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• Dudh Kosi Trip 1976
• Many Rivers To Run
• Mike Jones Remembered
• Coruh Extreme
• BCU Expeditions Committee
• Coruh River Guide

A preview of
Dudh Kosi - Relentless River of Everest
is available Here!

For the past 30 years I've brought my equipment from...

At last! Sunglasses that don't come off... Seaspecs sunglasses

		New for 2009 Efes Extreme Raft and kayak event. This was cancelled as two things - probably linked - happened. There was a lack of international entrants (WHY - free accommodation, food and local transport for the duration of the event) and the sponsor Efes pulled the money. Mind you as soon as I announced the cancellation I had three raft teams and a several individual kayak paddlers who said "Oh we were going to come!" I still hope to run this event so let me know if you want to come to a similar event should I obtain sponsorship. Below is how the event was planned for 2009 but I would probably run it more as a festival with guides for the less experienced paddlers. Though it was originally planned to be run from the 9th to14th June the races will now be on the 12th and 13th though I will be there from the week before setting up so if you are planned to arrive earlier then no trouble we can show you around and you can practise or explore New for 2009 Efes Extreme Raft and kayak event. Dates 10th June transport from Istanbul to the river leaves this will depend a little on the numbers who will be in Istanbul at that time. More details to follow. 11th June Evening Welcome and introductions and outline of the final program. 12th June Morning. Practice and opening event, probably the Head to Head race. Afternoon the Slalom course will be set and available for free practice. 13th June the big day of races Slalom first and then in the Afternoon a sprint race around 2 mins long and no doubt through a suitable rapid 14th June Transport to Erzurum for your onward journey The sponsor Efes Beer will cover all the competitors transport during the event and also their food and accommodation. There will be a maximum of 16 teams competing with at least 4 teams being Turkish. Obviously we want as many individual national teams as is possible but there is also room for a “rainbow raft” of a mix of nations. Contact me if you want further details to enter. Rules. 1. Rafts to have 6 paddlers in each boat. 2. Teams to provide their own raft, paddles, life jackets and helmets. There are no restrictions on raft design this year. 3. Teams may bring one reserve paddler in case of injury or illness and also one kayak paddler to act as safety cover for the raft. (The organisers will provide additional cover at the main rapids.) 4. The details of each event and any rules will be explained on the day to team captains. 5. The events will be weighted with the Marathon Race having the bulk of the points awarded. The actual percentage will be decided when the water levels are known. 6. The raft and kayak competitions are separate events: the raft competition is the event; the kayak event is “just for fun”. Terms. 1. The organisers will provide coach transport from Istanbul to Ispir for all competitors leaving 9.00am Tuesday 9th June from the Blue Mosque area of Istanbul. There will be a further collection from the Asian side for those who fly into the Sabiha Gokcen airport (on the Asian side of Istanbul) used by Easy Jet and German Wings and maybe other budget airlines. 2. Rafts can be transported by the coach. 3. If rafts are delivered to Trieste by Wednesday 3rd June the organisers will transport the rafts from there to Ispir. (No paddles or other equipment – RAFTS ONLY!) 4. Transport of rafts back from Erzurum is the team’s responsibility. 5. All transport during the event will be provided by the organisers. Each team will be given a minibus and driver for the duration of the event. 6. At the end of the event the organisers will provide transport from Yusufeli to Erzurum only. Too many teams will have too many different plans for the organisers to coordinate the myriad of destinations! 7. The organisers will provide food and accommodation for the teams from Wednesday 10th Lunch through to Sunday 14th breakfast. Food and accommodation in Istanbul and en-route to the event are the competitors’ responsibility. Coruh Extreme - a series of White-Water tournaments in Turkey The original tournament, in 2005, involved some of the best kayakers in the world. Raphael Thibeau was the overall winner of the men's competition, Debs Pinniger the female winner. The River Coruh in Eastern Turkey has been a regular haunt of mine and I still go out there when I can. The Coruh is currently being dammed but there will be good white-water for many years to come and so catch it while you can.
		For those who would like to indulge in a bit of nostalgia, a PDF file of the participants and the results can be viewed here. A gallery of piccies of the event is available here.

 

'If the stories aren’t enough to set the heart racing then the few black-and-white and superb sections of colour photos will help. This book is far and away the best and most enjoyable collection of “paddling stories” that I have read. An inspirational read.'  Chris Sladden reviewing Many Rivers to Run