RACE REPORT: - CHESTER FARNDON: - 14\09\2003

It was a typical September day, slightly overcast, a little bit windy and with a chill in the air as nineteen MADCC members headed off towards Chester for the last Hasler race of the year in the North West region. As the Hasler Finals were the following weekend, paddlers were tending to compete in the same category over the same distance as they will be at the Finals. Once again the team was split nicely with nine singles and five doubles. The course followed its usual four-mile loop on the River Dee, with a portage each time round for everyone above division six.

First away for MADCC was Neil in his new division following promotion at Adlington. It starts to get very hard when you get to Div.5 K1 and Neil did very well in his first race finishing 7^th and scoring points for the club. Div. 5\6 K2 went next and MADCC had two entries. John and Adrian worked very hard to claim 4^th place in a very fast race, well done. Michelle was forced into entering the eight-mile race so her partner Simon could practice the longer distance, that was the theory! In practice the pace of the first four miles took it’s toll and Simon’s cold couldn’t cope with the strain of it all, forcing them to retire on health grounds.

The two MADCC entries in Div.7 K1 had quite a good day with Mike working very hard to take 3^rd place, and MADCC’s only medal of the day! Paul finished just behind him in 4^th spot. Div. 7\8 K2 proved to be a very fast race indeed and the three boats from MADCC had to work really hard to maintain their positions. Nicholas and Douggie were working well together and claimed 4^th place. Father and daughter Millest (Andrew and Sarah) took 5^th spot with Kerrian and Margaret just behind in 6^th place. MADCC had two entries in Div.8 K1. Chris pushed himself into 5^th place with Pat coming home in 7^th. MADCC made up a third of the entry for Div.9 K1 with Kris doing very well to take 6^th place. Karen wasn’t far behind in 9^th spot while Kevin claimed 11^th place. Neil’s wrists suffered from the wrong choice of paddle and he was content just to finish!

At the presentation all the medals seemed to be going to Chester, and it looked like it wasn’t to be our day at all. Once the full results were published though, the whole picture was revealed and MADCC’s policy of always fielding a full team of doubles and singles payed off once again, with MADCC taking top place in both the Hasler table and “Points and Posteriors” again! To take the points away from the host club, especially at Chester, is a great achievement, and all those who took part did a really great job, thank you very much! It was a great way to finish the year, but means we have a lot to live up to next year!