-Aisling-

Most photos are from my flickr set here but the one of Berndt and team is from Bob’s Picasa set.

DUBLIN, IRELAND (Team Geared Up) - Aisling covered this previously on “World Surf Kayaking Champion, Irish Paddler of the Year and 3rd year student at DCU, Lenny Kelleher - gets no funding.”
Following on from this, Steve McGowan emailed me today with this amazing, and frankly ridiculous, story:

Last night saw the DCU Clubs & Societies Awards take place in the Helix in Glasnevin. This saw some of DCU’s most successful students all get together to celebrate their achievements for the year and to further honor those who were particularly outstanding.

There was no surprise from anyone that Len Kelleher was one of eighteen nominated for an award for Best Individual Sporting Performance/Best Individual Administrator. For those of you who haven’t heard of Len before he is currently the World Surf Kayaking Champion and Irish Paddler of the Year but as Aisling reported before he receives no funding from his college.

The awards ceremony was great and all the winners were well deserving but there was one noticeable omission. Len Kelleher was again ignored by his college and he didn’t receive one of the five awards given out to the nominee’s in his category. Although the other award winners did tremendous work during the year to get nominated, none of them have a World Title to their name other than Len. It really is crazy that he gets no recognition for his achievements on the one night on the DCU calendar which is meant to be dedicated to celebrating these achievements.
In how many other sports does Ireland currently hold a World Title?

As an ex student of DCU, I struggle to keep a positive mind in this. To be honest, it just says a lot about the state of funding and support in general for minority sports in the country….. Hopefully his example will lead to future support and funding for others in his sport (we can only hope!).

Image Credit: Len Kelleher during the finals at Kayak Surf World Championships in Bakio, Mundaka October 2007

- Neal :) -

DUBLIN, IRELAND (Team Geared Up) - Just received Great Outdoors email newsletter and it’s the announcement of their annual Canoe & Kayak Sale on April 12th @ 9:30am.

….the annual clear out of our demo fleet of kayaks and any other second hand boats we’ve picked up over the last season. Oh there are bargains to be had for sure!!
If that’s not enough there will be massive discounts off a large selection of Cag’s, PDF’s and Pants that, for some reason or another, have been discontinued for next season. Some of these items have been our top sellers for the past few years…..

Most importantly for anyone looking for watersports gear:

To notch the sale frenzy levels up a notch or two we’ve decided to offer all our customers a 15% discount off everything in the Watersports Department on the day. Remember it’s all for one day only, so get in early……..doors open 9.30 a.m. sharp.

I’ve finished up my scuba diving days for now, but even I’m tempted to call in ;)

- Neal :) -

We picked up our map and headed down to TA3, then wondered where the other guys had gone to, as they would definitely have taken us easily on the run down - we assumed (correctly, as it turned out) that they had headed straight out to clear the map checkpoints instead of visiting TA3 first (where they would have learned to only collect 3 markers at a time), and this ultimately proved to be their downfall.

There’s a lesson in their account somewhere. Not only is it important to compliment someone on their nice buns but it’s also quite important to read the sodding instructions!!!!! I’m a bit disappointed with the lack of blazer action but they’re probably saving them for their 600 mile cycle on their single speeds.

Oh and well done on a great win! Second was Cuchulainn Warriors; Johnny McCabe and Gerry McCabe, and third was Team Purple; Edmund O’Hagan and Brendan O’Hagan.

-Aisling-

Choose from two events; GF6, the classic one-day multi-sport challenge for solo participants or teams with biking, running, trekking and kayaking; or take part in GF12 – featuring GF6 on the Saturday and then continuing with a “second stage” team event on the Sunday involving ropes, boats and navigation.

It’s on August 23rd and 24th so there’s plenty of time to get some serious training in!

-Aisling-

Image from Gael Force West gallery.

This race will finish for all competitors on the Solstice. A mid-summer night party will banish any doubts as to the Irish ability to host the best party / festival ever in Adventure Racing. Famous bands, ferocious dancing, pigs roasting on sticks and all the ancients stones in alignment will keep competitors awake long after the race has ended.

Happening round the same time is the annual Kilboney Challenge in Rostrevor Co. Down, another one day adventure race that promises that competitors will be “spending more time on the mountains around Rostrevor as opposed to the forest trails in and around Kilbroney Park”. That should appeal to the purists! Jackie points out on the IMRA forum that this clashes with the date proposed for this years Rogaine 24 hour event so watch this space (or their website) for updates! Drop us a comment if you’re entering a team for any of these events and let us know what your preparations involve.

-Aisling-

Image of Bob Boles from Adventure Challenge Website.

LONDON, UK (Team Geared Up) - The Great Outdoors Canoeing Awards were held on November 24th At Green Isle Hotel, Dublin. Read the post “Kelleher is Crowned King at Great Outdoors Canoeing Awards”. TGU love IrishFreeStyle.com and love featuring their photos (see above!).

The awards went something like this:

Paddler of the year (The Salmon Leap Trophy)-Winner LEN KELLEHER-World champion in kayak surf this October.

Junior paddler of the year (The Celbridge Paddler Trophy)-Winner BARRY WATKINS-European Junior Champion in Flatwater racing and medallist in marathon Worlds.

Club of the year (The Richmond Canoe Club Trophy)-Winner WILD WATER KAYAK CLUB-Irelands largest and most active canoe club.

Coach/Instructor of the year (The Training Unit Trophy)-Winner MARTIN MCCARTHY-Based in Wild-water kayak club .

Outstanding contribution (The Weirgate Trophy-In Memory of Ken & Violet Cooper)-Winner PADDY MALONEY-Our octogenerian competitor was honoured as one of the founders of canoeing in Ireland.

Outstanding support (The Brendan O’Connell Trophy)-Winner ESB-Our key partner across the disciplines of canoeing over the last 50 years.

-Robin-

(Image Credit: Bosco, not giving up without a fight!!!, Big Boat Bonanza - 2007)

Checkpoint 3 was an easy find round the road, and we barely stopped for it on the way to 4, which was on the railings beyond a VERY steep tarmac hill. Our main strategy guy Ian had brake issues at the 90 degree bend at the bottom of the straight, hit the bank HARD, left the bike, and took off head first into the brambles, just missing a tree - lucky, lucky chap - could have been killed, scuppering our chances of finishing!

But don’t crack open the champagne just yet Rick, because from what I could see, none of your team members had a set of ovaries (man boobs maybe but not ovaries ;-) ) so therefore it doesn’t count. But at least you fulfilled the goal of the hot shower! Big well done to Al, Ian, Phil and Rick! (Has nobody got any photos from this event?!)

-Aisling-

Photo from Tango and Cash blog.

-Aisling-

(Sorry I had no camera with me so an old photo of Sean from Peter O’ Farrell’s Annacurragh Race will have to do!)

-Aisling-