It was Only Men Afloat today at the new Cardiff International White Water, when singing sensation Only Men Aloud took to the waters.
Choir members attended a special preview day ahead of the centre being open to the public on March 27th.
Thirteen members of the choir, including conductor Tim Rhys-Evans, tried out the new 250 metre long action packed white water rafting course.
The centre, will provide the UK with its first Olympic-standard pumped water canoe slalom course, offering canoeing and white water rafting facilities ranging from starter to recreational through to full international competition use.
The facility has been constructed over the last two years in the International Sports Village in Cardiff Bay and has been designed by French company, HydroStadium who have designed similar courses for the Sydney, Athens and Beijing Olympics. Construction of the CIWW has been undertaken by Dean and Dyball Civil Engineering (Wales).
The centre has been constructed in concrete with moveable plastic barriers to create a range of different courses suitable for users, with a range of competencies. The venue can hold up to 2,000 spectators on temporary stands for special events.
CIWW has been developed by Cardiff Council with assistance from the Welsh Assembly Government and the Welsh Canoe Association.
Cardiff Council Leader, Cllr Rodney Berman said: “I was delighted to welcome Only Men Aloud to the try out the course today, they looked like they had a fantastic time on the water and I hope we will see them at the centre again soon.”
Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells, said; “It was great to see the course in action, the choir were definitely hitting a few high notes when they were going around the course.”
Andy Mulligan of Only Men Aloud said: “The choir were delighted to have the opportunity to be one of the first on the course, we had a fantastic time and didn’t want the day to end, and we are definitely hoping to have another go soon.”
The choir is currently running their ‘VOTE OMA’ campaign to land a Classical Brit Award in the NS&I Album of the Year category for their second album Band of Brothers’ and the winners will be chosen by public vote. The boys are now out and about in Wales to make sure their home city and nation gets behind them and vote online before the deadline of April 23 on http://brits.co.uk/classicalbrits The awards take place on May 13.
