...are not controlled by the Reading and District Anglers Association (RDAA). But sadly, nobody seems to have told them!
Whilst this blog is not primarily focused on the Kennet and Avon Canal (other than the short sections where it interacts with the River Kennet above the start of the Kennet Navigation in Newbury), and although I'm not especially interested in competitive flat water racing, the monthly online RDAA Information Sheet, which includes the General Secretary's omniscient February Report, was published today, and it contains a short passage which provides a vivid insight into the thinking of some of the river users.
"CANOE RACE
1. "400 to 600 canoes"? That should have the organisers, Newbury Canoe Club, worried, as, if I've counted correctly, the list of pre-entered participating crews (no entries on the day for this particular race) numbers 303 canoes and kayaks of various classes. Hopefully the number will be higher next year, as, with competitors and their support crews arriving from as far afield as Fowey and Exeter, Worcester, Nottingham and Norwich, it brings valuable income to the local economy at a lean time of the year.
2. "This was not passed on to us and I only found out from the Thatcham Angling Shop." Perhaps greater willingness to build communications and understanding with other waterways users might help to resolve this - there's not that many canoe clubs running larger scale races on the Kennet. There is no obligation to advise RDAA or any other angling clubs of race events, although they could just look at the Waterside Series website, where the dates of future races (and we're only talking about four events per annum) are published more than a year in advance. The Waterside series has been run (with a cancellation in 2001, and occasional date changes due to weather conditions) during approximately the same period of the year since 1999, so it should hardly be a surprise by now.
The Waterside Series
Races for 2014 are scheduled to take place as follows:
Whilst this blog is not primarily focused on the Kennet and Avon Canal (other than the short sections where it interacts with the River Kennet above the start of the Kennet Navigation in Newbury), and although I'm not especially interested in competitive flat water racing, the monthly online RDAA Information Sheet, which includes the General Secretary's omniscient February Report, was published today, and it contains a short passage which provides a vivid insight into the thinking of some of the river users.
"CANOE RACE
The RDAA match scheduled for Sunday February 3rd
will have to be moved due to around 400 to 600 canoes being scheduled to go
through the Froxfield stretch on the same Sunday. This was not passed on to us
and I only found out from the Thatcham Angling Shop. I have spoken with the
Canoe Clubs involved and insisted that they leave the first Sunday in the first
three months of the year free for our matches. It would appear that there are
more and more of these events appearing especially at this time of the year. It
was agreed to reschedule the match to Sunday February 24th in place of the
Teams of Four match which will be rescheduled to a date in April.”
1. "400 to 600 canoes"? That should have the organisers, Newbury Canoe Club, worried, as, if I've counted correctly, the list of pre-entered participating crews (no entries on the day for this particular race) numbers 303 canoes and kayaks of various classes. Hopefully the number will be higher next year, as, with competitors and their support crews arriving from as far afield as Fowey and Exeter, Worcester, Nottingham and Norwich, it brings valuable income to the local economy at a lean time of the year.
2. "This was not passed on to us and I only found out from the Thatcham Angling Shop." Perhaps greater willingness to build communications and understanding with other waterways users might help to resolve this - there's not that many canoe clubs running larger scale races on the Kennet. There is no obligation to advise RDAA or any other angling clubs of race events, although they could just look at the Waterside Series website, where the dates of future races (and we're only talking about four events per annum) are published more than a year in advance. The Waterside series has been run (with a cancellation in 2001, and occasional date changes due to weather conditions) during approximately the same period of the year since 1999, so it should hardly be a surprise by now.
3. "I have spoken with the Canoe Clubs involved and insisted that they leave the first Sunday in the first three months of the year free for our matches." The General Secretary was lucky that Newbury Canoe Club was able to confirm future dates that suit all parties - see 2014 Waterside Race dates below. Perhaps 'requested' or 'negotiated' might have been a more productive approach than "insisted", because the RDAA is not a navigation authority and has absolutely no right to dictate to other river users. The Canal & River Trust is the legal Navigation Authority for the Kennet & Avon Canal above Newbury Bridge, and also for the Kennet Navigation from Newbury Bridge to a point 65m downstream of the High Bridge at Reading.
4. "It would appear that there are more and more of these events appearing especially at this time of year." Apart from the predictable Waterside Series, there's Reading Canoe Club's Thameside 1 race from Aldermaston Wharf down the canalised Navigation to Reading on the 10th February this year (about 60 crews currently registered to participate), and then there's the... oh, that's it (as far as I know). Perhaps the General Secretary has confused recreational canoeists and kayakers on the Kennet with some sort of poorly attended 'slow boat' race event. It would be an understandable mistake given that the RDAA President, Martin Salter, works for the Angling Trust; they recently equated "open canoeing" with some sort of semi-underground campaign of civil disobedience.
A few dates and details for future reference:
- Race A will take place tomorrow between Great Bedwyn and Newbury. The course is 13½ miles and includes 21 portages.
- Race B: 17 February - Newbury to Aldermaston & back (17.5 miles incl. 19 portages).
- Race C: 3 March - Pewsey to Newbury (23 miles incl. 35 portages).
- Race D: 17 March - Devizes to Newbury (34 miles incl. 35 portages).
- Race A: 23 February 2014.
- Race B: 9 March 2014.
- Race C: 23 March 2014.
- Race D: 6 April 2014.
The Waterside Series
is regarded as a “warm-up” for the 125 mile Devizes to London
International Canoe Race, which, as in previous years, takes place over the
Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Easter weekend in 2013.
It won't bother anglers who will be enjoying the closed season rest... hang on, haven't I used that line before somewhere?
