Agenda – Club meeting and Celebration 17th October 2018 including talks / DVD of the club 3 major trips this year (Alps, Nepal and Alaska) and paddler of the year Hi all, Congratulations to this years winners of the paddlers of the Year Awards (see below). More details will be given when the Awards are presented next Wednesday at the Marina. We also have talks and DVDs from this years major trips abroad. Nepal, French Alps and Alaska. Don’t miss this event, it is a great evening and a good way to meet others in the club. Please indicate if coming so we can put out enough seats by clicking here…….. We have filled all but one position on the Stewardship Group so the admin part will be very, very swift. However, if anyone would like to give a little something back to the club and help out we are still looking for someone to take over from Karl Tattum as Lead Safeguarding Officer. This is an important role. If you are able to help or would like to discuss the role please contact: 2018 Paddler of the Year 2018 Junior of the Year 2018 Volunteer of the Year 2018 Swimmer of the Year Aaron Jackson Harvey Harwood Colin Muse Graham Devaney Aaron as helped lead the U18 polo team to great success this year and is always willing to help, often putting others before himself. He is developing his coaching and helps run dock sessions. Nothing is ever too much trouble. Stanley Embankment has become a firm favourite of his and his paddling confidence has come on leaps and bounds over the season. He is an inspiration to all.   Harvey has had a tough time this year. He was unable to paddle until June but has made the […]

Club Expedition to Alaska “Day 5” 20th August (Monday) – Olsen Island to Island Halfway up Unakwik Inlet After a very wet day of not doing much (well for those who opted out of the excursion), everybody was camp crazy, so we decided to move on. The day started really as it meant to go on – grey, overcast and wet. The tents were wet, the kit was wet, it was wet – many of us considering what we’ll be changing for the next trip. Nevertheless, we were on the water for the now routine time of 9am. So, all afloat, we made for our one and only crossing for the day. Getting to the end of island took significantly less time than the excursion the day before – just saying. There was thick fog and visibility was low, so compass bearing decided, we grouped up in a fat diamond and started the crossing, keeping an eye out for any boats taking a route avoiding the main conditions. Land came into view, and all was good. As we continued up the shoreline, the landscape always takes on a spooky theme with such conditions, with low lying cloud, fog and the mountains being dark silhouettes that take on a sinister hue. Weaving around some islands and small inlets, the map clearly indicated that there was a way to pass through, so off we headed between the islands towards our passage way. Low and behold, the map lied (well, maybe a white lie), and we were presented with some shallows. Now to a Sea Kayaker, this was an epic problem. The decision to get out of one’s boat for a “portage” is just not something one should consider, fortunately to those canoeists in the group, this wasn’t so much a portage as […]

Club Expedition to Alaska “Day 6” 21st August (Tuesday) – Island Halfway up Unakwik Inlet to Meares Bay and return “Return to Misery Cove” We woke up to find it was still raining. We took down our tents and loaded up our kayaks in the rain and then set off for Mears Glacier. It was a cold and wet paddle with plenty of waterfalls to be seen, including one particularly big one which a few people wanted to play in. Personally, I was so cold and wet, I was sure that any swim would be certain death! We were not disappointed by the sea otters, who were still floating around all over the place, despite the rain and the cold. As we got closer to the glacier, grey seals were also becoming more common (at least they have blubber to deal with the cold!). We also encountered our first icebergs… or were they bergy bits? When we stopped for elevenses, we were all cold, wet through and, to be honest, miserable. Keith recommended that it may not be a good idea for us to continue to the glacier today because it was only going to get colder as we got closer to the glacier. We all agreed to turn back and return to our previous night’s camp. As we came around the island back to our beach, we were greeted by a deer on the beach. As we reinforced our man-made camp platforms against the anticipated higher tide and re-pitched our wet tents in the rain, we decided to name this cove ‘Misery Cove’. Finally, around 4pm that afternoon, and after 50 hours of non-stop rain, the rain stopped, and the clouds cleared just enough for us to glimpse the surrounding snow-capped mountain tops. We went to bed that night hoping […]

Junior beginners Canoe Polo Day Sunday, 14 October, 2018   11am – 5pm Liverpool Canoe Club, Coburg Wharf, Liverpool, L3 4EB Open to all junior club members, both boys and girls teams involved. Juniors aged 8-18 Ideal for any juniors who have never played or only played a little. We will have several teams playing against each other in Dukes Dock by the big wheel. Free parking next to the compound. The session is totally free for members. Bring a change of warm clothes, lunch. Parents can watch from next to the pitch. Sign up below if interested. Click here for more information and to put your name down…….  

Agenda AGM 17th October 2018 Please book a seat if wanting to attend – helps with number of chairs to provide. – Thanks 7:30 – 8:00pm – Arrival Liverpool Marina, Spinnaker Suite. Slide-show of club photographs and activities over the year. 8:00 – 8:20pm – AGM (Election of Club Officials, Paddler of the Year, Members Motions) Welcome from the chair & review of the year 1.         Apologies for Absence. 2.         Minutes of the previous AGM – Click here Signed as a true record by the Chair Matters arising. 3.         Treasurers report  Online Year End Accounts – Click here 4.         Brief reports from each discipline (2 minutes each) 5.         Members motions – None received to date.           6.         Chair to thank all the volunteers that have coordinated and guided the club over the past year.  Welfare Officer – John Fay        Kingsway pool on Monday – Robin Emery;  SUP – Paul Harwood 7.         Election of Officers – Proposed list of those willing to stand for 2018-19 Chair – Fiona Barry; Secretary – Carole Thomas, Treasurer & Grants – Craig Ford; Membership Secretary & Volunteers – Keith Steer; Welfare Officer – Karl Tattum, Publicity – Pete Thomas; Junior / Youth Coordinator – Ian Colwyn; Notice boards – Peter Massey; Kingsway pool on Monday Dominic Fahey; Stuart Conway; Nick Coughlin; Dave Reynolds & Keith Steer; “Discipline Representatives” to advise members / act as a point of contact: Coaching Coordinator – Dave Reynolds, Technical Coaching Advisor – Ian Bell; Polo – Josh Cook, Sea – Gareth Jones; White Water – John Allerton and Stuart Toulson; Freestyle – Graham Devaney; Open Boat – Mike Alter & Ruth Edwards; Kayak Safety Cover – Dave Rider assisted by Jim Duff; Slalom – Michal Giezgala; Racing – Colin Smith; Surf – Karl Tattum, SOT – Dermot Miller   SUP – Jayne Rigby Equipment […]

Club Expedition to Alaska “Day 4” 19th August (Sunday) – Olsen Island Storm Bound With a storm due in, we were given a day off! So, some of us had a bit of a lie in and a slow start to the day. Tarp (x3) city was erected in the trees in anticipation of the rain!! Over late breakfast in the city, the group discussed the merits of equipment that had been brought on the trip and the interesting food choices of the group. Main topics included the variety of electronic devices that people had with them, camp chairs, jars/tins and fresh veg! There was even a dual language gold leaf hardback book! Whilst most were passing the time of day with food sorting, reading, or snoozing, the rain began to fall about lunch time. Nikki became the Chief Acquisition Technician for Collection of H2O (C.A.T.C.H.) This job entailed sourcing the rain water that was falling by using the tarps and strategically placed pans!! Shortly before the rain had started half of the group (Keith S, Keith P, Roger, Ian, Mark & Andy) decided to stretch their legs and headed off for a ‘short’ walk. This walk turned into a circumnavigation of the island (more details in separate report!!). 5 hours later the intrepid team returned with tales of coasteering, cliffs of no return, crossing of ravines using vine tight ropes, battling through the jungle and triffids! Each time the epic journey was recounted it became more and more extreme, oh and also a lot longer! And by bedtime the journey time was 12 hours! The only casualty in this extreme epic (other than a lot of wet clothing!!) was the sad loss of the “bear bell” which will be missed by all (especially Keith P). And finally, the statistic […]

Canoe Polo at Halewood Pool. (All welcome) Starts Tuesday, 2 October, 2018   8pm – 9pm Halewood Leisure Centre, Baileys Lane, Halewood, Knowsley, Merseyside, L26 0TY Click here to book a place……..   Canoe Polo Session at Halewood Pool. The first 10 minutes will be skills training and warm up followed by 6 x 7 minute games. Open to all who are interested in playing polo. Ideal for skills or general fitness. We have a number of polo boats and all equipment at the pool or you can bring your own. We access the pool via the door onto the pool side to the right of the main building (Next to the green containers and mini roundabout.) The session runs from 8:00 pm to 9:00pm but you are advised to arrive for 7:45pm.  

Despite the weather forecast and warning Neil, Wayne and Martin were brave enough to turn up for this weekend it turns out the weather was not really that bad.   We had rain on Saturday but with the high level of the river, the flow was fast to see all of us paddling From Hereford to Hoarwithy a distance of 15 miles without much effort.  Sunday morning we had some continuous heavy rain but it was clear with some sunshine myself, Neil and Wayne decided to Paddle from Hoarwithy to Ross on Wye a distance of 11 miles and a very enjoyable afternoon we finish the Weekend with a visit to Symon Yat rapid. Thanks again Carl

Club Expedition to Alaska “Day 3” (Whittier to Perry Island, Meares Glacier and Unakwik Inlet and return via Esther Island) “A Temperate Rainforest?” 18th August (Saturday) – Perry Island to Olsen Island Despite the long length of the first full day, the team was up and ready to go by the normal 9am start. After ensuring that each team had restocked with water, it was time for team brief. Under grey skies the plan was outlined, a 7km crossing to the Dutch Group of Islands for lunch and then via some abandoned oil tanks to Axel Lind island (13km) where we would scout for a campsite. But we might head on a little further if appropriate. Everyone was ok with the plan, but there were a few requests for a repeat viewing of the whale – let’s see what we could do. Heading off as a tight group it was great to hear that everyone chatting that they had recovered from the day before. Just as we were settling into paddling rhythm there was an excited cry of “Whale!”. We eagerly looked in the direction pointed, and lo and behold there was the distinctive spout, and noise, of a whale. Alas it was too far away in the wrong direction to make paddling over worthwhile, but at least it was a request met and another tick in the wildlife box. With spirits high, and the weather conducive to paddling, we headed on towards the Dutch Group. Despite the solitude of the location, at all times we could hear these barks and howls travelling across the sea. The only answer could be sea lions, and it appeared as if the noise was coming from a group of skerries just off our planned route. In my opinion a sea lion colony outweighs […]

North West and Central Canoe Polo Division 2   Saturday 22nd  was the first tournament of North West and Central Division 2 for LCC Brunswick (youth team) having won Division 3 last season and joining fellow LCC team Coburg (old people). With both teams beating Manchester Wildcats B and Red Rose A and both losing against FOA D and Viking Y during the day , before lining up against each other in their final game, with the old people winning a tight game 3-2. A big well done to both teams for a great day. PS see you  on 23 February  in Cheadle  at 19;10 for the rematch ! Norman Cook Coburg team coach (after Richie was sent off for dissent).  

Club Expedition to Alaska “Getting there and Day 1” (Whittier to Perry Island, Meares Glacier and Unakwik Inlet and return via Esther Island) “A Temperate Rainforest?” This clubs` expedition to Prince William Sound is now well established with trips in 2008, 2010, 2013, 2016 and again in 2018. This time we headed out to Perry Island in search of whales and then to Unakwik Inlet to find Meares Glacier. This involved some fairly-long, open crossings; including several in the thick fog. We were stormbound for several days with strong gusty winds and heavy rain. Every day we encountered something interesting including; humpback whales, black bears, Orca, Steller Sea lions and common harbour seals, deer, sea otters, bald headed eagles and many other sea birds; they seemed to be everywhere. We also paddled up to enormous tide-water glaciers. Our friend Levi Hogan (below) shuttled us to and from Whittier along with supplying his fleet of high quality UK Sea kayaks. Keith Peek. Mark Pawley Ruth Edwards Ian Bell Mike Alter Andy Garland, Martin Aldridge Roger Morgan, Chris Preston Frankie Annan, Nikki Aldridge The flight out and getting to Whittier Levi Hogan from Turnagain Kayaks This year, not only did we find a new outfitter, Levi Hogan and Turnagain kayaks but we also found cheaper and more direct flights via Iceland. Consequently, we had a much larger group than normal with 13 of us making the journey out to Anchorage. The flights cost around £800 with short stop over (2hrs) in the new North Atlantic hub of Reykjavik. On the way-out we were all kicking ourselves as we should have booked a couple of days in Iceland instead of flying straight through. We had to endure numerous advertising videos and TV programmes teasing us with the best that Iceland had to offer. […]

Short video of Leven. (just trying new go- pro really )

Great day yesterday on the River Rothay I will do it again for sure. Level was 0.7m this was a bit low perhaps 1.0 would of been better the trip was suited for a small number as there were many low hanging trees. Some amazing scenery. The rivers winds narrowly through grasmere then through grasmere like on to Rothay again then across Rydal water. Then on to Windermere, one river however wasn’t enough we did a quick run of Leven perhaps not best idea as it was late and we were tired. Neil came a cropper on the racecourse section and incurred a paddle snap. Bit of a downer but a great day in total Thanks all John https://youtu.be/RoEKt6jTze4

Lovely little article about Paul and his C1 conversion kits. Well done Paul. http://www.unsponsored.co.uk/press/c1-kayak-conversions/

Coniston open water swim by James Duffy Over 600 hundred swimmers took to Coniston Water on Saturday 1st September to take part in the gruelling Chillswim Coniston open water swim supervised by 40 kayakers including a team from Liverpool Canoe Club. After a somewhat tropical summer, the water temperature in the lakes was back in the normal temperature range of 16.8 degrees for the early morning swim. The event was a 5.25 mile linear swim of Coniston, and full support was provided for the swimmers by the kayakers. However, each swimmer also had a mandatory float in tow which made the task of the safety kayakers much easier. The Chillswim Coniston is open to both wetsuit and non-wetsuit swimmers, and approximately 120 of the swimmers chose to swim without a wetsuit. The fastest swimmer of the day was 21-year-old Sean Wylie from Hexham, who blasted the course in 1 hour 45 minutes and 53 seconds; the fastest time in the event’s history. Wylie was followed by Tom Robinson of Ulverston, in 1:51:04, who turns 18 next week. The fastest woman was 17-year-old Abbie Holyoake of Yorkshire Pentathlon, who finished in 1 hour 59 minutes. In the non-wetsuit category, first man was 46-year-old Phillip Hewitt of Hartlepool in 2:07:36 and first woman was 27-year-old Rachel Wilkinson from Yorkshire in 2:16:54. Swimmers range from first time long distance open water swimmers to Channel swimmers and everything in between. John McGivern from Merseyside participated with his three children as his 70th birthday present to himself. “Having swum this event with Chillswim before I knew it was special, and I wanted to have a great family memory for my 70th birthday. What better way than bringing my kids to swim 5 miles with me?” Top of Form