8th July 2007 - Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff

Wow what a day
 
The Sun shone for us - seems the sun hides when Kat and I aren't there - sorry Chris we could all have said that for the Bristol Event - but Cardiff has changed that now.
 
Did You know in the 200m - only 4 Premier teams beat our first race time for this distance for the whole of the event !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
We are beginning to do things right - we just don't seem to be able to do it right every time or for all day. There is no lack of skill or endeavour in the club we just need to keep doing the things we can do well - but do them all day.
 
Secklow Hundred made the Cup competition when there were 19 team who attended the event. We would have been delighted just to have made the Cup competition all last year and even the beginning of this year. We came 8th overall in the 200m and 11th overall in the 500m, so we do need to get to raise our standards in the 500m event to match the standards we are capable of in the 200m event.
 
So we are growing in strength and technique - The distance between us the teams we were competing with at the beginning of the year is growing and we are leaving them behind - I am convinced this is because we are getting better, not them getting worse.
 
We can take comfort from the fact we are clearly faster than Powerhouse and WAM in the Premier league this year and we know we have the capability of matching Amathus Bees and we must build to go beyond that to prepare ourselves for higher competition.
 
The times of the rest periods between races went from 1.30 hours - next rest period 50 minutes, next rest period (to go to the 500m races) 1hr 10 mins, next rest period 50 minutes, next rest period 40 minutes, next rest period (final) 50 minutes.
 
In order to stay rested and we need to avoid the reps which is where we are disadvantaged because of the shorter recovery period that we would otherwise have had.
 
The day was about as good as it could get except for the little disappointment of losing points to TRD and Colenorton. TRD had to strengthen their team by borrowing from Thames crew members. The chances of Secklow Hundred gaining second place in the League is now out of our hands, which is disappointing.
 
So to training for the next event, London on Saturday 21st July.
 
Looking from the sidelines last Sunday we still have some technical problems and we will be addressing them on Thursdays session and again on Sunday. We do need to have a video session soon so that we can show what we mean and help each other to grow as better paddlers.
 
Well done everyone - see you Thursday or Sunday at the very latest.
 
John