Nice and Crisp today on the Dee – thanks for those who turned up I understand its not to everyone’s taste paddling in this weather.

Well done Ian in his new Machno and Chris after 1 hr at top end breaking in and out and ferry gliding we nailed next 3
rapids cleanly. Also thanks for the help John Cooke.

We are all between swims –

Sea Kayak Improvers Course – Coordinator Gareth Jones and Alan Peachment 3 x Saturday mornings and 1 x Sunday trip

To book a place please go to our online booking page……….  Club members only

This course will look at the skills required to paddle a sea kayak safely and undertake a sheltered local trip. You should have the basic skills gained from at least 6 months paddling.

Saturday 28th Jan 9-12pm Docks
Saturday 11th Feb 9-12pm Docks
Saturday 25th Feb 9-12pm Docks
Sunday 26th Feb Local sea trip (eg Hilbre Island or River Alt sailing club or Perch Rock)

You may use your own sea kayak or use one of the clubs plastic fleet. We do not charge for coaching but do charge a booking fee to ensure that the course runs. This cost includes any hire fee for a club boat for the local sea trip.

Thanks all who turned up today at 0.4m – at this level the Burrs has a fair few features that if you enter them rather than go through them can attract a few swimmers.  Good to pass on some information on the levels and how to get the best from the place.  The weir is good up to 0.5m – I measured the level at Bury Ground for future reference.
https://www.riverlevels.uk/irwell-bury-bury-ground#.WHu4SmdvhD8
see here also the sudden increase – after rain.
River has gone from 0.38 to 0.78m at this level stay out of the weir.
See also most importantly this  I can emphasise enough the Importance of the levels and the weir.
https://youtu.be/nRs_Alzo9sc

I may paddle next week on Saturday (Burrs Dee or the full river Ramsbottom to Bury.) check your emails –  John Allterton

More Photos…….

Other Comments:
Many thanks for encouragement I defiantly leaned a few techniques, also leaned about trying to roll with brain freeze.
Good looking guy in a red boat on a couple of those piccys dave!  Thanks for organising John,  top trip mate!
Good surfing in your narrow boat too Ste!
Great paddle today with a great bunch. Already looking forward to the next one

Ladies Development North Tournament One

The ladies team played their first tournament of the season at Cheadle Pool last night.  This year they have a large squad so the season looks good.  The six that played last night are: Laura Watkin, Rachel Smith, Leanne Murray, Rebecca Lawson, Emma Kirk and Charlie Threlfall.

Hi all

A few of us are going to the Banff Mountain Film Festival UK Tour at the Plaza cinema in Crosby on Friday 17th Feb if anyone fancies it (also Friday 7th April, which is a different film programme)?

Every year they show a great mix of 6-7 amazing films about adventure/ the outdoors (including some paddling) & there are competitions on the night & chance to have a beer. Check out the trailer here:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=tiXqKu35zZc

There’s more info on the website (http://www.banff-uk.com) & you can buy tickets here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/banff-mountain-film-festival-liverpool-17-february-2017-tickets-29012509196

Hope to see you there

This looks great! Is anyone able to drive this forward? The Wye is a great river for kayaks or canoes, and 4 days paddling it sounds fantastic.

Join The 100 Mile Canoe Test This Year!

The 100 mile canoe test was conceived as a personal challenge for youngsters coming together in teams from youth clubs all over the country. Over four days the participants call on their skill, determination and stamina to complete the 100 mile route. The achievement brings a sense of personal fulfilment and team camaraderie that will remain with them for life.

2017 sees the event will running for its 55th year and it will take place on the River Wye over the late May bank holiday. The event was originally developed for the network of youth clubs who are part of what was the National Association of Boys’ Clubs. This year participation in the event has been opened up, through partnership with British Canoeing, to welcome all canoe clubs.

The ‘Test’ alternates each year, between the Wye, Severn and Trent. In 2016 it was on a very windy Trent. One of the younger teams taking part struggled and was unable to complete the last day past Newark because of the waves being blown down the river towards them. Such is the determination of youngsters taking part, the team came back later in the year and completed their 100miles!

How Does The Event Work?

Teams will arrive at Fownhope on Friday evening (26th May) and set up base camp. On Saturday morning a procession of mini buses and trailers leave for the start at Glasbury and the first leg of paddling.

Each day Safety Marshall’s set off first, scout the river for hazards and set up any necessary cover. The teams will paddle as a unit with, their own leaders, sometimes passing other groups and socialising.

Groups are checked on and off the water and their progress is monitored and supported by a team of both water and land marshals. At the end of the day the boats are stowed on the bank and the groups are bussed back to base camp. Each evening there is a briefing meeting for team leaders.

The event ends on Tuesday lunchtime at Monmouth Rowing Club with a mass paddle over the last mile involving all of the teams. During the four days the youngsters will paddle Symonds Yat twice (by popular demand).

Who Makes This Possible?

PaddlePlus work closely with Hinckley Water Activities Club, Young LeicesterShire and Young Bristol to provide a strong, safe framework within which the event is staged. All of these organisations have a long association with the Challenge and have experience of delivering this and other paddling events.

What Is Required To Join?

Each team needs a competent leader(s) on the water, a driver and base camp support. The recommended minimum age is 14 yrs, however, it is down to the discretion of the canoe leader as to the ability of younger members to participate in the test. Practice before the event will make it more achievable and enjoyable for all concerned. Any craft can be used and teams find a mix of solo and tandem canoes and kayaks work best to keep paddlers motivated.

The cost is kept to a minimum, each canoeist pays £40 for camping, safety cover, medals and certificates. Team leaders are not charged. Each group is responsible for their own food and transport. Many groups use the training paddles leading up to the event to raise some funds to cover some of the costs.

What Support Will Clubs Get Before The Test?

We will be using Social Media to engage with young people as they prepare and train for the event. To do this we have changed the registration process and ask all groups wishing to be involved to send a deposit by the end of February to book a team place. This will enable us to connect you to the media pages and support your preparation.

Any affiliated youth groups that would like assistance or advice with their preparation and paddling skills can be offered links to local canoe clubs and coaches to help them get the best out of the experience. This includes training in qualifications, local contacts and developing skills at all levels.

How Do Teams Register To Join?

For further information, or to register a team, please email Andy Oughton at: andy@soarpaddler.co.uk or via the Facebook Page.

The 100 Mile Canoe Test takes place during National Go Canoeing Week. Any miles paddled during the week can be entered at gocanoeingweek.org.uk and will count towards the the grand total for the week.

Photo of the Month Competition – Click here to vote for your favourite.

Phils Hotdog – Photo by John Fay

 Llandysul (mid Wales) along the slalom course – photo by John Pegram

Tees weekend 2016 – Photo by K Steer

Christmas Paddle 2016 –  Photo by John Cooke

Tees Weekend 2016 Photo by Jenny Brown

Halloween Paddle – Photo by Paul O`donnell

Photo of the Month Competition – Click here to vote for your favourite.

I had wanted to paddle the river Eden for a long time, but had always been put off by the faffage associated with the booking in process. So it was great when Ian Bell told me that he also wanted to do an open boat run down the Eden and that the booking process appeared to have been abandoned. Project Eden was go!

So, on the new year bank holiday 4 LCC open boaters met at the easy put in (its a car park with canoe launching steps) at Lazonby. Due to the temperature being rather cold there was no faffing, or was it that Andy Garland wasnt with us, and we were soon on the river. Although cold, the water that splashed onto my airbag froze, it was a lovely crisp winters day – perfect open boating weather.

The river starts easy and allows paddlers to build up confidence as the rapids get slightly more challenging, at the level we paddled it is a superb improvers trip (it felt a step up from the Carrog to Horseshoe falls section of the Dee). We paddled away from the start and were amazed that for a lakeland river it was wide and had a remote feeling to it, quite similar to the Scottish Spey.

Past elegant fishing huts, sandstone cliffs and ancient carvings, we paddled on.
Enjoying the easy rapids and chilling on the flatter sections we made our way down to the weir which we portaged over the rocks mid river. A final flatish section down to Armathwaite where we exited the river on river right just below the bridge – easy egress onto a public footpath with steps out of the field onto the main road.

Thanks to Ian for organising, I am sure we will do this river again soon!

Now, where will the next open boat trip be?????

Our pool sessions start again this Thursday after the Christmas break.  Want learn to roll, first time in a kayak and want some help then pre-book the session now and just turn up.  There are plenty of boats to use at the pool.

Kingsway Pool – Widnes Thursday (general paddling and rolling) –  WA8 7QH
Thursday, 5 January 2016 9pm – 10pm

20 spaces available.
An online payment is required to book. Click here to book or go via our website…..

Every Thursday 1 hour Club Pool Session (The session runs from 9:00pm to 10:00pm but you are advised to arrive for 8:45pm).

Cost: £4.00 for 1 hour, plenty of club boats and paddles available or bring your own. (These must be clean from all forms of contamination, ie washed inside and out with freshwater.) Sea kayaks will be allowed but only if at least two places left (18 or less from 20 places). Should the pool fully book you will have to use a pool boat!
Kingsway Pool,
Widnes,
WA8 7QH
Telephone: 0151 495 2200