Photo: Tom Laws

A great Fournel-like weir with a beautiful grade 2 ‘gorge’ afterwards. A splendid way to spend an hour.

I got off the water and into my van, heading straight for Liverpool to give the next? in my series of lectures around the country about the Four Borders Expedition. After dinner on Penny Lane, I was shown to a very grand reading room featuring two pianos? – the venue of my talk. After a bit of stress with the projector, everything ran smoothly and I was flattered at how interested in my stories everybody? seemed.? I’d like to thank the guys in Liverpool who organised and hosted this lecture – their write up of the night? can be found here.

Four days of lectures,? cheeky afternoon river runs? and organising the club Alps Trip leads me today. Tomorrow I’m lucky enough to have tickets to watch THE Grand Slam match of the year: Wales v France in the Millenium Stadium . I’m very excited! Sunday I’m coaching in Nottingham before heading to the Lake District for two more Four Borders Talks (Monday in Keswick, Tuesday in Staveley – details here). I then carry on north to the Fort William area for some paddling (and maybe snowboarding?!) before heading back down through the east side of England to do a talk? in York on? March 27th? for? the club that taught me to paddle? (details).

After all that, it’ll be back to the land of the sheep for work – then back to Uni!

Busy? but lots of fun… just the way I like it!

Over 50 people arrived on Saturday? for? an introduction lecture followed by? workshops about everything from advanced rope skills? and? first aid for? paddlers? to equipment and boat outfitting;? most of which were based in the warm and dry of Llangollen’s leisure centre.

Photos: Mark Rainsley

My workshop? was about the the dangers of those who’ve learnt to paddle through playboating taking to the rivers – why it is a problem and some ideas on tackling the problem. Here’s some cracking examples of playboaters going river running:

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Photos: Tom Laws

After dinner it was Question Time where I found myself sat between Franco Ferrero, Bob Timms, Peter Knowles and Dino Heald as part of? an expert panel. Things got a little heated at times, but at least we cleared up whether to use a cows tail…

Photo: Mark R

Saturday was rounded up with an excellent talk by Allan Ellard about his most recent trip to Arundel Pradesh and it wasn’t long before everyone was at the bar discussing where their next adventure would be.

Sunday was an entirely water-based affair, with half-day sessions working on the ideas presented the day before. I was running a session entitled “Improved Skill for Improved Safety” which? I certainly enjoyed? and hopefully everyone went away with a few new ideas and? something to work on.

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Photos: Mark R

Thanks must go to everyone who helped to put on the weekend, especially Stuart Woodward of Canoe Control. The event has already recieved a lot of positive feedback so I’m sure? it will be back next year, just hopefully next time it won’t clash with the National Student Rodeo!?

Apologies for the lack of my own photos, but my camera is in? for repairs

With the BCU’s contract with the Outdoors Show ending last year, Brookbank (the UK’s biggest canoeing retailer) decided to organise a show dedicated to paddling. This was met with mixed responce; paddlers always seeming to find fault in anything people do. Admittedly, the show being organised by one retailer does mean that all sales go through their tills, but there were a wide variety of manufacturers displaying their goods with? their staff and sponsored paddlers on hand to give out top notch advice and information.

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Photos: Lowri Davies

Canoexpo also included a range of talks and seminars on topics ranging from recent expeditions? (both inland and at sea)? to video analysis and tarpology. I was humbled to be slotted between two stunning presentations by Gordon Brown and Duncan Murrell in the Main Theatre. There were four talks on at any one time so it was often a struggle to decide which to go to -? I was glad I was there all weekend!

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Left: Pyranha crew rocking some cool sombreros
Right: Jamies Burbeck
Photos: Jamie Burbeck

Saturday night hosted a Mexican party with appropriate fancy dress, food and a rodeo bull. The parties at these events are usually pretty subdued due to the long hours and early starts expected of all of the exhibitors, but? Saturday saw? hundreds of ponchos, fake tashes and sombreros being sported by company directors and? scruffy? paddlers alike. The bull? didn’t? go lonely? all night.

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Photos: Jamie Burbeck

The Outdoors Show is happening? in March and there will still? be a section devoted to paddling, though probably smaller than in recent years. There will be a canoe pool, which is something I think Canoexpo lacked to allow people to try out boats. The advantage of the Outdoors Show is that you get all the camping, hiking,? climbing and diving stuff within the same complex – which allows a much broader spectrum of people to be exposed to our sport as well as allowing us to take a look at theirs. It could be argued that better discounts are available if there are several retailers, but some of the deals on offer this weekend were pretty impressive (e.g. £150 worth of kit free with a new? boat).

Overall,? the exhibition seemed both busy and well recieved with the talks generally getting excellent feedback.? Most exhibitors seemed happy with how the weekend had? gone, but? I guess we have to wait? to see whether it appears in next year’s calendar to decide if it was a true success. I for one had a good weekend.