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We have an active junior section at the club encouraging juniors to get involved in a sport that can take those involved from fun splashing around in high summer through local and regional competition right up to international standard. Some of our older paddlers started as juniors with the club and have now clocked up 20, 30, 40 years paddling or more but all of them started on this same stretch of river.

Information on how to begin paddling and other information about the club can be found on the Getting Started page.

Coaches and Junior Session Leaders

There are a number of the club’s coaches who are involved in coaching juniors, some on a regular basis and some helping to cover sessions during holidays, etc. Coaches are DBS checked and the Club has a Child Protection Policy and Welfare Officer.

Most club coaches can be found on the Our Coaches page but a few people you will find it useful to get to know are:

Sue Hawthorn/ Dave Pedlar – coach and organiser of junior beginner sessions, loves hearing from people who want to help!
Dave Smith – coaching co-ordinator for all ages, not just juniors focused on beginners and  improvers
Steve Green – Sprint Racing Captain for Sprint entries
Andy Nevitt – Marathon Racing Captain
Katie Brookes – Marathon Racing entries

Parental Involvement

We encourage parents to get involved either on the water or on dry land. Please come into the club house, chat to members and get to know people, don’t be shy. At the very least talk to your children’s coaches and find out what is going on.

Help is always appreciated whether that be holding a stopwatch, putting boats away, or helping with catering at events etc. etc.

Important/Urgent News

If there is any important or urgent news to relay, this will be posted on the Club’s Facebook feed so please check there on a regular basis for updates and important or urgent messages.

What’s On

Many races are put on throughout the year, please visit Race Details to find out when they are.

Summer Session Times and Groups

As there is overlap between these groups some paddlers may be invited to join in with more than one group whilst transitioning from one group to the next.

Lightning and Newer Juniors – focus on fun and skills. Thursdays Family night – 6pm – 7:15 pm – Coaches include parents of juniors, older juniors and some who just love coaching

More Advanced Juniors – Many sessions run for the faster and more skilled juniors, we will let you know when they are when we think you are capable of going to them.

Juniors and BC/ British Canoeing Membership

You need to be a member of British Canoeing to compete at events. All club juniors under the age of 18 are automatically members of British Canoeing. All we have to do is issue a Club Number. Sue Hawthorn maintains the numbering please contact her if you need a number.

When you get promoted to Sprint Girls, Boys C or above or Marathon Div 6 or above, you need to join British Canoeing in your own right to continue to compete. The link to join is: BC membership