Basingstoke Canal Canoe Club Latest News
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Whitewater day trip - Sunday 24 February. With a spot of rain to come before the weekend, we are hoping there will be just enough for a paddle on Sunday. Please let Paul Mant know if you want to take part or for more info!
This was a legendary shop. If you know exactly what you want then there may be a bargain to be had, but you have to drive to Camarthen to collect it. www.gavelauctionsonline.com/auctions/6990/gav10020?fbclid=IwAR0CqWAPclrxyxef9gcq_l64sow132NHtNja7...
gavelauctionsonline.com
You have successfully registered for this auction, pending approval to bid. Please check your email for further information.Navigation update from BCA
The recent snowfall has brought down a number of trees along the canal and we currently have #blockages to navigation at the following lo...
For fans of whitewater...OHHHHHHHHH WAVE SPORT – WIN MASSIVE in the NEW ‘WAVE SPORT DREAM TEAM’. It’s a competition aimed at Clubs, (Centres, Universities and any other formal groups) who can get a team of 4 – 6 people together to compete in 4 whitewater kayak disciplines AND stand the chance to take ‘THE BIGGEST PRIZE’ we have ever offered back to your club…. More details to follow on our web, but for now, start getting your team together for this awesome new event and please share with everyone in your club….
Ice report from the Canal CentreChilly but sunny here at the #BasingstokeCanal Centre #Mytchett this morning. Ice is now thick enough for the ducks to stand on! 🦆🦆🦆🦆❄️☀️
Lovely light though so took the chance to get out and about first thing to take some photos.
The 9th Charles Hicks Challenge took place on the Basingstoke Canal on 26th January 2019. With a welcome break in the cold and icy weather conditions, the race saw over 40 boats taking to the water crewed by well over 60 paddlers. The more tech savvie among the racers reported that their satnavs calculated the course to be 15.2 miles, more than the 13-14 miles advertised. We said it would be a challenge!!
But feedback indicates that the event was well received by paddler, spectator and volunteer alike. A big thank you from BCCC for supporting the event in whichever capacity you chose.
Here are the race results:
www.b3c.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/8th-CHC-Finishing-Times.pdf
b3c.org.uk
There are currently stretches of the Basingstoke Canal that have approximately 4mm of ice. However, the weather is forecast to be significantly warmer between now and Saturday and we don't at this time expect any problems running the Charles Hicks Challenge.
So if you are undecided whether to come along, see the weather forecast attached; conditions should be good.
Enter here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/charles-hicks-challenge-kayak-canoe-race-tickets-52945580657
Keep an eye on this page, our website and your email. If things change, we will be in touch. In the unlikely event that the challenge is cancelled, we will provide a full refund.
Take up your paddles...take up the challenge!
THE DRY DOCK - DECLINE AND RESURRECTION
The old dry dock beside Lock 28 fell into disuse after 1900, apart from (according to legend) serving as an unofficial swimming pool for soldiers from the nearby barracks. When the Deepcut cutting was dredged in the late 1930s, the opportunity was taken to fill it in.
Although the dry dock had gone, for many years teas were served at Lock 28. People rowed down to Deepcut – as far as they could go from Frimley boathouse – so there was a good trade to be had at this point. This has been revived in recent years with trips there on “Rosebud” operating from the Basingstoke Canal Centre in Mytchett.
By the time the canal was undergoing restoration in the 1980s, the dry dock was no more than a rather unpleasant muddy hollow. This, however, was about to change. Towards the end of 1982, Frank Jones, who was managing the Youth Training Schemes that taught youngsters brick laying at the same time as rebuilding the Deepcut locks, came to one of the Society’s monthly Committee meetings. He reported that the County Council’s budget for building materials was nearly exhausted for the year and he faced a problem of what to do with his trainees until the new financial year began in April. He said that if the Society could provide him with a couple of thousand quid, he would build a dry dock.
This seemed an excellent idea, so work began. The dock was completed by the autumn and the Society’s trip boat, John Pinkerton, underwent its first out-of-water hull inspection there in September 1984.
by Roger Cansdale
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This is an extract from our bimonthly Bulletin. Get the full story straight to your inbox by becoming a Friend of the Canal. IT'S FREE! basingstoke-canal.org.uk/get-involved/become-canal-friend/