Dave Manby
Encyclopedia
David "Dave" Manby is a well known canoeist or kayaker from the UK and was a national champion in slalom canoeing
C-1. He is considered a pioneer in the sport of canoeing and is probably best known for being involved on the British expedition of the first descent of the Dudh Kosi
river.
, South Africa
where his father was the headmaster of the junior school at St John's College
. When he was 8 he moved with his family to Shrewsbury
, England
, where his father became the headmaster of Prestfelde School
which he attended. Later he attended Ellesmere College
and it was here that he first learnt to canoe. He also attended the University of Nottingham
, the river running off Mount Everest
the trip leader was Mike Jones
. The team left in July and began the 7,500 mile drive in a Transit
mini-bus to Kathmandu. Once there a further 180 mile hike, with all the equipment including 10 kayaks, had to be undertaken to reach Everest Base Camp
. This was the starting point of the pioneering paddle which involved some of the hardest white water canoed to date. Dave himself had one close call when his boat capsized and in the freezing water was unable to Eskimo roll. Luckily the team managed to get him out of the river before it was too late. The whole expedition was filmed by Leo Dickinson and was shown on British prime time television in boxing day
1976. The film itself won over 50 international awards, and has recently been remastered in Los Angeles
and made into a DVD
trip on the Braldu River
(Pakistan
) in which Mike Jones
died while trying to save a companion. Other expeditions include early descent of the Coruh River in Eastern Turkey and the Sezar, Dez and Bakhtiaria Rivers in the Zagros Mountains in Iran. He has also written a book "Many Rivers to Run"
Slalom canoeing
Whitewater Slalom is a competitive sport where the aim is to navigate a decked canoe or kayak through a course of hanging gates on river rapids in the fastest time possible. It is one of the two kayak and canoeing disciplines at the Summer Olympics, and is referred to by the International Olympic...
C-1. He is considered a pioneer in the sport of canoeing and is probably best known for being involved on the British expedition of the first descent of the Dudh Kosi
Dudh Kosi
-Kosi river system:The Kosi or Sapt Kosi drains eastern Nepal. It is known as Sapt Koshi because of the seven rivers which join together in east-central Nepal to form this river. The main rivers forming the Kosi system are – the Sun Kosi, the Indravati River, the Bhola Kosi, the Dudh Kosi, the Arun...
river.
Early life
Dave was born to Michael and Eve (née Levick) Manby in JohannesburgJohannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
where his father was the headmaster of the junior school at St John's College
St John's College (Johannesburg, South Africa)
St John's College is a private school for boys in Houghton, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.-History:St John's College was founded in Johannesburg on 1 August 1898 and is an Anglican school....
. When he was 8 he moved with his family to Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where his father became the headmaster of Prestfelde School
Prestfelde School
Prestfelde School is an independent coeducational day and boarding preparatory school, located in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England for children between the ages of 3 and 13...
which he attended. Later he attended Ellesmere College
Ellesmere College
Ellesmere College is an independent co-educational English independent school located in Ellesmere and based in rural northern Shropshire, England.-History:...
and it was here that he first learnt to canoe. He also attended the University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
Dudh Kosi
In 1976, at the age of 21, Dave was asked to join five other kayakers in a team of ten on the famous first descent of the Dudh KosiDudh Kosi
-Kosi river system:The Kosi or Sapt Kosi drains eastern Nepal. It is known as Sapt Koshi because of the seven rivers which join together in east-central Nepal to form this river. The main rivers forming the Kosi system are – the Sun Kosi, the Indravati River, the Bhola Kosi, the Dudh Kosi, the Arun...
, the river running off Mount Everest
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
the trip leader was Mike Jones
Mike Jones (canoeist)
Mike Jones QGM was a 20th century canoeist known for his expeditions on the Blue Nile and Dudh Kosi.-Early life:Born in the early 1950s in Yorkshire, England, he began kayaking in November 1965 at age 14...
. The team left in July and began the 7,500 mile drive in a Transit
Transit
-Transportation:* Ford Transit, a van made by the Ford Motor Company* Mass transit, public transport systems in which passengers are carried in large numbers* Navigational transit, when a navigator observes two fixed reference points in line...
mini-bus to Kathmandu. Once there a further 180 mile hike, with all the equipment including 10 kayaks, had to be undertaken to reach Everest Base Camp
Everest Base Camp
There are two base camps on opposite sides of Mount Everest. South Base Camp is in Nepal at an altitude of , and North Base Camp is in Tibet at ). These camps are rudimentary campsites on Mount Everest that are used by mountain climbers during their ascent and descent...
. This was the starting point of the pioneering paddle which involved some of the hardest white water canoed to date. Dave himself had one close call when his boat capsized and in the freezing water was unable to Eskimo roll. Luckily the team managed to get him out of the river before it was too late. The whole expedition was filmed by Leo Dickinson and was shown on British prime time television in boxing day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
1976. The film itself won over 50 international awards, and has recently been remastered in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and made into a DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
The river is extreme white water. Normally it can't be used for water sports. The first kayak trip was made 1976 by a British expedition under the leadership of Mike JonesMike Jones (canoeist)Mike Jones QGM was a 20th century canoeist known for his expeditions on the Blue Nile and Dudh Kosi.-Early life:Born in the early 1950s in Yorkshire, England, he began kayaking in November 1965 at age 14...
.
After Everest
Dave was involved in more first descent expeditions including the attempted 1978 K2K2
K2 is the second-highest mountain on Earth, after Mount Everest...
trip on the Braldu River
Braldu River
The Braldu River is located in the Himalayan range and runs off the K2 Mountain.- Kayaking :The Braldu is considered to be extreme white water. The first attempt to kayak the river was a British expedition led by Mike Jones. It was on that expedition that Jones lost his life trying to rescue a...
(Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
) in which Mike Jones
Mike Jones (canoeist)
Mike Jones QGM was a 20th century canoeist known for his expeditions on the Blue Nile and Dudh Kosi.-Early life:Born in the early 1950s in Yorkshire, England, he began kayaking in November 1965 at age 14...
died while trying to save a companion. Other expeditions include early descent of the Coruh River in Eastern Turkey and the Sezar, Dez and Bakhtiaria Rivers in the Zagros Mountains in Iran. He has also written a book "Many Rivers to Run"
External links
- Dave's home page
- Dudh Kosi film (ISBN 0-9708169-2-8)
- Dudh Kosi film recap
- Many Rivers to Run (ISBN 978-0953700707)
- Canoe & Kayak Magazine
- Dudh Kosi Expedition DVD