Andy
Sutton is a 58 year old paraplegic kayaker with Rutland Canoe Club
(RCC). He has a progressing condition that initially reduced his
mobility to walking with one stick then two and now he gets around in
a wheelchair. Andy started kayaking in 2012 and was RCC’s first
disabled kayaker. His condition was found to be worsening in late
2017 and with the prospect of being unable to Kayak within the coming
2-3 year period the seed of an idea to take on one last challenge was
hatched.
Andy
trained with Pete Dunlop over the winter of 2017/18 on the River
Trent and Windermere along with the normal Sunday or Friday paddles
with RCC on Rutland Water. Unfortunately Pete was unable to paddle
the actual event, so Kevin Spiers, Andy Seager and Steve Winship and
John Thomason (Loch Awe leg only) from RCC agreed to step in to look
after Andy on the paddle, even to the extent of practicing righting
an overturned boat with the paddler still in the cockpit (unbeknownst
to Andy).
The
team were using single composite sea kayaks in addition to Andy’s
plastic Valley Etain
Loch
Awe June 16th 05.00
Starting at Torran
Bay launching from a gentle grassy slope into shallow water the
team left in heavily overcast skies which quickly descended into
moderate to light rain for the whole duration with a temperature of
10-12C. With a film crew in tow the team tracked up the east side of
Loch Awe to avoid the E to SE wind at 6-10mph cross winds and give
Chris Pavey of Growmotion a chance to capture some good footage.
The
team had three short stops along the way and made great progress and
finished in total time of 6hr 30mins at an average moving speed of
4.1 mph.
Andy
was using his homemade Greenland Stick that proved to be the ideal
paddle for the long paddles in reducing the pressure on his
shoulders, elbows and wrists.
We
were blessed with sightings of 9 ospreys, several goosander, curlew
and accompanied by low flying swifts and swallows most of the way.
The
unloading process at Kilchurn Castle was made difficult by the
torrential rain that started just as the team got off the water,
along with hauling Andy in his wheelchair along the uneven path back
to the cars and avoiding an irate Aussie with car parking issues.
Lake
Windermere June 17th 06.00
The team
agreed to a slight lie in and a 6am start and got on the water at
05.59 at Newby Bridge end of Lake Windermere with a slightly warmer
12-14C and a light SW wind at 6mph. Andy had some slight stiffness
around the upper shoulders/neck from the previous days efforts but
nothing to deter the final two legs The team were able to make great
progress and with only one very short stop for some drone footage to
be shot and a snack, the team got off the water at Ambleside at
08.20 logging a total paddle time of 2hr 21min and an average
moving speed of 4.2 mph in better flat conditions. The team
stopped for breakfast and refuel before embarking for the final lake.
Lyn
Tegid (Lake Bala) June 17th 13.30
Arriving
at Bala to a stronger SW wind at 14mph and 24mph gusts the team got
on the water at 13.30 from a gentle grassy slope in front of the Bala
Adventure and Water Sports Centre. They battled the gusty
conditions to the far end of the lake, in the knowledge they would
have great surfing opportunities for the final push back to the
shore. Resting briefly to appreciate the final leg to come the guys
headed for home and returned in a final time of 1Hr 56mins and an
average moving speed of 3.6mph.
Final
figures of a total paddle time of 10hr 45minutes achieved in
total time of 34hr 26mins were significantly shorter than
Andy’s original predictions of just under 20hrs paddle time and
under 40hrs total travel time. Andy has become the first disabled
paraplegic paddler to complete the challenge and probably the first
to complete it using a Greenland Stick.
"We
must say a big thank you to Loch Awe Boats and the Bala Adventure and Water Sports Centre for the use of their boats to allow for some on
water filming. Also thank you to British Canoeing for their generous
support during the build up and Pete Dunlop through the winter
training. A huge thanks must go to Andy Seager, Kevin Spiers and
Steve Winship for their wonderful support on all three lakes , to
John Thomason on Loch Awe; and especially to Judith, Joy and Suzanne
who have all given up annual holiday and their weekend to provide
fantastic support both on the road and in the pub; to my family
Debbie, Lorna, Abi, Simon and Adam for their unending support and
humour; and of course not forgetting grandson Bodhi providing the
cute factor all the way through."
"The Challenge is certainly possible for people with disabilities
provided you have the back up and support of a good team. I hope this
story might inspire other disabled people to take up the sport of
kayaking or canoeing. It has given me a freedom of movement and
access that I thought had gone forever. I can now get closer to
plants and birds and animals that I love so much, than I ever could
on crutches and in a wheelchair and with the support of Rutland Canoe
Club I have found friends and support that have given me a new lease
of life. So my message is
Get Out There And Do It – In A Kayak"
- Andy