Tiger Boat Racing

Report on the Jim Wilson Tiger Boat Challenge for Cumbria Canoe Clubs, 24th April 2024
Everyone we have spoken to says “What an enthusiastic and happy evening”.
A big thank you to everyone who made this such a huge success - in particular -

• Derwentwater Marina for hosting us all.
• Our Race Director in the start boat - Rob Sanderson and his crew Ian Fauldes.
• Our enthusiastic Tiger Boat Helms - Mark Aplin, Rich Robinson, John Crosbie, Tim Mather.
• Our hawk eyed Timekeepers -Guy Murray and Alex Fradley in the finish boat with Lisa Price. 
• The paddlers who drove a long way, on a mid-week evening to come to Derwentwater and the captains who got the teams together from West Cumbria, Carlisle, Copeland, Lakeland and Penrith canoe clubs.
• Our Welcome team of Hazel, Shaun and Jack who gave you a friendly welcome.
• Our team of cheerful chefs who laid on an outstanding non-stop BBQ for about 100 people - Becca Muir, Mark and Helen Hunt, Ellon, Sean and Bea.
• The Shore Organisers for WCCC  - Pete Knowles and Alan Ashby.

 
Brief Report
Tiger Boats are similar to small dragon boats and require a crew of 10 persons and an experienced  “helm” - the person steering.  Racing them is great fun and requires a quick start, teamwork, coordination and hard paddling - Various levels of all of these were achieved!  As the evening went on the races became more and more exciting with lots of happy cheering and 7 races were packed into a hectic 90 minutes of enthusiastic, non-stop racing. 
The heats were close with all teams putting up credible times.  The two teams with the best times in the heats - Penrith A and Copeland Canoe Clubs went through to the final - What looked like a dramatic crash in the final was thankfully only a minor bump which did not affect the result with Penrith A a clear winner.  Lisa Price from Derwentwater Marina presented Penrith Canoe Club with the Jim Wilson trophy and thanked everyone for making it such a happy, enthusiastic event.   
 
Photos and Media

• Alan Ashby took a load of good photos and the best of these are available on this link …….
• We attach the race times.
• Please feel free to publicise the event on social and other media.

 
Best wishes and happy paddling in the summer ahead!
 
Peter Knowles and Alan Ashby for WCCC