Cumbria Canoeists, is the brand name of the British Canoeing, Regional Development Team (RDT) supporting paddlesport in Cumbria.
Wherever you are on your paddlesport journey we can help. We are the local branch of British Canoeing 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.

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Chair and Vice Chair comments

Remarks from the Cumbria Chair – Nov 2021
As I sit here reading last year’s Chair’s remarks and reflecting back on today’s mid-week sea kayak trip - co-leading 14 sea kayak paddlers on Ullswater Lake, with Lakeland Canoe Club - I am finding it difficult to focus on tomorrow’s AGM.  I would be rather planning next week’s mid-week sea kayak trip on the Pennine Reservoirs.
Planning has been a major element of 2021 for the team of Reps and Cumbria Canoeists’ (CC) management team.  Reflecting on how to support and offer different paddle sport opportunities to different groups of paddlers, has been our major challenge. Using the CV time to reflect, share ideas, innovate and really think about our role.  Being the local branch of British Canoeing, here to support paddlers in the county either directly or through local clubs, organisations and centres.
Proof of this has been the speed and safety when we got back onto the water after the two lockdowns, rescheduling plans, as dates changed with the CV progression.
Speaking to different groups of paddlers – starters, improvers, leaders, coaches, club leaders – has helped us focus on our support role.  Examples:

Developing teams of volunteers – not just a single rep
  • Developing different communication systems – new website, active Facebook, Trip news, Newsletter, Google forms, expressions of interest to event organisers etc.
  • Supporting the “Church in the Barn” Eden descent Charity team to river run and raise £3K
  • Supporting Killington Sailing Association with open day events and SUP development
  • Piloting new ways to run/create events – The Muck Coaching Residential, TASTER and STARTER programs
  • Sea kayak and Open boat trip events
  • Youth River running Training
  • CPD developments/innovations – ZOOMs/Workshops/formation of a delivery team
  • Supporting clubs to develop leadership programs and encourage involvement with coach/leader training has been very exciting.
    Congratulations to all our Club management/leaders, Discipline Reps – Joe Stalker, Tim Mather, John Sherwen, Shel Reason, Sue Brighouse, Antony Pike Bowyer, Mike Fletcher, for their levels of commitment in their fields of expertise.  Congratulations to our NEW CPD Delivery Team (Dan Wilkinson, Gavin Smallbone, Antony Pike Bowyer, Sean McGrath and Fi Corfe) .Finally the Cumbria Canoeists Management Team: Mac Knowles Vice-Chair Mike Fletcher – Communications Officer, Jaime Magee – Webmaster, Treasurer – Rob Wilson, who - behind the scenes - spend hours discussing, sharing and actioning the necessary development of so many paddling opportunities we have within the Cumbria Region.
The Access situation is, as usual, ticking quietly away, so do update with the report.  Thank you to John Crosbie, Mike Mills, Mike Hayward and Sean McGrath for caretaking (with myself) the regional River & Waterways role. 
Financial support for aspirant coach/leaders, training courses, upskilling courses with Bursaries (approx. 20 in 2021) has increased. Much of the “Upskilling” training was financially supported by “The Outdoor Partnership” who are now well established on the West coast of Cumbria – helping more and more Cumbrians “to get out into the outdoors”
Last year I said we will NOT “sit on our laurels” and looking back and reading this year’s reports, I am sure you will agree with me, that we have looked forward and achieved a huge amount of progress to support and develop the needs of the paddling world of Cumbria. 
Mike Sunderland
“Cumbria Canoeists” - Chairman of the Cumbria Regional Development Team
(Coaching.cumbria@vol.britishcanoeing.org.uk)
0797 5946 312     

What is so remarkable about Cumbria Canoeists and our clubs is that we are ALL VOLUNTEERS
Stop Press:  This year’s Awards for Regional “OUTSTANDING contribution” and Engagement, to paddling in Cumbria, went to, CONGRATULATIONS to:
  1.  Sue Brighouse – Open Boat Lead and former RDT Secretary and senior RDT management
  2. John McAllister – Carlisle Canoe Club
  3. Mike Sunderland – BC Engagement Award for his role in developing the new CPD digital and practical programme, open to all the Northern Regional coach/leaders.

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 2021 plans above, but details are not apparent on the website, please contact Mike Sunderland - Chair and Coaching/Leadership Rep or Mac Knowles- Vice Chair - expressing your interest.
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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 

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

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