Press Release

30th March 2008
Hasler Kicks Off with Slasher

The First Haslar event for the year was in Tonbridge on Sunday and the Medway was in spate.

Before the event started there was a paddler stuck up against the bridge support in the centre of Tonbridge and the event was delayed. Once he had escaped (he must have swum) the div 4, 5 and 6 K2s started off up the river with the central Island of tonbridge being circumnavigated in the unusual clockwise direction to improve safety.

In my last visit I noticed that the paddlers who spent the winter in the gym normally attempt to make a name for themselves in the first event of the year and the turnout is high. This leads to a mad panic on the start line. This year there were around nine in the Div 4 category and no higher divisions and all of us wanted the nearside bank to avoid the spated flow with the river being quite narrow.

The higher numbered divisions had to get off the start line and duck under a low bridge before managing the nasty two feet standing waves and the branches that were being flung down the river. One white pedestrian bridge had us all bending so low that we could smell the fear of over balancing. My new boat repair was clonked on the bow by at least three logs in the stream that were the width of my arm and five foot in length. Eventually having managed two long laps I overtook the K2 whose wash I had sat on for the last lap and overtook them at the portage. Only then to take a bash on my rudder and loose any left turn and be overtaken again. However I was in fifth position at the finish and pulled out to avoid any demontion points.

Speaking of D points one helpful marshall decided to shout to everyone in the race to turn at the low bridge and only the first five did the complete course. Whilst the guys who completed the course were the winners the ones who turned early had their times entered into the results spreadsheet and received a unusually fast time. At one stage everyone in the race had been demoted except the first cheater who was promoted. Eventually the race organiser told us all to igonore the Promotion / Demotion points. Moral of the story is that you cannot alter the course after the race briefing and to ignore any incorrect marshal calls. Then only the M25 to cope with.

So an eventful start to the year and having survived Tonbridge I am pleased to report that my balance system is well and truly switched on - the Thames was easy last night in comparison.

Next race is Norwich on Apr 13 and I will gladly car share.

Slasher Preston