Michael 'Mike' Clark

Sad news o the passing of our neighbour.

'Clarky' was the written words and pictures of British flat water racing in the '70s and '80s. Before the age of electronic communications we all waited with high excitement for the latest magazine to drop through the letterbox. His reports on the big races of the time: the Sella, Gudena, DW, the Watersides and the Nottingham International were second to none. We should not underestimate just how much of a positive influence Mike's reposts had on our sport and how much he was a part of our sports history that has taken it to where it is today..

Sadly we won’t be able to make Mike’s funeral, but offer our heartfelt condolences to you, family and friends. Kath and I have been friends with him for nearly 50 years and stayed in touch both at Midlands canoeing events and by phone. At one time we lived fairly close to each other during his brief stay in West Bridgford. Even in Castle Donington when he was at the chapel in the next village we saw more of him. In recent years Mike was in the habit of ringing on a Monday morning to see what was going on in the canoe racing world as I’m still involved with the admin side as well as still racing. I miss those weekly chats but am reminded of Mike nearly every day as for many years he has chopped up the white plastic offcuts when he made number boards and saved them for me till we met up. As we use them for plant labels used nearly every day, they serve as a simple reminder of him.
Mike will be greatly missed throughout canoeing and his photos still get posted online in a celebration of the vast number of iconic ones he took over the years. The best photos of Kath racing on the Devizes to Westminster race in the early 80s were those taken by Mike, in fact one of the best photos of her ever was one he took at the start of the race one year. He also included one of her in his Canoeing Magazine calendar, racing in 1976 (Olympic Year) when she and her partner were the fastest ladies K2 in the UK.
The magazine he published for years has yet to be beaten despite modern ones being in colour and online. He had a feel for it. Kath in particular treasures the edition he dedicated to her and Dave Phillips winning the Mixed K2 on Devizes to Westminster. He also had other significance within our sport being involved in several events of note and then in later years with tee-shirts, stickers and sundry supplies such as number boards used throughout the country at local and national events.
Quite simply we will miss him, both of us have fond memories of a kind cheerful person who remained a good friend. Please pass on our sympathy to all.