Virtual Meeting Held On-Line
7.30pm 7^th April 2022

RM asked KS to chair the meeting: as non member KS would not vote

Welcome Apologies

Minutes & Matters arising from last meeting

Minutes accepted.

Treasurer                   

Balance 24^th March £4326.12. HCC now charged £5 per month bank fee

MD owed £850 for electrical equipment and digger hire

Trips  / Events

Coming up:

23^rd April Borrowash to Trent Lock

30^th April Matlock Intro WW

21^st May Lower Tryweryn

TBC      River Soar

Past

2^nd April Banwy trip ran at Matlock

Development

37 responses to AB’s survey see PDF – to be published to members

Priority: FSRT, First Aid, Moderate / Advanced WW

Aim for rolling / rescue day on lake Saturday in early season

Possible WW SUP with Barry Hughes

Make efforts to record paddler development progression

Lake Coordinator

Talked with NS/KS to pick up from last year

Same pattern, social, taster, junior, Discover / Explore courses  plus specials eg SUP

Look to add supervised social for those yet to reach ExploreLooking for rolling courses Explore / Discover – need to be able to coach more mixed ability group, crib cards available. Feedback to be made to TK on the progression of paddlers. NS suggested 5 week courses to allow for an absence

Start 14/4 with Juniors and Social. TK to be an admin of HCC Volunteers FB group

Gate to be manned at arrival times

Dave Taylor Paul Hunter not going to be available for much of the season

Equipment

Cable now to containers, Martin Walker to connect

Floored between cont 2 and 3 to store Junior boats

FA kit checked and restocked

Mount defib

SUP – PM KS and Alice Smith tried Sandbanks SUP, rated well.  Available to us at 20% off RRP or 30% off for more than 6.  Electric pumps available at  £90

Secretary

Dale Clarke reviewing Lake Risk Assessment

Welfare and Time to Listen courses available online – to be promoted

Emma to MCH Training

Review files on Google Drive

AOB

PM and KS Seconded to the Committee

RM to check email addresses with AG

Remove covid material from website

Meeting closed 22.16

Next meeting 2^nd May 2022 7.30 online, rearranged to 4^th May

Virtual Meeting Held On-Line
7.30pm 4^th May 2022

Welcome Apologies

Minutes & Matters arising from last meeting

KS corrected minute so say that she wouldn’t vote not as she was not a member of the Committee

Treasurer                   

£6151.12 +£1100 from Stripe

To pay £638 for insurance, £850 to MD for container works, £99 to Paul Hunter for digger   = £5644

Equipment

Insurance, renew with Towergate

Perception Dancer and paddle donated

SUPs – HCC to look to get 4 Sandbanks Style Ulimate boards. 3 members plus 2 Paddleplus want boards, 3 electric pumps . Enough to get 30% discount on the order.

PM to request orders by May 16^th – payment to be made by BACS

Trips  / Events

Past:

23^rd April Borrowash to Trent Lock

30^th April Matlock Intro WW kayak

Upcoming:

7th May WW Canoe at Matlock

21^st May Lower Tryweryn

11/12^th June Llangollen weekend

18^th June Trent to Swarkstone

We now have key for Artist Corner car park height barrier

WarwickshireYoung Carers – PM to arrange dates

Development

FSRT – one participant booked so far

First Aid booked 24/25 September

Cumbria trip 15^th/16^th October with Dave Beecroft, min 4

Rolling Clinic May 28^th at Lake

Plan Intro to WW kayak at Jackfield

PSI: Dave Beecroft can do 4 for £180 pp – Paddleplus running PSI Simon Boyton, Emmas Sparks, Andy Griffith interested in PSI  – try to use known provider

PSI needed with interest in Juniors

Those needing DBS – use BC scheme no fee

RM – Lutterworth and Hinckley pools no spaces

SUP DSM to be organised

Lake Coordinator

Discover and Explore to be available in multiple craft as separate courses

Make efforts to record paddler development progression

Consider running Saturday SUP sessions

Need to record award progression through MCH

Group sizes to be set according to available equipment

TL feels Discover okay for Social paddle,

Changing event descriptions so Discover is Beginner

Looking to run offsite trips from June

Secretary

Membership

Nene WW discount offer details sent

Comms

MCH tweaking as getting used to it eg event approvals off , finding new features to use

Website updates to be done

Wye camp balances to be collected

AOB

SW  Working on Accessibility  – to be discussed fully next time

KS Need pictures of Bryony and Sam for posters

Picture updates needed of coaches and leaders

Taster Session will get Start certificates – some one need to do

KS –  Martin Walker to be given keys for container power installation

NS – kit ie SUPS not bookable unless for a craft specific event

NS nominated KS as chair – accepted

Meeting closed 22.52

Next meeting 30th May 2022 7.30

An amazing day, around the Mountsorrel / Barrow loop.

Great local location, perfect for explorer graduates like me, a gentle introduction into weirs and the challenges you might face navigating on our waterways. After a safety briefing to start, we had a good paddle to the first of two weirs on the trip, a first for some of us in the group and successfully completed by all under close supervision so felt safe at all times. More paddling to the 2nd, more challenging weir, which again was successfully completed by all in the group.

We carried on around the loop through some at times hard to navigate routes due to the overgrown reeds etc, this allowed us to try out techniques we’d learned at the lake. A slight detour took us to a sluice gate where we could all get a taster for fast running water that we might experience on a white water trip.

Lunch was at a good spot in Barrow, followed by a good paddle back to the waterside inn at Mountsorrel, and a well-earned drink for all of us.

All in all a great day out and everyone went away with a smile on their face. Thanks to all who organised and kept us safe on the trip.

2020 Trips

 The trip was originally supposed to be for around 24 people from the club, but plans were changed thanks to Boris, with Warwickshire and Leicestershire being put into Tier 3. Not to worry though as Club leaders were quick to re-arrange another trip for the Leicestershire people. The Leamington Loop is approximately 7 miles, starting on the River Leam, onto the Avon for a short stretch, up onto the Grand Union Canal then back on the Leam for the return leg to the start point.

It was great to be back on the water as it was my 1^st trip for a couple of months, it was also my birthday, yay!! It’s always nice to finally meet other paddlers for the 1^st time and always good to see some old familiar faces! There were 6 of us on this trip and Dave Clarke was our leader. Once Dave had lent Phil all the kit he had forgotten, we were ready to go!! The get on was at Princes Drive weir. We have used this get on many times and I’m sure everyone at the club is very familiar with this place but I have never seen so much water going over it as there was that morning! We usually get in from the top step of the weir but there was a deluge of brown water making this impossible, so we opted to get in further downstream. We would normally shoot the weir on the far side but we had no way to get on due to the high water. Still, plenty of time for a birthday swim when we did the weir on the way back.

The 1^st section of the trip takes you down the Leam for just under half a mile until we meet the Avon. It’s a beautiful stretch of the Leam, winding through the trees and usually a very good place to spot the odd kingfisher or 2, but it’s a much different river in winter with the high water towing through. It was a very cold day but we were blessed with blue skies. Before long we reached the Avon for our short leg to the Canal for our 1^st portage.

There are a total of 2 portages on this trip, the 1^st of which involves some steep steps from the Avon up to the Grand Union Canal. We had an audience of 1 dog walker watching us seal launch into the canal, but it all went well! The canal stretch is around 3 miles and takes you through Leamington town centre. We still had nice blue skies and once we got out of town the canal enters some nice countryside before out next portage back onto the Leam.  Portage number 2 is near the village of Radford Semele, where the canal and River Leam pretty much meet up. A quick slide down the hill, perfectly demonstrated by Phil Riley, and we were all back on the Leam. Once again, this stretch of the Leam is very scenic but the water was quite high and rather brown! Surprisingly there weren’t as many trees to worry about as we thought there may be. After passing by Newbold Comyn, then past the boat centre, we came to Mill Bridge Weir. Bigger than princes drive weir, it became apparent we would not be shooting this one!!! However, on our river right, there was a small off-shoot / ramp down to the river that we went down. With all the grace of a plank of wood, I shot down there and into the wall at the bottom!!!!! Lots of fun though and still no birthday swim. Once all down there we carried on, through the parks in town and back to our start point.

Back at Prince’s weir, we now had the chance to shoot the weir on the usual point on the left hand side. As I mentioned, I have never seen that much water over this weir but we were almost home so why not!! Once again, with all the grace of a plank, I shot down it and crashed straight into the wall to the left! Loads of fun though and the rescue party were ready for me!! No swim though, a perfect end to the day. A great day out, cold but beautiful day and always a pleasure to get out on the water.

I would like to thank Neil Smith for organising the trip from the start. I want to thank Dave Clarke (Leader) John Spooner, Phil Riley and John Reidy for looking after Ewan and I on the water, it’s always good having experienced paddlers on the water! Thanks all, we had a great day. Looking forward to the next one!! Cheers

Date:                   SATURDAY, 4 July 2020

From:                 Wolvercote, Oxford

Distance:          Approximately 8 mile loop

We arrived at the site for 9.30, parking was easy to find and included toilet facility, however it got busy later on so turning up early is definitely the right call to make.

The trip in it’s self was mostly flat, following the river Thames for 3 miles, till you double back on yourself up the canal for a further 5 Miles. Along the way are many locks to portage, some of which require a vertical seal launch of about 2/3ft high.

Near the end of the trip there is also the tail end of a weir you can paddle up to, this gives some mild moving water to play on, suitable for beginners, as water levels go up this may up the fun but also the skill level required to play.

Rorie Potter/Rory Dalgpot

Date :                   SATURDAY, 27 JUNE 2020

From:                    Thu​rmaston

Distance:              Approximately 6.4 miles

Thanks for the warning Neil about Mill Lane in Thurmaston, its tiny and very easy to miss ….. and I did!

After gathering in the car park the group helped each other to carry kit down to launching site which was a little further than my arms could carry, so thanks for the help guys . It was great catching up with those that I have not seen for some time.

After a quick safety/ COVID briefing we got onto the water in our small groups. Emma on SUP, Martin in the canoe and the rest in kayaks. I was impressed with the picturesque launch area between the weir and boat yard. However, once we started paddling we sadly soon came across a lot of rubbish/ cans etc which is heartbreaking to see the lack of care by some for our environment and wildlife.

The first leg on the River Soar was quite narrow and shallow in places, which I quite like. With low foliage and branches to duck and a dive around (well done Emma!) the saws were soon out (any excuse to get them out!). The banter soon started too especially between Alex/Al/Alice/Alfred/Alexa  busting the “twins” (aka. Neil and Paul).

We paddled up to Cossington Lock and those that tackled the weir did so with ease. Following lunch with a very heavy downpour we got back onto the water launching from the side of the lock. A couple of us soon got even wetter (you know who you are!) and one of us did a beautiful obviously deliberate pirouette launching.

The return followed the River Wreake to the Grand Union Canal with another portage and launch off a pallet (tricky those pesky spray decks  Ali) and back along the canal to our start point.

Thanks to all for a great fun filled day out.

Carolyn

Pictures courtesy of Kat….

Our first club post lockdown social distance paddle.

We all met up at The Canal side Farm Shop Carpark at 9.30am. A very nice Farm shop /Garden centre /café set-up big car park directly onto the canal – bonus it has free parking at the moment.

After a social distancing photo and a pre-brief by Neil Smith including are new coronavirus guidelines, we split into two groups. 4 kayaks to lead and 3 kayaks and the ladies from Team Smith in a canoe, first group leading out and 5 minutes after, the second group followed.

We headed west on the Trent and Mersey Canal, under the bridge a few yards then right and north at the connection with the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal. We passed a small marina and over the River Trent aqueduct, a nice peaceful paddle up the canal without too many barges or fisherman. Our first portage was around the lock just outside Tixall which gave everyone a chance for a stretch and as it was getting warm an adjust of kit, carrying on we then crossed to River Sow. The canal then ran parallel with the rail track for a good while until we reached our get out to portage to the River Sow and our Lunch stop. Where I think they are are starting to build a new lock gate just north of Weeping Cross.

After a well earned lunch, still staying in our groups, we got onto the River Penk which was not much more than a ditch for a few yards then joined the River Sow. You could now see how high some of the flooding had got earlier in the year!

The first group got busy sawing a few branches to clear the route. There was a nice steady flow on the river south. It became quite narrow in places with a nice mix of paddling, some nice scenery of farmland and woods plus most of the swans in Stafford. We headed under the canal aqueduct where we had crossed earlier. We were then at the back of the Shugborough Estate where we spotted a pair of deer close to the water in a copice of woods. As we turned the corner to meet the River Trent under the arched bridge it was very shallow with a few kids playing in the water.

We made our last portage with wet feet because of the shallow water, over past the lock to the Trent and Mersey canal for the last short stretch. This was where we had our only swimmer of the day and he was very unlucky – just court him out, no issues self-rescue under the watchful eyes of the trip leaders.

A short paddle north past the Oatcake Barge took us back to the car park. In total 10 miles, a leisurely 5 hours-ish, a good test for a few of us with new kit. Well done to the 2 chaps in play boats – must have been hard work for them.

Thank you to Neil Smith for organising and leading with Paul and Simon.

Michael Sparrow