Its a Hat Trick on the Thames.
Thameside 1 saw five Southampton Paddlers take part in what was an exciting and challenging race on a course swollen by the recent rainfall. Due to the conditions the organisers introduced additional measures such as having to have a support crew, and wearing Buoyancy Aids along with additional warnings about the reduced height under the bridges.
The race runs down the Kennet and Avon Canal, through the River Kennet and in to the Thames with County Lock having reappeared from being under water and both sides of county weir being at the same height causing a lot of crews to consider the shoot rather than the portage, the Oracle was swirly and exciting – just the thing to prepare for the hard slog upstream into the very strong Thames. Several crews (including James and Rick) took the easy option of running to the lock.
Rick and James came in First Vet Male K2 with Russ and Damon coming up close behind to take second despite having to stop to fix a broken rudder. and Phil Pearce completing a paddling comeback in Senior Male
Reading provided very fetching Hats as prizes so we now have 4 new ones!
Full results are here http://reading-canoe.org.uk/results/thamesides/2020_T1.html
