Stafford and Stone CC Mini Slaloms 2006

A record number of entries to the Stafford and Stone CC mini slaloms this year bodes well for the future of British slalom. 169 entries for the first event, with a combined total of 381 over the entire series is the healthiest start line for the pre-season races ever, beating even the highs of the early 1980s. It was good to see a complete mix of abilities from the top of Premier to complete beginners with several paddlers from other disciplines sampling slalom for the first time.

The series of three pre-season races are handicapped to ensure that all categories and divisions have a chance of winning. The ten highest placed paddlers from the three races battled for the top positions in a one-run super-final to end the event

This year’s series was won by Jacqueline Shaw from Ribble Canoe Club, a division two, J16 paddler who handled the pressure of the cheering spectators to put in a time respectable for the division above. Helen Millband, who came into the final in commanding position with two wins and a second place exited a break-out too tight and had to paddle back for a gate, ending her chances of the trophy, finishing equal 4th.

Not surprisingly, given the fact that 50-60 entries at each race were from the hosting club, 13 of the top 15 positions were taken by Stafford and Stone CC paddlers. In joint second place were club members, Natalie Wilson (Div 1) and Mark Proctor (Prem C1). Natalie’s result was all the more impressive as last year she came third in the overall rankings as a division 4 paddler, such has been her progress up the divisions. Natalie’s younger brother, Michael, seems to be following in her footsteps, as he too made the final having a hat trick of division 3 wins over the series. Aged only 11, his result was remarkable as Michael has only been paddling for the past eight months.

Mark Proctor, a member of the World Class Potential squad, has maintained his position as one of the top junior C1 paddlers, improving only one place from 4th last year. However, he came into the super-final in 7th place behind club member and Prem C1 paddler, Greg Pitt who was lying in third. Greg is one of the 13 SSCC paddlers on the World Class Start programme.

As well as support for the upper end of the sport, Stafford and Stone CC, along with neighbouring clubs Matlock CC, Burton CC and Holme Pierrepont CC are all benefiting from initiatives to encourage more children to do sport at entry-level. Many of the local lower-division paddlers were helped by government-funded Community Sports Coaches and were using junior equipment bought with the help of funding raised by the BCU.

The final event of the mini slalom series was also a ranking division 4 event. Daniel Bird from Walsall CC and Lindsey Furness from Holme Pierrepont CC were both promoted in C1 and K1W respectively based on the men’s times. Matt Stevens from Evesham Paddlers, and Daniel Wright and Harry Boardman from Stafford and Stone CC were also promoted in K1.