RACE REPORT: - RUNCORN: - 18\04\2004
Runcorn Canoe Club hosted the fifth race of the Hasler season. This marks the halfway stage of the season and the League tables are beginning to take shape with MADCC firmly placed at the top of both. The River Weaver is wide and deep at this point and the races are of a simple out and return basis. There was a slight breeze on the day, which caused a few choppy sections where the wind was funnelled down, or across, the river. Twenty MADCC members made the trip to Runcorn with just three doubles and fourteen singles racing.
As always the longer distance paddlers set off first, so first away was Robin in a combined Div. 2, 3 & 4 K1 race. Robin is MADCC’s highest ranked regular racer and always gives 100% effort; unfortunately he doesn’t always get the rewards he deserves! Today was one of his better days and his determination was rewarded with a silver medal. Div. 5 K1 went next with two entries from MADCC. Neil is finally getting used to his new boat, with only minor stability problems, and claimed a much-deserved 3rd place. Chris has only recently started paddling again after a shoulder injury and did very well to take 6th place. Simon’s long overdue return to singles racing was marked with a surprise result in Div. 6 K1 when he led the race for the full eight miles and claimed MADCC’s first gold medal of the day! About time too!!
The four-mile races got underway with a combined Div. 5\6 & 7\8 K2 race. Adrian and John had completed the 125 mile DW race the week before, and despite still being tired and sore overcame the time penalty to secure a well deserved victory, very well done you two! Kerrian and Tom found the pace too fast and had to settle for 4th place with Katherine and Michelle just behind in 5th place. Div. 7 K1 had the largest entry of the day with ten boats lined up on the start line (at least the Weaver is wide enough for ten boats). Mark is getting stronger by the week and took 2nd place, with a slightly wobbly Andrew in 4th spot. Mike was chasing hard but had to settle for 5th place with Paul following him in 6th place. MADCC couldn’t fail in Div. 8 K1 with all three boats from our club! Sarah, despite having an off day, claimed yet another gold medal for us! Pat followed her home for 2nd place with Kris, cold and wet after a slight mishap resulted in a dip, taking the bronze medal.
It was Neil’s birthday so he celebrated in style by winning Div. 9 K1! Well-done Neil. Mark fought hard all the way, but had to settle for 2nd place. Karen finished in 7th place securing valuable points for the club.
It proved to be another good day out for MADCC with plenty of members picking up trophies at the end of a successful day. A full score in the Hasler League and top score for “ Points and Posteriors” keeps MADCC at the top and on course to finish champions of the North West for another season. The standard of paddling at MADCC is still improving, as the number of medals and promotions proves. As we start training on a Monday night soon, and the implementation of a training programme combined with a level 2 competition coach training course in May, this trend looks set to continue. Keep up the hard work and lets see if we can topple Chester at their own race next month!