Gearoid can be seen testing out our new bikes!!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Good Weekend Training
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Fundraising Bridgewater Shopping Centre Arklow raises over €400
Monday 2/5/11,
WHAC Team would like to thank the people of Arklow for their generous contributions in helping to raise over €400 euro for the Wicklow Hospice. WHAC Team members, Derek McMullen, Shane Culleton and Paddy Mullan could be found rowing and cycling at their information stand outside Dunnes Stores inside the shopping centre. They were joined by volunteers Barry, and Aonghus who helped keep the bike and rowing machine going continously for over 5 hours. The people of Arklow were very receptive to the team and their encouragement and support has been a real morale boost for the team
WHAC Team would like to thank the people of Arklow for their generous contributions in helping to raise over €400 euro for the Wicklow Hospice. WHAC Team members, Derek McMullen, Shane Culleton and Paddy Mullan could be found rowing and cycling at their information stand outside Dunnes Stores inside the shopping centre. They were joined by volunteers Barry, and Aonghus who helped keep the bike and rowing machine going continously for over 5 hours. The people of Arklow were very receptive to the team and their encouragement and support has been a real morale boost for the team
Paddy, Derek, Barry and Shane
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Quiz Night raises over €1300 for Hospice
Gearoid, Niall and Derek getting set up
Hi GuysWe had a quiz night on Thursday 28 April and it was a great success!! Id like to say a big thanks to Roddy Bolands in Rathmines who provided the venue and were brilliant to us, and a big thanks to the 15 teams who took part.Roddys also sponsered the 2nd prize of a €50 euro food and drink voucher. Also we raffled off a pair of training boxing glovessigned by World Number 1 Katie Taylor.
WHAC Team holding Katie Taylors Gloves which were raffled off
The lads presenting the €100 worth of ice cream voucher courtesy of Mullans Ice Cream to the winners of the riddle round
WHAC Team will be in the Bridgewater Shopping Centre in Arklow on Monday 2nd May raising money so look out for us!!
Thanks again to everyone involved in the Quiz night
12 hour Training
Sorry this blog is a little late but we are still recovering from mondays session.
Monday 25/4/11
It took all my willpower to refrain from hitting the alarm clock snooze button for the third time, it was now 5:30am and Captain Buzzkill (Gearóid) would not be in a good mood if we were not all at Bullock Harbour by 6:15am. What a way to spend your Easter Bank Holiday. My arms were still fresh with the pain of Saturdays fundraising in Greystones. I quickly threw 2 weetbix (not misspelt im just cheap) into me and began my quest of throwing the kayak onto the x-trail, difficult and noisy, should have got help dont think the neighbours were impressed. I arrived at Bullock at 6:31am, Gearoid was already setting up and Paddy followed shortly.
The 3 of us got on the water at 7:20am, their was an unusual silence in the group, we knew it was going to be a long day. The plan was to stay out for 12 hours, the Tide was heading out and south so we would follow it in the direction of Bray until it turned. The wind was Northerly about force 9, this was causing the sea to be quite choppy, nothing dangerous but would add a certain challenge to the day.
Our path saw us take in Dalkey Island where the curious seals came out to inspect us. From Dalkey Island we follwed the coast around towards Bray, stopping occasionaly to chew on some nutrigrain bars and take sips of water from the platypus's on our front decks. We went into Bray Harbour to explore and to see if we could go up the river, but the tide was out to far. From Bray we travelled around the Head and made a B line for Greystones.
We reached Greystones Harbour around 12:00pm. The Harbour is still under construction so it was interesting to explore it without any boats present and to see how they are constructed. After leaving the Harbour we decided to return towards Dublin Bay as the Tide was turning.
We reached Colliemore Harbour opposite Dalkey Island around 2:30pm and stopped to have lunch. from the sea Colliemore gave Dalkey the feel of some foreign fishing village. We left Colliemore and continued on our journey.
Passing Bullock Harbour was tough, we had done over 8 hours of paddling and our minds and bodys were telling us to put in, but we needed to keep going, only a few hours more!!
For the final leg of our journey we headed across Dublin Bay towards eastwall passing Dun Laoighre Harbour in the process. As we reached East wall we pulled up to watch the Irish Ferries Ship Ulysses, from very close proximity, as she headed into Dublin Harbour. Her bow wave lifted us up and down and at one stage nearly capsized us.
We returned to Bullock Harbour at 7.30pm, Gearoid began practicing a few rolls and skills, myself and Paddy optted to head straight in towards the comfort of dry land and to try and get some life back into the old legs.
All in all it was a good days paddling, we had stayed on the water for over 12 hours and had covered over 50km. Our trip to Wales was becoming more and more a reality as our training efforts and long trips were paying off, the fitness levels were increasing and so too was our mental resolve
Monday 25/4/11
It took all my willpower to refrain from hitting the alarm clock snooze button for the third time, it was now 5:30am and Captain Buzzkill (Gearóid) would not be in a good mood if we were not all at Bullock Harbour by 6:15am. What a way to spend your Easter Bank Holiday. My arms were still fresh with the pain of Saturdays fundraising in Greystones. I quickly threw 2 weetbix (not misspelt im just cheap) into me and began my quest of throwing the kayak onto the x-trail, difficult and noisy, should have got help dont think the neighbours were impressed. I arrived at Bullock at 6:31am, Gearoid was already setting up and Paddy followed shortly.
The 3 of us got on the water at 7:20am, their was an unusual silence in the group, we knew it was going to be a long day. The plan was to stay out for 12 hours, the Tide was heading out and south so we would follow it in the direction of Bray until it turned. The wind was Northerly about force 9, this was causing the sea to be quite choppy, nothing dangerous but would add a certain challenge to the day.
Our path saw us take in Dalkey Island where the curious seals came out to inspect us. From Dalkey Island we follwed the coast around towards Bray, stopping occasionaly to chew on some nutrigrain bars and take sips of water from the platypus's on our front decks. We went into Bray Harbour to explore and to see if we could go up the river, but the tide was out to far. From Bray we travelled around the Head and made a B line for Greystones.
We reached Greystones Harbour around 12:00pm. The Harbour is still under construction so it was interesting to explore it without any boats present and to see how they are constructed. After leaving the Harbour we decided to return towards Dublin Bay as the Tide was turning.
We reached Colliemore Harbour opposite Dalkey Island around 2:30pm and stopped to have lunch. from the sea Colliemore gave Dalkey the feel of some foreign fishing village. We left Colliemore and continued on our journey.
Passing Bullock Harbour was tough, we had done over 8 hours of paddling and our minds and bodys were telling us to put in, but we needed to keep going, only a few hours more!!
For the final leg of our journey we headed across Dublin Bay towards eastwall passing Dun Laoighre Harbour in the process. As we reached East wall we pulled up to watch the Irish Ferries Ship Ulysses, from very close proximity, as she headed into Dublin Harbour. Her bow wave lifted us up and down and at one stage nearly capsized us.
We returned to Bullock Harbour at 7.30pm, Gearoid began practicing a few rolls and skills, myself and Paddy optted to head straight in towards the comfort of dry land and to try and get some life back into the old legs.
All in all it was a good days paddling, we had stayed on the water for over 12 hours and had covered over 50km. Our trip to Wales was becoming more and more a reality as our training efforts and long trips were paying off, the fitness levels were increasing and so too was our mental resolve
Sunday, April 24, 2011
The Team
Meet The Team
Name: Gearóid Ó'Briain
Age: 24
From: Rathdrum Co. Wicklow
Occupation: Military Aviator Irish Air Corps
Hobbies: Kayaking, Climbing, Paragliding.
*****************************************************************************
Name: Shane Culleton
Age: 23
From: Arklow Co. Wicklow
Occupation: Aircraft Leasing Agent
Hobbies: Kayaking, Rowing, Running Pipe Band.
****************************************************************************
Name: Derek McMullen
Age: 27
From: Rathdrum Co. Wicklow
Occupation: Field Service Engineer, MRI/Cyclotron
Hobbies: Kayaking, Climbing, Paragliding, Diving.
***************************************************************************
Name: Paddy Mullan
Age: 28
From: Downpatrick Co.Down NI
Occupation: Military Aviator Irish Air Corps
Hobbies: Kayaking, Wind Surfing, Running, Cycling.
*******************************************************************************
Name: Conor Byrne
Age: 24
From: Arklow Co. Wicklow
Occupation: Free Spirit
Hobbies: Kayaking, Cycling, Social Mayhem
Age: 24
From: Rathdrum Co. Wicklow
Occupation: Military Aviator Irish Air Corps
Hobbies: Kayaking, Climbing, Paragliding.
*****************************************************************************
Age: 23
From: Arklow Co. Wicklow
Occupation: Aircraft Leasing Agent
Hobbies: Kayaking, Rowing, Running Pipe Band.
****************************************************************************
Age: 27
From: Rathdrum Co. Wicklow
Occupation: Field Service Engineer, MRI/Cyclotron
Hobbies: Kayaking, Climbing, Paragliding, Diving.
***************************************************************************
Age: 28
From: Downpatrick Co.Down NI
Occupation: Military Aviator Irish Air Corps
Hobbies: Kayaking, Wind Surfing, Running, Cycling.
*******************************************************************************
Age: 24
From: Arklow Co. Wicklow
Occupation: Free Spirit
Hobbies: Kayaking, Cycling, Social Mayhem
The Adventure Begins
Fundraising 23/04/11
I would like to say a big thank you to the people of Greystones for their immense support yesterday. We managed to raise €1580 for the Hospice. I would also like to thank Superquinn for letting us setup on their premises.The purpose of the fundraising days are not only to raise funds for the Hospice but also to raise awareness of our impending Kayaking trip. Yesterday was our second fundraising day. We kicked off at 9am and finished at 6pm. To get peoples attention our setup involves 2 guys on bikes on a turbotrainer and a guy on a rowing machine. We had a team of 6 guys down yesterday rotating in and out with hour shifts on the bike and half hour shifts on the rower.
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