At the start of the month, was the annual Norfolk Island race on Ullswater. Organised by Cumbria Canoeists it starts and finishes from the Outward Bound centre on the Lake, with various classes to suit juniors, canoists, sea kayaker, allthe way up to thefastest K1s and K2s.
As normal Pete took a van and trailer load of Sea Kayaks. Proving popular this year were the Lettmanns, and North Shores (ring us up as we are selling off the Lettmann demo boats at 20% Off) Soon all the boats were taken, with a few people dissapointed, and having to paddle their own boats!
Ian from Carlisle Canoes Club turned up with his open (not the fastest flat water beast- a Wenonah Prospector), his partner had not yet turned up, so bering the kind sort, I agreed to take part if Mike didn’t turn up…..
looking round, like last year there were quite a few opens on the water, so it looked like a bit of competition, and so it was thaqt I was lined up to compete. 3 miles later we realised we were in the lead of our class. at the half ay island we couldn’t see any open boats. 7 miles later (after storming past another racer, we won in a class of….. 1…..) in a time of 1hour 28 mins.
It was great to see all the brookbank hire boats at the front of the pack in the sea kayaking classes, and everyone reported back on smooth fast rides, including beating previous race times. However the fastest sea kayakers were well beated by a couple of K2s, and astonishingly everyone was hammered by a racing K1 with a time of 47 minutes.
So thats how I came to win my own shield – who wants to take it off me for next year? my legs have just about recovered!
Comming up in September is the 3 lakes challenge – Coniston, Ullswater and Windermere….. join us if you dare…..
Annually we sponsor a shield to present at the annual Ullswater Norfolk Island Race,
