1977-1978
Just a few images thanks to Peter Bell - and his Dad:)
While I was visiting the UK in 2019 I met up with my old paddling buddy, Peter Bell :)
He very thoughtfully brought some slalom slides, taken by his very supportive Dad, and generously gave them to me. It took me three and a half years to see how I could best view them. Lo and behold, of course there is an App that scans in slides and converts them to images! So here they are!
What a trip down memory lane! Grantully, Llangollen Town Falls, Tryweryn Top site and Hambleden.
It was so great to see these images for the very first time today, 11th December 2022, 44-45 years after they were captured!
Also featured are Mike Mitchell, Roger Mainwaring and Richard Rust who I paddled ferociously against in the individual event but closely with in the team event :) Ghe team name was “Slalom Select” and we did OK :)
I recall so many hard fought races against Mike and Roger particularly as we climbed up through the Divisions at the same time. I can recall my heart sinking when I saw their names on the start list knowing I had to perform at my absolute best to be in with a chance of both beating them and medalling! If any of us slipped up, the others would max that error out! Lol
My heart also sank when I saw Richard in these images as he tragically lost his life in a road accident not too long after these events. We white water folk love the adrenalin and we love to seek it in many other pursuits too. Driving quickly was an unfortunate trait and Richard was not the only one to unfortunately lose his life on the road. Other good friends and rivals went the same way and I really think that those of us who are still around were simply lucky!
Peter & dear old Dad, thank you SO much for these slides! There are not so many good things about getting old but, having crystal clear memories evoked by images from a time when we were not, is a great thing! :)
ENJOY!
Read MoreWhile I was visiting the UK in 2019 I met up with my old paddling buddy, Peter Bell :)
He very thoughtfully brought some slalom slides, taken by his very supportive Dad, and generously gave them to me. It took me three and a half years to see how I could best view them. Lo and behold, of course there is an App that scans in slides and converts them to images! So here they are!
What a trip down memory lane! Grantully, Llangollen Town Falls, Tryweryn Top site and Hambleden.
It was so great to see these images for the very first time today, 11th December 2022, 44-45 years after they were captured!
Also featured are Mike Mitchell, Roger Mainwaring and Richard Rust who I paddled ferociously against in the individual event but closely with in the team event :) Ghe team name was “Slalom Select” and we did OK :)
I recall so many hard fought races against Mike and Roger particularly as we climbed up through the Divisions at the same time. I can recall my heart sinking when I saw their names on the start list knowing I had to perform at my absolute best to be in with a chance of both beating them and medalling! If any of us slipped up, the others would max that error out! Lol
My heart also sank when I saw Richard in these images as he tragically lost his life in a road accident not too long after these events. We white water folk love the adrenalin and we love to seek it in many other pursuits too. Driving quickly was an unfortunate trait and Richard was not the only one to unfortunately lose his life on the road. Other good friends and rivals went the same way and I really think that those of us who are still around were simply lucky!
Peter & dear old Dad, thank you SO much for these slides! There are not so many good things about getting old but, having crystal clear memories evoked by images from a time when we were not, is a great thing! :)
ENJOY!
