After an incredible summer of paddling, Autumn has now definitely arrived. In this update, you’ll find out about changes to club sessions, the return of the whitewater season, more touring trips, and some dates for your diary. We’ve got even more new boats, made some donations, and there’s even some activity on the bridge works.
Club sessions
A couple of weeks ago, we saw off our last evening session of the year with the traditional paddle to the Bounty.
Our winter club session schedule is:
- Club Saturday – general club session for everyone, new for this year – usually goes downsteam.
- Club Sunday – the classic club session for everyone, paddling to Hurley and back. The tea shop is now closed for the winter – bring your own tea and cake!
Sessions are on the water for 10:00, finishing by 13:00.
We may offer opportunities for night paddles and whitewater coaching at the weir – keep an eye on our Facebook group for these.
We offer pool sessions on the first Saturday of each month.
These are the perfect opportunity to practice capsizes, rolling, and rescue skills in a clear, warm pool.
- Venue: Chalfont Leisure Centre, Chalfont St Peter, SL9 9LR https://goo.gl/maps/pyzfhisgnW3SYyuy6
- Time: 18:30 – 20:00
- Price: £7 adults / £3 juniors
- Book and pay: Membermojo Store
- You need to bring your own boat and equipment or arrange with others in advance.
Duty officers
Our duty officers are vital to running all these sessions. If you’ve received DO training or have done it before, please consider volunteering for a future session by filling in the spreadsheet. This now includes our pool sessions.
Trips and social events
Touring
Contact at touring@marlowcc.org.uk
Keep watching Facebook for more club touring trips. They won’t stop during winter, but river levels may move us onto the canals
The next paddle may be downstream from the club to Runnymede (about 18 miles), with potential options to finish at Bray (8 miles) or Windsor Leisure Centre.
Dates and details will be published soon, probably for a Sunday trip.
Whitewater
Contact at whitewater@marlowcc.org.uk
Dave has planned a series of monthly whitewater trips throughout the winter. You can sign up on the whitewater spreadsheet. New whitewater paddlers are always welcome – get in touch with Dave if you’re keen to get started.
Social
Contact at social@marlowcc.org.uk
Christmas Social – Sunday 18th December – Save the date!
Annual General Meeting
Monday 6 February 2023 19:30 – 21:30 – Save the date!
New boats!
We’ve recently added three new Pyranha Machno whitewater kayaks, one in each size, and two Wavesport Ethos crossover kayaks. You can find them in the club on your next paddle – if you arrive early.
Donations
Each year we recognise the vital work done by the volunteer emergency services that we may one day need to call upon by making a charitable donation. This year we’ve donated £150 to each of the Air Ambulance, Mountain Rescue, and RNLI charities.
You may have heard about the devastating fire suffered by Euxton Canoe Club recently. To help them get back on their feet, the club committee donated our Dagger GTs and GTXs, as well as some paddles, that we were going to sell.
British Canoeing webinars
Open to everyone, these sessions will provide you with a window into the environmental and access work through the Clear Access Clear Waters Campaign.
Essential maintenance to Marlow Bridge and temporary relocation of the club
The next phase of work is underway on the central span of the bridge. The black underside of the bridge will be repainted and the white timber parapets refurbished.
The Council will access the underside of the bridge using a pontoon brought down from Harleyford. When not in use, we believe this will be moored by the church.
We don’t believe there will be any impact on club activities, other than having another obstacle to avoid on the river.
The proposed works on the bridge above the club, involving temporary relocation and reconstruction of the club, have not progressed because the Council doesn’t have enough money. We expect to hear a new schedule in a few months. Therefore, I don’t expect this to impact us until next winter.
Marlow Canoe Club 
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