Colin Newman is 'International Canoe European Champion 2006', and at 64 next December, the oldest man in the history of the Class to win the Europa Cup. In his own words...

It was a great regatta where I finished day one and day two in third place, then after nine hours on the water in 30 degree temperatures ended day three with two firsts in races 8 and 9 to enter the final day tied on points with the German 20 year old and two points ahead of the German 40 year old orthopaedic surgeon. On the last day I scored a second, then a first whilst the fourth placed German pushed his team mates further behind me to give me the title with a race to spare, even when my discard of a 4th came back in I would still win whatever I did in the final race. I sailed the final race for fun as by then the wind was up to a super, steady force 5, I hung back at the start to keep well clear of the battle for second place which ended with Peter and Manuel finishing tied on points with Peter in the blue shirt getting it on the tie break with 3 firsts (I had 4 had I needed them in a tie break!). In fact with the pressure off, I crossed the line with a discarded 5th to be hailed as 'Champion of Europe' from the Committee boat. It is a moment I will always treasure, a life event I never thought would really happen, though I knew I was in with a chance before we set sail for Race 1. Once ashore I looked at the results board several times just to make sure it was not all a dream, just as I did at University forty years ago after my BSc finals to make sure I really did have 'a first' !

In the 12 race series in mostly force 3 to 4 winds there were 6 different race winners, with the current German national champion finishing only 6th. The Swedes were off the pace his year and none of the (well off the pace) French turned up. There were 26 boats on the start line but a few sailing the AC course. I was the only British IC entrant, just as well as I cannot normally beat Mark Goodchild the World Champion or Simon Allen the Bronze medallist at the Worlds last year when I came 9th. For the record, I was only the second oldest competitor, Fredo Beers at 66 (GER) finished well down the list but still beat his young grandson! His daughter was the only German IC sailor not sailing in the event.