White Water Kayaking and Canoeing
Summer flat water, sea paddling & SUP (Stand-Up Paddle Board)
Based in Blandford, Dorset
TAKE A LOOK:
https://youtu.be/RAwdUe_Uarc?si=xYhZ9-pj1ITM8EXx
MEET EVERY SATURDAY MORNING YEAR-ROUND
The centre for members’ communications, trips information and activity announcements etc. are our MEMBERS’ WHATSAPP GROUP and MEMBERS’ FACEBOOK GROUP, but our YOUTUBE VIDEOS and PUBLIC FACEBOOK are open to all.
Outside of facebook you can reach us via the methods offered on our CONTACT page.
The Stour Valley Canoe Club (SVCC) is involved in
- WHITE WATER PADDLING (West Country and Wales),
- FLAT WATER PADDLING for example on the Dorset Stour
- SUP PADDLING, local and Poole Harbour
- SEA SURFING, occasional trips, local and West Country
We meet almost every Saturday in the grounds of the Blandford School. We are a friendly inclusive family club that provides both introductory experiences for those new to Kayaking and Canoeing and opportunities for the more experienced paddler to further their particular ambitions.
Beginners have access to a variety of boats from our substantial fleet, paddles, buoyancy aids, cagouls and spraydecks. The club is here to have fun at whatever skill level suits you, but most want to develop at least some basic skills, so members also enjoy instruction from a number of qualified coaches and informal support and encouragement from other experienced paddlers.
More experienced paddlers enjoy an annual SVCC calendar that includes paddling weekends in North and South Wales, the Wye Valley and Kayak Surfing in Cornwall together with regular day excursions to paddle rivers on Dartmoor and Exmoor, the International White-Water Centre in Cardiff and sea journeys around the Purbeck coast.
Additionally, club members routinely organise unofficial trips to more challenging white-water rivers, Hurley Weir, the French Alps and beyond.
For those members who wish, the club helps members work towards training and assessment for nationally recognised Paddle UK (PUK) awards. These are optional, but do offer a structured learning pathway for those who like that approach. In some cases, the club is able to subsidise the member’s cost for these courses thereby ensuring the club is fully supported to enjoy this exhilarating sport safely. Additionally, over winter, SVCC hosts monthly swimming pool sessions where members can use the warm calm environment to undertake Spraydeck drills and learn to ‘Eskimo Roll’ their Kayaks. In the summer months, this all happens on the Stour in Blandford.
COME-AND-TRY-IT SESSIONS:
We have all the equipment you will need, you need only bring suitable clothing, which we can advise on. To maintain this equipment and boat fleet, we ask, please, for a £7 charge per person. If this cost is a problem, please just drop us a line. There are a number of free memberships available annually for disadvantaged juniors (proof of need will be discussed).
You’d be VERY WELCOME almost any Saturday morning for a relaxed “Come-And-Try-It” session in Blandford. It’s best to email us in advance (on admin@stourvalleycanoe.club), but you can also just turn up, we’ve always been able to get people afloat so far.
MEMBERSHIP COSTS:
Adult Annual Membership- £35
Junior (<18) or Student Annual Membership- £20
Saturday Adult Session- £4
Saturday Junior/Student Session- £3
Boat Hire- £2
Equipment Hire- £1
Come-And-Try-It sessions cost £7 per person.
PRICE CAPS: There are price caps for family memberships and subs.
Saturday Sessions start just after 9:00 a.m. to kit-up, aiming for on the water by 09:30-ish.
This may all sound a little formal, but first and foremost the club is committed to delivering an experience of paddle sports that is FUN FUN FUN – if you are 10 years old or above regardless of fitness levels come and give us a try, a towel and a change of clothing is all you need.
