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Liffey Descent 2011
The article in the Irish Times on this years annual Liffey Descent canoe race starts, “I spend Friday night, the night before my first Liffey Descent, imagining all the ways it could kill me. There are many. Drowning is obviously my number one concern, what with the raging torrents and the terrifying weirs and the rapids and the stoppers that trap you under the water.” For Donegal Canoe Club’s Zoe Stephenson and Aoife McLaverty this sums up their thoughts exactly, not just for the night before but for several months leading up to their first attempt at Irelands premier canoing event, and who can blame them! Pictured here L-R Anne Donnell, Zoe Stephenson, Aoife McLaverty and Mary Martin
Perhaps part of the attraction of learning to canoe is overcoming fear and with the right training and practice you can really surprise yourself.
Aoife decided a few years ago that river paddling wasn’t for her and she would instead concentrate on sea kayaking instead. Zoe recently had her kayak destroyed by the flooded river Finn and having previously almost broken her nose on the river Leanan was hesitant too. Never the less, for some strange reason both girls found themselves sitting at the start line for this years Liffey Descent race in Dublin.
Michael Roulston follows Mary Martin's lead in their Touring Canadian Double down one of the many weirs
Here are the places and race times for all of our members who attended this year.
Masters General Purpose
4th 2:31:38 Edward Broekaart
10th 2:50:04 David Leonard
14th 2:57:04 Cathal Herron
26th 3:14:34 Frank Roche
55th 4:25:11 Anne Donnell
Mens Senior General Purpose
94th 4:27:33 Vincent carson
Womans Senior General Purpose
17th 4:27:40 Zoe Stephenson
23rd 4:40:59 Aoife McLaverty
Touring Canadian Doubles
2nd 2:46:04 Tommy Marron / Noel Canavan
8th 3:03:30 Conor Kelly / Denis Gallagher
18th 3:23:56 Mary Martin / Michael Roulston
Featured Clup Paddler
When Kieran O'Connor moved to Donegal to start on the building of the new An Post sorting office in Letterkenny, the first thing he did was contact the Donegal Canoe Club. He then joined us at our pool sessions at the Aura Leisure Centre that run over the Autumn/Winter months. As we watched him practice his play boating skills it was clear that he is a competant kayaker and when he joined in with the polo sessions he proved that he was competetive too! Soon he was out at weekends enjoying the best Donegal can offer a whitewater paddler and even brought his girlfriend Lou to a club camping trip and paddle to Owey island. With the An Post sorting office nearly complete, it should be handed over this first week of June, Kieran will be packing up his canoeing gear and heading off to Cork for his next project. Good luck Kieran, keep in touch from time to time. … [Click here to read more on the Members page...]
Trips and Events
NI Surf Kayak Competition
Northern Ireland Surf Kayak club’s third competition scheduled for 2011 is due to take place at Magheraroarty on Saturday 18th June. Surf kayakers and paddlers of all levels of experience are welcome to come along. Beginners are welcome and there is a plastic class for those new to surf kayaking- with the ultimate prize of a … [Click here to read more on the Members page...]
Ramelton Lennon Festival 2011
This year's Ramelton town festival starts on the Friday 1st July. The Duck Race event held by the Donegal Canoe Club will be on Saturday 2nd July and will run after the parade and there will also be games and a music stage. See the Ramelton Community Website: www.ramelton.net You can sponsor a Duck for €2 each or 3 for … [Click here to read more on the Members page...]
Child Protection Course
The principles of Donegal Canoe Club’s policy are based on the moral and ethical duty to ensure that our junior members’ can also enjoy canoeing in a safe environment and as such they reflect current best practice as contained in the Irish Sports Council’s and Irish Canoe Union’s Child Protection Policy. In line with … [Click here to read more on the Members page...]
