The first weekend back after Easter was BUCS for Polo. This is the biggest university polo tournament around. The minibus went up early on the Friday for some to do a Refs course - good luck to all those hoping to get qualified this weekend at the UWE varsity tournament. The Van set off early Friday on its secret mission - a cheeky stop off at HPP Nottingham for some play time.

BUCC was definately one of the most obvious clubs at BUCS, with our two shiny branded vehicles and teams sporting the latest in club kit, the vey fetching dressing gowns (well done to Rob + Rachel for getting those sorted). We had 4 teams entered this year, the best turnout we’ve ever had, the Ninja Marmots (the oldies team), The Chainsaw Dolphins (the mens A team), The Vodoo Vixens (the ladies team) and the Flaming monkeys (our wonderful fresher team).

The Mens team won its first game against Reading, lost to a very strong Cambridge team and drew (contraversially) to ULU, coming 3/4 in the group on goal difference. From then on they put in very strong performances against St Andrews only just losing to Bath (mainly due to starting with 3 boats on the pitch). They ended 19 out of 30, a great result and massive improvement on last year.

The Ladies played well showing great defence and some great breaks by Mary-Ann and Rachel. They were unlucky to lose 2 games in the last few seconds (literally!), but improved in the second day to take a couple of games. The Marmots put in some interesting performances. With a lot of drinking from an early stage, there was disapponintment from all when their last match on Saturday was not played, several very wobbly boats suggesting it would have been one to watch.

The monkeys also did themselves pround getting a couple of wins in the Reed tournament.

Overall it was a great sun-filled weekend with some awesome partying on the Saturday night and some great costumes and dancing and unconsciousness. Thanks to Ali for pulling all your hair out and sorting out a logistical nightmare of a weekend seamlessly.

Si

Well, the end of term has passed and it is normally a time to go home, but not for the BUCC crack adventure squad, including the notorious special forces branch, the Blue Palm Brigade. This Easter saw us head up North to Fort William for a week of awesome paddling. The epic drive up was made all the more comfortable by some epic German imitation rap from the future (yes this report will be full of in jokes, and no they will not be explained, after all if you don’t get them you should have come on the trip). Boat Force One, the club’s beautiful, big new van made its way up on the Saturday night and gave Dixie, Pross and Tom a chance to have a look around:

The first day saw us hitting the Roy. A minor delay due to “a single item of forgotten kit” (no Chris, just no) saw us getting on later than expected! The horizontal snow did little to deter the brave BUCC members, who never deviated from their desire to paddle. Not for a moment. Not at all.

An awesome day of paddling resulted in an early night by usual standards, and some well earned sleep. On Tuesday we hit the Arkaig and some interesting lines down “The Main Event”, showing that sideways is the new backwards. Later we kayaked, walked, climbed and crawled down the Spean Gorge. The next day was on the Orchy, a great paddle with lots of interesting rapids for all abilities including ones for the better paddlers to um and err over for 15 or so minutes to give the impression that it is seriously being considered before stating that it can’t be run at these levels or Death, Death and more Death. Thursday was a day off (although that didn’t stop some from hitting the Pattack), and a wonder round Fort William. Friday brought along the last day of paddling on the Loy and a mini expedition on the Rough Burn (check out the Palm ad below).

Highlights were Dave’s showdown with Scottish rocks, paddle spins a plenty, bumping in to some randoms from Hertfordshire at a get out who had stayed in my flat, 90’s music, Jim-isms, more awesome paddling, paddling through a tunnel, waterfalls, Jim dropping his boat back into the river, value sausages, James chopping wood, some sub-par throwlining, Cosmo magazine and finally a joke about a cat and an ostrich.

I think I’ll end on this pearl of wisdom from none other than our beloved unon safety officer:

“Sometimes we have to do seemingly unsafe things for the greater good of safety” - Jim Lucas

Much love

Si Smith

Well after another classic BUCC trip let’s just take a moment to say Happy New Year to all of those not lucky enough to make it up to North Wales to celebrate in true Canoe Club style.

Sure enough we didn’t quite manage to leave on time and sure enough it was just about dark when we got off the first river, but hey ho these things happen and the 20 hardy souls who set out on this adventure were not to be deterred. Have a quick look at the photo below and you’ll notice that nearly everyone managed to make it into canoeing gear at the same point in time.

Day one and two spent paddling the Dee, low water - then lower. A very special mention to Hardcore Hayley who upon seeing the Town Falls rapid being not as big as last year decided to get out of her boat before she got there and swim down it. Much to the surprise and delight of many tens of people who had crowded onto the bridge to watch.

Day 3, 4, 5 and 6 everything frozen/empty no more paddling.

The End

….of paddling that is

Well we climbed Snowdon, went rock climbing, got drunk…lots, did some staring at empty rivers, walked here and there, started a fight at the local hotel, celebrated new year, loved “Bring it on”, complicated 21s to the point where arts students could no long join in and bump started the hire van using our minibus.

Special congratulations go to our fine young trio of Freshers (Chris, Tom and Rick) who excelled themselves in their challenge presenting the group with not only the prerequisite “16+” but also the literacy classic “Oyster 2″. This shall provide enough one liners for the rest of term that you’ll wish you were there just for that.

On a more serious note confirmation was provided UWE paddlers cannot drink, at all, when we broke Ezra on night 2. This in itself was not that concerning, however the refusal to undertake any drinking penalties on the following evening only goes to show that we still have an awful lot to teach our neighbours.

Look out for the Big Events coming this term:

January 24th-25th 30th-Feb 1st - Beginners weekend away

February 20th-22nd - Woolecombe surfing weekend

March 6th-8th - National Student Rodeo weekend

April 10th-12th - BUCS National Student Polo Championship

And so much more….See you all at the first pool session back - Thursday January 15th

Yet another epic weekend in the lives of the BUCC mentalists saw the shiny new minibus get put to good use with a trip to the Exe on Saturday and Sunday.  (Big shout out to Grandpa Seb who changed his mind on Sunday and diverted to the Dart on route). 

Unfortunately, due to the ruthless efficiency of Smith and Dixie, both trips ran on time during the day and everyone finished their paddling in the light and were home for dinner. Specific congratulations go to one hard core paddler who not only bumped into the road bridge in the middle of the Exe again but also broke a set of paddles in a separate incident.  

Also enjoyed was Seb’s demonstration of throw bagging. A little known technique in the world of Kayaking is to throw the entire packed line to a swimmer and allow them to use this as extra floatation as they wash off down stream. As explanation for this unusual technique Mr. Vincent commented “It’s such a lot of effort to re-pack the bag if you keep hold of the rope.”     

Much love and a big shout out to Rachel for the chocolate cake. A tradition of home baked goods which has been unfortunately lost over the last few years is about to make a come back.   

Reports that the Van we hired was too large for driver Prosser to be able to see over the steering wheel may have been slightly exaggerated, as the club has been fully equipped with booster seats for many years.

Don’t worry if you didn’t manage to join at FRESH, you can still come and sign up. Come along to a pool session (7pm till 8pm on Thursday) and talk to a committee member and get involved! If you’ve got any questions email send an email to one of the committe (addresses are on the website under the committee section).

Well the start of the new paddling season is truely off and running with a trip to the Tryweryn in Wales.

Sunday saw six of the boys pack up and head west for the day and as ever the adventure followed close behind. A bright and early start to the day was thankfully avoided by multiple hang overs (with a big shout out to Phil for hosting the BBQ on Saturday and plying the guys with many bottles of wine). The convoy got off and running at 8:30 to hit the water for midday.

(NOTE: this season’s fashionable look for paddlers will be the Blue Palm Cag. Wear it or be prepared to stand out in every photgraph!)

Unfortunately Jason’s nature as a vertically challenged social sec meant that he didn’t quite have the reach to press the go pedal all the way down and the average pace was slowed to that of a cruise.

On the water was a different matter, with some awesome skills and tricks, helped along by the dam release water.

Following a long and tiring doys the boys returned to Bristol with a bang, or more exactly a blown exhaust drowned out by the already favourite (and quickly becoming traditional) tunes of “Stacy’s Mom”, “The Day we caught the train” and “I like big butts and I cannot lie”.

Check out the video at FRESH or at the Welcome Party following the beginners pool session on Thursday 9th October.

The Ninja Marmots and Chainsaw Dolphins canoe polo teams have been hard at it all summer. Following twice weekly, evening training sessions both teams played in the Welsh Open and London International during August.

The Cardiff tournament went well for the Marmots finishing an impressive 10th, while the dolphins summer got off to a slower start in 20th place.

Things picked up at Bexley Heath and the Dolphins rose to 16th in division 3 of the London international.

Though the Marmots couldn’t maintain their form falling to 18th.

Not long until the South West league starts in October so evening training will continue during September on Tuesday and Thursday evenings each week from 9th onwards, meeting at stores at 6:30 sharp everyone welcome.

For anyone new to the club or who fancys learning to play polo we have an newly formed 3rd team this year so there will be loads of opportunities to play.

So take 26 of your finest BUCC members and drive them 3000 miles around 7 countries in the hilly bit of main land Europe and what do you get?

…some rather good stories which only get better each time they are told.

Now the fundamental point of this adventure (I have been told) was canoeing.

Whether you fancy the slightly crazing

Or the down right insane

Of course sometimes people got stuck on islands

or lost their boats for a while which was unfortunate.

When we came across the Rab Wave, some people surfed it in boats…

…while others decided that anything they could buy at the shop for under 10 euros was a better bet.

Rafting the Guil. A dreadlocked guide who couldn’t stay in the raft and an elderly guide in a knee brace who broke his helmet.

Amazingly there was also a huge amount more packed into just 16 days…

…helped along by the ever important…

Camping - Eating  - Drinking - Dancing - Fancy Dress - Fire Making

Roll on Autumn Term 2008….

We all know that BUCC has a rep for faf when it comes to getting on a river but this trip has to take the biscuit!
The plan:
9 people meet at 8.30am at stores, load trailer and mini bus then head off for a river.
What happened:
At 12.00pm 6 people set off in two cars to the Nene a man made river in Northampton.
How?:
8.20am it was discovered the minibus driver thought the trip was cancelled 9.00 am store keys missing and had to get a different set 10.30am brake failure warning light comes on in the minibus, 11.00 - 12.00 fitting Dan’s car roof rack 12.00pm left stores for the Nene

In the end we reached the Nene and got on the water for 2.30pm. We were there right up until closing. On the way back to Bristol we took part in a pub quiz and came second which won us a bottle of wine.  It was a great day out and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Katie

The results are in..
Ninja Marmots – 3rd place
Chainsaw Dolphins – 7th place

The Ninja Marmots came joint 2nd with Hamble B. However since Hamble B had a larger goal difference, they got 2nd place and promoted to Div 2 while we got 3rd place. The very amusing thing is that if the marmots had won against the dolphins instead of drawing then they would had that extra point to come 2nd.

The dolphins came 7th.  Considering they started the season as complete beginners and finished off drawing with the 3rd best team in the division, they have done amazingly well.
Very well done to all players!

———————————————

3 teams have been entered in next year’s SW league:

- Ninja Marmots (old boys)

- Chainsaw Dolphins (A team)

- Spanking Monkeys (development team)

Plus a possible Ladies team! Next year is going to be great!!! =)