eel Pie Island. Good to get a bit of cross-polinisation - or the aquatic equivalent - between clubs as we share the same bit of water.

More information on the regatta here.

Good Richmond turn out last weekend on Basingstoke Canal for a packed day's paddling. Tim, Ollie and Piran battled for 4th, 5th and 6th in Division 3, while Giles put in a good Div 4 showing. Lizzie just missed a top 3 finish in Div 5, with James putting in all the effort in Div 9.

Award for support and effort goes to Alison "Baby Spice" Martin who kindly helped her ageing old man to a podium finish in the Div 7/8 K2s.

Full results for divisions with participating club member here.

On Friday 13th an email crept round.

Simply stating, "The Clubhouse - she's ours. Welcome to our Club."

Contracts were signed on Wednesday 11th and now we can celebrate. A collective sigh of relief, a huge thanks to the Fab 3 - Sean, Tim and Tony - who shouldered the negotiating responsibilities and to all in the club for working towards securing the future of our club.

A chance to reflect on the past, present and future.

Major fundraising efforts coming your way.

Mix of pictures from Dylan and Nicola. Details.

Devizes Westminster prize giving. Among the guests of honour is the Lord Mayor of Westminster. Canoeing demonstrations and events also organised. Details.

Starts: 2.30, Saturday 21st May 2005
Venue: Wokingham Canoe Club

Dreadnought Reach at the foot of the A329, exit 10 from the M4. Location.

Hello All,

I hope everyone is well, life has been manic over here with our new baby and my hectic job but I am pleased to advise that Lisa, Cassidy and I are getting on a plane tomorrow night (13/05/05) and coming over to the UK for a two week holiday. It was originally only going to be me but we decided that coming over as a family was the best way to go - so we'll be winging our way across the world tomorrow night! :)

We are going to call into the club (so to speak) next Saturday (21/05/05) at around 10.00am for an hour or so - hope to see as many of you as possible - and Cassidy wants to have a paddle too! :)

Suggestions from the Macclesfield and District Canoe Club if you're looking for something to do on the 25th and 26th June.

I see from your web site that some of you will be celebrating your DW successes. Now the injuries, aches and pains are (nearly) a distant memory, perhaps some of you would like another challenge. The Cheshire Ring Race (a mere 96 miles) is at the end of June. This can be done in singles or doubles, "all the way" or as relay teams. On the face of it, this should be a lot easier than the DW, but the proportion of "all the way" paddlers that finish is actually lower (about 55%). The current records could also take a pasting from some of the faster DW crews. The relay format is particularly good for encouraging juniors.

Any takers? Website - Details

The River Thames Society has made a complaint to the EU, following on from the heavy rains in August 2004 which led to almost 5 million tonnes of raw sewage being released into the Thames. Full details of the story here.

Congratulations to Francisco and friends in the Cotswold Polar team who made it to the magnetic north pole on 7 May. Details.

A few club members have supported Alison's brother Richard Staite who is currently climbing Everest. He recently won the Everest Pub Quiz Game - I kid you not. Details. What's wrong with the Rose of York.

Francisco Baratta's participation in the Scott Dunn Polar Challenge continues - and he had his birthday on 2 May. Today, Day 12, apparently there are some big, white bears around. And it looks like expedition madness is seeping into the reports. Three days from the finish in the 320-mile race across the Arctic to the 1996 location of the magnetic pole which started on 23 April.

You can follow the race and Francisco's team (Cotswold Polar) progress at www.polar-challenge.com/race/active.asp

Easter may have been a while back, but Devizes Westminster paddlers and support crews still have the lingering aches and pains.

What better way to celebrate than with fine food, wine and company.

Post DW Bash on 19th May, Naked Turtle (East Sheen), £15 per person for a 3 course meal.

Please let Rox know if you are interested - it's open to everyone.

Tired with being told you have a great face for radio? Looking for your big break on the small screen?

Richmond CC has been approached by a Japanese TV production company looking to provide bite-sized programmes providing insight into cultural life in London, New York and Tokyo.

They're looking for people with interesting jobs and appealing activities and hobbies. If the idea floats your boat, the outline brief and questionnaire can be downloaded here. Production Overview - Questionnaire. The application needs to be returned by 12 May.

If you fancy giving it a shot, good luck. It looks like it'll be fun and 's a great opportunity to get exposure for the club. We have a wealth of media types at the club who can provide advice and support if required.