Despite spending thousands on marketing research, Spormart's rebranding fails to bring in the punters.

Peter Barnes is organising another Trip of a Lifetime for Sunday 4th June, meeting at the club at 10am. The paddle is from Putney Bridge to Tower Bridge and back - a great chance to see the underside all the famous bridges and gain a new perspective on Big Ben and the Tower of London. If you would like to attend please email Jim or speak to Peter who will be finalising the list and arranging boats on Saturday morning. So if you are at the club, make a point of speaking to him about the arrangements. And for the trip, it's definitely worth bringing sandwiches, drinks, a bit of money, a hat and extra clothing.

Pictures up... and the results.

If you've ever wanted to try White Water paddling, there's a London and South East training session up at Nottingham (Holme Pierrepont) on 6th August.

More details... blub, glug, gasp.

Hot off the press, packed with must-read news, it's the May Hasler Newsletter. Read it and rejoice.

Long time club member and musician Alex Mitchell, with Jeremy Limb on piano, is holding a saxophone recital for an evening of American, British and French music including works by Paul Creston, Ned Rorem, Jean Françaix and the world premiere of 'Rhapsody' by Tony Davis. There will be a retiring collection for the Richmond Canoe Club refurbishment fund.

When: 7.30pm, Friday 23rd June 2006

Where: Wathen Hall, St. Paul's School, Lonsdale Road, Barnes, London SW13 9JT

How much?£10 / £8 (concessions)

For booking information call: 020 8746 5338. Tickets also available on the door.

Not only are the new club t-shirts very attractive and contributing to the clubhouse fund, they're also essential attire for the Hasler Finals and Nationals.

See Trevor for your figure hugging Club shirt.

For those who have taken part, you can look at our current Hasler Qualification Status - apparently this is the new 'easy read' format. Makes you wonder what it was like before. If you have any queries or spot any errors, contact Adrian (Racing Secretary).

The next RCC Touring Group paddle will be Sunday 21st May. It will be a paddle of about 12 miles from Walton-on-Thames (or Elmbridge) to Staines Bridge for lunch and a drink at the riverside Swan Hotel. The return trip may be varied by a possible diversion along Abbey River, if there is enough water, and we think we can get the K2s down it!

We will be gathering at the club at 8.30am on Sunday to load boats etc and aim to reach Walton/Elmbridge by 10am. If you are interested please contact Jim Mullany, Steve Ogin or Peter Barnes as soon as possible.

Future trips are planned on 25th June (probably to Chichester Harbour), 30th July, 20th August and 24th September.

News Latest:

Tim goes bonkers - drives tractor through top London Hotel.

Details.

For those heading over to Dublin for the Liffey Descent later in the year, the date is now 9th September. You may recall the date was uncertain as the Ryder Cup is taking place at the The K Club, Straffan, with one of the water hazards being the Liffey. Fore! See Paddle Point for details.

Gary Coulton - often seen it what looks like an one-piece leather cag on Saturday mornings - has come up with the wonderfully hair-brained idea of celebrating a rash of milestone birthdays by paddling from Letchlade near the source of the Thames to the Club.

More of a long distance cruise, than racing, but sure to be a great experience, you have plenty of time with the trip proposed for 2007. It needs a bit of planning.

More details here, and sign up if you're interested on the Club notice board.

The Times had a piece about the canoeist's campaign promoting the "right to float" in line with the rambler's "right to roam".

We get life pretty easy at Richmond with out stretch of the tidal Thames, but it's worth reflecting on the obstacles paddlers face in other parts of the country.

Read the article, then have your say.

A Magician K2 by Marsport has recently gone missing from Newbury CC, presumably stolen after a forced entry into their boat store via the roof.

The boat has a red deck, kevlar hull, green seam. Handles, understern rudder. Big chip on nose. Probably fitted with carbon-kevlar seats. Some cracks on hull with two patches of clear waterproof selotape.

If you see this boat or hear of it being offered for sale please contact James Treadgold - details at the bottom of the weblink.

Thanks.