Day 8 of the World Back Yard Rolling Championship. We’ve had so many entries. Can we get any more? There’s a few LCC members sneaking in there. Check out the video below or add your own contributions…

Hi All, Next Sunday we intend to have a Virtual Canoe Club gathering on Zoom an hopefully this will allow members to keep in touch as currently the guidance means the club has cancelled all upcoming physical events until further notice. You do not need a zoom account to join the gathering but it is easy to create one if you want.   https://zoom.us/ You can join via a browser, download the software for PC or App on your phone.  You will need a webcam and microphone. Please use the Meeting ID sent to all members via googlegroup email next Sunday at 10:30 to join in or email Nadia for a personal invite. P.S buoyancy aid or similar canoeing kit is suggested for this gathering. We want to try to bring a bit fun to are lives at this strange time. If you want to be in a kayak or canoe people are welcome to do that. Kind regards  Nadya Ford

Paddling with a few friends on Anglesey by Vic Leather Day 1 – Mermaid pub to old Menai bridge. We had all travelled to Anglesey in our own cars and had observed impeccable social distancing at all times. This often felt over the top compared to many others we observed but ultimately was proved the correct thing to do as BoJo announced further restrictions a week later. We descended down in the cars onto the south bank of the Straits to the get in at the Mermaid Pub, the sun was up but there was not too much wind. Ideal conditions for a paddle. We set off, crossing over to the far shore. The wind started to pick up but not too much … the tide was still dropping but usefully had turned in the straits and we would use it to carry us up towards Menai Bridge. We paddled up past Port Dinorwic and pulled in for lunch. We had our butties on the beach by church island all with our own rocks 4-5 metres away from each other. After lunch we paddled through the ‘Swellies’ which were thankfully flat (no whirlpools this time !!)  then on through the old Menai Bridg. (No ferry gliding /swimming this week!) portaging at the ramp by Menai Bridge. Then back to Anglesey outdoors an early night in our individual rooms. Day 2 – Porth Dafarch to North Stack and back. Launching from Porth Dafarch with the sun high up in the sky we paddled around the headland rock hopping are way towards South Stack taking in some amazing sea caves and one huge wave eroded crack. We all ventured in about 100 metres. Then only to realise we couldn’t turn around inside as it was a kayaks width in places (good opportunity […]

Liverpool Canoe Club – Suspension of all club paddling. Sadly, we will now have to stop all paddling with LCC, this includes paddling at the docks. Following the government restrictions announced tonight we are forced to stop all paddling at the docks for at least 3 weeks or until the restrictions are lifted. Many thanks for all your support but I think we all knew this was coming. LCC

Liverpool Canoe Club – Update on Sunday Paddles Numbers NOW restricted to 15 who MUST book using bookwhen  (even if you paddle your own boat) This is now independent paddling so only for those who are experienced and happy to paddle on their own but in sight of other paddlers! Independent Paddling at the Docks – Supervisors Julie Brookes, Roger Colman, David Allanson, Martin Sinnott and Nadia Ford Where is it? Location map During this difficult time this session is NOW only for experienced paddlers who can paddle independently but within sight of other paddlers for safety (minimum of 3)  IF IT IS CLEAR YOU DO NOT MEET THE CRITERIA YOU WILL BE ASKED TO RETURN HOME. Numbers are limited to 15 plus session supervisors (Key Holders). You must book a free place to paddle to facilitate “social distancing” using the bookwhen booking system….. You must be there in time as the compound is only open from 9:45 to 10:00am.  You must quickly get changed and select you boat and get on the water – There is to be no gathering around in a group before or after the session.   When you have finished paddling please leave the area quickly.  Members should ensure they always follow all social distancing guidelines. These include not sharing lifts with people outside your immediate family or using public transport, to keep 2 metres apart and to wash your hands regularly. Do not park on any of the roads in the area. This includes roads without markings, single or double yellow lines. Click for more information and full map……..

Hi All, As the current situation develops, we have been forced to cancel more and more club trips and courses. It is looking more likely that we may have to stop most if not all club activities as further advice is given over the coming week(s). In addition to suspending all pool sessions, upcoming courses and residential trips from this weekend onwards we are also suspending all sessions involving team sports (eg no rules polo / canoe polo games and sessions) until further notice. We are using the latest advice to clubs given by British Canoeing: Clubs are advised to consider if and how they are able to run activities which adhere to the government advice, specifically regarding travel and social distancing recommendations. For some clubs and in some circumstances, club committees might assess that some activities can continue safely. However, the way that clubs operate and the facilities available to each club varies greatly which means that some club activities will need to be suspended for the time being. Currently, we still allowing small groups of members who live very locally to attend distance paddling sessions at the docks and individual surfing at locations like Crosby. This effectively means that you will be paddling on your own but within sight of others on the water. Members should ensure they always follow all social distancing guidelines. These include not sharing lifts with people outside your immediate family or using public transport, to keep 2 metres apart and to wash your hands regularly. We will continue to monitor the situation as it develops and update our calendar and advice accordingly. LCC

Hi All, I am sure you are all keeping up with the current situation.   British Canoeing released a statement late last night cancelling all British Canoeing Events until at least the end of April 2020.  https://www.britishcanoeing.org.uk/news/2020/british-canoeing-coronavirus-covid-19-update   This may have been a little premature given that schools etc are still fully open but they were thinking of big events with people travelling from all around the country.   Last night we cancelled all pool sessions going forward until the end of April.  Members spent some time returning boats to the docks ready for May.  Our junior club will be suspended for the time being but hopefully will return to the Docks on the 5th May 2020 as normal. For our outside events (Docks / paddles etc) we intend to continue as normal for now until more specific advice is given.   Members should still continue to follow good practise, refrain from any unnecessary contact and try to keep 2 meters space between people / paddlers.  Fortunately, this is relatively easy to do in a canoe however we probably should not hand out any food or cake etc.   Any no rules polo should now be no contact polo! In addition to the above, advice is not to spend more than 15 minutes talking or socialising with others even with the 2 meters rule so you should return home soon after the session.   Members may also wish to take their own 99.9% hand sanitiser or fresh water and soap to wash their hands before and after the session.  It goes without saying that if you or your family have any of the symptom’s or you are in a high risk group (over 70 or with underlying health problems) your should not attend any club session. All paddles and docks sessions will be dependent on a key […]

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

Sunday 8th March WW skills session change the location from The River Dee to Afon Llugwy A fun Whitewater Intro Skills Transfer Day on The Afon Llugwy with Nic, Vic, Enda and Jonathan. Briefing in the Plas y Brenin cafe. Debrief in the Siabod Cafe with hot drinks and scones.  

A few photos from last Saturday on the Dee and Sunday’s trip on the Lower Tryweryn – great weekend, thanks to all – by Nikki Aldridge 

White Water Kayak Improvers Trip – Saturday 14th March LCC on the Lower Tryweryn. Lots of upstream play and many good experiences today. Ace team ! Ian Colwyn  Cracking day on the river. Little apprehensive at first as haven’t paddled moving water for several months. Thanks for everything Dave and Fi. See you next time. Jenna Katherine  A fantastic day. Felt like I practiced lots of skills. Thanks Dave and Fi x

Sea Kayak Support Session Number 1 by Roger Colman On a wet and windy Thursday evening I attended, as a student (not as an assistant) the first of Ian Bell’s Sea Kayak Support Sessions. You may have noticed that these sessions were entitled Ian Bell and Roger Colman, but let me assure you all, in the words of a famous, fictional Spanish waiter, ‘I know nothing’ when it comes to navigation and trip planning.  I got a lift there, did not lift a finger to help Ian and then got a lift home again (thanks Derek) so a good night all-round. The course was packed out, all places taken. It was a good thing that the Wallasey District Scout Centre was available to the club and I have little doubt that Ian also had the major role in organising the venue as well as delivering this Introduction to Coastal Navigation and Weather session. I was surprised to see so many faces that I not only recognised but having been at the club for a while now, could even put a fair few names too.  Obviously, there is no guarantee that it was always going to be a matching pair, right name – right face, but for such a big club with so many faces I am slowly getting better at this. I was also surprised to realise how many I had paddled with at one time or another. (Why were they here – I thought they knew what they were doing!) It was a good evening with plenty of questions, in addition to “when’s the tea break?”, and I learnt about available resources; tidal range and flow; stream atlas’ and diamonds; over falls and tide races. If I struggled with the maths, I could find a picture book thingy, oh […]

Photo of the Month Please send any photos to website@liverpoolcanoeclub.co.uk February 2020 # 1 Ron Wood seal launch – Dave Gentle 15 votes (42%) # 2 NW Youth League 2020 – Craig Ford 5 votes (14%) # 3 Festive Docks Paddle 2019 from Julie Brookes 5 votes (14%) # 4 Improvers Trip Bull Bay to Brick works 2020 Emily Stephenson 0001 4 votes (11%) # 5 Andy on the Improvers Trip Sea Kayak Trip – Vic Leather 4 votes (11%) # 6 Crazy kayaker on the Tryweryn – Jim Duffy 3 votes (8%)

The Paddler issue 51 Winter 2020 edition The International magazine for recreational paddlers The Paddler can be read in three ways: Free tablet and smart phone HTML5 optimised edition: http://paddlerezine.com Free Joomag desktop page-flip digital issue: https://joom.ag/p9me Perfect-bound 132-page printed: https://thepaddlermag.com/subs-print-paddler All the best Peter

Your club activities might be changing – new proposals by British Canoeing have been announced – Your comments online may be used in plans going forward. Of particular concern to us will be Proposal 9 – Coaching, Leadership and Instructing Qualifications Please click here for the anonymous online survey with British Canoeing…… 9: Coaching, Leadership and Instructing Qualifications Whilst the majority of coaches are qualified, our regulations allow for some individuals to lead and coach paddling activities on the basis of an assessment of their competence made by club committee members.  It is proposed to change this so that all coaches, leaders and instructors will be required to hold a certified British Canoeing qualification and be currently qualified with all necessary updates undertaken. This means that 95% of all coaching and leading in the club could stop. This together with the plan to remove peer paddling from being covered by any third party insurance or as a club activity would mean that the club could no longer operate or at least would be radically different from now. This would mean for LCC: Dock paddling would stop except for led groups of 4 (BC Qualified sheltered water leader with all updates) Most river trips would stop Most sea trips would stop Club weekends and residentials would not happen unless qualified leaders and coaches were available for all groups of 4. All other club activities would need to be reviewed including pool sessions and surfing etc. I would welcome all members to review the proposals and to respond with their views, especially to proposal 9, as this will have severe repercussions on all our paddling with the club if the proposal is approved and implemented in October 2020. Please click here for the anonymous online survey with British Canoeing……