Cumbria Canoeists is a team of people supporting clubs and paddlesport in Cumbria.
Wherever you are on your paddlesport journey we can help. We are the local branch of Paddle UK and are here to support paddlers in the county either directly or through local clubs. Have a look at what is on offer and get in touch if we can help.
We are aware that some old British Canoeing links may be broken. Apologies for any inconvenience. We will fix them as and when we can. 

COMMENTS from the Previous Chairman Feb 2025

 Another year has flown by and my records tell me I have been in the CHAIR since 2017 – a mere 8yrs – so it is time to step down and invite a new team member to take up the reigns –
allowing me to work on my personal kayaking bucket list.
A HUGE thank you to all our Cumbria Canoeists Management team – Vice Chair, Secretary,
Treasurer, Website, Comms, our Discipline reps, event organisers, CPD delivery team,
volunteer coaches and leaders who have made this another memorable year. Not forgetting the
waterways and environment team for keeping an eye on access and all the hassles that pop up
every year.
Inspiration from our voluntary teams has not been disappointing: for example:
The Open Canoe Team lead by Mac Knowles have been busy with a successful moving water
programme, of quality coaching, which was a great success Tony and John Noble
The Polo development team, led by Chris Archer have developed some outstanding training
opportunities for both coaches and players, working out of our base at Killington Lake and
establishing a permanent training hub and a temporary base for Penrith CC in the summer
months.
The Youth River Running Team has been put on hold but we have forged strong links with
Carlisle Canoe Club and supported the club with Grade 2/3 qualified leaders, to ensure their
club programme is moving forward, as their leaders train and qualify.
The “Women into Paddling”, led by Sue Brighouse, has been active, however a decision
has been made to dissolve the group, as many clubs have taken up the mantle and are working
within their clubs, recognising the importance of single gender induction programmes, to
encourage new members into club activities.
The Race team is led by John Sherwen and they have organised 2 marathon races and 1
Wildwater race in 2024. With 2 marathon races and 2 Wildwater races being organized of 2025.
The Access/Egress team, led by Mike Fletcher, have strengthened their partnership with
Eden Rivers Trust and are working on an outstanding Access/Egress facility, below the
Armathwaite bridge, to merge in with the Ainstable Parish Council public Car Park scheme,
planned for 2026.
CPD Live team – (led by myself), were invited to the new YMCA Lakeside centre in January,
hosted by Martin Barry and with a VERY strong team of National Trainers – Dan Wilkinson,
Chris Brain, Lizzie Harrington and Ian Adey – plus BC guests Lee Pooley and Darryll Shaw-we
have booked the 2026 date for January 2026! 50 coach/leaders participated from local clubs to
colleagues in Yorkshire, NE and NW.
As people will understand, CC makes a charge on all our events and this year we have injected
finance to most local clubs and individuals with nearly £4K from our surplus – ensuring the clubs
are prepared for the 2026 affiliated club mandate, from BC, that ALL club events will be led by
qualified BC coach/leaders, if the clubs continue to be covered the BC insurance.
The Management team are working even closer with British Canoeing, benefitting from the
event booking system, the free financial management system and the full public liability
insurance system we are using. Easing the pressure on our Treasurers work, improving BACS
payments and benefitting from NO payment of VAT on Capital items eg new equipment.
Our Treasurer, John Soady, has continued to work closely with the BC Finance Department
and established some simple monitoring protocols and checking procedures.
At last British Canoeing has announced that the national REGIONAL DEVELOPNMENT
TEAMS – originally 12 in total and currently down to 5 – will be dissolved and replaced by
Support Hubs. However, they have recognised Cumbria’s impressive record and current
strategies to support our 6 clubs. So, we continue, (as always), to be Cumbria Canoeists – Regional Paddle Support Group –
British Canoeing Cumbria.  Claiming our annual £1K bursary from British Canoeing, now
branded as Paddle UK England.
Governance is all in place, however with our new identity we will have to put extra effort into
this area, in 2025. More from BC before 2026.
For the second year running we celebrated the work of all volunteer contributors, by organising
a “celebration meal” FREE to all our volunteers who could make the October date – a expected
a good night was had by all.
A word of appreciation and thanks and that is to Killington Sailing Association – who have
developed an important relationship with us and we are working even closer, supporting their
events, spring cleans, club nights with sea kayaking and open boating and they with our polo
venue development.
So enough of the behind the scenes planning and management, on with the annual
achievement reports and plans from the Clubs and Leads, offering further paddling
opportunities and developments for us all in Cumbria and our neighboring NW clubs, delivered
by our teams of AMAZING volunteers.
THANK YOU ALL – particularly the current management team – Sue Brighouse, John Soady and Jaime Magee.

As more people use Facebook for advertising events we have reduced the number of mailings we send out.
​Flyers for each discipline can still be found on the website. Minutes for the AGM can also be found on our website. 

Information on keeping your qualifications up to date can be found here.

What's on in the next FEW months: 

Please see the calendars for planned events, feel free to express an interest as we will try to run events even if we have to move the date!

As you can see; the grass has NOT grown under the feet of the Cumbria Canoeists Reps and Management Team.

If your appetite is wetted by some of the plans above, but details are not apparent on the website, please contact John Soady- Chair, Mike Sunderland - Coaching/Leadership Rep or Jamie Magee- Vice Chair - expressing your interest.
​
If you are new to paddling feel free to contact us or book on to one of the introductory sessions which can be found in one of the discipline-specific pages 

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Regional Calendar:
​Navigate to date and event & click on calendar entry to see more details and any attachments or links

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