Hilbre Island Sea Kayak Race & BBQ |
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Hilbre Island Sea Kayak
Race 2018 This was the eighth year that Liverpool Canoe Club has run the Hilbre Island
Sea Kayak Race based at Dee Sailing Club in Thurstaston. Paddlers had been advised to head inshore of the racing dinghy`s
at West Kirby and then to head out to the shallows around the Little Eye. The
hot weather brought its own problems, paddlers needed to stay hydrated. It was
great to see the numerous safety kayakers this year marked with yellow High
Visibility Vests. The little eye racers rounded and returned inshore while
those heading for Hilbre set off to the outside of Middle Eye and small overfalls on the end of Hilbre. When all kayaks were heading for home
the 4 rescue boats (Ridged Hull Inflatables) practised rescuing paddlers with
some of the safety kayakers and then shadowed the paddlers back past West Kirby
and on to Thurstaston. The tide had changed so the
remaining paddlers had to fight hard against the ever-quickening ebb tide. Back at the sailing club we tidied up, showered and enjoyed
the BBQ and drinks provided by our hosts Dee Sailing Club. This year Go
Kayaking provided a number of demo sea kayaks and
items from the shop. Andy Lees, shop manager also presented the prizes for the
Hilbre Island Races while System X and Manchester Canoes donated prizes for the
Little Eye and West Kirby Races. Before the main prize giving, Ian Bell
received two awards from British Canoeing for services to coaching and Peter Thomas and
Kirk Williams were recognised for Cancer Charity Fundraising. Elite Race 1st Racing Ski - Nigel Jones (Pair of
Carbon Splits from Go Kayaking) 1st Performance Sea Kayak - Dave Brown (Peak Paddling Jacket
from Go Kayaking) Hilbre Sea Kayak Race 1st Ben Beachell
(Sea Kayak Towline from Go Kayaking) 2nd Peta Willingale
(Paddle Float from Go Kayaking) 3rd Adrian Fisher (Sea Kayak Pump from Go Kayaking) 1st Female Jenny Wong (Sea Kayak map
case from System
X) Highest placed LCC member Alastair Pipe
(Kokatat T-shirt from System X) Little Eye Race 1st Helen Marriott (Split Paddles from Manchester
Canoes) 2nd Jane Parker (Sea Kayak map case
from System X) 3rd Alan Peachment (Feel Free Notebook
from Manchester Canoes) West Kirby Race (Juniors) 1st Max Pipe (Paddle Leash) 2nd Aleksander Ford & Zachary
Alcock (Sigg Water Bottle from Manchester
Canoes) 3rd Poppy Clews
Sunday
15th July 2018
The competitors were able to use the showers provided by Dee Sailing club and enjoy a cold drink and food from the BBQ while we recovered the rescue craft and the safety kayakers followed the final few finishers in. Prizes had been kindly donated by Go Kayaking North West, System X and Manchester Canoes were awarded for the categories above. All the winners also received a trophy engraved by Mike Bell of Cedar Boat Europe. These were presented to the winners by Carole Thomas (Secretary of LCC) and Andy Lees (Manager of Go Kayaking North West). Many thanks to all that took part and helped to make such a great day. We hope to see you all again next year, Sunday 7th July 2019 Supported by, Go Kayaking NW, Dee
Sailing Club, System X, Manchester Canoes and Cedar Boats Europe
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