Visit to Cosmeston

The club ran a successful trip to Cosmeston Lake today, providing an opportunity for a number of members to have their first experience of paddling on open water. Congratulations go to John, James and Euros (Da iawn!) all of whom passed their 2* test. Thanks to Grant, Andy and Steve for leadership, assessing and barbi respectively.

Evacuation Plans and Operating Procedures

At a Committee meeting on 9 March, it was agreed that we would attempt to draft evacuation plans/risk assessments for the following sites:

Upper Taff (Quaker's Yd - Trefforest): to be drafted by Hywel

Lower Taff (Upper Boat - Llandaf rowing club), and Cosmeston: Grant

Symond's Yat: Phil

Usk (Tal-y-bont to Crickhowell): Andy R.

Usk (Sennybridge - Aberbrân): John N.

Details of the sort of things needed are given in docs. (in Paper Port format), downloadable from the following:

www.members.aol.com/padlwrcymru/DragonPaddlers/PrepofanEmergencyEvacPlan.max

www.members.aol.com/padlwrcymru/DragonPaddlers/Localoperatingprocedures.max

To view them you will need, unless you have Paper Port, to download a viewer from: http://www.scansoft.com/paperport/viewers/

One of the reasons for preparing the plans etc. is to follow up on advice received from the WCA Club Visit report on 29/1/04 which included: "Not all coaches are qualified for sites used....I would recommend that these coach competencies and experience, and sites they can operate are discussed, minuted and reflected in risk assessments". If the coach will clearly be operating within his qualified competence, the immediate need for action is less. Therefore those of us qualified as L2 coaches can continue to coach on basically flat, sheltered water, L3 can coach on Grade 2 water, and 5* holders can lead on up to Grade3-4. So, Grant and Andy R. don't have to rush at the bits allocated to them whereas I, John N. and Phil do need to act to provide ourselves with cover for coaching/leading on the sites against our names above.

We also agreed to arrange sessions as follows: Cosmeston, Sunday 28 March (possibly with barbie); Glasbury - Hay on Wye, Sunday 9 May.