BSUPA Roadford Lake, Devon Event Results 2010

The second race event in the 2010 series was held at Roadford Lake, Devon on 29^th May 2010. The race was a 5km course with both and upwind and downwind section.

Despite the dreadful weather predictions and the bank holiday traffic the event went ahead. Special mention should be made of Anabel Anderson who braved the London tube system, the hired a car and raced down to Devon, to get stuck in bank holiday traffic, but she made it for the race and put in an excellent performance.

I set the course at 9.30am using a GPS to map a course with an initial short upwind section around a buoy, then a long downwind stretch followed by either the option of a short upwind leg back to the start point, or a longer upwind back around the first buoy. This was the first event that we have held on an inland water and the wind could not make up its mind what it was going to do. When I set the course it was gusting force 4, we were about 30 minutes from the race start and it had dropped to force 2, myself and Mark Slater paddled a section of the upwind course and found it pretty easy, so we decided to go with the longer upwind leg. As soon as the last competitors rounded the first buoy the wind kicked up to force 5, meaning we had a fantastic fast downwind paddle, but then had to paddle into the, by now, strengthening wind.

Sadly Tony MacKellar had to call the support boat over and with draw from the race, Tony had two suspected broken toes from an incident earlier in the week, but still gamely decided to have a go at the race.

Rounding the buoy we all had to battle the wind, it was a really good test of fitness. I decided to head towards the shore line and work my way around trying to find some shelter from the wind, but there was very little shelter and lots of weeds to get tangled up in. Eventually I realised the only option was to slog in out towards the buoy. Carl Reynolds came past me as I was struggling with the chop and wind, he looked very composed, while I was feeling very frantic, he explained later that he was used to windy conditions in North Wales! Once around the final buoy is was a downwind/cross wind leg to the finish line, which has never been so welcome. Elliot Dudley and Ryan James had a battle on for first place, Ryan paddled further than anyone else due to a slight misunderstanding about the location of the downwind buoy, but he still lead the race and was just pipped at the finish.

I really enjoyed the race and the challenge it provided. South West Lakes Trust, Bob and the team at Roadford, and Roger Goulding from the Environment Agency were fantastic hosts so thanks very much to them! Roadford Lake is a fantastic place to paddle and has camping on site. I would recommend it for a destination to do some SUP exploring as there is lots to see.

A few of us got back onto the water later in the day to pose for some press photographers, so look out for them in the news. I was filmed teaching Chris Hines (founder of Surfers Against Sewage, ex Eden Project and current Blue Gym Project manager) to stand up paddle, he did really enjoy it, and I hope to get together with him again sometime and take it into the surf.

The next BSUPA series event will be on 4th July at Brighton as part of Paddle Round the Pier. See you there !

Matt Argyle.

Results

12ft 6" and above Mens class.

12ft 6" and above Womens class.

12ft 6" and below Mens class.

12ft 6" and below Womens class.

Thanks to Chris Thain from Thain Leisure for the photographs