K2 Kayak Kicks

The day of the 2009 Canoe Challenge began at 4:45 when the hot water urn was switched on at Norbury Village Hall. The signing-in and breakfast team of volunteers was prompt and ready to greet the first team to arrive, with bacon butties and a raft of final paperwork.

As teams completed signing in and set off for their start points it was still dark – the first boat to hit the water was Endeavour’s own Volunteer team, Just Add Water who got away at 6:34 on the longer Endurance event. Conditions were cool and windy, which increases the challenge. Teams not only have to battle with a side wind but withfloating leaves collecting in a mass at the bow of the kayak

We had 5 teams taking on the Endurance course and 5 doing the shorter Marathon+ course. Old friends, Bristol Endeavour (with 2 teams), Land Instruments, and Serco were joined by two teams from DHL TradeTeam from Sheffield and Gloucester, HM Treasury, Shorts Accountants and 1^st & 2^nd Chesterfield Scouts.

The Scouts and Land Instruments were among the first away heading south for Cowley Tunnel on the Red Section of the route. The Scouts and Endeavour’s Volunteers both took a while to get into a proper rhythm but the Scouts, in particular, seemed to get stronger as the event went along.

The Marathon+ course starts at Autherley Junction at the end of the Red Section and the teams on this event were a little later getting started. By 7:53 Shorts, the last of the Marathon+ teams were away looking to chase down the Treasury, Serco and the two TradeTeams. Shorts had prepared well on the canal in Chesterfield and looked confident making ground on most, but the Sheffield, Tinsley TradeTeam were a revelation; they were never in danger of being caught by anyone and completed the Blue Section very rapidly, getting past Great Haywood before we could even get the tea station set up there!

Meanwhile our Elite teams from Bristol Endeavour joined the event just before 10:00 and raced down towards Autherley Junction. The staggered start gradually unwinds as the day goes on and teams get closer together into the third and last Yellow Section. The Treasury boat broke a rudder and they waited for a replacement kayak. Then two of the teams were struggling in the conditions. They were too late for a cut-off split time and eventually needed a minibus lift further up the canal to get back on schedule. This disappointment was met with fortitude and a determination to come back and get it right next year.

At the Barlaston finish teams arrived over a period of three hours and in various states of tiredness. Some opted for a swim after the finish bridge, others for a welcoming beer at the Plume of Feathers.

Finally it was off to Stafford University for a shower, some much needed food and the presentation of awards.