Sunday DECEMBER 17th 2006 (not November as previously advised)

10:30 Chiswick Mall, Chiswick, London

This will be a SEA KAYAK and SURF SKI race through the heart of London passing Fulham FC, Battersea Power Station, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Bridge( where some of you stop at once a year) Millenium Wheel, Tate Modern, Tower Bridge and turn around to battle it out for the top 3 places and your prizes. To make things more exciting we can battle it out with the mad cruiser captains with their 150ft ships and their bow waves, all the debris, currents and distractions. Not forgetting the anti-terrorist police in their RHIBs by Mr Blairs works. Meet time 10:30Safety This course is a tidal waterway and conditions can get very choppy therefore all competitors must wear a suitable bouyancy aid inc surf racing skis. There are certain navigational rules that must be followed, I will explain during the pre-race breif. No bouyancy aid no race/time. It would be a good idea if you are at least BCU 3 star level.

Organiser/ Contact details Nigel Hatton 07933 133687 Please after 6 pm email nigelseakayak@fsmail.netwww.ukseakayakracing.co.uk

Race Briefing 11:30 Entry fee £6 per boat. All competitors need to show their BCU cards/numbers. Non BCU members will pay an additional £2. Good on-site parking Friday 15th I need to have confirmed at least 10 paddlers otherwise the race will not go ahead. I must be notified by email or text your name and confirmation that you intend to paddle.

...very well is the answer with 138 competitors, including 71 paddlers from the club, in 119 boats turning out in somewhat damp conditions for the race. A Brilliant turnout with everyone getting round, being fed and going home happy. Richmond taking the maximum 10 Hasler points

Big thanks to all the helpers for making the day (Sunday) successful;

- Frances, Kim, Colin, Nettie et. al. on Registration & results

- Trevor on starting gun, briefing and "voice" projection

- Galley slaves led by Sarah J

- Tim K on Ingress-Egress managment

- Finish line "eagle eyes" Adele, Isobel Liz and Richard

- Iveta: PHOTOS OF THE RACE

- Running around looking stressed....me

A big thank you to all our visitors, hope you all had good races.. YOUR RESULTS ARE HERE

Well done to everyone who made the trip out to Windsor - full results are now in.

Well done to the 16 Richmond Committed Paddlers that made it out to Pangbourne. Sunny day, as it always is out there. Very busy with 375 paddlers on the water and decent fields in every race.

Results were:
Div 2 - Henry H [7], Daan du Toit [10], Richard H [12], Brendan Stead [14], 16 entries
Div 4 - Paul Wells [4], Netty [13], 16 entries
Div 5 - Graham S [6], Mike Piggot [13], 19 entries
Div 6 - Chris H [2], Ian Hague [8], 14 entries
K2 5/6 - PB / Ross Smith [9], 10 entries
K2 7/8 - Trevor W / Vicky Keswick [16], Kim W / Lauren Yerby [22], 13 entries

And thanks to Chris H for fowarding the results.

This year's draw off will start at approximately 0440 on Sunday 29th October 2006 and will complete at approximately 0742 on Sunday 26th November 2006.

Details of the Avon Descent are now in and available on Paddlepoint http://www.richmondcanoeclub.com/version2.0/paddlePoint/2006/ppoint2006Nov.html . Old timers will rejoice at the prospect of icey waters and long car journeys. First times might want to seek advice.

A Bronze Age canoe discovered during work on a gas pipeline made its first journey for more than 3,000 years yesterday when it was moved from west Wales to Newport for restoration. Stonehenge was in its infancy when the one-tonne artefact, formed from a single trunk of oak and believed to be a dug-out canoe - but which may possibly be a cooking trough - last saw the light of day.It was spotted by an archaeologist monitoring construction work on a National Grid gas pipeline between Milford Haven and Aberdulais.

Surveys had identified the area near Milford Haven as a likely site for Bronze Age activity. The artefact was lifted in a custom-built crate on to a lorry for the journey to Newport, where it was submerged in a tank of water to protect the ancient wood from the ravages of oxygen. Neil Fairburn, a National Grid archaeologist, said he hoped that the canoe would be exhibited near Milford. "It is an awesome find," he said. Apparently it's now being repaired by Peter Barnes.

By popular demand the tour season is being extended with the next trip planned for Sunday 5th November. As the days are getting shorter and temperatures are dropping we will be going more local. This trip will be explore the River Wey and the Wey Navigation. Start and finish times at the Club will need to be confirmed but we recognise some people may have been indulging at firework parties the evening before, or may want to get home to light the blue touch paper on the Sunday evening. If you want to go on this trip please email Jim Mullany jim.mullany@rbkc.gov.uk . Get your booking in early as we were almost oversubscribed for the last one.

Richmond put on a right local welcome to the current Olympic and European Champions Tim Wieskotter, Ronald Rauhe, Caroline Kratochwil and Katrin Wagner-Augustin for a weekend of friendly competition. Shunning the sheer flat water of Athenian competition the German paddlers from Potsdam teamed up with club senior, junior and K4 teams to create fairer competition on the Thames.Good fun, very chic presentation and plenty of refreshments as part of the Brandenburg - Just My Cup of Tea http://www.german-embassy.org.uk/tea_parties.html cultural programme and celebrations.Well done to all for making it happen. Pictures from Neil.

http://www.richmondcanoeclub.com/version2.0/media/2006/potsdam/ Next time we must get the invites out to the vicar in time.Potsdam CC and Brandenburg Pop Over for a Cup of Tea 30 September 2006Welcome to the paddlers of Potsdam Canoe Club who will be enjoying some friendly competition at Richmond with out lot. Looks like we've got some typical English weather lined up!The visit to the club is part of a wider programme called Brandenburg - Just My Cup of Tea. More details at German Embassy website. http://www.german-embassy.org.uk/tea_parties.html