Cranafest 2013

The Crana Canoe weekend took place over the weekend (19th/20th).  This year seen nearly 200 kayakers taking to the water in 6 disciplines. There was Sea kayak racing, Freestyle, Slalom, Rafting, Wild Water racing and Boater Cross to choose from.  There is also coaching clinics in paddling technique and safety and rescue available to everyone over the weekend.   This event has been running for a few years now and has become the biggest white water kayaking event on the Irish calendar.  The setting is perfect for such an event.  The Crana river is dam released for the weekend so the water is guaranteed which is fantastic as you can plan your weekend well in advance and not worry about the event being cancelled due to no water. A novelty in Ireland!

The "Claw" drop. Neil Slevin leads, Eoin Keyes in 2nd and me about to launch. Thanks Elaine Alexander for the photo.

Saturday was a busy day packed with competitions.  Starting in the morning with the sea kayak race.  I took the win in the sea kayak category in the Tahe Marine Wind Solo.  This is the second time I have raced this boat and the second win.  Definitely one of the fastest plastic sea kayak on the go.   Then there was a raft race which was great craic and after that the Dagger Dash fun race.  At the same time there was also a freestyle competition on the lower part of the river and racers training on the boater cross course.

The main event of the weekend is the advanced boater cross which is raced over the upper section of the river and the infamous "Claw" drop on Sunday afternoon.  The level of carnage here on race day is unbelievable and a real show for the spectators who line the river bank.  I came 2nd in this event last year so I was hopeful of a repeat performance this year.  I got of to a good start winning my first heat.  But I got caught up in some dirty tactics at the start of the next heat and this left me in 3rd place coming into the Claw.  Only 1st and 2nd would advance. So a last ditch effort was made to take out Eoin Keyes in 2nd.  Boofing on to his deck sent me right into the "room of doom" and the slow line. Crossed  the line in 4th and was out of the competition.  The final was set to be a cracker. Irish international slalom paddler Ciaran Heurteau had come specially for the event and didn't disappoint.  He charged through the heats and took the final win in style. 

Well done to Adrian Harkin and the Just Kayak team for putting on such a great event.  Put it in your calendar for 2014 no doubt it will be even bigger and better next year.