Winter Write up

The end to one of the hardest years of my life has finally come. I have done my final exams and have started putting the finishing touches on what seemed like a never ending thesis. Although college has demanded almost 60 hours a week, yeah more than a full-time real job, I have still done more paddling this season that I have before. With college coming first partying was put on the back burner and kayaking took on the role of making sure I didn’t lose my mind. This did mean that I got some really cool paddling sessions this season.

 

Matt from Wales

Ireland is not typically your go to destination for kayaking, we have all of Europe to our right and Africa a short cheap hop from most international hubs in order to keep us occupied. But as I couldn’t get the time to travel this year I made the best of what our little island has to offer, and depending on rain it can surprise you.

Adrian Shanahan

Dave Crerar

Freestyle was a number one priority this season and I spent a lot of time dialling in cleans at my local spot, which is a particularly weird feature. This meant putting on the Level 6 mitts and firing it up in the coldest temperatures I have ever experienced on the water. But its worth it when your training pays off and you get the pat on the back from friends or you see your new training rides coming together in competition.

Dave Crerar

Paddy Mc Govern

There is a lot of scrapey creeking to be done here at home, you gotta make the most of the rivers, really get your skills up, if you don’t use the river you can get bored easily. But just as we have to motivate ourselves to keep training on our small play features you can get some days when it all pays off. The last of this seasons rain fell last week and we got a  few runs done before it all drained away for the summer.

Nick Doran

Dave Crerar

It’s now time to get back on the road and kayak harder rivers and bigger waves. First stop is Ottawa to work for Wilderness tours in order to earn some cash, then BC and up to the hills for some snow. It’s always a very busy time when you are leaving home. Flights to be booked, visas to be sorted and gear to be ordered. It’s great having the help of such generous companies like Level 6, Squarerock/ Jackson, Werner, Predator and Teva who not only keep us looking good but also allow us to travel light.

 Ross Redmond

Dave Crerar

So only six more weeks getting the last words of my thesis written and earning some more euros before I start out on my biggest journey yet. Ill check back in soon. DC

Dave Crerar

Dave Crerar

Old Man River

Photo Cedits:

Nick Doran

Moe Kelleher

Dave Cerar

Ross Redmond

Sinead O'Donnel 

Francis O'Donel

The Clare Glens

Dave Crerar

Schools way to hard, its lashing rain, and Im tired of staring at my wall doing marketing projects, deffo a perfect time for a break. So up at the crack of dawn and off to the South Whest for a bit of a creek fest while the water lasted.

Kev Eagan

A few of us met up and had a few runs down one of Irelands better creeks. Even though the water was dropping fast we managed to get a good few runs in a and a load of photos.

Moe Kelleher

Dave Crerar

I didn't get everyone up her on the blog, but these are some of the better photos.

Irish sunset on the N7

Enjoy

DC

Last words of summer......

So Im back at home in Dublin reminiscing on an unbelievable summer that has just passed, great times amongst some new great friends.





Not only was the party unreal but the kayaking was on par if not better, which basically means it was savage.







Having come such a long way with my playboating and over all kayaking the summer ended with a pretty serious thud when I came of my long-board shirtless at 60Km/h yeah that’s right 60, it was retarded. But what can you do but take it in your stride, cut the doctors recommended time of the water in half and wait.





At home now in Ireland I’m working for kayaking.ie and free lance for myself, so if you guys hear of anyone looking for clinics in playboaitng or regular kayaking give me a shout.





And last but not least this summer could NOT have happened without the help of my sponsors, Zeal optics , MDAC, Predator , Level 6, Werner and Aaron Dempsey in Squarerock who helped me out with a few JK boats.



Cheers Guys, enjoy the photos theres loads of ‘em and stay tuned.



DC

Davey C on the Ottawa

This is possibly one of the best places to spend your summer. I’ve been up here two months and bus eater only went out a week or two ago, it’s been pretty damn good.



It's at a bit of an inbetween level now but the level is beginning to drop and some of the other famous spots are beginning to come in.





Ive been surfing here, working for Ottawa Kayak School and enjoying all the other aspects of the river atmosphere. Enjoy these pics and I’ll have loads more as the levels change.

Irish National Champs

Irish National Champs

Ladies watching on

Dave Crerar during finals

This years National Champs have drawn to a close, two very well run comps on two of Irelands best features. The turnouts were not what everyone expected, which leaves the question open were those lads from over the ponds right in when they coined the phrase “rodeo is dead”, it could be going that way here in Ireland. But never the less it did not take away from the competition.

Dave Crerar

Sinead O'Donnell

Moe Kelleher

First round was on anon-retainable wave in Limerick, the event was run over two freezing cold, windy days, as you would expect of our random ass weather. The heats were close and I managed to sneak into the top 5 for the mens final. Tendonitis breathing down my neck meant a quick ibuprofen stop and on I went. Unfortunately I finished in 4th for this round with the Kelleher bro’s and Neil Gibson firing ahead with some pretty nice rides. Junior mens had a decent size turnout, with some still competition, but a newcomer to Irish freestyle, and surf-kayaking champ Corin King stole gold, With his little bro. Jake following in close second. The ladies was also a tight one, Kim Sikerman stealing a victory closely followed by Siobhan McG.

Len Kelleher

Corin King

The second round had us travel across the country to the west coast, with the feature being tidal, you don’t get much time to train unless your there a few days before the competition. Ladies and juniors were run off in their entirety on Saturday, closing off their national champs. Junior Men Saw Corin take gold again and in turn made him National Champ for this year.

Coran King

Dave Crerar

Emer Farrell came first for Junior Ladies. Senior Men were run off on Sunday with a tight race to the podium. Moe Kelleher came 1st sealing him his National Champs Trophy for this year, with me in 2nd and Len Kelleher in Third. So this year the top Irish men are Myself, Len Kelleher. and Moe Kelleher.

Dave Crerar

Kim Sikerman

Jake King

Results:

Men K1
1: Moe Kelleher
2: Len Kelleher
3: Dave Crerar

Ladies K1
1: Kim Sikerman
2: Siobhan Mc Griskin
3: Muirean Lynch

JNR Men K1
1: Corin King
2: Eoin Farrell
3: Jake King


JNR Ladies
1: Caoimhe Farrell
2: Emer Farrell

Mens C1
1: Dave Crerar
2: John O’Rourke

Irish National Champs Round 1

Irish National Champs Round 1

Dave Crerar

The first round of the Irish national Champs went of this past weekend in Limerick. With cold weather and exams looming the turnout was mediocre compared to previous years, but the tunes were blasting out and we still went along to have a bit of craic. As the feature is non retainable we all got 4 runs in the first found, which is pretty sweet as you get more paddling time. We had a great junior turnout this year also.

Len Kelleher

Anthony Yapp

The heats went off without a hitch, the mens was a close comp all the way to the end, the Kelleher bro’s giving it hard as per usual and Neil Gibson and myself in hot pursuit all the way to the finals, however in the end it was the older Moe Kelleher that took gold, Gibson second and Len third, bowzie 4th and myself 5th.

Coran, Jnr Number 1

Neil Gibson

We had a bit of a charade played out on Saturday afternoon when the ladies refused to continue, as it was too cold, and so they retired to the comfort of some tea and cake, only in Ireland. Their finals were played out today and Kim was the outright winner. Juniors was an interesting comp, some finding it hard to catch the wave, we even had a kid out in a Jackson Kayaks Fun 1, which I thought was pretty cool.

Kelleher Bro's

Event one of the two part series went off without a hitch, Bowzie was great and had everyone register, organised and on the water on time, which I believe, is relatively unheard of here in Ireland.

Kim Sikerman

Jenny Kilbride

Prizes were sponsored by Munster Dive and Canoe and Kayaking.ie. Round two will be taking place in two weeks in Clifden. A big shout out is in order for all the organisers and competitors and of course all the judges who froze for two days some not even getting a chance to paddle, thanks a million and see you in a few weeks.

Len Kelleher

Dave Crerar

Photo’s taken by Ross Redmond & Dave Crerar

Schools Out

Spring is finally here and college has just finished up for Easter. That’s two weeks off, well that’s what they say and then they give you 7 assignments, but I decided to head west to where the Irish water was, to get the as much paddling as possible before I had to sit in the library for hours on end.



So I packed my gear and hopped into the jeep, and off to the west cost I went. There were only a few spots working out west, so we headed off to them for a few days play. Jackie O, Moogie, and Bowzie were but a few that joined in.



The plan was to head to Galway and paddle at Tuam, a river hole and then off to Clifden, which is a tidal hole and in my opinion the best play-spot in Ireland. The group were really going for it, it was sweet.There is nothing better than driving across Ireland when the weather is good. The sunsets can be unreal and especially after the last storms of winter.



It was good to meet up with old friends and go for a paddle, but it is March in Ireland and it was bloody cold , and mitts were the order of the day. Four days with two sessions each has me beat and sadly feckin’ college work beckoned me back home, but not long till National Champs and more road trips…. Till then I’m out… DC



Photo's by Jackie O & Dave Crerar