Club membership is available to both experienced and novice
paddlers.
The main club session takes place on Sunday mornings throughout the year, and is suitable for a wide range of abilities.
The first step is to arrange a suitable date for you to visit the club on a Sunday, so that you can see what we have to offer and have a trial paddle with us. Under 18s should visit with an adult who is responsible for them. Please come appropriately dressed and with a towel and change of clothes. To arrange your visit, please contact the Secretary by email or on 01279 755089 after 6pm (please note: we cannot phone you back on a mobile number - please leave an email address or land-line number).
If you are participating in the Gold Challenge, please remember to mention this when booking.
To encourage you to try this sport we offer everyone a free taster visit. During the spring and summer we receive many enquiries from prospective members and there may therefore be a waiting list for visits.
Full Membership
of the club costs £80 per junior (under 18), or £120
per senior per year. There are discounts if two or more family
members join as Full Members. The subscription year runs from
July to June, and membership is calculated pro rata for those
joining mid-year. As a full club member you will initially be
able to attend Sunday sessions, and as you improve you will also
be able to attend more advanced training at other times - no further
attendance charges apply.
A limited Associate Membership for infrequent paddlers costs £20 per person per year, plus £5 on every vist. There are no reductions for juniors, multiple members or joining part-way through the year
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is my child old enough to join? - The child's height (because of the limits of the equipment), build (because of their exposure to cold), water confidence, coordination and balance are more important than their chronological age. As a general guidance we generally suggest 8yrs as the minimum age, but coaches will advise in individual cases. Please note that for the youngest children, we may require their parent/guardian to join the club or at least remain on site throughout the session.
Do you run canoing courses? - As a member of BSCC you will receive coaching as required from our small team of qualified volunteer coaches (free of charge), so you can develop at your own pace. We occassionally run other structured courses for beginners - these will be advertised on the home page. Other local centres offering structured courses include Herts Young Mariners, Mepal Activity Centre or Harlow Outdoor Pursuits - see our Links page. The club has an ongoing programme of classes for schools organised through Birchwood School Sports Partnership. The club is also happy to run bespoke sessions for community groups on request (e.g. Scouts) - please contact the Secretary well in advance to discuss your requirements.
Will you expect me to race? - As soon as you are proficient on the water, we would like you to begin racing with us. The races generally take place on a Sunday (marathons) or over a weekend (sprints) - see our club events diary. Most paddlers find they enjoy using their new skills in this way and attending the races is a sociable family event. Canoe racing is as much a team event as an individual one, but there is no limit on the number of team members who can participate, so everybody gets the chance to join in and contribute to the club's success. Most races are run according to British Canoe Union rules and require Comprehensive BCU membership to compete. Under-18s gain automatic membership of BCU CanoeEngland though their club membership, but adults should join on their own behalf. (You can join BCU CanoeEngland online). There is usually an entry fee for races.
Do I have to buy any equipment?
- The club is able to provide basic equipment for use at our
sessions and team events. All you have to provide is suitable
clothing. If you become a keen regular paddler you will probably
want to buy your own paddle, and ultimately your own boat.
Can I store my boat at the club? - Full members can apply to the committee for permission to store a private boat at the club. Please note however that this will be subject to space becoming available - it is currently extremely limited.
Do you hire out your equipment or venue? - Sorry, no. For boat hire in the area, see our Links page. It is often possible for school and other local community groups to arrange to have access to the club room during the day for non-profit making activities. Please contact the Secretary well in advance to find out whether we can help.
Do you have any boats for sale? - See here.
Can I paddle on the Stort without joining the club? - There is public access to only 2% of inland water in England & Wales (see Rivers Access Campaign). Fortunately, the Stort is under the control of British Waterways who do permit canoeing by anyone with a licence. The Stort is regularly used by powered craft so make sure you follow the Waterways Code. The towpath and river can be accessed in the town centre under the bridge near the Station car park. Please note that there is no vehicular access to the clubhouse or Southmill Lock when there is no key-holder on site. For insurance purposes it is necessary for everyone using club facilities to be a member or registered guest, and for novices to be supervised by a coach.
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updated 18 Oct 2011