Photo of the Month Please send any photos to website@liverpoolcanoeclub.co.uk February 2020 Click here to see the photos and to vote for your favourite.

Results of the Liverpool Canoe Club Youth Polo 18th January 2020 See our junior teams in action at Speke Pool last weekend https://youtu.be/OQVcE96JKDM We are always keen to have young paddlers trying canoe polo. Ask at Junior club on a Tuesday or put your name down for the next tournament on 8th February. More details here…….. You will play in a team with other Under 16s. All equipment is provided. More Photos…….

Liverpool Canoe Club Youth Polo Jan 2020 See our junior teams in action at Speke Pool last weekend https://youtu.be/OQVcE96JKDM We are always keen to have young paddlers trying canoe polo. Ask at Junior club on a Tuesday or put your name down for the next tournament on 8th February. More details here…….. You will play in a team with other Under 16s. All equipment is provided. More Photos…….

Sea Trip Sunday (Improvers Sea Kayak Trip) by Emily Stephenson Sea kayakers were out in force, with a group of over twenty splitting into three groups, in a long-anticipated Anglesey good weather sea trip. Group C consisted of the experienced leading the nervous. After too much practice being rescued while in the sea, opposed to time on it, a little confidence building was needed. I crack jokes when I am nervous. I was in good company with Nadezda’s singing and Kayleigh’s nail biting. After a safety briefing and a few more last-minute wisecracks, we were ready to go. We set off from Bull Bay, Porth Llechog, left around the North coast of Anglesey. We initially familiarised ourselves with the light swell and Westerly wind, practicing manoeuvres. From there we stayed close to the cliff edges, with beautiful views and exotic sea birds, like seagulls. We were not as lucky as the other group to see saw seals and a dolphin but were happy to see diving Cormorants and stunning geology. We set to rock hopping with the swell of the tide, building confidence finding paths through the rocks. We pulled into an eddy with a narrow path, watching group B form a traffic jam. Our group happily piled in, while I supervised from the rear. Around the next corner was a large cave only accessible by the sea. One of many spectacular views on the trip. We happily bumper carted around the cave before continuing our journey along Trwynbychan. Lunch was at Porth Wen, commonly known as ‘The Brickworks’. Group B joined us for lunch and Julie set to dishing out sausage rolls, to remind us all it was Sunday after all. We climbed back into our boats and went around Porth Wen before heading back around the coast in an […]

Photo of the Month Please send any photos to website@liverpoolcanoeclub.co.uk January 2020 # 1 Thursday Dock Paddle – Sharon Walters 17 votes (22%) # 2 Christrmas Paddle Conway Estuary – KS 15 votes (19%) # 3 Martin Aldridge poling in the Okavango Delta – Nikki 13 votes (17%) # 4 Steve Alcock on the Tees Barrage 12 votes (15%) # 5 Festive Docks Paddle – Steve Alcock 11 votes (14%) # 6 Trevor Roger Peter and Marty preparing for the Swellies on the Menai Straits – Paul Goetzee 10 votes (13%)

 BULL BAY PADDLE  19.01.2020 (Improvers Sea Kayak Trip) by Vic Leather On a cold foggy Sunday morning we descended on the Bull bay hotel car park in Anglesey. We unloaded the boats onto the slipway and then split into 3 groups. Our group consisted of Jim Krawiecki, Jon Dyson, Olivia Oldham, Andy Garland, Roger Colman, Martin Sinnott and me, Vic Leather.   SETTING OFF  Jim led our group along with Roger and Andy. As we paddled out of Bull Bay Jim gave us some pointers for the day using – Bow rudder Extended sweep stroke The box (for turning while protecting the shoulders) We rock hopped along trying the new tips we had picked up, weaving in between rock formations and paddling in and out of sea caves. We passed the Brickworks and made our way along the coast. We could see middle mouse island in the distance … MOUSE ISLAND  As we paddled up Jim let Andy and Roger lead the group as we reached the stopping point. It was from here we would paddle directly across to the island at its shortest route aiming off for wind and tide.  Following Jim, we paddled across in a tight group, there and back to then pull into a little cove for lunch. It was then Andy told us he had had a hip replacement 3 months ago so to be out on the water was a major achievement (Well done Andy).    AN EDGE TOO FAR  As we paddled back to Bull Bay, we were the last group in. As we pulled the boats up onto the beach, I could hear John Fay say “oh well at least there was no casualties “!  I soon found out that this was not the case … there in fact had been a casualty and […]

Photo of the Month Please send any photos to website@liverpoolcanoeclub.co.uk January 2020 Click here to see the photos and to vote for your favourite.

Photo of the Month Please send any photos to website@liverpoolcanoeclub.co.uk December 2019 # 1 Karl Tattum in the Crosby Surf by Dave Rawlinson 14 votes (20%) # 2 Spitfire Bridge on the River Tees by Hannah Bellamy 12 votes (17%) # 2 Llangollen Canal 2019 John Fay 12 votes (17%) # 2 Craig Ford on the River Wye by KS 12 votes (17%) # 5 Rescue sessions 2 at the docks 2019 John Fay 10 votes (14%) # 6 Paul Harwood at the Tees Barrage 9 votes (13%)

Canoe trip on the Afon Banwy Well we all met in Starbucks in Oswestry to top up before heading up to Lake Vyrnwy. It had rained a little during the night and past week so there was a little bit of water coming over the dam. The river was running through the trees and would probably have been a little challenging. We had run out of coffee by now so decided to run the river Banwy instead. This was a grade lower and proved to be an excellent choice. The River Banwy is a river about 30 km long in NW Powys in Wales. It is a tributary of the River Vyrnwy. The river rises in the hills near the pass which takes the A458 between Mallwyd and Welshpool. The river is called Nant Cerrig-y-groes at its source near Moel y Llyn PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: Start at Llanerfyl. Access to the river in Llanerfyl was on the left bank by a (downstream) road bridge (Please do not park in front of the gate to the field opposite as the farmer is a little bit weary of paddlers blocking access to his land – he will be out like a shot if you do park there, even for a moment). Finish at Meifod on the River Vrynwy. Egress on the right bank at the road bridge (New Bridge). APPROX LENGTH: 26 km. TIME NEEDED: Three hours. WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: Needs heavy rain. It stays up for a week or so after substantial rain. GRADING: Grade 1 – 2. MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: Approx 1 metre high natural ‘weir’ at Castle mound just short of the River Vyrnwy confluence which can reach grade 3 in flood conditions. This is last rapid on the run as described below. Low branches. GENERAL DESCRIPTION: We use open boats so aim for grade 1 -2! The Banwy […]

Christmas Paddle on the Conway Estuary and Meal 15/12/2019 by John Rasquinha 31 paddlers met in Conwy on Sunday morning for a paddle along the estuary in a variety of sea and river kayaks. Though cold, the weather was in our favour and we were met with clear(ish) skies to start our journey. After a safety briefing, double counting and buddying up, we set off, guided by Ian Bell in his open canoe along the estuary. After successfully avoiding any contact with the many boats in the bay, we passed under the main road and were fortunate to see a different side to the castle to what most people see. We continued for 6km before a lunch and drink stop on the bank, with views of snow-capped Snowdonian mountains, though the weather had become slightly more overcast… As the tide turned for our return trip and the wind were behind us, it felt like we made the return trip much faster, though were hit by the rain for the last 10 minutes of paddling. Most of us then headed to Llandudno to be joined by a few non-paddlers for some drinks in the warmth and a well-earnt Christmas dinner. Thanks to Brian and Kirk for organising the paddle and meal, Ian and Keith for guiding/following the group and everyone else for a great day out! Merry Christmas! John Rasquinha More Christmas Paddle Photos……. More Christmas Meal Photos…….