​Eight juniors aged 6 to 14yr. attended one or more of the July race training days. Holidays and self isolation reduced numbers on some occasions. The month provided a variety of conditions from dead calm to 'a little Choppy' . The sessions covered such skills as turns, reversing using the rudder, wash hanging, capsize and rescue and most difficult of all forward paddling with straight arms. Most of these skills were mastered by most except the last. Work on the paddling machines on the final session helped with the technique but it will take time to retrain the muscle memory. 
Remember 'practice makes permanent' only 'perfect practice make perfect'
We hope the marathon race season will start again soon so the participants can put their new found skills in to 'perfect practice'!!
It was disappointing not to have any participants from other Cumbria canoe clubs, apparently they have very few juniors in this are range.
 
 At Duddon we are very fortunate to have the facilities and kit to take juniors out on the water each week - thanks largely to the Council from whom we rent the land, and Associated British Ports (APB ) who give us free access to the water along with our willing leaders and helpers.

​Having attended one of the taster sessions at Killington Lake, this 10k estuary trip from Halton to Glasson on Lune, as part of the STARTERS programme, was an ideal opportunity to gain some more experience in a sea kayak – and at the same time have a great day out!  Expertly led by Mike, our group of eight enjoyed a relatively gentle paddle on an ebbing tide, beneath the aqueduct, past a heronry, through Lancaster and out towards Sunderland Point.  I say relatively gentle because this route took in Skerton weir, where I believe, when the tide is right, it is possible to paddle straight down, but on this occasion involved sliding the boats down a 5m drop and scrambling down the wall with the help of a fixed rope.  It all added to the sense of adventure - along with the much smaller weir at the end, which we could easily paddle down, but which gave us some challenge getting back up!  After a muddy exit at Glasson Dock, we left the tranquillity of the estuary to pop up into the busier village, with its picturesque marina - and a very conveniently located ice cream van to round off a great trip.