So last night marked the final zoom CPD session organised by Mike Sunderland, Chair of Cumbria Canoeists, and his team. They have all been thanked personally but we would like to extend a public thank you to everyone who has hosted, presented and indeed taken part in these events. 

138 participants attend the final session looking at the new guide awards. 

Overall 549 people attended the sessions hosted by Mike and his team over the winter season highlighting how hugely successful the programme has been. 

The extract below is recognition of this from British Canoeing. 

​"A massive thank you and congratulations to you and your team for the last few months.
It has been fantastic to see the Northern Powerhouse and more specifically Cumbria embrace these sessions and make them a success for coaches and leaders.
 
594 attendees is a great result, massive engagement and when you compare to 2019’s total coaching matters event attendance (750 for the whole of England) I’m sure you will agree a massive success.
 
I for one look forward to the Winter 2022 programme.
 
Well done and thank you to everyone involved
 
Cheers

Darryll"

Here is looking forward to a busy summer on the water and hopefully an equally popular Winter programme. 

Don't forget to check the coaching area of the website for future events. 

Mike Tracey of Cumbria Kayaking has opened a showroom at Bockhole, Lake District Visitor Centre on Windermere.

Check out the details below and don't hesitate to get in touch with Mike if you have any questions.

​So, a trip to the Lune at Halton Rapids was the ideal setting for a gentle re-start of paddling activities.  The water levels were perfect: not at scrape level, and not so high as to be scary, but bouncy enough to be challenging and fun. The weather was good too, with bright sunlight and much warmer than forecast (although the water was still cold!).
After a look at the conditions and a Covid-secure safety briefing, the 8 paddlers were split into 2 groups and each assigned a coach (Mike Fletcher or Mike Sunderland).  The 2 groups got on the water in different places and spent some time warming up paddling muscles, and practicing ferry gliding, before running the rapids, going over the top weir and surfing the waves.
After a couple of hours on the water and a break for lunch, only a few paddlers were able to stay on for the afternoon session, so just one group went back out. The fun everyone was having clearly inspired the Dad of one of the young paddlers to get back on the water after a break from kayaking of several years (he made it all look very easy – it must be like riding a bike!).
Everyone had a great day and it was great to see everyone paddling with confidence by the end of the session. A huge thank-you to both Mikes for the time they give to help coach and develop young paddlers from the North West region.

If you haven't seen it already check out the latest issue of the paddler ezine where Cumbria canoeists recent spey trip has a write up. 

We have been made aware of changes and hazards on the River Crake. 

LATEST HAZARDS - March 2021
River Crake River Run - Coniston to Spark Bridge/Greenodd
Due to the recent heavy storms and flash floods the grade 2 river Crake with 2 grade 3 rapids run is now a tricky grade 3 due to tree hazards, while the Cumbria Team negotiate the tree removals. Due to the tree hazard, the river is not recommended for large groups or group with inexperienced members
 
In addition before making a decision to run the river or NOT, we advise that group leaders take a visual view of the Bobbin Mill Falls at Spark Bridge.You are strongly advised to view the low foot bridge over the river via a 200m road walk upstream on the East side from Spark Bridge.
 
At high water levels 0.9 and above on the Low Nibthwaite gauge, https://www.gaugemap.co.uk/#!Map/Summary/628/642 the low footbridge at Bobbin Mill Falls becomes impassable and passage is IMPOSSIBLE and fatally dangerous. There is no portage option due to private residences.
 
At low water levels, 0.42 or less on the same gauge, passage is too scrapey, the river bed / fish breeding will be disturbed. As paddlers scrape down or walk down the rapids shallow rocky rapids especially at Bobbin Mill Falls, they create environmental and wildlife issues,
Please beware of local residents and children swimming under Spark Bridge from the village green access/egress point.  Reminding groups of the importance to park prettily and of high standards of personal behaviour while accessing/egressing at the village green in Spark Bridge.

A warm welcome to 2021 to all the Cumbria paddling fraternity – clubs, centres, youth organisations, coaches, leaders and all paddlers in Cumbria.
The summer allowed our sea kayak programme to be delivered, with smaller groups and some CV restrictions, but a number of great trips were run and recorded by our volunteer team of organisers/leaders – so a big thank you to all those involved.
The November Zoom AGM, was a record breaking turnout and we expressed our farewell and thanks to Alan Ashby, standing down from Cumbria Canoeists management team and as our sea kayak rep - with plans for a paddle and a more personal occasion to record our gratitude and share some past memories.
From this annual event we have attracted a number of new Cumbria Canoeists volunteers, keen to join our management team:  Rob Wilson as Treasurer, Michelle Reason as Sea Kayak Rep and Jamie Magee as Webmaster, to whom we are VERY grateful.
We have had a number of Zoom meetings and spent a lot of time working out how to do things differently and have some great plans, outlined and agreed (if CV19 allows) for 2021, by our NEW enthusiastic management team and Reps.
Please see the calendars for planned events: 
The NEW SUP programme, starting in spring, with a partnership with Killington Sailing Association
The NEW “Muck Experience” coaching week for improver sea kayakers
The NEW March sea kayak DEMO day in partnership with a new local company, “Cumbrian Kayaking”, based out of the National Park Centre, Brockhole, Windermere.
The NEW sea kayak starter programme plans.
The NEW sea kayak events programme plans.
The NEW monthly coach/leader CPD Zoom, which has attracted over 50 participants at the first event in Dec, followed by another ZOOM on the Leadership Award changes, for Thurs 14th Jan.
The NEW coach/leader Update workshops, created and delivered by a new Cumbria Coach/Leader delivery team in Cumbria.
The NEW Open Boat Training/Events programme
The NEW 2021 “Youth River Running” programme
The NEW sea kayak coach training programme, starting in January, working with WildRiver
So, as you can see, the grass has NOT grown under the feet, of the NEW 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.
Happy New Year to you all and looking forward to a dynamic 2021 paddling season.
Mike Sunderland                                                                      Mac Knowles
Chair of Cumbria Canoeists                                                    Vice Chair of Cumbria Canoeists
Coaching.cumbria@vol.britishcanoeing.org.uk                 M.knowles7@icloud.com
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