Below is our interactive club calendar, which shows upcoming events for training courses and trips and expeditions, as well as upcoming social events. For more information on planned events, visit our Trips and Training pages.
We also run regular training sessions throughout the year:
Tuesday Mornings – Discover & Explore courses dependent on coach availability
Tuesday Mornings – coach supported recreational paddling
Tuesday Race training – 5:30 pm on the water – all year – Training Coordinator
Thursday evening (April – October) – 5:45 – Touring skills development
Thursday Race training – 5:30 pm on the water – all year – Training Coordinator
Saturday Race training – 9.00 am on the water except Hare and Hounds Days (usually the third Saturday of the month) – Training Coordinator
Paddlesport and Adult Courses
Tuesday evenings Adult courses Discover & Explore further information: – Training Coordinator
Did you take the challenge last year? Whether you did or you didn’t, you need to take up the challenge this time around! Bring your friends and family too. Lots of portaging. Great practice for the Devises to Westminster race. Start and finish at the same place.
See the draft route map below.
Take up your paddles…take up the challenge!
– 13 to 14 miles
– 10 portages
– Open to canoes and kayaks, singles and doubles, juniors, seniors and veterans
– An experience very similar to the Kennet and Avon section of the Devises to Westminster race
We will need a goodly number of volunteers to assist and organise on the day. Please let the race organiser Bill Hansell know if you would like to help out. The usual stuff: check-in, starts/finishes, marshals, car parking, paddlers food etc.
Download the Race Rules here.
The B3C Hasler marks the start of the Southern Regional Hasler season after the winter break.
Download your Race Notice and Entry Form here
Take up your paddles…take up the challenge!
Put the date in your diary now! Back by popular demand – the same course this year.
Did you take the 9th Charles Hicks challenge? Whether you did or you didn’t, you need to take up the 10th challenge this time around! Bring your friends and family too. Lots of portaging. Great early practice for the 2020 Devizes to Westminster race. Start and finish at the same place. Really good paddlers food.
Please note that refunds will be available if the event is cancelled for any reason.
Course between 13 and 14 miles
Tons of portage practice
Open to canoes and kayaks, singles and doubles, juniors, seniors and veterans.
An experience very similar to the Kennet and Avon section of the Devises to Westminster race
See the draft route below.
Take up your paddles…take up the challenge!
Download all you need here:
A British Canoeing video crew will be onsite on Saturday 7th March to shoot a short profile of our club. This will be shown at the BC awards night, where we will be awarded Volunteers Club of the Year. To make the best impression, we need as many people on the water as possible. Please put this date in your diary and do plan on putting a boat on the water at the club on the 7th. Our award celebrates the breadth of disciplines we offer, so any boat type that you are competent to paddle would be much appreciated. Session organisers… if there is any possibility that you could do a special/extra session on 7th March, that would also be very much appreciated (let me know if you are planning something). Club colours if you possess them would also be highly desirable. 9.30am is our usual start time but feel free to turn up later if that’s more palatable.
If you want to be on the water on the 7th but do not wish to be included in the video, please let me know.
Bill
The B3C Hasler marks the start of the Southern Regional Hasler season after the winter break.
This will be a peer paddle to see the London sites from Putney Embankment to Tower Bridge and return. This is a busy tidal section of the River Thames therefore paddlers must be of Explore or 2* standard and be able to carry out deep water assisted rescues. The distance is approx 17 miles and there will be some tidal flow potentially up to a max of 6knt. The trip is timed to low water at Tower Bridge. Paddlers should be confident in messy water as the wake from fast/big boats bounces off the river walled embankments and can be confusing. got questions ask me, want to go tell me. group size will be limited to 8 on a first come first served basis. Rick rick.covell@ntlworld.com (and yes I know its Fathers Day but you’ll be back in time for tea – hopefully)
Launching at Wargrave and paddling to Hurley and see the sights of Henley on the way. a one way trip of approx 9 miles and a shuttle of cars to get us back. Probably meet at the barn 09:30 and be back around 4pm. let me know it you want to go. Rick
Saturday 19th November, Jubilee River, probably launching near Maidenhead and coming out at Windsor. there are 3 weirs to be played with preferably in flat bottom boats such as play or white water boats, see picture coming next. You should have experienced some moving water (i.e. been away from the canal ) and be competent with a spray deck and capsize drills. the total distance is close to 9 miles but with some flow, so as a gauge if you can do ash lock and back in a play boat you’ll be ok. The weirs are portage-able but those wanting to give them a try will take priority. This will be a peer paddle as its outside my remit for sheltered water. we will be in the hands of Kevin White who has done this before. It will be different, so let me know if you want to go.
Rick
Depending on conditions we’re looking at Abbey River from Chertsey Mead on the River Thames or a River Wey loop from Bowers lock.
both paddles are in the region of 5-7 miles and will contain some upstream element and take most of the day.
Contact me Rick Covell rick.covell@ntlworld.com for more detail or if you want to go.
Touring trip on the upper Thames around Cricklade/Lechlade area
The Southampton canoe race takes place on the River Itchen where it runs through Southampton City. The section of river used for the race is where the fresh water meets the estuary at Woodmill Activity Centre, down stream to St Mary’s football stadium. The course travels through contrasting sentry from green tree line areas, parks, marinas and some industrial landscapes. The race starts at Riverside Park with all divisions covering two laps of varying distances to achieve they required divisional race distance. Due to the nature of the river banks in this area there are no portages at this event. The spectating areas are limited but we do have very good view of the start and finish area, with competitor going passed a few times. Good facilities from Bitterne Park Social Club with good parking.
An evening paddle, 22nd June, on the Wey doing the Guildford Loop either from Broadford Rd or Dapdune wharf at 6pm. Transport for kayaks and kit can be provided. paddle length is approx 5 miles and we should be off the water by 9:30. if you cant make the barn at 4:30pm to load, but can make the launch point by 6pm, talk to me. please book your place using Spond https://group.spond.com/CFYPF
This is a standard Hasler race set on a broad and beautiful stretch of the River Thames. The course (suitable for all paddlers from novice to international)w
Launching at Lower Swanwick, or if you want something a little longer Warsash, going up to Botley across to the Horse and Jockey and back.
Respond on spond if you want to go.
Sea trip out to see Old Harrys Rock between Studland and Swanage.
Need to be at Explore or working towards Explore level and be competent at deep water rescue and use of spray deck
B3C summer trip 2023, Friday 8th September pm to Sunday 10th September pm.
Paddle the River Medway from Tonbridge to Maidstone over 2 days with 2 nights camping. A gentle 29km paddle with a few locks and some canoe shoots for those who wish to try them .
We plan to camp Friday night, paddle Saturday and Sunday and return home Sunday pm. Drive time to the camp site near Yalding is just 1.5 hours, so suitable for after work on the Friday night. This will be an out and return Shuttle both days from the campsite so we will not be kayaking with all the camping gear.
Please let us know if you are interested so we can advise the camp site of numbers.
Any questions please call Rick.
The River Medway is a major river in the South East of England in the county of Kent. Stretching from High Weald in Sussex, through Tonbridge and Maidstone, the river ends where it meets the Thames estuary near Sheerness.
It is an ideal touring adventure. Great for recreational users and those looking for multi day-trips. It has some gentle grade 1 rapids but otherwise the river is a lovely flat, green wilderness paddle.
The River Medway is a popular river for canoeing. The river has a length of 120 kilometres, but the navigable non-tidal part runs from Tonbridge to Maidstone and has a length of 29 km, the Medway Canoe Trail. From Tonbridge you can make an extra round trip of 4 km upstream. This round is very popular by local people. You can paddle the full 29 km in one day, but most people do it in 2 days and camp on the way.
Shepperton to Ham approx 12 miles with the flow, try the Rollers, See Hampton Court from the river. this will be a shuttle and the trailer may be used so not to worry if your short of a roof rack. Great day out.
Launching from Arundel, getting out at Pulborough and shuttling. Sign up on Spond if you want to go
A gentle paddle to blow away the cobwebs! Barley Mow Bridge Nr Dogmersfield to the Fox and Hounds pub Church Crookham and back – 14km – for reference the Club to Ash Lock rtn is 10km. Bring a packed lunch. Meet at the barn 9.30 – 10am. Rick is happy to take the trailer so this would be suitable for new paddlers who do not have J bars etc. Please indicate in the Spond chat if you are happy to drive, have roof and/or J-Bars we can make the decision on the day on which transport we use.
Meeting at the Barn 09:30. A trip from Brookwood to Woking approx 8 miles and 12 locks to be portaged. it is one way and a shuttle will be in play. kayak trolleys advised. for more information Contact Rick.Covell@ntlworld.com
Seeing the city of London from a different perspective i.e. from a Kayak. This is a round trip of 17 miles although there will be a lot of tidal assistance. Paddlers must be experienced in moving tidal water and waves, spray deck competent, and deep water rescue competent. Paddlers should ideally have been on some club sea trips within the last year and be at or near Explore Level. Paddlers must be able to dress appropriately to the conditions. This is initially a peer paddle (unless I get a coach to come) therefore at your own risk. Unsure then ask me Rick.Covell@ntlworld.com
Experience the wonderful River Hamble from Lower Swanwick to Botley Mill, the Horse and Jockey at Currbridge and all being well a magic ride back on the tide. A good first estuary trip and introduction to the sea with a little moving water. Paddlers should be Spray deck and deep water rescue competent working towards Explore Standard