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.

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.

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. He is also looking forward to a 3 month sabatical from work where he will be heading out to Nepal to re-educate some of the paddlers out there to the delights of inverted rapid running. They don't know what they have been missing out on.

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

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 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 Tip - Pam 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 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

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

Alastair started kayaking following a trip to Greece where he first tried sea kayaking and loved it. He Google'd 'Kayaking Croydon', not expecting to find anything local, but low and behold, he found CAP. He likes being out in the wilds and exploring the nature that surrounds him on the river, and trying out new 'suitable' white water rapids!

Likes – Being able to roll (to the left).

Dislikes – Not being able to roll (to the right). 

Greatest Paddling Moment – Making it down the Cardiff white water course without wiping out (at the 3rd attempt!).

Worst Paddling Moment - Not quite making it away from the clutches of a large weir, and needing rescuing from one of the coaches (cheers Darren).

Ambitions – One day he would like to do the Zambezi.

Ed was voted in as the Youth Representative in the hope that some more youths would join him in the club for him to represent. Ed has been throwing some serious ends in his playboat and thinks nothing of launching himself into any play feature no matter how sticky or terminal it is. Oh, the innocence of youth. Thank god, bones heal fairly quickly when your young.

Greatest Paddling Moment - Paddling the River Tees and living to tell the tale.

Likes - Sick Kayaking (wait 'til he discovers drink and girls - Ed).

Dislikes - Boredom, putting on wet kayaking gear and spam fritters.

Ambitions - To paddle the River Melte at sweet gnarly levels.

Top Tips - Relax and have fun otherwise you'll be panicking or drowning.