Aire Waves: Liffey Descent 2007

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Aire Waves

Leeds Canoe Club Blog. We paddle... lots!
Airewaves used to be Leeds Canoe Club's magazine letting people know what the club was upto. Its quite hard work pulling together a publication letting people know what the club is doing and publishing dates in advance is always hard as things tend to change. Step forth the blog.. Push button publishing for the masses. So here is the idea a few people in the club take it in turns to write up trips and talk about things in the club.

Friday, September 14, 2007
Liffey Descent 2007

This year's Liffey Descent kicked off at 3am Friday morning. Not a great start you'll agree, but still, one must sacrifice some beauty sleep for such adventures. Sleep in the car was an absolute necessity or, heaven forbid, you may affect your paddling (or more importantly partying) ability for the next day.

We made the ferry with plenty of time to spare, and the crossing was smooth. Some diehard drinkers (mentioning no names...Dave) took the opportunity for a first pint of Guinness, an early start to a weekend of drunken tomfoolery.

We arrived at the campsite to a display of masculinity, the guys showing off their footballing ability and their man boobs. Chris took the first opportunity to injure his paddling partner Nick by kicking the football into his head. We all laughed.

The afternoon featured a trip into Dublin, where the group took their first chance to lose Drew, leaving him behind in the outdoors shop. Alas, after a quick phone call the group were reunited and heading to the Ark for race registration and a bit of 'light' drinking. Several pints later and we set off to The Laurels for food, and more Guinness.

Saturday, the day of the race. The pre-race drink and Dutch courage was left at the campsite, and the pie shop was closed. The omens were bad. Some hopes were raised when inspecting Straffan. 'Oh it doesn't look too bad' I thought, 'even the fish ladder looks ok'. (Four eyes and I still can't see!)

After the walk to the start and the long paddle upstream, confidence was low and hopes were lower. What have I let myself in for? And to cap it all off, a closer inspection revealed that Straffan really was quite bad, and the fish ladder was certainly not the best option.

Straffan passed in a blur. If I had to give a blow-by-blow account it would probably go something like this:
Paddle! Panic! Where's the line?! Paddle! Squeal! Is this the line?! Oh well...Lean! Shriek! *Strong language* We're over! Swim!
But after a quick self-rescue we were on our way, noting that Mick and Steve, Jonathan and Jess, and Mr Henderson himself had also swam, which made us feel a bit better.

The Jungle, aptly named, was a test of quick wits and fast reactions, with a generous dollop of luck not going amiss. Two close calls, but no swims for us. However, the treacherous trees and man-eating tigers claimed Eddie and Andi. A few more weirs, but these were a piece of cake compared to the carnage that was Straffan.

After the Lake of Despair and the portage, nerves were truly setting in. The practice was over, the harder weirs were ahead, and everyone was mentally preparing for another swim. Many took the harder line down Lucan, taking the steep weir face sideways. Mick and Steve swam here. We took the chicken shoot, thinking of the boat, but still there was an ominous crunch. We would inspect the damage later.

The first of the V weirs, Wren's Nest looms ahead. With a meaty stopper and a huge standing wave all to be conquered, it claimed many of Leeds Canoe Club. Still, it was child's play in comparison to the wrath of Palmerstown. Some folks descended the main chute, just to be caught by the stoppers and took for a swim. Jonathan and Jess surfed the stoppers all the way down, a notable achievement, but unfortunately were so full of water that a wrongly timed lean 50 yards downstream resulted in a swim. Nick and Chris capsized, and Nick rolled up only to discover that he had lost his paddling partner to the mighty torrent. Us, we lasted not one second in the weir, and were quickly flipped onto the weir face, a jumble of flailing limbs and canoe.

I'll never forget the humiliation of Drew and I standing neck deep in the water at the bottom, scanning the river for James and the boat, whilst Steve and Dave, then Curly, Andy, Mick and Steve sailed past, grinning like Cheshire cats, all unscathed.
"Quick, turn around so they can't see us", I said to Drew, before noting that Drew's choice of headwear and my bright orange helmet meant anonymity was impossible.

After rejoining with James, we learnt the boat had suffered a severe blow and had a sizable hole under the back seat, most probably from Lucan. We were sinking fast, and had lost our bailer at Palmerstown. Things were not looking good. With the steep bank at either side of us and no place to empty, we used the back yard of some friendly Irish folk for a last minute empty before the next weir. They also supplied us with a new bailer, for which we are eternally grateful.

And so the race to the finish line began, with the water flooding into the boat as fast as I could bail it out. We arrived upright, with as much dignity as we could muster. Ok, so we were beaten by Curly and Andy, Mick and Steve, but Jonathan and Jess were nowhere to be seen, and came in at an embarrassing second to last on the results table. Our pride could be salvaged.

Top of the swims charts was Mr Henderson himself, with a mighty five out-of-boat experiences. Andy Hall had three swims, but it should be noted that Steve and Andy were in Wavehoppers, and it was a minor miracle in itself that the boats remained intact for the duration of the race.

Now for the party! Everyone kitted out in the Liffey t-shirts, we spent the first part of the night recruiting new members by selling our surplus stock. Leeds Canoe Club ruled the dance floor, with the moshpit claiming many a victim. Everyone it seemed wanted to be a part of Leeds Canoe Club, the master drinkers and master dancers!

All in all, the weekend can be summed up, in my opinion, by the comment of one rescue diver after seeing us in action at the party:

"Leeds Canoe Club may have had a few swimmers, but they certainly have more dancers!"

# posted by Sarah Dempsey @ Friday, September 14, 2007

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