Thanks to our sponsors, helpers and well-wishers
This will be the final blog entry for the Europeans championships 2008. I've managed to adjust back to the Irish way of life, the shops open in the early afternoon and getting dinner in before 10pm.
Firstly a big thanks to our sponsors Colm from I-canoe, Shane from Progressive Distribution, the lads at the Lucan Gazette, Tesco in Lucan for letting us have a bag packing day on the 28th of June which was a great success, everybody at the Irish Canoe Union especially Mick Scanlon and Anita Gordon for their help with accomodation booking and team registration for the event, the Irish Sports Council for funding the Irish Canoe Union, the Irish Government for funding the Irish Sports Council and you the Irish taxpayer for funding the whole lot!
To the parents of the junior members of the team: a big thanks for your help with fund raising, giving lifts to training and events and also for cheering the team on at the Europeans. Thanks also to my fellow committee and team members who for their work in the run up to and during the competition. Indeed the team practically managed themselves for the trip. From my own point of view it was a very rewarding trip with a great bunch of people.
Keep an eye out in Outsider magazine in the coming issue for an article about the event by Irish Freestyle PRO and team member Jackie Ferguson.
As promised here are some more photos from the trip:
The team just before the opening ceremony
The ever-majestic Dave O'Sullivan in full flight. Is that some air under the hull of his boat? If it is he is no doubt used to it from taking his blisstick rad boat off some "sweet jumps".
Rory O'Reilly on the water. I'm not sure if he is genuinely happy to be there or if there is a bit of sarcasm involved. I never know with this guy! I'll give him the benefit of the doubt in this one.
Having some lunch at Santiago airport before boarding the flight back home to Ireland.
Are you interested in going on a subsidised kayaking adventure of a lifetime like this complete with "the craic" and guaranteed sunshine? If the answer is yes then why not come along and try out for the team who will represent Ireland at next years' world freestyle kayaking championships from the 31st of August - 6th of September 2009 in Thun, Switzerland (site of this years' world cup event# 3). Details of the selection events will be announced later in the year.
