Ceufad summer 2024

golygyddol

Mae hwn yn erthygl olygyddol anodd ei ysgrifennu, gan fod y byd chwaraeon padlo yn dal i wyro o golli Bren Orton.

Roedd yn badlwr dŵr gwyn hynod dalentog, un o gorau'r byd, ac yn un o'r bobl fwyaf diffuant a brwdfrydig y byddech chi erioed yn cwrdd â nhw ar neu oddi ar y dŵr.

Fe wnaeth ei sesiynau Park Jam, a gynhaliwyd o amgylch y DU, ysbrydoli padlwyr o bob oed a gallu i roi cynnig ar bethau newydd a mwynhau bod ar y dŵr. Roedd ei anturiaethau gyda'r criw Send yn ein hysbrydoli, ein rhyfeddu a'n diddanu ni i gyd ymhellach.

Lle bynnag yr oedd a beth bynnag yr oedd yn ei wneud roedd ei wefrau positif yn disgleirio drwyddo ac fe wnaeth y byd padlo yn lle mwy disglair. Bydd ei ddylanwad o fewn y gymuned chwaraeon padlo yn llosgi'n llachar am flynyddoedd i ddod.

Vicky Barlow

Golygydd

editorial

This is a tough editorial to write, as the paddlesport world is still reeling from the loss of Bren Orton. He was a phenomenally talented whitewater paddler, one the world’s best, and one of the most grinfully genuine and enthusiastic people you’d ever meet on or off the water.

His Park Jam sessions, which he ran around the UK, inspired paddlers of all ages and abilities to try new things and to just enjoy being on the water. His adventures with the Send crew further inspired, amazed and entertained us all.

Wherever he was and whatever he was doing his positive vibes shone through and he made the paddlesport world a brighter place. His influence within the paddlesport community will burn bright for years to come.

Vicky Barlow Editor

ceufad@canoewales.com

Ceufad Ed Ceufad @Ceufad

Ceufad yw cylchgrawn swyddogol Canŵ Cymru ac mae’n rhad ac am ddim i’w aelodau. Cynhyrchir y cynnwys gan Canŵ Cymru, ei aelodau a chyfranwyr eraill, felly nid yw’r safbwyntiau a fynegir o reidrwydd yn rhai Canŵ Cymru na golygydd y cylchgrawn. Cynhyrchir Ceufad bob chwarter yn y Gwanwyn (Mawrth), Haf (Mehefin), Hydref (Medi) a'r Gaeaf (Rhagfyr)

RHIFYN NESAF: HYDREF DYDDIAD CAU:1 AWST I gael gwybodaeth am DANYSGRIFIADAU, HYSBYSEBION a CHYFLWYNIADAU: www.canoewales.com/ceufad ceufad@canoewales.com

Ceufad Ed Ceufad @Ceufad ceufad@canoewales.com

Ceufad is the official magazine of Canoe Wales and is free to its members. Content is produced by Canoe Wales, its members and other contributors, so the views expressed are not necessarily those of Canoe Wales or the magazine’s editor. Ceufad is produced quarterly in: Spring (March), Summer (June), Autumn (Sept) and Winter (Dec) NEXT ISSUE: AUTUMN DEADLINE: 1 AUGUST

For info on SUBSCRIPTIONS, ADVERTISING and SUBMISSIONS: www.canoewales.com/ceufad ceufad@canoewales.com

BREN AT PARK JAM - AFON DYFRDWY / RIVER DEE AARON KENDALL

CYNNWYS CONTENTS

CANŴ CYMRU — EIN TÎM

Alistair Dickson Prif Weithredwr

TÎM GWASANAETHAU AELODAU

Andy Turton Rheolwr Hyfforddi

Val Ephraim Swyddog Gweinyddol

Suzanne Parkin Cynorthwyydd Llywodraethu ac Aelodaeth

Bonnie Armstrong Arweinydd Cyfathrebu a Marchnata

Ellen Roberts Swyddog Cyllid

Phil Stone Rheolwr Lleoedd i Badlo

Kerry Skidmore Swyddog Arweiniol Diogelu a Chydraddoldeb

Lydia Wilford Swyddog Datblygu

Emily King Arweinydd PAD/SUP

TÎM PERFFORMIAD

Sid Sinfield Rheolwr Perfformiad

Jonathan Davies Swyddog Llwybr Talent (Gogledd)

Gareth Bryant Swyddog Llwybr Talent (Gorllewin)

James Pigdon Swyddog Llwybr Talent (De)

Andrew Kettlewell Prif Hyfforddwr Slalom

Giacomo Leighton Talent Slalom - De

Emily Davies Talent Slalom – Gogledd

CYFARWYDDWYR

Kerry Chown Cadeirydd

Jet Moore Is-gadeirydd

Andy Booth Cyfarwyddwr Cyllid

Elsa Davies

Alun Davies

Allan Binstead

Ruth Hall

Tanya Neilson

Dave Kohn-Hollins

David Eade

CYSYLLTWCH Â CANŴ CYMRU

www.canoewales.com admin@canoewales.com 01678 521 199

Canolfan Dŵr Gwyn Genedlaethol, Frongoch, Bala, Gwynedd, LL23 7NU

NEGES GAN Y PRIF SWYDDOG GWEITHREDOL, ALISTAIR DICKSON

Wel, roedd yr haf yma ac yna doedd hi ddim! Rwy'n gobeithio eich bod yn llwyddo i fynd allan i badlo, beth bynnag fo'r amodau. Os yw'r daroganwyr yn gywir, mae'n ymddangos ein bod mewn ar gyfer haf gwlyb, yn dilyn gaeaf gwlyb iawn. Tra bydd padlwyr dŵr gwyn yn hapus iawn gyda'r glawiad ychwanegol, mae'r gweddill ohonom yn addasu i'r arferol newydd o dywydd anghyson a mwy o law! Mae’n amser prysur yma yng Nghanŵ Cymru wrth i dymor digwyddiadau’r haf ddechrau, wrth i weithgareddau ddigwydd, ac rydyn ni’n mwynhau cyfarfod ag aelodau mewn digwyddiadau padlo ledled y wlad.

Hoffwn dynnu eich sylw at ein Sioeau Teithiol sy’n cael eu cynnal ledled y wlad yn ystod yr wythnos sy’n dechrau 10fed Mehefin. Rydym yn gobeithio ymgysylltu â chymysgedd o aelodau a’r rhai nad ydynt yn aelodau drwy gyfres o fforymau sy’n canolbwyntio ar ddiogelwch. Eleni rydym yn partneru â’r Sefydliad Cenedlaethol Brenhinol y Badau Achub (RNLI) i a hefyd Gwylwyr y Glannau EF yn ein digwyddiad yn Aberdaugleddau. Rydyn ni'n edrych ymlaen at glywed am rai o'u profiadau a'u dulliau gweithredu ac rydyn ni'n mawr obeithio gweld llawer ohonoch chi yno! Diolch i'r holl aelodau a anfonodd eu sylwadau a'u barn am ein newid enw arfaethedig. Cyfarfu'r Bwrdd ym mis Ebrill ac adolygwyd yr holl sylwadau cyn gwneud penderfyniad. Gallaf eich hysbysu yn awr fod y Bwrdd, ar ôl darllen yr adborth (cadarnhaol ar y cyfan!) ar gyfer y newid enw, wedi penderfynu cynnig symud i Paddle Cymru fel yr enw newydd ar gyfer Canŵ Cymru. Fodd bynnag, bydd angen i chi fel aelodau gytuno ar hyn yn ein Cyfarfod Cyffredinol Blynyddol yn ddiweddarach yn y flwyddyn ac rydym yn bwriadu gwneud y newid yn raddol er mwyn lleihau costau a lleihau ein heffaith ar yr amgylchedd. Byddwn yn anfon mwy o wybodaeth atoch faes o law.

Yn olaf, hoffwn longyfarch holl enillwyr Gwobrau CC sy'n ymddangos yn y cylchgrawn hwn. Gwelsom gynnydd gwirioneddol yn yr enwebiadau ar gyfer y gwobrau hyn, ac roedd yn wych gweld, felly diolch i bawb a enwebodd rhywun. Hoffwn hefyd dynnu sylw at y cyfle i gael cydnabyddiaeth pan fydd y gwobrau’n agor yn ddiweddarach eleni. Felly, os ydych yn gwybod am rywun sy’n creu argraff, ystyriwch eu henwebu pan fydd Gwobrau 2024 yn agor yn ddiweddarach eleni. Mae wir yn helpu pobl i deimlo eu bod yn cael eu gwobrwyo am eu gwaith caled a'u hymroddiad ac yn helpu i ysbrydoli eraill i wneud eu rhan.

Yn y cyfamser, rwy’n siŵr y bydd yr haf yn llawn anturiaethau a chyflawniadau ledled Cymru, yn y byd padlo adloniadol a chystadleuol, a dymunaf rai misoedd pleserus a diogel iawn o badlo i bawb.

SIOEAU TEITHIOL CANŴ CYMRU

YN CYNNWYS CYFRANIADAU GAN SCBBA (RNLI)

Mae'r adeg honno o'r flwyddyn unwaith eto, pan mae’r tîm ar ffordd!

Bydd sioeau teithiol eleni yn canolbwyntio ar ddiogelwch gyda chyfraniadau gan y SCBBA (RNLI), a fydd yn siarad am yr hyn y maent yn ei wneud ar gyfer negeseuon diogelwch.

Am y tro cyntaf, rydym yn agor y sioeau ffordd i rai nad ydynt yn aelodau, gan ein bod yn teimlo ei bod yn bwysig lledaenu ein neges ddiogelwch. Eleni byddwn yn ymweld â rhai lleoliadau newydd cyffrous. Rydym yn edrych ymlaen at eich gweld chi i gyd yno.

Mae'n rhad ac am ddim i archebu ac mae'n cynnwys lluniaeth a byrbrydau i'ch cadw'n llawn egni.

11 Mehefin, 7-9pm, Canolfan Ymwelwyr Cronfeydd Llysfaen a Llanisien

12 Mehefin, 7-9pm, Plas Menai

13 Mehefin, 7-9pm, Canolfan Cydlynu Achub Morol (MRCC) Gwylwyr y Glannau EF Aberdaugleddau

@canoewales

Am fwy o wybodaeth ac i archebu lle, ewch i: www.canoewales.com/road-shows

CC YN PENODI RHEOLWR PERFFORMIAD

CYFARFOD Â SID SINFIELD – EIN HAELOD TÎM DIWEDDARAF

Rydym yn falch iawn o gyhoeddi bod Sid Sinfield wedi ymuno â'n tîm fel y Rheolwr Perfformiad newydd. Gyda chefndir cadarn yn ymestyn dros 35 mlynedd mewn amrywiol ddisgyblaethau padlo, mae Sid yn dod â chyfoeth o brofiad ac arbenigedd i'n sefydliad.

Mae Sid wedi ymroddi'r rhan fwyaf o'i yrfa i Chwaraeon Padlo, gan ddechrau fel athro Addysg Awyr Agored cyn gwasanaethu fel Swyddog Datblygu Cenedlaethol

Canŵ Cymru rhwng 2003 a 2008. Yn dilyn ei gyfnod yno, fe wnaeth Sid wella ei sgiliau arwain ym Mhlas y Brenin, canolfan addysg awyr agored enwog, lle bu'n

Uwch Hyfforddwr yn canolbwyntio ar Addysgu a Dysgu am 12 mlynedd.

Parhaodd taith Sid mewn hyfforddi chwaraeon padlo wrth iddo gymryd rôl

Arweinydd Llwybr Hyfforddi ar gyfer Rhaglen Safon Byd Paddle UK. Nid yw ei brofiad helaeth yn gyfyngedig i’r DU yn unig; Mae Sid hefyd wedi arwain alldeithiau padlo yn rhyngwladol, gan gyfoethogi ymhellach ei ddealltwriaeth o'r gamp mewn amgylcheddau amrywiol. Mae ei gymwysterau academaidd yr un mor drawiadol, gyda Graddau Meistr mewn Hyfforddi Perfformiad a Pherfformiad Elitaidd, ynghyd â Diploma Ôl-raddedig mewn Datblygu Hyfforddwyr.

Wrth i Sid gamu i’w rôl newydd, mae’n awyddus i gymhwyso ei wybodaeth ddofn a’i strategaethau hyfforddi deinamig i gefnogi a dyrchafu’r genhedlaeth nesaf o athletwyr Cymreig. Mae ei ymrwymiad i ddatblygu sgiliau padlo cystadleuol ac anghystadleuol ymhlith athletwyr yn cydfynd â'n nodau o feithrin talent a chyflawni rhagoriaeth mewn perfformiad chwaraeon.

Rydym yn gyffrous i weld effaith ei arweinyddiaeth a’i arbenigedd ar ein tîm ac edrychwn ymlaen at y llwyddiannau sydd o’n blaenau gyda Sid wrth y llyw.

ATHLETWYR CYMREIG A DDEWISWYD AR GYFER TEAMGB

PADLWYR LLANDYSUL I WNEUD EU HYMDDANGOSIAD RHYNGWLADOL CYNTAF

Ar ôl dau ddiwrnod prysur o rasio yn ystod y Gyfres Ddewis Caiac Croes yng Nghanolfan Dŵr Gwyn Lee Valley ym mis Ebrill, mae 22 o athletwyr wedi’u henwi ar draws y timau Hŷn, D23 ac Iau ar gyfer tymor 2024. Mae hyn yn cynnwys 2 athletwr o Gymru, y ddau yn gwneud eu perfformiadau rhyngwladol cyntaf eleni.

Roedd athletwyr yn wynebu tair rownd o rasio ar Sul y Pasg a dydd Llun, a oedd yn cynnwys treial amser cyn mynd benben â'i gilydd ar y cwrs heriol i ennill pwyntiau dethol.

Cafwyd perfformiadau serol gan Sadie Sterry (Menywod Iau) a Gwion Williams, (Dynion Iau), ill dau o Badlwyr Llandysul, gan sicrhau digon o bwyntiau dethol i ymuno â’r 22 tîm traws caiac yn rasio trwy gydol 2024.

Mae eleni hefyd yn garreg filltir arwyddocaol i gaiac croes wrth iddo baratoi ar gyfer ei gêm Olympaidd gyntaf ym Mharis 2024, gan ychwanegu haen ychwanegol o gyffro i’r tymor, ac i’n padlwyr Iau gan y gallent fod ein hathletwyr Olympaidd nesaf i ni!

Llongyfarchiadau i Sadie a Gwion, a phawb a ddewiswyd – gobeithio y cewch dymor gwych! Am y canlyniadau llawn ewch i: www.bit.ly/3WXWWbQ

AFON GWY – Y CLAS AR WY – Y WYBODAETH DDIWEDDARAF

DIWEDDARIAD GAN GYFOETH NATURIOL CYMRU

Rydym wedi derbyn diweddariad gan Gyfoeth Naturiol Cymru (NRW) ar eu sefyllfa bresennol o ran lansio chwaraeon padlo yng Nglas y Bont, Y Clas ar Wy. Mae'r diweddariad hwn wedi'i anfon at yr holl randdeiliaid sydd â diddordeb mewn lansio chwaraeon padlo o Glas y Bont. Gobeithio, gyda CNC (NRW) yn fodlon bod y gofynion sydd eu hangen ar gyfer cymeradwyo’r Gwerthusiad o Reoliadau Cynefinoedd (HRA) a’r concordat yn derfynol bron yn eu lle, ein bod yn gobeithio gweld ailddechrau’n gyflym ar chwaraeon padlo o Glas y Bont, Y Clas ar Wy. *NODER* Mae unrhyw gyfyngiadau ar lansio yn Y Clas ar Wy yn berthnasol i Glas y Bont yn unig. Mae busnesau llogi yn dal i weithredu yn Y Clas ar Wy a deallwn fod padlwyr hefyd yn pasio drwodd ar ôl cyrraedd yr afon ymhellach i fyny’r afon. Am fwy o fanylion: www.bit.ly/3wOCdN2

PADDLE UK

CANOE WALES – OUR TEAM

Alistair Dickson CEO

MEMBER SERVICES TEAM

Andy Turton Coaching Manager

Val Ephraim Administrative Officer

Suzanne Parkin Governance & Membership Assistant

Bonnie Armstrong Comms & Marketing Lead

Ellen Roberts Finance Officer

Phil Stone Places to Paddle Manager

Kerry Skidmore Lead Safeguarding and Equality Officer

Lydia Wilford Development Officer

Emily King SUP Lead

PERFORMANCE TEAM

Sid Sinfield Performance Manager

Jonathan Davies Talent Pathway Officer (North)

Gareth Bryant Talent Pathway Officer (West)

James Pigdon Talent Pathway Officer (South)

Andrew Kettlewell Slalom Lead Coach

Giacomo Leighton Slalom Talent Coach

DIRECTORS

Kerry Chown Chair

Jet Moore Vice Chair

Andy Booth Finance Director

Elsa Davies

Alun Davies

Allan Binstead

Ruth Hall

Tanya Neilson

Dave Kohn-Hollins

David Eade

CONTACT CANOE WALES

www.canoewales.com

admin@canoewales.com 01678 521 199

Canolfan Dŵr Gwyn Genedlaethol, Frongoch, Bala, Gwynedd, LL23 7NU

@canoewales

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO, ALISTAIR DICKSON

Well, summer was here and then it wasn’t! I do hope you are managing to get out paddling, whatever the conditions.

If forecasters are correct, it seems we are in for a wet summer, following a very wet winter. While white-water paddlers will be very pleased with the extra rainfall, the rest of us adjust to the new normal of inconsistent weather and increased rain!

It’s a busy time here at Canoe Wales as the summer event season begins, activity takes place, and we enjoy meeting members at paddling events around the country.

I would like to bring your attention to our Roadshows which are happening around the country during the week commencing 10th June. We are hoping to engage with a mix of members and non-members through a series of safety focused forums. This year we are partnering with the RNLI to and also the HM Coastguard at our Milford Haven event. We are looking forward to hearing about some of their experiences and approaches and we really hope to see lots of you there!

Thank you to all members who passed on their comments and thoughts regarding our proposed name change. The Board met in April and reviewed all comments before making the decision. I can now inform you that the Board have, following reading the (mostly positive!) feedback for the name change, decided to propose a move to Paddle Cymru as the new name for Canoe Wales. However, this will need to be agreed by you as members at our AGM later in the year and we intend to make the change gradually to reduce costs and to minimise our impact on the environment. We will be sending you more information in due course.

Lastly, I would like to congratulate all CW Award winners who feature in this magazine. We noticed a real uplift in nominations for these awards which was great to see so thanks to all those who nominated someone. I would also like to highlight the opportunity for recognition when the awards open later this year. So, if you know of someone who’s making an impact, please consider nominating them when the 2024 Awards open later this year. It really does help people to feel rewarded for their hard work and dedication and helps to inspire others to do their bit.

In the meantime, I am sure the summer will be filled with lots of adventures and achievements across Wales, both in the recreational and competitive paddling scene, and I wish everybody a very enjoyable and safe few months of paddling ahead.

CANOE WALES ROADSHOWS

FEATURING CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE RNLI

It’s that time of year again, when the team hit the road!

This year's roadshows will have a safety focus with contributions from the RNLI, who will be talking about what they are doing for safety messaging.

For the first time, we are opening up the roadshows to non-members, as we feel it is important to spread our safety message.

This year we will be visiting some exciting new venues. We are really looking forward to seeing you all there.

It’s free to book and includes refreshments and snacks to keep you fuelled up.

11 June, 7-9pm, Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs Visitor Centre

12 June, 7-9pm, Plas Menai 13 June, 7-9pm, MRCC Milford Haven HM Coastguard

For more information and to book visit: www.canoewales.com/road-shows

CW APPOINTS PERFORMANCE MANAGER

MEET SID SINFIELD – OUR LATEST TEAM MEMBER

We are thrilled to announce that Sid Sinfield has joined our team as the new Performance Manager. With a robust background spanning over 35 years in various paddling disciplines, Sid brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our organisation.

Sid has dedicated the majority of his career to Paddlesports, starting as an Outdoor Education teacher before serving as the National Development Officer at Canoe Wales from 2003 to 2008. Following his tenure there, Sid enhanced his leadership skills at Plas y Brenin, a renowned outdoor education centre, where he was a Senior Instructor focused on Teaching and Learning for 12 years.

Sid's journey in paddlesport coaching continued as he took on the role of Coaching Pathway Lead for Paddle UK’s World Class Programme. His extensive experience isn’t just limited to the UK; Sid has also led paddling expeditions internationally, further enriching his understanding of the sport in diverse environments. His academic credentials are equally impressive, holding Master’s Degrees in Performance Coaching and Elite Performance, along with a Post Graduate Diploma in Coach Development.

As Sid steps into his new role, he is eager to apply his deep knowledge and dynamic coaching strategies to support and elevate the next generation of Welsh athletes. His commitment to developing competitive and non-competitive paddling skills among athletes is aligned with our goals of nurturing talent and achieving excellence in sports performance.

We are excited to see the impact of his leadership and expertise on our team and look forward to the successes that lie ahead with Sid at the helm.

WELSH ATHLETES SELECTED FOR TEAMGB

LLANDYSUL PADDLERS TO MAKE INTERNATIONAL DEBUT

After two hotly contested days of racing during the Kayak Cross Selection Series at Lee Valley White Water Centre in April, 22 athletes have been named across the Senior, U23 and Junior teams for the 2024 season. This includes 2 Welsh athletes, both making their international debuts this year.

Athletes faced off in three rounds of racing on Easter Sunday and Monday, which consisted of a time-trial before going head-to-head on the challenging course to earn selection points.

Sadie Sterry (Junior Women’s) and Gwion Williams, (Junior Men’s), both from Llandysul Paddlers, put in stellar performances, securing enough selection points to join the 22-strong kayak cross team racing throughout 2024.

This year also marks a significant milestone for kayak cross as it prepares for its Olympic debut in Paris 2024, adding an extra layer of excitement to the season, and for our Junior paddlers as they could be our next Olympic athletes! Congratulations to Sadie and Gwion, and all those selected – have a great season! For the full results visit: www.bit.ly/3WXWWbQ

RIVER WYE – GLASBURY UPDATE

UPDATE FROM NATURAL RESOURCES WALES (NRW)

We have received an update from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) on their current position relating to paddlesport launching at the Glas –Bont, Glasbury. This update has been sent to all stakeholders that have an interest in paddlesport launching from Glas – Bont. Hopefully, with NRW being satisfied that the requirements required for their final sign off of the HRA and concordat are just about in place, we hope to see a speedy re-commencement of paddlesport from Glas y Bont, Glasbury.

*NOTE* Any restrictions to launching at Glasbury relate only to the Glas y Bont. Hire businesses are still operating in Glasbury and we understand that paddlers are also passing through having accessed the river further upstream. For more details: www.bit.ly/3wOCdN2

PADDLE UK

GWOBRAU CANOE CYMRU 2023 CANOE WALES AWARDS 2023

Mae Gwobrau Canŵ Cymru yn cydnabod ymrwymiad ac ymroddiad anhygoel ein haelodau a’r rhai sy’n eu cefnogi. Eleni roedd pum categori, a gofynnwyd i aelodau enwebu ymgeiswyr. Hoffem ddiolch i chi am eich holl enwebiadau a da iawn i bawb a dderbyniodd wobr. Mae’n anhygoel cael cymaint o wirfoddolwyr ymroddedig, athletwyr, padlwyr, hyfforddwyr a chlybiau yn cyfrannu at chwaraeon padlo yng Nghymru. Dyma enillwyr gwobrau 2023 a'r rhesymau pam y cawsant eu henwebu.

GWOBR GYMUNEDOL CYDNABYDDIAETH ARBENNIG

Aaron Kendall

“Unigolyn hynod angerddol mewn chwaraeon padlo yn gweithio ac yn byw ar y dŵr. Ble bynnag mae'n mynd, ac o gyfryngau cymdeithasol

Aaron mae'n dylanwadu ar gymaint o bobl eraill. I restru rhai o'r pethau niferus y mae Aaron a’r grŵp Glanhau Dyffryn Dyfrdwy (Dee Valley Clean Up) wedi'u gwneud ar gyfer y gymuned: - Sylfaenydd Grŵp

Glanhau Dyffryn Dyfrdwy ochr yn ochr â Rob Hirst a Clive Gibbo. Trefnu llawer o ddigwyddiadau trwy gydol y flwyddyn i wneud holl ofod Dyffryn Dyfrdwy yn ofod glanach i bawb ar y dŵr ac oddi arno. Mae Aaron yn un o sylfaenwyr elusen newydd Glanhau Dyffryn Dyfrdwy gyda golwg ar: Prosiect gyda chynhwysiant cymunedol yn ganolog iddo ac mae’n brosiect cymunedol ar gyfer unrhyw un sy’n angerddol am gadw ein gofodau’n lân ac yn hardd i bawb. Profi dŵr ar gyfer Dyffryn Dyfrdwy o lednentydd yn profi ansawdd dŵr gyda'r nod o ddod o hyd i ardaloedd o lygredd. Creu cysylltiadau gyda sefydliadau fel Glanhau Dyfrdwy Cymru, cyrff rheoli cenedlaethol a chefnogi sefydliadau i wneud yr amgylchedd yn well i bawb. Gwneir y cyfan ar sail wirfoddol. Gwneud yr afon yn lle mwy diogel, a chlirio malurion fel coed a gwaith metel o'r afon. Mae Aaron wedi bod yn y wasg yn ddiweddar ar ôl achub padlwr ar y Ddyfrdwy. Nid dyma’r tro cyntaf na’r eildro iddo wneud hyn ac mae ei ymrwymiad i’r afonydd a’r gymuned padlo heb ei ail." Edrychwch ar ein cyfweliad gydag Aaron ar dudalen 26.

PENCAMPWR CLWB Y FLWYDDYN

Steve Wilford

"Mae Steve wedi chwarae rhan lawn ym mhob agwedd o redeg Clwb Canŵio Caerdydd. Mae'n rhan o'r Pwyllgor ac wedi bod yn allweddol wrth drefnu'r sesiynau pwll i ddechreuwyr, gan strwythuro'r sesiynau a chydlynu'r padlwyr mwy profiadol i ddysgu agweddau o gaiacio i'r aelodau newydd. Mae wedi bod yn ymwneud â hyn ei hun, yn enwedig datblygu sgiliau treigl aelodau llai profiadol, a threulio amser un-i-un gyda sawl aelod ag anableddau. Mae Steve bob amser yn hawdd mynd ato ac yn barod i helpu unrhyw un sydd â phroblemau y maent yn ceisio eu datrys. Mae bob amser yno ar ddiwedd y sesiwn i glirio ac ef yw’r unig berson sy'n gwybod sut i bentyrru'r holl gaiacau clwb yn gywir yn y storfa!

Mae wedi helpu i gadw cit y clwb mewn cyflwr da ac wedi bod yn rhan o brynu cit ac offer newydd i roi cyfle i’n dechreuwyr ymuno â ni ar deithiau afon mewn cychod addas a chysur. Mae'n trefnu'r teithiau hyn yn rheolaidd ac fel arfer yn rhoi ei fan ar gyfer tynnu trelars ac i gludo cychod ac offer, eto, yn enwedig i'r rhai nad oes ganddynt eu cit na'u dull cludo eu hunain. "

The Canoe Wales Awards recognise the incredible commitment and dedication of our members and those who support them. This year there were five categories, with members being asked to nominate candidates. We would like to say thank you for all your nominations and well done to all who received an award. It’s incredible to have so many dedicated volunteers, athletes, paddlers, coaches and clubs contributing to paddlesport in Wales. Here are the 2023 award winners and the reasons why they were nominated.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION COMMUNITY AWARD

Aaron Kendall

"A super passionate individual in paddlesports working and living on the water. Wherever he goes, and from Aaron’s social media he influences so many other people. To list some of the many things Aaron and Dee Valley Clean Up have done for the community:Founder of Dee Valley Clean up alongside Rob Hirst and Clive Gibbo. Organising many events throughout the year to make the whole space of the Dee Valley a cleaner space for everyone on and off the water. Aaron is one of the founders of a new charity Dee Valley Clean Up with the view of: A project with community inclusion at its heart and is a community project for anyone passionate about keeping our spaces clean and beautiful for everyone. Water testing for the Dee Valley from tributaries testing for water quality with the aim to source areas of pollution. Creating connections with organisations such as Welsh Dee Clean up, national governing bodies and supporting organisations to make the environment better for everyone. All done on a volunteer basis. Making the river a safer space, and clearing the river of debris such as trees, and metalwork. Aaron has been in the press recently having rescued a paddler on the Dee. This is not the first or second time he has done this and his commitment to the rivers and paddling community is 2nd to none."

Check out our interview with Aaron on page 26.

CLUB CHAMPION OF THE YEAR

Steve Wilford

"Steve has been fully involved in all aspects of running the Cardiff Canoe Club. He is part of the Committee and has been instrumental in organising the pool sessions for beginners, structuring the sessions and coordinating the more experienced paddlers to teach aspects of kayaking to new members. He has been involved in this himself, particularly developing the rolling skills of less experienced members, and spending one-on-one time with several members who have disabilities. Steve is always approachable and willing to help anyone with issues they are trying to solve. He is always there at the end of the session to clear up and is the only person who knows how to stack all the club kayaks in the store room correctly! He has helped to maintain the club kit in a good state of repair and has been involved in the purchasing of new kit and equipment to allow our beginners the opportunity to join us on river trips in suitable boats and comfort. He regularly organises these trips and usually donates his van for trailer towing and to the transportation of boats and equipment, again, particularly for those that do not have their own kit or means of transportation. "

PADLWR YSBRYDOLEDIG Y FLWYDDYN

Huw Butterworth

“Yn 2023 llwyddodd Huw i ffitio i mewn mwy nag y mae’r rhan fwyaf o bobl yn llwyddo ei wneud mewn oes! 2 fis yn Seland Newydd yn caiacio a fforio Ynys y Gogledd gan gynnwys y gadwyn Kaimais. Yna ymlaen i'r Gwanwyn/Dechrau'r Haf yn Norwy yn cwblhau rhediad prin dŵr gwyn, yn dilyn o hynny wythnos neu ddwy o orffwys cyn hedfan draw i Arfordir Gorllewinol UDA i wneud cymaint o rediadau’r Serra uchel y gallai ffitio i mewn i ychydig wythnosau, yn cyflawni swm trawiadol iawn o gaiacio a heicio gyda'i gaiac. Wedi'r holl ymarfer o heicio gyda'i gaiac fe aeth i Kyrgyzstan i geisio disgynfa 'heb adael dim ôl' o afon chwedlonol SaryJaz gan gaiacio 100km yn rhai o’r tiroedd/mannau mwyaf anghysbell y byd a heicio dros nifer o fylchau mynydd uchel gyda chaiac i fynd yn ôl i 'ffordd'. Ar ôl glanio nôl yn Ewrop, parhaodd Huw i gaiacio hyd at ddiwedd y tymor Alpaidd gan gynnwys rhai afonydd gaiff eu padlo llai yn rhanbarth Jura yn Ffrainc ar gyfer rhai rhaeadrau mawr cyn y gaeaf."

CLWB Y FLWYDDYN

Clwb Canŵ Caerdydd

"Mae CCC yn cydnabod yr amrywiaeth gynhenid o chwaraeon padlo ac yn cofleidio ehangder y disgyblaethau y mae'n eu cynnig. Mae CCC yn darparu llwyfan i badlwyr archwilio gwahanol arddulliau i ddarganfod ym mhle mae eu hangerdd. Mae ystod o ddisgyblaethau'r clwb yn cynnwys caiacio, canŵio, a PAD (SUP), ar afonydd dŵr gwyn , y cefnfor agored, dŵr gwastad, mannau dull rhydd, a chyrsiau slalom Mae CCC yn darparu ar gyfer diddordebau a dewisiadau amrywiol ei haelodau, ni waeth pa fath o chwaraeon padlo y mae ganddynt ddiddordeb ynddo, o fewn cymuned fywiog y clwb."

ALAN BAKER – GWIRFODDOLWR Y FLWYDDYN

Gwirfoddolwyr ShePaddles Cymru "Maen nhw wedi cael effaith gadarnhaol enfawr ar Ganŵ Cymru ac wedi bod mor ymroddedig i'r rhaglen gyda'r rhan fwyaf ohonyn nhw yno o'r cychwyn cyntaf. Maen nhw'n troi i fyny i ddigwyddiadau ac yn mynd ati gyda brwdfrydedd, does dim byd byth yn broblem, maen nhw'n chwilio am dasgau sydd angen gwneud a mynychu digwyddiadau a bwrw ymlaen â'r peth .Mae cymaint o fenywod wedi elwa o'r gwirfoddolwyr hyn gyda'u geiriau o anogaeth, cefnogaeth, hyfforddiant, chwerthin heintus, ac agweddau hwyliog. Maent hefyd wedi cael twf personol gwych yn ystod eu hamser fel gwirfoddolwyr gyda chymwysterau padlo a hyfforddi personol."

INSPIRING PADDLER OF THE YEAR

Huw Butterworth

"In 2023 Huw managed to fit in more than most people manage in a lifetime!

2 months in New Zealand kayaking and exploring the North Island including the Kaimais range. Then onto Spring/Early Summer in Norway completing rarely run white water, following on from that was a week or two of rest before flying across to the West Coast of the USA to do as many of the high Serra runs he could fit into a few weeks, racking up an impressive amount of kayaking and hiking with his kayak. After all the practice of hiking with his kayak he set off to Kyrgyzstan to attempt a 'leave no trace' descent of the legendary SaryJaz river kayaking 100km in some of the most remote terrain/places of the world and hiking over numerous high mountain passes with a kayak to get back to a 'road'. Once landing back in Europe Huw carried on kayaking through to the end of the Alpine season including some lesser paddled rivers in the Jura region of France for some big waterfalls ahead of winter."

CLUB OF THE YEAR

Cardiff Canoe Club

"CCC recognises the inherent diversity of paddlesport and embraces the breadth of disciplines it offers. CCC provides a platform for paddlers to explore different styles to discover where their passion lies. The club’s range of disciplines includes kayaking, canoeing, and SUP, on whitewater rivers, the open ocean, flat water, freestyle spots, and slalom courses. CCC caters to the diverse interests and preferences of its members, no matter what type of paddlesport they are interested in. This commitment to inclusivity ensures that every paddler can find their niche within the club's vibrant community."

ALAN BAKER – VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR ShePaddles Cymru Volunteers

"They have made a huge positive impact on Canoe Wales and have been so dedicated to the programme with most of them being there from the very start. They turn up to events and get stuck in, nothing is ever a problem, they look for jobs that need doing and attend events and just get on with it. So many women have benefited from these volunteers with their words of encouragement, support, coaching, infectious laughter, and fun go-get-them attitudes. They have also had fantastic personal growth during their time as volunteers with personal paddling and coaching qualifications."

 HUW BUTTERWORTH

 STEVE WILFORD

AARON KENDALL

NATIONAL WHITE WATER CENTRE

CANOLFAN TRYWERYN

EXCITING NEWS!

Canoe Wales On The Water members can now benefit from a huge 25% discount at NWWC. If you’re thinking about working on your kayaking this year, with a fantastic 25% off all courses, getting some coaching is now an even better choice! Paddle UK (BC), Rescue 3, First Aid courses & season tickets also qualify for the discount. Give us a call drop us an email or scan the QR code.

WHAT’S ON THIS SUMMER?

June

8/9 Adv WWS

19/20 REC First Aid

22 Learn the Upper

23 Learn the Lower 29/30 White Water Improver

July

13 Intro to WWS

13/14 White Water Safety

27 Tryweryn Tune Up

28 Play the River

ShePaddles White Water 7-9 June

August 17/18 WW Kayak Coach 31st - 1 Sept WW Kayak Leader training

Our ShePaddles event again sold out super quick. This weekend had such a great vibe last year and it was fantastic to see so many females paddlers on the river together. We’re excited for this year! Men - do come and join us on the water. It’s not that we don’t want to kayak with you, we just don’t often get the chance to get out with lots of paddling sisters!

TRYWERYN FESTIVAL 19-21 JULY

T Fest is our most anticipated weekend of the year! With all the usual shenanigans, there’s lots of fun for everyone. Come and enjoy a paddle feast, with the very best of our paddling family, which won’t be complete without YOU!

So come on, bring your mates this summer!

SHEPADDLES CYMRU SUMMER CELEBRATION FESTIVAL

Llandysul

The Summer Celebration is a jam-packed weekend of incredible people, festivities and fun. With half-day coaching sessions, activities and journey options, there really is something for everyone. And there’s plenty of social too, with accommodation on-site plus a hog roast and gin, rum and cheese tasting!

www.bit.ly/3WYa14T

TRYWERYN FEST

NWWC, Bala

The original and the best whitewater festival … the TFest has it all. Coaching sessions, races, comps, trade stands, camping and the all-important Saturday night party! With shuttles so you can run the river and a stellar vibe on and off the water, this is a weekend for all levels of whitewater paddler. Book early coz it fills up fast!

www.bit.ly/3VbbeEL

WHITE WATER SUP FEST

Llangollen

Get ready for an adventure-packed weekend of white water SUP! Run across 3 days, this festival features skills workshops, social paddling, King of the Wave comp and the notorious SUPX White Water race. Plus paddleboarding stalls and board demos, and live music on Saturday evening at the camp in Glyndyfrdwy.

www.bit.ly/4bvgj0p

EVENTS

LLANDYSUL RIVER FESTIVAL

Llandysul

A 4-day paddlesport bonanza with activities and coaching for everyone. The festival has been running for many years and keeps on getting bigger and better. River swimming, rafting, paddleboarding, come-and-try it sessions ... activities for all ages and abilities. This is a family-friendly festival with evening events, camping and loads of fun!

www.bit.ly/4bu7dB7

LLYN PADARN KAYAK REGATTA

Llanberis

Llyn Padarn's first ever kayak regatta. Races over various distances with classes for both experienced and none experienced racers. A great opportunity to come and test yourself against the clock ... and other paddlers ... or just find out more about racing.

www.bit.ly/3wNY7zR

SALTY WOMEN'S SEA KAYAK FESTIVAL

Pembrokeshire

This Festival was so popular last year that it’s been extended to 3 full days of paddling! Based on the stunning Pembrokeshire coastline this event has skills workshops, journeying, exploring marine wildlife and more. With 9 top coaches, all women and all based in Wales, this festival is all about supporting each other, growing confidence and gaining skills on the water, having fun and meeting new friends.

www.bit.ly/4bLK5xq

SHEPADDLES CYMRU SUMMER CELEBRATION FESTIVAL 2023

#RUDETOINTRUDE

WORDS: KATIE DYKE, WDC SHOREWATCH PHOTOS: AS CREDITED

We are really fortunate to have a beautiful coastline inWales, with amazing wildlife and opportunities to see dolphins, porpoises and whales. Katie Dyke, Whale and Dolphin Conservation Shorewatch, shares some advice on how to enjoy safe and responsible encounters with these amazing marine species.

ON OUR DOORSTEP

AL DENNIS

“IF YOU DO ENCOUNTER THEM, ENJOY THE MAGICAL EXPERIENCE BUT USE YOUR COMMON SENSE, STAY SAFE, AND MAKE SURE THAT ANY ENCOUNTER IS ON THEIR TERMS: REMEMBER THAT IT’S #RUDETOINTRUDE.”

You’ve probably seen Insta-friendly images of a lone paddleboarder gliding through a calm, crystal clear sea with a pod of dolphins tailing them, and you may think that will never happen to me, not in the UK at least. But in fact, the UK has some 21 species of whales, dolphin and porpoise who call these waters their home, and another nine or so species that have been recorded in our waters, as well as having some of the most spectacular sandy beaches that can be found anywhere, with crystal clear blue waters and amazing marine wildlife A number of these marine species spend time in shallow coastal waters where there may be the chance of catching a glimpse of them.

I work for the charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) so you won’t be surprised to hear that I really enjoy spotting whales, dolphins and porpoises. I do most of my watching from the shore with binoculars and have recorded 10 different species from my local coastline in NE Scotland. I am also a water lover and don’t take much persuading to get out on the sea either on a kayak, stand-up paddleboard (SUP), surfboard or just for a swim; I’ve been lucky enough to be joined by dolphins, whales and even a not-so shy harbour porpoise on numerous occasions.

COMMON SENSE

It is such a magical experience to see these amazing creatures in the wild and it can be easy to get over excited and forget how to behave to ensure the encounter is positive for the dolphins too. When I am on my paddleboard and I see dolphins in the distance I get so excited I usually let out a squeal and must quickly remind myself to stay cool and follow the steps I know to stay safe and minimise the risk of disturbing the wildlife.

My favourite bay to paddleboard from is a few miles away from where I live, where I have to drag my board down a dirt track and climb down a steep cliff path. The effort is worth it as the coastline is so dramatic, with ancient dinosaur footprints, caves full of sea birds and old Pictish carvings, and to top it off, the resident bottlenose dolphins regularly travel across the bay.

MY MAGICAL ENCOUNTERS

I am always on the lookout for flocks of feeding birds in the distance and a sign of activity on the water, and when I see that slick dorsal fin breaking the surface of the water, I know the dolphins are about. Adrenaline pumps around my body making me a little shaky, so I always drop to my knees so I have the best control of

CHARLIE PHILLIPS / WDC

the paddleboard. I remain stationary to enjoy watching them and also to figure out how the pod is behaving; I don’t try to approach them and stay at least 100 metres away from them, and even further if the pod has calves present. When watching them I have noticed that some dolphins prefer to keep their distance while others will come and investigate. Because I do not try to approach them, I move slowly, or stay where I am, the dolphins may approach me. I have been surrounded by dolphins on still days when there is not a breath of wind, and all I can hear is the blows of the dolphins and the gentle splashes of water as they surface. One dolphin swam directly below my paddleboard while the others passed by the front and back of my board. Sometimes these interactions are over quickly, and when the dolphins decide to leave, it’s important to let them resume their normal behaviour (which may be feeding, socialising or resting) and not to try to follow them.

KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET

My interactions with dolphins are often in areas where they are travelling so my presence has not stopped them being there for any length of time. Sometimes I see kayakers, paddleboarders or boats in areas such as Chanonry or Aberdeen Harbour or other important areas for feeding where dolphins like to spend hours in one place, because their prey are there. And in these areas prolonged human presence will impact their behaviour. Then it is really important not to approach them and not to stay longer than a maximum time of 15 minutes. If other water users are in the area, continue on your path -

you never know, the dolphins might catch you up if they are curious. As SUPer’s we are used to planning our expeditions, so why not add a little extra element to planning and do some research to find out which sensitive wildlife areas are best avoided.

It's not just bottlenose dolphins who can be seen in coastal waters, this humpback whale took this surfer by surprise on a cold October morning at Torry Battery off Aberdeen. The surfer did exactly the right thing - he didn’t approach the whales, took a few more waves and then left the area so the whale could feed in peace. It’s also important to be safe. Whales and dolphins are large, powerful wild animals and being too close to them could put you in danger. It is also important to be aware that disturbing marine mammals is illegal, so if you see anyone behaving irresponsibly around a whale or dolphin, causing them to change their behaviour, for example by leaving an area, slapping their tail repeatedly on the surface of the water, or changing direction or breathing behaviour, e.g. making lots of longer, deeper dives, please call the police on 101 and report it as a wildlife disturbance, as this could be a crime. It’s important to ask for an incident number too, to ensure the incident gets logged. We are really fortunate to have such a beautiful coastline in the UK with amazing wildlife and opportunities to see dolphins, porpoises and whales. If you do encounter them, enjoy the magical experience but use your common sense, stay safe, and make sure that any encounter is on their terms: remember that it’s #RudeToIntrude.

FIND

OUR MORE on how to behave around marine wildlife from WDC’s website: www.bit.ly/3WRSb3y

And by reading the UK Marine and coastal code: www.bit.ly/4bQPq6F and The Paddlers Code: www.paddlerscode.info

WEBINARS

During the summer, WDC and the Sea Research Trust will be presenting a series of webinars with Paddle UK about marine mammals and how to behave responsibly.

#1 – June 13th, 7pm

Learn about our amazing marine mammal wildlife, what makes them so special, how interesting their lives are and what human threats they face. www.bit.ly/3WXJAMK

#2 – July 23rd, 7pm

Marine mammal experts share insights into natural behaviour, as well as how to behave responsibly around marine wildlife when on the water. www.bit.ly/3WRGqdt

#3 – September 24th, 7pm

Sea Change – Discover the surprising ways that seals and whales are being impacted by Climate change, how marine mammals help to fight climate change, why they are so important and what we can all do to help protect them. www.bit.ly/3WXJxAy

WALTER INNES

AL DENNIS

SUP Lead Emily King

Emily is one of the newest members of the CW team: taking over the role of SUP Lead in April this year. Whilst the role centres around developing SUP governance, training provision and training standards in Wales, her focus is also on fostering a thriving paddling community. Helping to elevate the sport within Wales and beyond. And as an accomplished paddler and passionate coach she has the skills and enthusiasm to achieve this. With a background in sprint racing, open water, and white-water paddling, as well as elite-level competition, she wants to inspire more individuals to take to the water, challenge themselves, and embrace the joys of paddling. Which we fully support! Ceufad took caught up with her to find out more …

“SHARING MY PASSION FOR SUP IS INCREDIBLY FULFILLING. WHAT DRIVES ME IS SEEING THE TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT IT HAS ON INDIVIDUALS – BUILDING THEIR CONFIDENCE, ENHANCING THEIR SKILLS, AND OPENING UP NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR THEM.”

When did you start paddling and what prompted you to pick up a paddle?

I began paddling nearly a decade ago, having transitioned from a surfing background. My passion for the water and a thirst for adventure across various environments inspired me to delve into paddlesports. Whether it's oceans, lakes, rivers, or white-water rapids, I find each setting offers unique challenges and rewards.

You have a competition background – what does competitive paddlesport give you and what are some of your best achievements/moments? Competitive paddlesport has been a significant part of my life, pushing me to excel and test my limits. It’s not just about the physical challenge; it’s about the mental growth that comes with each race. Among my proudest achievements are winning the National 12’6” Ladies Champion title five times and being the first woman to complete a non-stop circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight

on a SUP board. These experiences have not only shaped my skills but have also taught me valuable lessons about perseverance and resilience.

You’re also a coach and guide – what inspires you to share paddlesport with others and help them to develop their paddling?

Sharing my passion for SUP is incredibly fulfilling. What drives me is seeing the transformative impact it has on individuals – building their confidence, enhancing their skills, and opening up new possibilities for them. Whether it’s coaching beginners or helping more experienced paddlers refine their techniques, the joy and excitement that come with each individual’s progress inspire me every day.

Running your own coaching business must be pretty demanding – what motivated you to take on the role of SUP Lead?

Taking on the role of SUP Lead was a natural progression for me, driven by my desire to shape the future of SUP governance and training in Wales. This role allows me to influence broader standards and practices, fostering a thriving paddling community and elevating the sport at both local and national levels.

What does the role involve?

As SUP Lead, my responsibilities involve developing governance structures, setting training standards, and embedding best practice and safety across Wales. It’s about creating a robust framework that supports the growth of SUP and addresses the needs of the community effectively.

SUP is a popular and fast-growing discipline –how do you see SUP developing and how can Canoe Wales respond to this?

SUP's popularity is skyrocketing, and I see it continuing to grow as more people discover its joys and health benefits. Canoe Wales can respond by enhancing access to quality training, increasing awareness of safety practices, and promoting SUP events to boost community engagement. By supporting these initiatives, we can ensure the sustainable growth of the sport.

What do you hope to achieve in your role?

In my role, I aim to strengthen the community of paddlers in Wales, improve the quality of our training programs, and make paddlesport more accessible to a wider audience. I’m committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone, regardless of who they are, can enjoy and excel in paddlesport.

What are the challenges?

One of the main challenges is ensuring consistent training standards across different regions and adapting our programs to meet diverse participant needs. Additionally, promoting safety and environmental awareness are crucial as the sport grows.

How do you see CW coaches, members, and clubs working with you?

I envision a collaborative environment where CW coaches, members, and clubs share insights, support each other, and work together towards common goals. Through open communication and shared initiatives, we can enhance our collective impact.

What’s your message to the CW coaches, members, and clubs?

My message is one of unity and encouragement: Let's work together to promote the growth of paddlesport, uphold the highest standards of coaching and safety, and create a welcoming community for all. Your passion and dedication are vital to our success, and together, we can achieve great things.

MORE INFO

if you have any questions about SUP, as a club, coach or paddler, you can contact Emily at Canoe Wales: admin@canoewales.com

“SUP'S POPULARITY IS SKYROCKETING, AND I SEE IT CONTINUING TO GROW AS MORE PEOPLE DISCOVER ITS JOYS AND HEALTH BENEFITS. CANOE WALES CAN RESPOND BY ENHANCING ACCESS TO QUALITY TRAINING, INCREASING AWARENESS OF SAFETY PRACTICES, AND PROMOTING SUP EVENTS TO BOOST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.”

SUPJUNKIE

TEIFION'S STORY

Finding freedom in kayaking

Before discovering his passion for kayaking, Teifion was a fit and active 14-year-old. He participated in three ballet sessions per week, having reached grade 5, and had been dancing since he was eight. He frequently performed on stage at St. David’s Hall, unaware that his November 2022 performance would be his last.

In early 2023, Teifion contracted COVID-19, which led to the sudden inability to move his lower limbs, mainly from the knees down. The first symptom appeared on January 10 2023, during a school lesson, when his leg gave way as he tried to stand. Multiple trips to the hospital, including MRI scans, lumbar punctures, and blood tests, resulted in a diagnosis of "unexplained medical symptoms" and he was discharged. His condition worsened, progressing to paralysis from the neck down and Non-Epileptic Attack Disorder

After extensive online research, his parents suggested to doctors that he might be suffering from Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), which was eventually confirmed. FND is a condition where the brain becomes overloaded and unable to send and receive signals properly. Despite his challenges, Teifion has remained positive and academically driven.

WORDS : LYDIA WILFORD,

CW DEVELOPMENT

In the summer of 2023, on a family camping trip to Llangorse Lake, Teifion tried kayaking and loved it. On the water his disability was not a hindrance, allowing him to be like his brothers again. This sparked his interest in kayaking.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

Teifion's family searched extensively online for someone who could help him try kayaking, but it wasn't until they connected with Steve from Cardiff Canoe Club that they found the opportunity they had been looking for. Steve arranged a one-on-one trial session for Teifion at Cosmeston Lake, which has a disability pontoon. At the end of summer Teifion had a fantastic time on the lake, quickly taking to the sport. Following this successful session, Teifion enrolled in a beginner’s course with Cardiff Canoe Club, held in a swimming pool. The club

OFFICER “KAYAKING MEANS THAT I AM INCLUDED AND IT’S GREAT TO HAVE THE FREEDOM I DIDN’T HAVE AGAIN, THROUGH THE WATER."

“ON THE WATER TEIFION'S DISABILITY DOESN'T HINDER HIM, ALLOWING HIM TO FEEL JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE AND FULLY INTEGRATED INTO THE CLUB. STEVE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN TEIFION'S PROGRESS, DEDICATING TIME AND EFFORT TO HELP HIM IMPROVE.”

made Teifion feel very welcome and ensured he felt safe. On the water Teifion's disability doesn't hinder him, allowing him to feel just like everyone else and fully integrated into the club. Steve has been instrumental in Teifion's progress, dedicating time and effort to help him improve.

Teifion spent the winter honing his skills in the pool, mastering a strong roll. His next goal was to try white water kayaking.

A MESSAGE FROM TEIFION'S MUM, NICOLA

"Since being diagnosed with FND and no longer being able to participate in ballet, Teifion wanted to try a new hobby. He had a go at kayaking on Llangorse Lake and really enjoyed it. After much searching, we connected with Steve at Cardiff Canoe Club. Teifion was given the opportunity to discover his love for the water. We have been fully embraced by Cardiff Canoe Club and Seren Dŵr, and now we have our kayaking family. Teifion has been given the chance to enjoy the freedom of the water and compete in slalom races."

CLUB COLLABORATION

Cardiff Canoe Club and Seren Dŵr collaborated on a plan for Teifion's advancement. Teifion joined Seren Dŵr to experience white water at CIWW, the venue is accessible for wheelchair users. Needless

to say, he fell in love with it and desired more. Teifion has shown remarkable progress and hasn't been deterred by a few swims. He then pursued the Paddlesport Safety and Rescue course, where he tackled every challenge with determination, leaving a strong impression on the course provider.

“Teifion was eager and smiling when he turned up. Throughout the course, he excelled in all aspects, demonstrating keenness and determination. His ability to navigate paddleboards, canoes, and his preferred craft, the kayak, was truly inspiring.” - Ant Morgan

EMBRACING COMPETITION

Next, it was time for Teifion to enter this first slalom. He began with his home race, Cardiff Div 4, where he won, bringing tears of pride to his mother’s eyes. His success there led him to compete in Llandysul, where he moved up to Div 3 and faced the challenges of white water.

Despite his inability to use his legs and the progressive loss of sight in his left eye, Teifion was undeterred. Realising he couldn’t see all the approaching gates, Steve from Cardiff Canoe Club paddled alongside him, shouting directions. There was a suggestion for Teifion to follow Steve through the gates, but Steve was

not sure he would get all the gates! They are all learning together the best ways to adapt to Teifion's needs.

After a practice swim and a successful first race in Div 3, Teifion eagerly joined a river swim. Steve jumped in with him, and they swam downstream together. When Teifion expressed his desire to jump off the rocks with the other kids, Teifion led the way and everyone around him embraced it and supported him. With Teifion’s infectious smile and bubbly personality it’s hard to say no. With some assistance and support, Teifion climbed onto the rock and jumped into the river with everyone else. His clubmates loved helping him, whether pushing his wheelchair or providing other support, all while having a great time together.

Most recently, Teifion participated in the Langham Farm slalom and is always eager for the next competition. Kayaking has significantly boosted Teifion's physical and mental health. Just when it seems there’s nothing more to add to his story, Teifion continues to achieve new milestones. I cannot wait to see what he does next.

“MOST RECENTLY, TEIFION PARTICIPATED IN THE LANGHAM FARM SLALOM AND IS ALWAYS EAGER FOR THE NEXT COMPETITION. KAYAKING HAS SIGNIFICANTLY BOOSTED TEIFION'S PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH. JUST WHEN IT SEEMS THERE’S NOTHING MORE TO ADD TO HIS STORY, TEIFION CONTINUES TO ACHIEVE NEW MILESTONES."

Back on the Water SEA KAYAKING IN THAILAND

Water

THAILAND

WORDS: JOHN CONLIN-JONES

PHOTOS: TRIPOP 'TU' TRIMANKA

“WE STARTED FROM MAGIC RESORT BEACH IN KAE BAO, PADDLING ALONG THE COAST PRACTICING OUR SKILLS BETWEEN THE EXPOSED ROCKY OUTCROPS. THIS WAS UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF THE RESIDENT MONKEYS, WHO CLEARLY ENJOYED SITTING ON THE ROCKS, WATCHING THE WORLD FLOAT PAST.”

It has been just over three years since my last sea kayak multi-day adventure (and, living in Thailand, there are usually plenty of opportunities!). That was late in 2019, before Covid, on a four-day trip with a friend from North Avon Canoe Club. And helping Andy, previous owner of Kayak Chang, on a threeday trip. This lack of sea trips was a great reason to get on the water again for an extended paddle.

I was lucky, I guess, during Covid I could not return to the UK for over two years, but managed to maintain my fitness, taking my sea kayak to a dragon boat racing course nearby and cycling twice a week. The authorities here were not as strict as in the UK and I was usually on my own so did not have a problem. Not the same experience for a lot of my kayaking and cycling friends from Wales and the UK, who suffered during that time and still have not regained the fitness that they had before Covid. So I count myself lucky.

Anyway, towards the end of last year a good friend of mine, David Brain, contacted me and said Genny, a member of his Bristol Canoe Club, was touring Asia and would be in Thailand for a

few months. I had already been trying to arrange a three-day trip from the island of Koh Chang with Amy and Tu, the new Thai owners of Kayak Chang and South East Asia Kayaking. I have been on many sea and river trips in Thailand with Amy and Tu, and with big groups of their kayaking friends from Bangkok and other areas in Thailand. Kayaking has really taken off here, especially in the last 5 or 6 years, and Amy and Tu are a great driving force for our sport over here.

Amy and Tu had promised to accompany me on a three-day trip using their best gear; Tiderace Kayaks, Werner paddles and good Palm gear. Last year I decided to get rid of all my kayaks, paddles, gear, and trailer, as no one from Wales or the UK had visited for three years or more, and now I was getting older I didn’t want to continue doing solo trips. There are no Coastguard Services or rescue organisations here; you are completely on your own. Fortunately, Amy and Tu were interested in most of my gear, my three single and one double sea kayak, two white water kayaks and my trailer. I also donated a lot of my other gear to them, all second hand but not used much, to either use

or pass on to any young paddlers who could not afford new kit.

So, once I knew that Genny was coming over it was a no brainer to organise a three-day trip with Amy and Tu. I met Genny at Nakhon Ratchasima Station. She stayed with us for a few days and I showed her around some of the local sights, then drove the 500km to Koh Chang Island to prepare for the trip.

DAY ONE

We started from Magic Resort Beach in Kae Bao, paddling along the coast practicing our skills between the exposed rocky outcrops. This was under the watchful eye of the resident monkeys, who clearly enjoyed sitting on the rocks, watching the world float past. We stop at Lisca Beach for a snack and to cool off, before continuing along the coast into Bang Bao fishing village. We landed on the beach in front of our accommodation for the night, Cliff Cottage Resort, and headed off explore the fishing village. 14.5km of blue skies and clear water, a perfect start to the trip.

DAY TWO

We launched from the resort at about 9:30am and headed out of the bay, ready for a day of island hopping. First stop was Koh Klum, for a swim to cool off before continuing our journey to Koh Wai. This island was home to Cha Ron hot tea, where we stopped for lunch and drinks. Once we had refueled, we continued our journey to Koh Lao Nai, for another break and an explore, before paddling to our final destination of the day, Koh Prao Nok. We arrived at low tide, which meant there was a lot of beach between us and our accommodation, so we phoned to organise a pickup for us and our kit. Our transport met us at the pier and drove us to the resort of Ban Mae – our accommodation for the night. At 22km this was my biggest distance for years, to be honest and do not think I could have gone any further.

DAY THREE

Fortunately it was high tide when we left, so a much easier departure! We launched and headed out towards the fishing village of Salaphet, between the islands in the bay (some not on chart), and then followed the coast again towards Bang Bao. Along the way there were lots of

caves or inlets to explore, so we honed our skills amongst the rocks and breaking waves. At Wai Chaek beach there was a lovely lagoon, dense with mangroves which offered a further test of our paddling skills as we worked our way through the woody maze. It was worth the effort as there was a shack selling soft drinks at the end.

We then headed back along the coast towards Bang Bao, stopping on a beach in front of the Grand Lagoona Resort. This is the final resting place of the Galaxy cruise ship, which was moored here after being deemed no longer seaworthy, and used as a ‘ship-otel’ before being abandoned. It is not the only ‘ghost ship’ in the bay; there are other floating chalets and houses, built on Bangkok barges, now derelict. These abandoned boats and barges are a popular tourist attraction; paddling amongst them was certainly a unique experience.

After our ‘ghost ship’ exploration we headed back to the beach at Bang Boa to wait for our transport back to Kai Bao, finishing the day after 14.5km of paddling. Whilst waiting for our lift I took the opportunity to collect some litter and plastic, and stupidly forgot about our not-sofriendly sand flies. There were a lot of bites from

these horrible little critters on my legs … and the bites usually get more painful and itchy at night. Not the best finish to the trip!

Thanks to Tu and Amy for their support, and to Tu for arranging plenty of stops for me to recover some strength. These pit-stops allowed me to cover 15-22km each day, after my prolonged break from longer paddling trips. In the last few years (maybe from all our articles!), a lot more kayakers are visiting the islands, and Amy and Tu hold small seminars to learn rescues and kayaking skills with their paddling buddies, so I’m hoping I can now join them and do some more leisurely paddling.

South East Asia Kayaking is based in Koh Chang Marine National Park and offers 1 to 12 day sea kayak expeditions as well as Paddle UK personal performance and leadership awards. Kayaks and kit are provided, along with PUK qualified and local guides. www.southeastasiakayaking.com

“IT IS NOT THE ONLY ‘GHOST SHIP’ IN THE BAY; THERE ARE OTHER FLOATING CHALETS AND HOUSES, BUILT ON BANGKOK BARGES, NOW DERELICT. THESE ABANDONED BOATS AND BARGES ARE A POPULAR TOURIST ATTRACTION; PADDLING AMONGST THEM WAS CERTAINLY A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE.”

Q&A Aaron Kendall

Special Recognition Community Award 2023

Aaron Kendall is a kayaker and raft guide based in the Dee valley, and is super passionate about paddlesports and the places he works and plays in. He believes that positive actions by paddlers and water users are key to securing the future of our waterways. Something as simple as picking up one piece of litter on every paddle can make a huge difference. Which is why he organised the River Dee Clean in 2017 … and many more events in subsequent years … ultimately founding Dee Valley Clean Up, a community project for anyone passionate about keeping our spaces clean and beautiful for everyone. The project and its achievements have been so successful that it is currently in the final stages of becoming a registered charity. And it has expanded beyond the river to encompass the trails and green spaces of the valley, working with local authorities, NGBs charities and trusts. Which is why he was nominated for (and won) the CW Special Recognition Community Award. At very short notice (thanks Aaron!), we cornered him on a day off the water to find out more …

When and why did you start paddling?

I first got into a boat when I was a teenager as part of The Boys Brigade youth groups, but I really found my love for the sport at the age of 18, when I got my first job in the outdoors as an apprentice outdoor instructor. I met some good friends at a similar level, with some inspiration from some more senior paddlers in the form of Iuan Belshaw and Pete Sanger. With the support and motivation of these guys who were at the top of their game my progression in paddlesports was a steep one. My love and ability quickly grew. As a youngster I played basketball. This was the sport that consumed my life. It became quickly apparent my love and talent wasn’t in basketball but in kayaking. The void was very quickly filled.

How did you get into raft guiding?

I enjoyed my career working in residential activity centres but started craving something more. My good friend Rob Hirst had just started working at Whitewater Active and told me it was great. I came along for a few days to see what it was about. It was clear this was the future for me. Rafting opened a gateway for me to spend all day everyday out on the water and make a living from it at the same time. As my time in a raft went on, it developed into a way that I could make the river accessible for everyone. Guiding a rafting isn’t just about the thrill, it’s also about taking people into stunning and exciting places they wouldn’t normally be able to access on a day-to-day basis.

You’ve paddled on some legendary whitewater –Zambezi, Futaleufu … and but N Wales is home. What has it got that Zambia and Chile don’t? There’s no place like home. North Wales is truly home for me. I’ve never really visited a place that has the same density of paddling and adventure in one place. I love to travel and visit new places and try everything they have to offer, but I’ve yet to visit anywhere that has such quality paddling and opportunities so densely packed. It still blows my mind that you can paddle multiple world class rivers in a matter of a few hours. On top of this the promise of kayaking every day of the year if you want it.

In 2017 you organised your first clean-up event on the River Dee, what was the motivation behind this?

River Dee Clean, as it was known as in 2017, was born out of a need for paddlers to give back to the community and the river. Kayaking in the Dee valley hasn’t always been as easy as it is now. With no formal agreement to access or egress the river until 2012, it was this 2012 agreement that ensures paddling can happen on the River Dee. A need for paddlers and any water user to keep giving back is key for the future of our waterways.

A year later you founded Dee Valley Clean Up, a not-for-profit community project dedicated to ‘making the Dee Valley a safer and cleaner environment for everyone and everything to flourish’. What prompted the development from that initial event?

Very quickly I discovered there was a want and a need of a bigger project to happen in the valley. Dee valley is bigger than just the river. It holds a whole community of people who care and are passionate about this beautiful place. This includes local residents, anglers, walkers, mountain bikers, climbers, paddlers … the list goes on. All who care greatly about this special and unique valley. This sparked the name and aim change to Dee Valley Clean Up, to encompass everything and everyone the valley holds.

What work does the organisation do?

We as Dee Valley Clean Up simply exists to help everything flourish. On a regular basis we work with local authorities, NGBs, charities and trusts. As I’ve mentioned earlier the Dee valley is a delicate social ecosystem that takes time and work to ensure that everyone is happy as can be. We often offer clean up days on trails and the river, where we head out to clean up any rubbish and move hazards away from these enjoyed areas. We spend time listening and

talking to local residents, to make sure that they feel like they have a neutral body to listen to their concerns. And most of all we try and promote and encourage people to look after their own environments. The difference picking up one piece of litter on every ride and paddle makes is huge. Local people seeing this helps change the image of outdoor adventure enthusiasts for the better. I really can’t stress that it’s the small actions that make the biggest of differences.

Your work with local authorities and NGBs gives you a much bigger reach – how do you see Dee Valley Clean Up developing in the future?

The future is looking amazing for Dee Valley Clean Up, after a huge process we are in the last stages of completing full charitable status. We have gained traction and connections in and out of the valley that are enabling us to grow massively behind the scenes. I really feel right now we’re in the gemination process of something big that can make changes and be used as a template nationwide. We now have 4 trusties: myself, Rob Hirst, Clive Gibney and Matt Stephenson. All incredibly passionate and each bringing amazing aspects to the team. We aim to increase participation in our events, grow in funding and continue to grow within the valley. After this, who knows. But it’s exciting for us and everyone involved.

How can people get involved?

It’s really easy for people to get involved, check our website deevalleycleanup.org for our latest event. Taking part doesn’t have to be a big thing or a big event. Taking part is the talks with friends, the small actions, the crisp packet floating in the eddy that you pick up. The branch over the trail that you move and so on. All of this is taking part in Dee Valley Clean Up.

The positive impact you’ve had on the paddlesport community (and the environment!) has resulted in well-deserved CW Award. How did it feel receiving the Special Recognition Community Award? It really was a great honour to be listed for the Canoe Wales Community Award. I really don’t see it as an award for me, but some recognition of what has been achieved by the whole Dee Valley Clean Up team. As the Clean Up has grown it has certainly moved away from an event that I run and loved, to an event that we the community run. Exactly how it should be. I’m very proud to be part of Dee Valley Clean Up and over the moon that Canoe Wales have recognised all its hard work.

FIND OUT MORE about Dee Valley Clean Up, the work they do and how you can get involved visit: www.deevalleycleanup.org

DIVE INTO AQUAPADDLE FUN, FREE,

AND OPEN TO ALL

Are you seeking a fun and accessible way to get active on the water? Thanks to a new partnership with Canoe Wales, AquaPaddle is expanding its reach to bring you free, timed 5km paddle events designed to bring people of all ages and skill levels together for a fantastic time on the water. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced paddler, AquaPaddle is the perfect way to enjoy the great outdoors, improve your fitness, and connect with a supportive community.

WHAT IS AQUAPADDLE?

AquaPaddle was founded in 2021 with a simple yet powerful mission: to extend the joy and health benefits of paddleboarding and paddlesports to a wider audience. Originating from Dittons Paddle Boarding in Surrey, AquaPaddle has grown into a nationwide charity, registered under number 1194714, dedicated to promoting physical and mental well-being through paddlesports.

THE AQUAPADDLE 5K: YOUR NEW FAVOURITE ACTIVITY

The AquaPaddle 5k events are at the heart of this initiative. These free, timed paddle events are held regularly across various locations in the UK. Participants can paddle at their own pace in a friendly, non-competitive environment. The 5km route is designed to be accessible for everyone, making it a perfect activity for beginners looking to dip their toes into paddle sports.

CANOE WALES: BRINGING AQUAPADDLE TO THE PADDLING COMMUNITY

In an exciting development, AquaPaddle has partnered with Canoe Wales to further extend its reach and impact. This partnership is a significant milestone, bringing the benefits of AquaPaddle to the paddling community in Wales. Canoe Wales, known for its dedication to promoting paddlesports and supporting paddlers of all levels, is now working with AquaPaddle to organize and host events across the country. This collaboration ensures that more people can experience the joy of paddling in a fun, safe, and supportive environment.

WHY JOIN AQUAPADDLE?

IT’S FUN AND FREE: AquaPaddle events are completely free to join, removing any financial barriers to participation. The emphasis is on having fun and enjoying the water, rather than competition. You can challenge yourself to improve your time or simply paddle at a leisurely pace.

A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY: One of the best things about AquaPaddle is the community spirit. You’ll meet like-minded individuals who share a passion for paddling. The events are marshalled by experienced volunteers, ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.

HEALTH BENEFITS: Paddling is a great way to improve your physical fitness. It provides a full-body workout that can enhance your strength, endurance, and flexibility. Additionally, spending time on the water has proven mental health benefits, helping to reduce stress and improve overall well-being.

GETTING STARTED WITH AQUAPADDLE

Joining an AquaPaddle event is easy. Simply visit the AquaPaddle website to find an event near you and register online. Make sure to bring your paddleboard, kayak, or canoe, and don’t forget your leash if you’re on a SUP, buoyancy aid and whistle for safety. If you’re new to paddling, don’t worry! The supportive AquaPaddle community is there to help you every step of the way.

BENEFITS FOR CLUBS AND PROVIDERS

For paddle centres and local clubs, hosting AquaPaddle events brings numerous benefits. Not only does it increase foot traffic and potential revenue from equipment rentals and associated services, but it also enhances the location’s reputation within the paddling community.

Are you a club or provider interested in hosting AquaPaddle events? We are actively seeking more sites across Wales to join our expanding network. Hosting an AquaPaddle event not only brings more people to your location but also connects you with a national movement dedicated to promoting health and wellbeing through paddlesports. For more information and to learn how you can get involved, please contact Emily King at Canoe Wales.

UPCOMING EVENTS

AquaPaddle events are held regularly at various locations across the UK. Check out the upcoming events on their website to find the next AquaPaddle near you. With new locations being added all the time, there’s always a new adventure waiting for you on the water.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

AquaPaddle is more than just a paddle event; it’s a movement towards healthier, happier communities. By participating, you’re not only improving your own health but also supporting a charity dedicated to making a positive impact. So grab your paddle, join the fun, and become part of the AquaPaddle family today!

Dive into AquaPaddle and discover the joy of paddling in a fun, supportive, and free environment. See you on the water!

FOR MORE INFO

and to register for an event, visit the AquaPaddle website at www.aquapaddle.org.

If any clubs are interested in hosting AquaPaddle events, please reach out to Emily King at Canoe Wales for further details and support: admin@canoewales.com

DESTINATION WALES

In this series we introduce you to some classic paddling trips on our stunning coastal and inland waters. These are sheltered/flatwater or moderate/moving water trips, and we give you the low-down on access, highlights and top tips. This is the guide to some of the best coastal and inland paddling spots that Wales has to offer, and may just introduce you to a new paddling destination.

In this article we share a journey on the scenic Lower Lliedi Reservoir (which has an amazing back story, featured overleaf).

LOWER LLIEDI RESERVOIR

SWISS VALLEY

Lower Lliedi Reservoir is nestled deep in the Swiss Valley, and has been improved and developed through an innovative partnership between Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and Llanelli Rural Council. Through this partnership, along with funding from Welsh Government and management by LiveFree Adventures, the site has been transformed into popular watersports venue, with a pontoon, EZ launch, shop, toilet and changing rooms, as well as equipment hire and kit wash-down stations. Just a short drive from Llanelli town centre this scenic site is the perfect venue for beginners and families.

CLASS/GRADE

The suggested trip has been defined as follows: Flatwater – water with no flow e.g. canals and lakes

FLATWATER

Lower Lliedi Reservoir

Start/finish: Lower Lliedi Reservoir, Swiss Valley Road SA14 8BS

Distance: 1 mile (circular, can be shortened)

The lake is open to paddlers, offering rowboat, SUP, and kayak hire, as well as the option to self-launch (currently £5 for the day, bookable on-line or on-site, season tickets available). Refer to the LiveFree Adventures website for up-to-date information on access and opening times. Being in a valley the reservoir is relatively sheltered, but is best paddled in calm conditions or in a north wind, as this will push you back to the access point

DESCRIPTION

The car park (free) is off Swiss Valley Road, and there is a short walk (300m) along a tarmac track to the boat house, which is steep in places. For paddlers with additional accessibility needs parking can be arranged closer to the reservoir and there is an EZ Launch for access to the water (contact LiveFree Adventures for details).

There are two pontoons to launch from, the closer but smaller one just 50m from the boathouse or the larger pontoon with EZ (accessible) Launch, 150m from the boat house.

Launch from the pontoon in the southeast corner. From here, paddle towards the straining tower and south end of the reservoir. There is an exclusion zone around the tower and spillway marked with red buoys, stay outside these, and cross the reservoir.

SWISS

Once you’ve crossed the dam, turn and paddle along the west shore, which keeps you parallel to the main walking path.

Access to the north end of the reservoir is restricted; when you reach the line of red buoys it’s time to cross to the east side.

After crossing the reservoir turn and paddle along the east shore, back to the pontoon, to complete your journey.

USEFUL INFORMATION

Lower Lliedi Reservoir: www.livefreeadventures.co.uk

ACCESSIBILITY

LiveFree Adventures are very happy to facilitate access to the lake for paddlers with accessibility needs or those who might find it hard to walk from the car park to the launch point. Please contact them to discuss your needs

FACILITIES

There is a shop on site, offering hot and cold drinks, snacks and equipment sales, as well as rowboat, SUP and kayak hire. Toilets and changing rooms (both accessible) are free to use, along with lockers (currently £1 fee and £5 refundable deposit). There is a designated area for washing your equipment (an essential biosecurity measure); if you are self-launching, please wash your kit before and after paddling.

USEFUL RESOURCES

Maps: Explorer 178 Llanelli & Ammanford/Rhydaman

PADDLING TRAILS This is one of a series of Paddling Trails produced by Canoe Wales; free downloadable PDFs of the best easier-grade trips that Wales has to offer. Aimed at new paddlers or those preferring an easier grade these PDFs have all the info needed to organise a trip and have a great time on the water. www.canoewales.com/paddling-trails

TOP TIPS TO STAY SAFE AND PADDLE RESPONSIBLY

Be prepared and take the right kit:

» Wear a correctly sized buoyancy aid

» Mobile phone in a waterproof case

» Whistle – to attract attention in an emergency

» Map and/or route description

» Clothing for the weather conditions + spares in a dry bag

» Food, drink & suncream

Respect the natural environment and other users:

» Respect other waterway users

» Be environmentally aware, minimise your impact

» Ensure you have the correct licence if required

» Observe navigational rules – keep right and give other users space

» Check, Clean, Dry after every trip!

LOWER LLIEDI RESERVOIR

A Swiss Valley success story

“WITH

DETERIORATING INFRASTRUCTURE

IT WOULD REQUIRE

EXTENSIVE INVESTMENT AND IMPROVEMENT TO DEVELOP IT INTO A SITE SUITABLE FOR LOCALS AND VISITORS TO ACCESS AND ENJOY. HOW COULD THIS BE IMPLEMENTED AND MANAGED?”

The Swiss Valley Reservoirs (Cwm Lliedi) have always been a well-loved local beauty spot, popular with walkers, anglers, and widely used by families. Built in 1878 the Lower Lliedi Reservoir supplied water to the town of Llanelli, with the Upper Reservoir being completed in 1905 to meet the growing needs of the town.

Fast-forward to 2018 and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water are considering the future of the lower reservoir. With deteriorating infrastructure it would require extensive investment and improvement to develop it into a site suitable for locals and visitors to access and enjoy. How could this be implemented and managed? The answer – a community agreement with Llanelli Rural Council (LRC) to take charge of the site. This innovative partnership was the first of its kind in Wales. The aim was to create a hub for recreation, health and well-being, with improved visitor infrastructure and biodiversity enhancements. And with £121k secured from the Welsh Government ‘Access to Water’ funding, the partnership was celebrating its first success.

By 2023 the site had been improved and developed, and LRC appointed LiveFree Adventures to manage operations and provide watersports and other outdoor activities. LiveFree Adventures were an established watersports provider, so were perfectly set up to take on the role.

Today the Lower Lliedi Reservoir is a popular watersports venue, with a pontoon, EZ launch, shop, toilet and changing rooms, as well as equipment hire and kit wash-down stations. In addition to activities on the water, there’s a 2-mile woodland walk and LiveFree Adventures have plans for other off-water activities too. They also run the ‘Pick and Paddle’ initiative, which gives their customers the opportunity for a free paddle in return for collecting a bag of rubbish from the site. This has been an overwhelming success, which was recognised at the UK Paddling Delivery Partner Awards where they received the ‘Committed to the Environment Award’.

Ceufad caught up with Ben Hughes, founder and Director of LiveFree Adventures, to find out more.

Has successful has the community adoption scheme been?

The success of the community adoption scheme is largely measured through feedback from our trusty regulars. While we didn’t have a baseline to compare to, we receive consistent positive comments about the improved site cleanliness, reduced antisocial behaviour (ASB), and increased engagement with water activities.

We've seen tangible benefits such as a noticeable reduction in litter, increased access to watersports for individuals who might not have been able to afford it (we’ve had hundreds participate), and the building of relationships with local educational bodies and school groups. We've also won the ‘Committed to the Environment Award’ and were runners-up in the engagement award at the Paddle UK’s Delivery Partner awards, installed a coffee shop, and hosted various events. All of this couldn’t have happened without the coordinated effort between LiveFree Adventures, Llanelli Rural Council, and Welsh Water.

How was your first year of operations?

We approached our first year cautiously, aiming to settle into the community and truly understand their needs. Our initial goal was to run paddlesports and then expand to land-based activities. However, we found that people wanted refreshments, more accessible paddlesports, and free activities. As a result, we installed a coffee kiosk, acquired 16ft rowing skiffs, purchased some outriggers for accessible kayaking, and implemented scratch pads and free activities.

“A MEMORABLE MOMENT FROM OUR FIRST YEAR WAS WORKING WITH A GROUP OF YOUNGSTERS WHO INITIALLY CAUSED ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR ISSUES. INSTEAD OF EVICTING THEM, WE SLOWLY BUILT A RAPPORT, AND WITHIN SIX WEEKS, THEY WERE PARTICIPATING IN OUR TRAILBLAZING PICK AND PADDLE SCHEME, HELPING TO CLEAN THE SITE.”

Initially, we faced some pushback from regular paddlers due to the introduction of a £5 launch fee. However, once people met our team and understood our vision for the future of the Lower Lliedi Reservoir, and saw our investment into the site, the friction dissipated. The general public has also appreciated our presence as it brings a level of security to the site, and we act as a safe space for those in need and a place to take a hiatus and enjoy a coffee.

A memorable moment from our first year was working with a group of youngsters who initially caused ASB issues. Instead of evicting them, we slowly built a rapport, and within six weeks, they were participating in our trailblazing Pick and Paddle scheme, helping to clean the site.

What are the biggest challenges of managing the site?

The biggest logistical challenge is managing a remote and publicly accessible site, which means all our activity equipment has to be securely locked away each evening. However, this is a small price to pay for operating in such a beautiful location. Maintaining infrastructure and balancing recreational use with conservation efforts are ongoing challenges, but we are implementing strategies in place to manage these effectively.

You offer kayaking and paddleboarding. What other activities are you planning to offer?

We have a long list of planned activities, from slacklining to grass sledging, mountain biking, and climbing. The most unique addition is the

reintroduction of rowboat hire, bringing back traditional 16ft rowing skiffs to the Lower Lliedi Reservoir after over a 100-year hiatus. This will be the only place in Carmarthenshire where you can hire rowboats. We’re also expanding our free activities.

We’re integrating these new activities with our existing offerings by making the site more accessible to more people. We’re partnering with the probation service to assist in site management, allowing us to focus on new activities. Visitors can expect to see rowboats, bushcraft, and grass sledging by July, climbing before Christmas, and mountain biking in 2025.

‘Pick and Paddle’ is a fantastic initiative – where did the inspiration come from?

The inspiration for Pick and Paddle came from my background in social enterprise and my experience running Ru-Slack, the UK’s leading slackline delivery organisation. We all know that financial barriers are often the biggest thing that prevents participation, especially for those from lower economic backgrounds, so I wanted to create an initiative that wouldn’t rely on funding, because that always runs out, and would offer as many people as possible the opportunity to participate.

When we started at the reservoir, the main complaints were about young people and rubbish. I soon realised that we could address both issues by creating a symbiotic relationship where participants could clean the site in exchange for free paddlesports access. We played with a couple of strategies but settled on pick and paddle, and we are hoping to support other organisations in spreading this into a nationwide campaign.

How successful has ‘Pick and Paddle’ been?

The success of Pick and Paddle is evident in the drastically reduced litter on site. After nearly a year, the site has almost no litter left. Both land and water-based communities have praised the initiative, with people frequently commenting on how much cleaner the site is. The only challenge now is finding enough litter to keep the initiative going!

Are there any other developments in the pipeline? We have several exciting projects in the pipeline. This year, we’re introducing rowboats and grass sledging, launching a bushcraft club, expanding our accessible paddling offerings, and by the end of the year, we’ll offer climbing activities and will be starting our schools’ programs in the new school year. Next summer, we plan to introduce mountain biking, coasteering, and gorge walking. We have also just been given the go-ahead to build some mountain bike trails in the woodlands here on site, so we’ll be looking to get the ball rolling on them soon. There's even some background chatter of building a camp site.

We’re also looking to expand the car park to meet increased demand and install a permanent electric pump on site in partnership with SUPair Cymru. These developments, alongside the installation of more free activities for all ages and abilities, align with our long-term vision of making the site a vibrant hub for adventure and learning, continually engaging the community in these initiatives.

As a final note, can I just put a call out to all those in the industry that may have ideas, initiatives, knowledge of building trails or anything else that you may think would be of benefit to LiveFree Adventures or Swiss Valley in particular, then please do reach out to us. We are an open book and want the site to be a melting pot of ideas, activities and providers to help us transform the site into one of Wales leading activity hubs.

“THESE DEVELOPMENTS, ALONGSIDE THE INSTALLATION OF MORE FREE ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES AND ABILITIES, ALIGN WITH OUR LONGTERM VISION OF MAKING THE SITE A VIBRANT HUB FOR ADVENTURE AND LEARNING, CONTINUALLY ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY IN THESE INITIATIVES.”

www.livefreeadventures.co.uk

SLALOM GOGLEDD CYMRU

Ym mis Hydref 2014 crogodd Slalom Gogledd Cymru (NWS) ei glwyd gyntaf ar Lyn Padarn yn Llanberis a dechreuodd hyfforddi gyda dau badlwr o Glwb Canŵio Colwyn.

Naw mlynedd yn ddiweddarach mae gan SGC (NWS):

» 5 safle hyfforddi ar draws Gogledd Cymru (Yr Wyddgrug, Llangollen, Y Bala, Capel-Curig a Llanberis)

» Pedwar o'r safleoedd hyn wedi'u goleuo gan lifoleuadau ar gyfer hyfforddiant y gaeaf

» Fflyd o wyth cwch ac offer ym mhob safle, mae hyn yn cynnwys cymysgedd o K1, C1, C2 a fflyd o 9 cwch plastig ar gyfer Boater X

» Mae 50% o'r rhaglen Gymraeg yn cynnwys padlwyr Slalom Gogledd Cymru

» Allan o'r 32 padlwyr ar y rhaglen SGC (NWS) mae 14 o'r rhain yn ferched sydd bron yn rhannu 50/50

» Padlwyr ar draws pob adran o Adran 3 i’r Brif Adran

» Mae 40% o'r padlwyr yn cystadlu yn K1 a C1

» Mae 6 sesiwn ganol wythnos ar gael ar draws y 5 safle

» Hyd at 10 gwersyll hyfforddi drwy'r gaeaf

» Dros £30,000 o gyllid wedi’i dderbyn

LLWYDDIANT SGC (NWS)

Y ffocws yw i bob padlwyr fwynhau’r gamp slalom canŵio ac elwa ar bopeth sydd gan y gamp i'w gynnig. Breuddwydion rhai padlwyr yw mynd ymlaen i'r rhaglen Gymreig a thu hwnt, mae eraill eisiau gwella eu sgiliau padlo ac mae rhai eisiau mwynhau'r gamp ar gyfer yr hyn sydd ganddi i'w gynnig. Mae'r padlwyr yn gosod eu tynged ac fel rhaglen byddwn yn cefnogi'r padlwyr hyn i ba bynnag lefel y maent am fynd iddi.

NID YW AM SLALOM YN UNIG

Mae padlwyr ifanc sy'n cymryd rhan yn y gamp hon yn sicr o ennill sgiliau newid bywyd fel disgyblaeth, hyder, meddwl beirniadol, datrys problemau ... i enwi dim ond rhai. Bydd yr holl sgiliau hyn wedyn yn cael eu cymryd i feysydd eraill o fywyd fel ysgol neu waith. Byddant hefyd yn ennill ffrindiau newydd o bob rhan o'r DU. Camp unigol yw Slalom yn ei hanfod ond mae padlwyr yn hyfforddi gyda'i gilydd fel tîm ac yn chwarae a chymdeithasu gyda'i gilydd y tu allan i hyfforddiant a chystadlu. Nid yw’n ymwneud â’r padlwyr yn unig ychwaith, mae rhieni ac aelodau eraill o’r teulu hefyd yn cael eu hannog i helpu gyda rhedeg sesiynau a gwersylloedd hyfforddi.

LLWYBRAU YMADAEL AR ÔL SLALOM

Dim ond dwy enghraifft yw’r rhain o badlwyr sydd wedi cyrraedd lefel uchel mewn slalom canŵio ac yna wedi symud ymlaen i feysydd eraill o’r gamp, wedi’u hysgogi gan y profiadau a gawsant o raglen SGC (NWS).

AARON WHITE Hei, Aaron ydw i a dechreuais slalom pan oeddwn yn 13 yn Llanberis. Dysgodd Slalom gymaint i mi, o sgiliau cwch i sut i hyfforddi. Gyda chymorth slalom rydw i wedi mynd ymlaen i badlo rhaeadrau mawr a bod yn rhan o alldeithiau anhygoel ledled y byd!

EMILY DAVIES Dechreuais slalom nôl yn 2012 yng Nghlwb Canŵio’r Wyddgrug a hyfforddi a chystadlu hyd at lefel uchel am bron i 10 mlynedd. Mae Slalom wedi rhoi cymaint i mi ond dyma ychydig ohonyn nhw: Rhoddodd Slalom y sgiliau technegol i mi sy'n wirioneddol drosglwyddadwy i'r afon.

- Gallaf reoli fy nghwch yn y ffordd orau bosibl ar yr afon.

- Hunanhyder a chred ynof fy hun fy mod yn gallu gwneud pethau

- Cynyddu fy nghariad at fod ar y dŵr Nawr rydw i'n padlo afonydd ac adrannau gradd 5, ac mae wedi mynd â fi ledled y byd ac wedi gwneud fy ffrindiau a chysylltiadau agosaf.

ERTHYGL: JONATHAN DAVIES, SWYDDOG LLWYBR TALENT (GOGLEDD)

CEFNOGAETH Ni fyddai hyn wedi bod yn bosibl heb gefnogaeth a chefnogaeth ariannol y sefydliadau canlynol: Cronfa Fferm Wynt Coedwig Clocaenog, DMM, Engie, Cyngor Gwynedd, Kingswood, Canolfan Dŵr Gwyn Cenedlaethol, Partneriaeth Awyr Agored, Plas y Brenin, Pyranha, Chwaraeon Cymru, TNR Awyr Agored Outdoors

YNGHYLCH

Mae SGC (NWS) yn agored i bob padlwr ifanc o bob rhan o Ogledd Cymru o wyth oed. Gallwch fod yn padlwr clwb neu'n rhywun nad yw erioed wedi bod mewn cwch o'r blaen. I gael rhagor o wybodaeth am Slalom Gogledd Cymru neu chwaraeon slalom canŵio, e-bostiwch Jonathan Davies ar jonathan. davies@canoewales.com

NORTH WALES SLALOM

In October 2014 North Wales Slalom (NWS) hung its first gate on Llyn Padarn in Llanberis and started training with two paddlers from Colwyn Canoe Club.

Nine years on NWS now has:

» 5 training sites across North Wales (Mold, Llangollen, Bala, Capel-Curig and Llanberis)

» Four of these sites are flood-lit for winter training

» A fleet of eight boats and equipment at each site this includes a mixture of K1, C1, C2 and a fleet of 9 plastic boats for Boater X

» 50% of the Welsh program is made up of North Wales Slalom paddlers

» Out of the 32 paddlers on the on the NWS program 14 of these are female which is nearly a 50/50 split

» Paddlers across all divisions from Division 3 to Premier

» 40% of the paddlers compete in both K1 and C1

» There are 6 mid-week sessions available across the 5 sites

» Up to 10 training camps through the winter

» Over £30,000 of funding received

THE SUCCESS OF NWS

The focus is for all paddlers to enjoy the sport of canoe slalom and to benefit from all that the sport has to offer. Some paddlers’ dreams are to get on to the Welsh program and beyond, others want to improve their paddling skills and some just want to enjoy the sport for what it has to offer. The paddlers set their destiny and as a program we will support these paddlers to whatever level they wish to go to.

IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT SLALOM

Young paddlers that take this sport on are guaranteed to gain life changing skills such as discipline, confidence, critical thinking, problem solving … to name just a few. All these skills will then be taken into other areas of life such as school or work. They will also gain new friends from all over the UK. Slalom is essentially an individual sport but paddlers train together as a team and play and socialise together outside of training and competition. It’s also not just about the paddlers, parents and other members of the family are also actively encouraged to help out with the running of sessions and training camps.

EXIT ROUTES AFTER SLALOM

These are just two examples of paddlers who have reached a high level in canoe slalom and then moved on to other areas of the sport, fuelled by the experiences that they gained from the NWS program.

AARON WHITE Hey, I’m Aaron and I started slalom when I was 13 in Llanberis. Slalom taught me so much, from boat skills to how to train. With the help of slalom I have gone on to paddle big waterfalls and be part of amazing expeditions around the world!

EMILY DAVIES I started slalom back in 2012 in Mold Canoe Club and trained and competed up to a high level for almost 10 years. Slalom has given me so much, here are a few examples:

Slalom gave me the technical skills that are really transferable onto the river.

- I can control my boat in the best way possible on the river.

- Self confidence and belief in myself that I am capable to do things

- Increased my love for being on the water

Now I am paddling grade 5 rivers and sections, and it's taken me all over the world and made my closest friends and connections.

ARTICLE: JONATHAN DAVIES, TALENT PATHWAY OFFICER (NORTH)

SUPPORT

None of this would have been possible without the support and financial support of the following organisations: Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm Fund, DMM, Engie, Gwynedd Council, Kingswood, National White Water Centre, Outdoor Partnership, Plas y Brenin, Pyranha, Sport Wales, TNR Outdoors

ABOUT

NWS is open to all young paddlers from across North Wales from the age of eight. You can be a club paddler or someone that has never been in a boat before. For more information regarding North Wales Slalom or the sport of canoe slalom please email Jonathan Davies on jonathan.davies@ canoewales.com

SHOT OLAF

Rhaeadr y Tylwyth Teg, Afon Conwy

Aaron Kendall

Emily

PARTING SHOT

Davies

Fairy Falls, Afon Conwy

Aaron Kendall

Emily Davies