Jake, K1M Superstar, kindly invited me to an awarding event at Bedford Rugby Club today where I found that he was the one receiving the award! Very well deserved Jake! I was noted on the guest list as the "Recipients Coach", a rather grand title as I favour being more of a mentor than a coach for this particular athlete.

Jake is a top junior slalom whitewater paddler who continues to improve despite living far from white water and having no local training partner. This makes it tough on him and his support team (Mum and Dad) who drive him to wherever there is white water on a regular basis. He picked up a £500 cheque today so that will go some way to assist him furthering his ambitions. When asked what these were he says "2012 maybe but 2016 more realistically". He is in with a shot at both so wish him well.

Todays event was dotted with local fellow professionals and buisiness folk several of whom I have known for many years so I enjoyed a good chinwag. These images feature some of these together with the the guests on our table. One of these was the guest speaker, ex England cricket captain Chris Cowdrey, son of crickiting legend Colin Cowdrey, who was very entertaining :-)

Thanks for the invite Jake! Most enjoyable.

PP