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LATEST NEWS

Sunday 25th July 2010 - Whilst a large contingency of Paddlers for Life members attended the launch of Paddlers for Life Scotland SW at Loch Ken,

15 other paddlers enjoyed a 4 hour paddle and picnic on Lake Windermere during the Windermere Air Show, a warm welcome was extended to new members.

Solstice Paddle

Paddlers for Life had a great day for the Solstice Paddle. Sunny conditions and a cooling following breeze allowed the paddlers to beat last year's time by 12 minutes finishing in a time of 1 hour 44 minutes. This great success was preceded by a 'dotting of the eye' ceremony at Waterhead with a song from the paddlers and a warm and affectionate speech from Keni about Paddlers for Life.
Three River Serpents dragon boat team participated with one of our boats finishing in 1 hour 27 minutes!

Canada IDBF
Paddlers for Life for Life have had a great couple of days at the International Dragon Boat Festival races in Peterborough, Ontario and did us proud.
In their first heat they came second with a time of 2 minutes 42 seconds.They also came second in their second heat with a time of 2 minutes 40 seconds.
They enjoyed a second day of races on sunday.
They thank everyone at home for the support they have had in getting them to this point.
They say we will all be with them in the boat when they race.

Well done Paddlers for Life!!

Click the Canada IDBF menu link to catch up with news of Paddlers for Life when they went Canada.

Singing Workshop 22 May 2010

'Paddlers for Life, confident that we will be selected as the UK entry for Eurovision 2010, after blowing them away in Peterborough! Winners all the way.' Photography by Robert Brandom

Anticipation!

When we're in the boats, every one of us (regardless of age, health, strength or experience) is as strong as the whole team, and most importantly we're planning for the future and where that will take us. 2010 is our third paddling season and will be hugely significant as, for the first time, the team will be taking part in an international festival of dragon boating, taking place in Peterborough, Ontario (Canada). This “Celebration of Life” is specifically an event for breast cancer survivors and will welcome an astonishing 65 crews from all over the world. The flags will be flying, the excitement will be tremendous, and WE'LL BE THERE, representing Low Wood, Cumbria, the UK … and the many personal achievements that have got us all this far.

It feels like we're going to the Olympics,

and it feels like we're going to be amazing!

So, with ?? days to go, how is it taking us today?

“I'm excited about where we're heading – we look good already!”

“It was so good to see everyone together again. A sense of anticipation you could touch. Are we excited? I think we are!”

“Brilliant to be back on the lake in this stunning place, with the team working so well together. A happy day!”

“It was a long winter; now we're back it feels like the first day of spring.”

“I'm so high on life as a survivor, grateful for such wonderful opportunities that being part of Paddlers for Life brings. Thank you all.”

Training for the festival.

On Sunday 16th. May, paddlers had a great morning training in challenging winds. The paddling standard is really high, strength and stamina has come on in leaps and bounds.
In the afternoon we welcomed visitors from Dumfries and Galloway (and Action Man!)

The visitors intend to set up their own dragon boat paddling team with Paddlers for Life support. Some visitors had their first experience of paddling.

How many Action Men, and Action Women, can you see?

Then... the agony and the ecstasy!

Paddlers for Life members have another great day paddling on Windermere.

MacMillan Cancer Support have an article about Paddlers for Life in their Exchange Spring 2010 newsletter.

Our Cox Box has been tested in challenging coaching! No excuses for not knowing what is expected now.

Aly was the leader of a beautiful walk in wonderful weather in Great Langdale in march.

Abreast in a Boat to carry Olympic torch read about it here

Paddlers for Life feature in the Cumbria Community Foundation 2010 Calendar, the month of June,

copies of the calendar can be bought from Cumbria Community Foundation for £5, proceeds go towards Cumbria flood relief.

More photographs from the training sessions with Keni and the 3 River Serpents,

view them here

Magic paddling with the ultimate coaching tool.

Once again, Paddlers for Life find themselves hugely privileged to be presented with yet another unique opportunity. They just keep on appearing!
It gives Paddlers for Life immense pleasure to acknowledge the tireless and generous efforts of Dr Helen Crank and Heather Driscoll, Sheffield Hallam University,in progressing our pre-season training both individually and as a team.
The story begins when Helen can hardly believe her good fortune to hear that Sports Engineer and colleague, Heather, was involved in the technical design of an Australian data acquisition dragon boat paddle, the Excalibur by Merlin. Heather was able to secure the loan of the Merlin Excalibur Paddle from the distributors, Stylo Sports (www.stylosports.com) who are about to make the tool available for hire in the UK.
A weekend training camp on the River Wear, Durham (a big thank you to the 3 River Serpents) was arranged. It was timely for Heather to join us in Durham...multi-tasking as the courier, demonstrator, data analyst and co-paddler, to name but a few roles she so willingly took on!
There were mixed feelings of excitement and uncertainty among Paddlers for Life being the first crew here in the UK to try the paddle out. And check, of course, on training progress.
A great weekend was had by all!
Paddlers for Life are grateful for the, albeit brief association with Merlin Advanced Dragon Boat Gear and Paddles which produces equipment in support of Dragon's Abreast, Australia. For more information on the Excalibur paddle, follow this link to the Data Products section of the Merlin website http://www.merlingear.com/excalibur.htm
We wondered if Dragon's Abreast had experience of the Excalibur in preparation for the 2010 Celebration of Life.

Paddlers are driven up the wall!

Click on Harry to see action on the Kendal Wall

17th January 2010 - Shirmas Farm, Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway

The trustees of Paddlers for Life were warmly welcomed by an inspired group of women in Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway. During part of the meeting

the formation and history of Paddlers for Life was discussed.

January 2010

Thought you might like to see photographs of the breakaway Wansfell team.
Ignoring team orders we continued with the original plan and headed for Wansfell.
The final summit push was in doubt until a magnificent lead by S P-J lead the
team safely, if a little breathless to the snow encased top.
The top was only halfway of course and the decent has its moments
as we wandered aimlessly over trackless fells. Eventually stumbling into Zeff's
for tea and stickies.
The temperature was a little low but at least the honour of the Dragn Boat Team was maintained.