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She's the best!! August 16th 2008Elena Kaliska is Olympic Champion!! She has won gold again, just like she did in the Olympics 4 years ago...proving consistancy...and that she is simply the best!! Elena, from Slovakia, has invited me to train with her on numerous occasions, she is a kind, gentle person - and I'm proud to call her my friend!! AHOY ELENA...srdecne gratulujem, Si uplne vynimocna a definitivne si to zasluzis !!
OUCH!!! No Pre Worlds for me....... 11/7/08All was going well in Seu - Jim and Leesa McConnachie had offered to support me with coaching and video....training was good....but then, on the morning before the race, I somehow managed to fall down a full set of stairs in my hotel. A very kind woman - Mari Carmen - took me down to the local hospital, where I ended up having 4 stitches in my elbow. It was incredibly painful, yet initially I thought I would still be able to race....but by the following morning the swelling was preventing me from bending my arm and I decided it would be sensible to follow the advice given to me at the hospital. Gutted!! Watching certainly motivated me to want to race well in the Worlds there next year...it is such a great site! Fab to see Johny make his first semi final.....and brilliant to see my Italian friends Andrea and Erik medal again....tu e fantastico..bravo!!! (Well done Ettiene+Tim too!!)
Augsburg World Cup 3A fun week in Augsburg...thanks to Peter Mraz (Elena's coach) for offering to walk the course with me. A big mistake at the start resulted in me finishing well below where I should have been -33rd...Being the only woman racing in the World Cup without a coach is difficult...however, it was satisfying to finish top Irish Woman AGAIN, not just in this race, but in the overall World Cup Ranking for 2008. Lovely to spend time with my friend Nadine (will miss you!) and great to see my friends at Dolche Vita again - especially Angelo - recovering really well after his motorbike accident. Many many thanks to the fab manager at Quality Hotel - Heiko - and the sweet Monika, for giving me such a great deal....this hotel is brilliant...... I will definately be back! click here for the Quality Hotels website - in Augsburg.
Life is good.......30/6/08I've driven out to Europe for a month, to race in the World Cup series and Pre - World Championships.... and I'm loving it!! It is great to have my own car out here - and Johny Akinyemi (Nigeria) is a pleasure to travel with! World Cup 1 went ok....29th in the Semi Final...thanks a million to Erik Masoero for talking through the course with me. World Cup 2, in Tacen, I loved....was brilliant to have some coaching from top Slovenian paddler, Andrej Nolimal (pictured)- and this certainly helped in me finishing 18th in the Semis. I felt I raced well....just a big time loss at the bottom cost me a significant number of places. He is a cool guy and I hope to work more with him in the future. Many congrats to my friend Nina for her 4th place - an excellent result!! We have now arrived in Augsburg, Germany....ready for World Cup 3 this coming weekend. After the disappointment of not making Beijing, it is great to feel so excited about paddling again....Tacen certainly helped.....!!
Some people are just smashing.........!!! 13/6/08Frank Worboys certainly is!!! He is pictured here giving me the keys to my new sponsored car - the FIAT Grande Punto. It is a fab car and both Frank and Matt Ward have shown me tremendous support lately - I am very grateful (and Frank..I will try REALLY hard not to bump this car as many times as the Seidici!! ) Click here to visit SUNWIN's website.
No Olympics for me, but great results for my friends......I haven't made it to Beijing Olympics - I'm really disappointed, but proud of what I managed to do in the circumstances......(I will explain more when I can!!) Thanks so much to Andrea Benetti for helping me with the course and for Michelle and others that sent me positive messages. I'm very grateful to my sports psychologist Craig Mahoney, to my sponsors, friends and those that have helped me prepare for the Olympic selection. Well done to my close friend Christina Gia Pron, from Italy, who managed to qualify in the most terrible personal circumstances - I know your Dad would be very proud of you - I think you showed tremendous strength to even get to the start line. Well done to Maria too. Andrea and Erik - you did brilliantly to medal...fab!! Finally, congratulations to my friend Elena Kaliska - who has just qualified her place for Slovakia - I am delighted for you and hope you take the GOLD!!! xx
Through to the Semi's with big mistake on first run!! 8/5/08Phew! After what seemed to be a good, solid (and clean!) first run, I made a mistake on my approach to gate 23 and missed it. What a nightmare..I spent what seemed like forever paddling back up for it - finishing on the cut off for Semi's. With a better 2nd run, I am through to Saturday.
3/5/08 In Poland for European Champs and Olympic Qualification.....I have been here in Krakow now for a couple of days, preparing for the European Champs and the final Olympic qualification. The racing starts Thursday and the semi's and final will be on Saturday.
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Dad's 70th - April 16th 2008Last week was my Dad's 70th birthday and I organised a surprise party at his local - The Blackboy, in Heage, with over 50 of his friends and family. It was a wonderful evening...it was great to meet so many of his lovely friends and especially nice to have my Aunt Winnie & the gang from Nolfolk there. My friend, Martin Taylor, a personal trainer from David Lloyd, came to do the entertainment - wow - what an amazing musician!!!! He sang all evening and played a huge range of instruments....we were all totally impressed - Thanks so much Martin - I'm a fan!!! Thanks to Joan and Pauline for helping me get everyone there, to Carol for keeping it quiet, to Winnie for the pictures and for bringing so many up from Nolfolk, to Kelly and the staff at the Blackboy for the brilliant organisation and excellent food - and to all Dad's friends for coming. It was great!! click here to see the photos',
I'm selected for the Irish Team for 2008 - next step, Olympic qualification.....Having made the percentages last weekend in Scotland, I am in the Irish Team for 2008. I was paddling really well on Saturday, until I missed gate 11 and spent 19 seconds paddling back for it!! With another big paddle back on my second run, it was down to Sunday to enable me to qualify. With Campbell racing, it was always going to be tough....but thankfully by him hitting a pole each run it made things alot easier for me (You know I think you're lovely Campbell.....wouldn't want you to hit a pole normally - but on this occasion it helped, thanks!!) The next step is to qualify a boat for Ireland in the European Champs - this is in Poland, next month.
Racing in Scotland....and it's snowing!!! 22.3.08I'm in Scotland for 10 days and it is absolutely freezing!! It snowed all weekend and I don't ever remember being that cold at a race! I won on Saturday, with a good 2nd run.....but on Sunday I just didn't paddle well in the Pan Celtic - 2 huge time losses left me only 3rd. However, I made the percentage required for Irish selection, which was the priority. 2 more races next weekend, then back to Nottingham. I am staying at Craigvrack Hotel again, in Pitlochry......Alan, Barbara and Jack are making me feel incredibly welcome and it is fab to see them again. Big thankyou to them (especially Jack - pictured, who came to cheer me on at the race!)
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Just home - What a fab trip!! March 2nd 2008Just arrived back in Nottingham after 8 brilliant weeks in Australia. The training was fantastic - thanks to Lou, my training partner in January and to Waz for the coaching in February. Also, thanks to Elena Kaliska, who invited me on some of her sessions and to Nina & Heather too ..(Was fun spending time with you!) I met some lovely people - and made some great friends..... a BIG thanks for the cards and presents from my mates at Bodyfit - Kel, Vaughan, Justine and all the others....(I'm missing you already!!!!) Click here for a few 'friends' pics - you will need to click on the 'Friends in Oz'. There are also afew paddling photos here from Brett Heyl...taken before my boat got damaged...click on the above link...and then on 'Brett's pics'
Sponsored FIAT in AustraliaMany thanks to Chris Granger, manager at Nepean Motor Group in Penrith, for sponsoring me with a FIAT during my stay in Australia. Great car - fab graphics!!
Bondi Beach... Feb 08Couldn't resist adding this photo when I heard it was snowing at home..hehe!!! I also want to congratulate Candleby Lane Primary School on their OUTSTANDING Ofsted!!!!! The school got oustanding in every area....and half the lessons were oustanding too - apparently the most the inspection team have ever seen. I am delighted for you all....well done (especially Chris....love you lots Mr Wheatley!!)....and see you all next month!!
Training going well here in Australia.......Training is going really well here in Australia....had a brilliant month with Lou....and am now working with Warwick Draper. I'm missing Paul Mitchell, who was coaching me back in Nottingham, but am learning lots from Warwick and he is a great guy! Been doing weights at Bodyfit gym in Blaxland ...everyone is so friendly there!
I'm in Australia!!! January 08Just arrived in Australia and am here for the next 2 months, winter training. Lou Donnington is here with me for the first 4 weeks. The guys at quarantine took our boats yesterday and we wont get them back until tomorrow, so we spent the afternoon at Featherdale Wildlife Park......was great!
Candleby Lane School's Xmas Party 14.12.07What a fab night...aswell as seeing Alex sing in SNUG (see below!) the whole night was amazing....great fun!!! Pictured are Lynn, on my left and Nic, on my right. You organised a great night Mr Wheatley!!! Click here for more photos....select the 'XMAS PARTY' set
Wow....bumped into Alex ChapmanI just couldn't believe it when our staff night out from Candleby Lane School ended up in SNUG on Friday - with my favourite local singer playing - ALEX CHAPMAN!!!!!! He was brilliant and we all had a fab night....! Thanks for the song - and the advice Alex - I've taken it on board!!! ;-) Click here to see more of Alex - on his website.
TIMES EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT 11/10/07I am in this weeks TES....being interviewed about my Olympic goal and how I manage to combine my training with work as a Primary School Teacher. There are some great photos too - like this one on the left - all taken by Richard Hanson.
Green PADDY POWER paddlesPADDY POWER have kindly renewed their sponsorship with me (thanks so much Paddy!!) and have chosen to put their green and white branding on my paddles. A HUGE thankyou to the wonderful Ondra Raab for making them for me - they're fab!! www.raabpaddles.com www.paddypower.com
Brazil - World ChampsNot a good race for me.....was paddling well leading up to the competition, but hit a rock under the water with my tail at gate 3 - and consequently missed the eddy at 4. This means that I have to qualify for the Olympics next Spring instead......and I'm determined to do it!!
29/8/07 PGL Adventure back on boardPGL Adventure are Europes leading activity holiday specialists and I'm really proud to be associated with them! I can honestly say they are the best holidays I have ever been on....oh and I first picked up a paddle whilst on a PGL holiday too, aged 15!!! They have just celebrated their 50th birthday and are back sponsoring me. For more information on their holidays, see www.pgl.co.uk
17/7/2007 A wonderful day at Heage Primary SchoolI have just spent the morning back at my old school, Heage Primary, where I did an assembly for all the children and talked to them about my Olympic goal. It was a wonderful experience to be back there after so many years - and really fantastic to meet Mrs Sharp again, who taught me when I was 9 years old!!! Thanks to everyone...especially the children, for making me feel so welcome. Picture courtesy of Derby Evening Telegraph
June - START OF WORLD CUP RACES 2007I'm out in Europe now for the 3 World Cup races and working with Michelle Patrick. Not only is Michelle an excellent coach and a qualified physio....she's a great friend too!!! Having a fab time and looking forward to the races starting this weekend.
April - I'M SELECTED!!After making the percentage in all 3 selection races, I have qualified for the Irish Team for 2007...first step on the road to Beijing! The World Championships, in September, will be the first Olympic qualifier. A special thanks to Alan, Barbara and Jack - at the Craigvrack hotel, for making my stay in Scotland for the selection races so enjoyable!
November - New Sponsored TransportFiat UK joined up with Sunwin in Derby to provide me with the new Seidici 4x4. Its fab! Pictured is the lovely Frank Worboys (Sunwins manager) handing over the keys.
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