Pool of Life News September 2008
European Championships Sabaudia 2008
Pool of Life reached Sabaudia, Italy safely on 4th September 2008 in all different modes of transport. The lucky ones arrived by hire car or mini bus and the unlucky ones took public transport, taxis, trains, buses, underground and coaches - you name it, they travelled in it. An experience not to be forgotten especially for those who don't travel light.
This page is dedicated to all the ladies who travelled far, their individual experiences and memories of the emotional times had by all in Sabaudia.
Janet
"Highlight for me was walking back into the official GB squad tent after our first victory to a standing ovation from the whole of the GB squad - it brought tears to me eyes. I was very moved and very proud of what we achieved that day."
I spent so much time laughing it's hard to remember specific incidences... There's my graceful backward somersault off the bench at the Laurentinia bus station which shocked the Italian guy who's lap I nearly landed in, and I had only had a few sips of beer. .. Gerald giving us a dressing down in the boat and Gail owning up to having shouted Bon Giorno (sp?) when Gerald was blaming Paula, although Paula did shout "Hiya" to the Liverpool gang on the bridge!
Gail
What can I say, how proud we looked, what an achievement! I think we all paddled like we had never paddled before in our dragon boating life time.
Gerald and I were joined at the hip for the first days of racing that much so that someone told Marion that they thought I was Gerald's wife and not her!!! Do I look like a pensioner or did they think Gerald had a young bit of stuff? .. Ha ha!
So many people acknowledged how disciplined we were, and what made me laugh was Chris falling off the seat in the boat when we were all focused when setting off for our 500m race. She landed on Margie's knee! The tie rope had hit her and knocked her off, and she did not have her buoyancy aid on - good job she fell backwards and not to the side or we would only have had 15 in the boat.
One more memory, although I have many, was Thomas my grandson on his granddad's shoulders at the opening ceremony clapping, shouting and smiling as we went past dancing to the music with hundreds of dragon boat racers from all over Europe - Russians, Italians, Germans, Polish, French, Hungarians and many more.
Sorry, one more thing, who gave Gerald the responsibility of Dave's pearls? I can only think of one person 'Marion' and I ask don't let him have them at Nottingham or we may have to wait until after the races before we untangle them!
Anne
I still get emotional when I think of what we achieved in Sabaudia. We did what we set out to do and more! Everyone paddled their hearts out.... not just for themselves but for everyone else in the team. We were as one. It was wonderful to be part of.
Highlight for me was the same as Janet's .... coming back to the GB tent after winning our first race to the tumultuous applause of GB Team members. It really was very emotional and I could feel my lips trembling as I forced myself not to cry (with pride and happiness of course!) Also I have to say that I did think it was Paula shouting 'Bon Giorno!' but I daren't laugh after our stern talking to by Gerald!! ( who did a brilliant job all weekend) Our drummers were pretty ace too!
Wendy
The week was filled with funny events, some of which I will never forget. We hired a “Happy Bus” to get our 10 family members around, (plus luggage and 17 paddles) as we had three 17 year olds, as well as a 19, a 20 and a 21 year old, and meal times were chaotic to say the least, trying to find somewhere to eat that suited everyone. (Stephen survived the week on Ritz crackers and Margherita Pizza!). On top of this we had 2 of our party staying 2 miles away with the under 18 GB team, and Kate in another hotel at the other end of town with the Premier Women. It’s a good job we decided to hire a bus as we clocked up many miles driving between the 3 hotels and the supermarket getting water! The heat was the first thing to hit you as you left the airport. As we waited for the minibus, the younger members of our entourage stripped into shorts and T- shirts and then we all got eaten alive by the mosquitoes. We eventually squeezed all the luggage and ourselves into the minibus and looking somewhat like the Beverly Hillbillies set off for Sabaudia. We had brought Tom Tom with us but within a mile of leaving Rome the Sat Nav, in a broad Warrington accent said “You’ve gone the wrong bloody way”. Unbeknown to us a bored Kate had recorded her own directions on the Sat Nav, which is now known as a Kate Kate. After 3 hours we arrived at the hotel, it was not by the sea as we had been led to believe. The brochure said it had its own private beach. This was true but was 5 miles away! Anyway the rooms were clean, had air con and the breakfast improved as the week went on. For the amount of time spent at the hotel I think we had good accommodation.
The Friday night was a slightly worrying one for me. I arrived back at the hotel after an evening meal to find the whole of Pool Of Life outside in the garden slightly worse for wear. Frivolity, raucous laughter and swaying was the order of the night. Emily pointed out that I had gone on too much about how cheap and tasty the fruit was and I shouldn’t have encouraged people to buy so much. Now POL had turned the fruit into a homemade, punch. Linda (our very own brown owl) decided to put the fruit, wine, vodka, Martini and a garden bowl to good use! All of the other teams representing GB had decided on a total alcohol ban until after the last race and there was POL well in the spirit of things less than 15 hours before our first race. David staggering into the hotel declared he was going to bed and so was Gerald. I think not together but then who knows!! I had a restless night thinking of the morning hangovers. but on reflection I think this is our secret weapon, (alcohol). We were truly awesome on the water and won convincingly every race. I am so proud to add GOLD to my collection and I want to thank you all for all your hard work, determination and sense of humour and fun. I get quite emotional when I think back to the applause and congratulations from the other GB competitors and from all the supporters.
The Saturday night was a memorable meal with some of our Italian friends from the Florence and Rome Breast Cancer Dragonboat teams and it was great for me to meet up with Milena. We had been e-mailing for months and at last there we were eating pizza and drinking wine together.
We have formed many new friendships both within our own team and with the Italian ladies and have invites to go back to Italy next year. Looking forward to 2009.
Marion
We have so many happy memories (too many to write about) as well as one or two emotional ones as well!
We arrived in Sabaudia along with the Tyrer Clan (Gail and family) and Margie after what you may call an adventurous journey! We got two taxis from Ciampino Airport to Laurentina. Then after purchasing the bus tickets and finding the correct bus stop, which was no mean feat I can tell you, we boarded the bus to Latina. A nice Italian gentleman told us to put our tickets into the ticket machine to record the time otherwise we could be fined – great start, I thought! I think I must have broken the machine because it went “kaput” after I’d used it – don’t think the driver was too happy either! Anyway, we were heading for Latina. By this time the nice Italian man had taken us under his wing and we went off again with him to buy some more bus tickets for Sabaudia! However, as we were running back to jump on the bus as it was about to depart, Gail had for some reason lost track of how many there were in her party and had only purchased three tickets instead of four! For a moment we thought she was trying to leave Kevin behind! Panic stricken she held up her three tickets saying she needed another ticket but fortunately for Gail (or should I say Kevin) the driver took the extra fare! We arrived, at last, at Sabaudia and the final leg of our journey was by “shankys’s pony”. We all gave a sigh of relief when we saw the Hotel Saporetti and we were certainly in need of a lie down! I must say, however, well done to Thomas, Gail’s 2 year old grandson, who had been brilliant during this expedition!
After settling in the hotel we went to find the race site. The Championships were to be held on a lake which was very impressive. It was really quite a beautiful setting and with the clear blue sky and the sun shining the journey had certainly been worthwhile.
We had been given slot on the Friday morning for a training session which lasted for an hour – we worked hard as we were told to focus in and get our race heads on!
Well, it must have worked because we won the 200m races on the Saturday and 500m race on the Sunday. I remember feeling very emotional after our 200m races with the three boats came together. We held hands with the Italian ladies whose boats were on either side of ours – the lefties on one boat and the righties on the other paddled us back. As we passed the spectators they all clapped and cheered. I remember our young 12 year old drummer, Kyle, who had to stretch out his arms to hold hands with the two Italian ladies who were on drum. They held onto his finger tips and by the time they let go I think his arms were a few inches longer – just like Mr Tickle from the Mr Men books! I don’t think it’s something Kyle will forget for quite awhile. He did a brilliant job for us and we must say a big thank you to him and to George who drummed for us on the Sunday in the 500m race. I was, however, a little worried on the Sunday when George asked if he could jump in when we were on our way down the course to start the race. Both Anne and I suggested he waited until after the race but as one of the boat marshals had advised me I was responsible for him, I was hoping that he would have forgotten by the finish!
Gerald and I had a great time and we were happy and proud to be a part of the Pool of Life BCS Dragon Boat Racing Team! We forged new friendships which I think will continue to grow and look forward to our next event!
Thelma
The funniest moment for me was Janet falling of her chair whilst attempting to do what looked like a yoga position. It even made a handsome Italian man smile who up to that time had been a bit miserable (the lengths that some people go to) I must say she made a good recovery and managed to stay on her feet.
There were a few emotional moments for me but what stands out was when we were on the podium with the Italian teams waiting to receive our gold. Another must be when the 3 boats came together i.e. the two Italian teams paddling either side of our boat and paddling us along.
Chris
I think Janet and Anne have summed up the emotions we must have all felt on walking back to the GB tent after the racing and receiving such an accolade. It felt very surreal.
On of my memories has to be 'the flying fish' which whizzed passed my face and then hit Sue! This happened whilst we were paddling up to the start line and caused quite a commotion in the boat.
My funniest memory is when I was sitting outside the Hotel with Alan, my sister and her husband when we saw Wee Willie Winkie (Thelma) running through the Hotel upstairs and downstairs in her nightgown (trying to find the manager to get a nightcap for herself and her fellow room mates). She did manage to locate him - she thinks he was hiding behind the couch and that's why she hadn't seen him.
Ali
My thoughts of Italy 2008
Watching the crew climb aboard the dragon boat on their mission to win I recalled the excitement of the racing atmosphere. Hearts pumping, the devotion to training soaring through your veins the challenge ahead. Look how far we have come, courage abound to make a difference and give hope to others. PRIDE was my foremost thought as I watched with my husband John and my mum and dad. The spirit of Amathus Pool of Life long may you go on. Love to you all. Ali Baker.