20 May 2013 Page Options
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Mike Ransom - Chairman Minimize

Hailing from Selsdon, South London, Mike Ransom is without doubt the man at the front of the Cap-pack. Sponsored by London Pride, Lidl, Palm, Amstrad and Specsaver sunglasses he is a two-time World Champion in the "how many boats can you fit on a roof rack" category of paddling. Along with paddling he enjoys a spot of real ale, and reckons the nastiest thing he has ever seen was watching his sons eating a frog sandwich.

The man at the CAP helm's famous catchphrase “Or Whatever” always keeps the clubs plans flexible.

Christine Boller - Treasurer Minimize

 

Chris's profession as a qualified accountant meant that she had no choice which position she took on the committee. Chris wasn't really sure what to say about herself for this article. I guess she just likes to let her paddling do the talking.

For someone who enjoys waking up to an amazing view from a tent the thought of being bound to a desk doing accountancy must be torture. It really is, especially after having four month off work, volunteering and travelling around South East Asia.

Likes - To travel and experience different culture. Spending a good day, hiking, kayaking, mountain biking or flying a kite with friends. Chocolate!!!!.

Dislikes - The cold and having to put on wet kit for a second day of paddling.

Gary Ransom - Coach Minimize
Gary has been kayaking for more years than he cares to mention. In fact it is sometimes hard to believe that he didn't come out of the womb wearing a drysuit. He has an amazing ability to look effortless on any grade of river and puts this down to the considerable experience he has built up over the years.
 

 

Likes – Coaching, kayaking the gnarly stuff and Stella
 
Dislikes – Eating all the food on his plate.
 
Greatest Paddling Moment – Surviving the River Etive in spate conditions
 
Worst Paddling Moment – Swimming on the River Wandle in front of most of the club.
 
Ambitions – To paddle his C1 canoe down the Upper Dart. A river he has done so many times that he should barely need to put a stroke in. So he claims.
Ivan Scattergood - Coach Minimize

Ivan Scattergood is an enthusiastic (if not always competent) paddler.

Famous for his ability to make the simplest rapid look gnarly for the camera with his unconventional (i.e. upside down) approach to river running. When not paddling Ivan enjoys snowboarding, taekwondo and cycling. Whilst out in Nepal, he had to re-educate some of the paddlers out there to the delights of inverted rapid running. They didn't know what they had been missing out on.

Ivan also is the man behind the CAP website keeping things up and running.

Favourite Saying - Honestly, it is not as hard as I make it look.

Darren Ransom - Coach Minimize

Darren has long held the position of the probe within the club. Always willing to be the first to launch into some unexplored slot with minimal amounts of protection on a river.

Darren has a self confessed aversion to sun light and it is normally only the lure of a hearty English breakfast that will raise him from his bed on a trip.

Likes – Running any scary rapid that most sane people think won’t go and seeing other members achieving their goals on the river.

Dislikes – Waking up before midday and dog low rock bashing.

Ambitions - To paddle the Upper Walkham and Upper Plym.

Most Embarrassing Kayaking Moment - Jumping off a waterfall on the Afon Tawe and then realising he had left the relief zip open on his drysuit.

 

Pam Farmer - Welfare Officer Minimize

Pam is still uncertain that hanging upside down in a kayak whilst trying to sort out which way is up is something a woman, fearful of the water and of mature years, ought to find entertaining... but carries on, believing that she gets ever nearer that holy grail 'the eskimo roll'


Likes - Pootling around in openboats - she thinks she was an American Indian in a past life.

Dislikes - Responding to the call of nature whilst in damp underwear, wetsuit, dry cag, buoyancy aid etc, etc. 

Ambition - What else but... to roll her kayak...

Top TipPam has a number of top tips including screaming loudly and alarmingly whilst doing 'risky manoeuvres' ie rather tame bracing.

Greatest moment - Falling head first into the River Mole at the Stepping Stones whilst attempting to wash her hands. She claimed  'the river was further away than I thought', .

She is also the club's Welfare Officer and does HR in her business life which, for some reason, other committee members touchingly believe qualifies her for the role...

Stuart Reeve - Website editor Minimize

Stuart is known within the club for being a font of useless information about Kayaking and pretty much anything else. Don't get him started.

Since becoming a Croydon Ex Pat after relocating to Eastbourne he rarely makes the most of the sea unless there is a big swell running.

Likes - Playboating at Hurley on 3 gates, running grade IV rivers and staying up late partying. 

Dislikes -  Waking up in the morning with minimal amounts of sleep, faffing and long flat water paddles.

Best paddling - Doing the Usk in Monster spate conditions, full on playboating heaven

Top Tip - If in doubt, paddle hard

Rob Evans - Quartermaster Minimize

 

Rob has been kayaking for about a year with the club but that didn’t stop his enthusiasm at a recent recruitment day where he was trying to get anyone older than a toddler in a boat as they could all be potential members.

Rob is also the CAP member most likely to return from a trip with a load of flowers in the bottom of his boat which he takes home and presses before mounting them. They do make a very delightful Christmas present if you are struggling to buy for a loved one.

Likes – Campari and Soda with a little dainty umbrella

Dislikes – Any alcoholic drink served in a pint glass and the fact that only girls kayaking kit comes in pink or purple. He finds those colours compliment his eyes after a night out with CAP members.

Greatest Paddling Moment – Completing the Legacy course at the new Olympic venue without getting his hair wet.

Worst Paddling MomentPaddling the jungle that is the River Loddon, beating back trees, bushes and spiders, limbo-ing under trees at waterlevel, all in an oversized inflatable 2 person kayak.

Ambitions – To fit more boats on his roof rack than our illustrious chairman. Well he has the right vehicle, all he has got to do is buy a roof rack.

Contact Us Minimize
Croydon Active Paddlers is affliated to the BCU