UCDCC: Stuck-In-The-Mud World Champions

 By Helena Coughlan

My first foray into the Canoe Club was on my way to the Sports Expo 2011. I had decided that it was time I did something challenging in my second year. As I passed the Student Centre I saw the curious sight. A curly-haired, bespectacled man, in full kayaking gear sitting in a children’s paddling pool. I didn’t know much about paddling but I guessed that he wouldn’t be going anywhere fast. Intrigued, I continued to the sports centre for a look around. I took a look around and, when I was on my way out the door, I was apprehended by most of the committee.

My First Impressions; Fan-fricking-tastic!

  By Derv McAuley

Right from the first time I dropped into the Sports Expo during Fresher’s Week the UCDCC was the friendliest club around. First in the door, manned by the most exuberant people in the room; I don’t know how anyone actually avoided joining. It was already a given that I’d join kayaking and the idea had kept me going through my last-months-of-the-Leaving-Cert paddling moratorium (never mind that the rivers had been bone dry). The welcome at the Fresher’s Stand did nothing to dampen my enthusiasm. I even dropped in a few times later on in the week with other engineers that I had pressganged (all of whom love it, I swear!).

Madrid. Where the weather, the women and the Canoe Polo are Hot Hot Hot!

Well, gather round boys and girls and I shall tell you a tale. One full of mystical potions, adventures, and fierce battles….

It all began on a dreary Tuesday 6th September. 30 members of the Irish canoe polo squad gathered in Dublin airport to depart on a journey in a land far far away. Fully kitted out, they had high hopes of returning home with Gold and tales of their own. The team was bound for Madrid to compete in the ECA Canoepolo European Championships in a venue that was quite spectacular. Puerta de Hierro is a massive Sports complex on the brim of the Madrid city centre. It has a massive pool which was divided into 3 full pitches and 2 warm up areas as well as a golf course, a full sized astro rugby pitch, squash and tennis courts. It was only a 15 minute bus ride from the city centre Hotel in which we stayed. Smack bang in the heart of the capitol it was noisy and hot, average of about 30 degrees at night.

Things to do when the rivers are dry…

By Matt Enright

This summer hasn’t been the best for kayaking, it’s fair to say. Thanks to all the nice weather, chances for paddling in Ireland have been few and far between. Luckily, there are some kinds of paddling that don’t need a lot of rain, or water! Yes, I am talking of course about the exciting world of Marathon Racing! (hold your applause to the end…)

Sure if you fell, you wouldn’t feel it!

By Leighton Hoban

The day was over-cast, and the smell of rain was wafting through the air. Or so Met Eireann was telling me! It was 7.45am and I was putting my kayak gear into the boot. Gear, which hadn’t been taken out of my dry bag for the last three weeks! Bad habit, bad habit! Anyways, I was on my way to the boat house to pick up boats and a certain Joe Dunn (Jer) for a day of screaming morale filled chants and fending off Malteser throwing childer!!!

Stackallen, 9th April… And the end of the year…

It’s that time of year again, when we say goodbye to one committee and welcome in a new one. This year’s AGM took place on Saturday the 9th April, where we voted in the next bunch of lovely volunteers, dragged them kicking and screaming and strapped them into their new positions. Since they were taking up far too much space, last year’s committee were thrown out like last Christmas’ leftovers after they’ve been in the fridge a bit too long. Well, except for the odd one or two who decided they’d stick it out for another year and show the young guns how it’s done.

Return of the DCPL…… P-P-P-Polo!!

By Matt

The new season for UCD in the Dublin Canoe Polo League (DCPL) kicked off with a bang on Friday evening (4th March). With 2 teams playing in the league’s Division 4, we were raring to go, ready to face any competition that we came up against.