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.
Reading CC – Reading to Marlow 19 miles 8 portages
Come join us at the Basingstoke Canal Canoe club for our introduction to Kayaking course. This fun introduction to getting on the water in a canoe is based on the new British Canoeing Start syllabus will give you a good understanding of how to use a canoe effectively, and give you a good base to build on. You experience coaching, lots of games, and just enjoying the environment of the Canal.
Please note, places are limited. You need to be a member to join our courses. This provides you with insurance to use the boats and allows you to take part in our other training, trips and events throughout the year. These costs are (in addition to the course costs):
£59 – Individual / Junior (note if you are over 18 and not a member of British Canoeing there is an additional £5 surcharge)
£118.50 – Family (includes 2 adults and unlimited children living at the same address)
When you sign up to the course we’ll send you a registration form requesting more information from you. If you aren’t a member we will also send you a membership form.
PLEASE NOTE – our courses fill up quickly and places are in short supply. If you choose to cancel the course we will only refund your fee if we are able to find a replacement participant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What Kit do I need to bring?
A. You need to have clothes that you are happy to get wet – swimming shorts, a thermal (or polyester T shirt) and old trainers / wetsuit boots. Its best to avoid cotton as it get’s heavy when wet. We can provide cags, and buoyancy aids.
Q. Why do I need to be a member to take part?
A. Insurance – in order to take part you need 3rd party insurance which the club provides through it’s British Canoeing affiliation.
Q. Do I have to be present while my child is on the water?
A. Yes. We have comfortable waiting facilities for parents where you can get a drink and a biscuit. It’s important you remain on site in case there are issues which lead to the session being ended early.
Q. What are the benefits of being a member?
A. When you meet the club’s minimum proficiency standard in a type of boat you get access to the club’s extensive range of boats and equipment – for free, during club sessions. For insurance purposes, if you wish to use a boat outside a club session you will need British Canoeing membership to ensure you are insured. Our boat usage policy is available on our website. See our website for more details on the benefits of membership
Q. What do I do after the course has ended?
A. The club has a number of training sessions that run throughout the week, as well as trips. One of the clubs specialist subjects is racing paddling and there are sessions Saturday mornings, and Tuesday and Thursday evenings. These run all year round, except when there is ice on the canal!
Q. Can I get food at the club on course nights?
A. There is no provision for meals at the club at the moment. However there are good tea and coffee making facilities and a dry, warm room to wait in. The club also has new spacious male / female changing rooms
Q. I’d like to complete a course while my child is paddling – is this possible?
A. Yes – you can join them on the Start course as it’s mixed age.
Come join us at the Basingstoke Canal Canoe club for our introduction to Kayaking racing course. This fun introduction to getting on the water in a kayak is based on the new British Canoeing Start syllabus will give you a good understanding of how to use a kayak effectively, and give you a good base to build on. You experience coaching, lots of games, and just enjoying the environment of the Canal.
Please note, places are limited. You need to be a member to join our courses. This provides you with insurance to use the boats and allows you to take part in our other training, trips and events throughout the year. These costs are (in addition to the course costs):
£59 – Individual / Junior (if you are over 18 and not a member of British Canoeing, you will be charged an additional £5 surcharge)
£118.50 – Family (includes 2 adults and unlimited children living at the same address)
When you sign up to the course we’ll send you a registration form requesting more information from you. If you aren’t a member we will also send you a membership form.
PLEASE NOTE – our courses fill up quickly and places are in short supply. If you choose to cancel the course we will only refund your fee if we are able to find a replacement participant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What Kit do I need to bring?
A. You need to have clothes that you are happy to get wet – swimming shorts, a thermal (or polyester T shirt) and old trainers / wetsuit boots. Its best to avoid cotton as it get’s heavy when wet. We can provide cags, and buoyancy aids.
Q. What type of paddle sport will I do?
A. Beginners will have the opportunity to specify a preference to complete the paddle power passport qualification in either a racing or recreational kayak.
Q. Why do I need to be a member to take part?
A. Insurance – in order to take part you need 3rd party insurance which the club provides through it’s British Canoeing affiliation.
Q. Do I have to be present while my child is on the water?
A. Yes. We have comfortable waiting facilities for parents where you can get a drink and a biscuit. It’s important you remain on site in case there are issues which lead to the session being ended early.
Q. What are the benefits of being a member?
A. When you meet the club’s minimum proficiency standard in a type of boat you get access to the club’s extensive range of boats and equipment – for free, during club sessions. For insurance purposes, if you wish to use a boat outside a club session you will need British Canoeing membership to ensure you are insured. Our boat usage policy is available on our website. See our website for more details on the benefits of membership
Q. What do I do after the course has ended?
A. The club has a number of training sessions that run throughout the week, as well as trips. One of the clubs specialist subjects is racing paddling and there are sessions Saturday mornings, and Tuesday and Thursday evenings. These run all year round, except when there is ice on the canal!
Q. Can I get food at the club on course nights?
A. There is no provision for meals at the club at the moment. However there are good tea and coffee making facilities and a dry, warm room to wait in. The club also has new spacious male / female changing rooms
Q. I’d like to complete a course while my child is paddling – is this possible?
A. Yes – you can join them on the Start course as it’s mixed age.
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: