Ceufad Winter 2020 by Ceufad @ Canoe Wales

Issue 145 Winter 2020 £2.50

ceufadKAYAK CYLCHGRAWN CANŴ CYMRU JOURNAL OF CANOE WALES

CANOE WALES AWARDS

ODYSSEY OUT WEST

Q&A CLWB CANWIO AMLWCH THE SECRET SEVERN

DEE VALLEY 365

PRIDE SPORTS FESTIVE PRIDE RUN ON THE TEIFI LEANNE BIRD

editorial

ust when you think 2020 can’t get any worse you hear that the Chief Exec, Jen Browning, is leaving. Gutted. In the time that she’s been here she’s had an incredibly positive impact; building momentum with Canoe Wales and getting it moving in the right direction, motivating and inspiring the CW staff and volunteers, and having the vision to make changes and break with the routine. In doing this she has brought a lot of CW-doubters back into the fold and has brought CW into the 21st Century. Jen is moving to UK Sport; their gain is our loss. So, I’ll definitely be glad to see the back of 2020. As for 2021, it’s shining bright with opportunities. Rivers to paddle, coastlines to explore and waterways to tour. Although maybe not the Maillaig circuit in Scotland (p22), that’s one portage too far … Hopefully we’ll be able to cheer on our athletes at the Olympics and the competition calendar will be full again. And Ceufad will be full of events, trips and general paddlesport fun. Come on 2021, don’t let us down … Merry Christmas and hopefully see you on the water next year! Vicky Barlow Editor ceufad@canoewales.com

Ceufad Ed Ceufad

2 |

CEUFAD

@Ceufad

ceufad

Ceufad is the official magazine of Canoe Wales. It is produced by members & the views expressed are not necessarily those of Canoe Wales or the magazine’s editor. Ceufad is free to members of Canoe Wales. SUBSCRIPTIONS are available to non-members for £10 for 4 issues from Canoe Wales. ADVERTISING For advertising rates contact Vicky on: ceufad@canoewales.com SUBMISSIONS Articles are always welcomed & should be submitted as Word files, however, typed articles are also accepted. Images can be prints or tiff/jpeg/RAW files (preferably 300ppi). These will be returned. CONTACT ceufad@canoewales.com – 01678 521199 Ceufad, Canoe Wales, Bala, Gwynedd LL23 7NU Ceufad is produced quarterly in Spring (March), Summer (June), Autumn (Sept) and Winter (Dec). NEXT ISSUE: SPRING DEADLINE: 1ST FEBRUARY Ceufad welcomes all contributions but reserves the right to edit & condense to fill the space available. Design & layout: Vicky Barlow www.victoriabarlow.co.uk

Canoe Wales News

Info and updates from Canoe Wales

#ShePaddlesCymru Expedition

One day tour of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal

Canoe Wales Awards

The winners of the 2020 CW Awards

Paddlesport Stories

Two accounts of working in paddlesport

Q&A Clwb Canwio Amlwch

Chatting with the CW Club of the Year

2021 Year Planner

Hopefully it will be a bit better than 2020 ...

CONTENTS 22

Odyssey out West

A post-pandemic-lockdown-escape to the Scottish wilderness

30 Destination Wales: The Secret Severn

The low-down on the upper Severn Valley

Destination Wales: Dee Valley 365

The insider info on the Dee Valley

Catrin Schrรถder

Profile of a Welsh Slalom paddler

Lili Bryant

Profile of a Welsh Slalom paddler

COVER

DAVE JANES

RIVER CARNACH, SCOTLAND

PETE FIRTH

WINTER 2020

CANOE WALES – OUR TEAM Jen Browning CEO MEMBER SERVICES TEAM Paul Marshall Coaching Manager (Consultant) Gayle Penn Development Officer Rhys Green Development Officer Val Ephraim Administrative Officer Jen Rigby Membership and Communications Officer Ellen Roberts Finance Officer Phil Stone Places to Paddle Manager PERFORMANCE TEAM Dan Golder Performance Manager Jonathan Davies Talent Pathway Officer (North) Serena Williams Talent Pathway Officer (South) (maternity leave) Lydia Wilford Talent Pathway Officer (South) Gareth Bryant Talent Pathway Officer (West) Tom Power Head Coach (Slalom) Dan Goddard Performance Coach (Slalom) DIRECTORS Kerry Chown Chairperson Andy Booth Finance Director David Wakeling Elsa Davies Lowri Davies Ian Hughes Jet Moore Eryl Richards Mary Taylor Ieuan Watkins

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO, JEN BROWNING By now, many of you will have heard the news that I’ll be leaving Canoe Wales in February to take on a new role at UK Sport. I have always found it hard to say goodbye – and while I’m very much looking forward to a new adventure, I’m also feeling quite sad to leave such a lovely organisation, filled with incredible, hard-working staff and the best members a CEO could hope for! So instead of writing you all a goodbye message, I’ve decided to send you a thank you note. Thank you for all your messages of support and advice through all the challenges of COVID-19 this year. This has been a year unlike anything we could have expected – and while it was hard to spend so much time away from the water, it was inspiring to see how our community came together and how we were quickly able to build the systems and protocols needed to get us all safely back on the water. This is down to all of you – and I firmly believe that staying connected to nature and our gorgeous Welsh waterways was fundamental to staying mentally and physically healthy through all the challenges we’ve faced together. Thank you to our wonderful staff, who are all incredibly passionate about the power of paddlesport to change people’s lives for the better. I’m very proud of the team we have built up over the past few years and I know that I will be leaving you all in safe hands. Thank you to our board, who give so much of their time to ensure that our organisation is well-managed and financially sustainable. I know that governance can sometimes seems a bit dry and far-removed from the day-to-day activity of getting people on the water, but it’s really down to their hard work and guidance that we have been able to improve what we offer members, and launch exciting new programmes like #ShePaddles Cymru. And finally, and most important of all, thank you to all of the volunteers all across Wales who make our sport possible. Nothing we do is possible without all of you – and it has been an absolute honour to work with so many wonderful people who make it possible for others to experience the joy of paddling. Diolch yn fawr and thank you so very much to all of you, Jen Browning CEO/Prif Weithredwr

CONTACT CANOE WALES www.canoewales.com admin@canoewales.com 01678 521 199 National White Water Centre, Frongoch, Bala, Gwynedd, LL23 7NU

#canoewales

4 |

CEUFAD

LLANDYSUL PADDLERS SEES OVER 100 NEW MEMBERS YOUNG GUNS PROJECT MAKES A SPLASH Kayaking is one of the few sports that has managed to get back to some kind of normality quite quickly. Although the 2020 race season was wiped out, as an outdoor sport with no contact the club and centre in Llandysul was keen to open its doors as soon as possible after the first lockdown. It started a few new groups to get people back on the river and lake. The most successful of these was the “Young Guns” project aimed at 6–14 year olds. Within the first week of advertising we had over 60 new members to the club and this grew to over 100 after the first few sessions. The new members are split into groups working each evening of the week and a full day on the weekend. The sessions are run by club coaches and our performance paddlers who have started a coach mentoring programme. During the sessions the youngsters have had the opportunity to try kayaking, river swimming, rafting and have even managed to fit in a weekend training camp that included yoga, rock climbing, and strength and conditioning. It has been amazing to see so many new members at the club and we look forward to working with the youngsters during the winter months and hopefully taking them into the 2021 canoe slalom racing season. If you would like any information on the Young Guns Programme or any other sessions run at Llandysul Paddlers please contact the centre on 01559 363 209 or by email to lpbookings@aol.com

CANOE WALES SHOP PERFECT GIFTS FOR PADDLERS! If you’re looking for a pressie for the paddlers in your life check out the Canoe Wales shop. There are lots of great designs and products available to order online, including the new #ShePaddlesCymru and Clear Access Clear Waters designs, and kids products too. From water bottles to hoodies there’s something for everyone; perfect for birthday gifts or a late Christmas present …. https://canoe-wales.myshopify.com/

WINTER 2020

MY LOCKDOWN ADVENTURE TO KENDAL! SPEAKING AT THE KENDAL MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL As if my #ShePaddles role within Wales this year hasn’t been exciting and boundary pushing enough! The emails and articles written, the mind maps scribbled, the video calls, the social media activity, the road trips, instructing and paddling my way around Wales for #ShePaddlesCymru On Tour 2020, the disinfecting of kit, the late nights and the early mornings, the live two-and-a-half-minute interview for ITV Wales … NO - the limelight was calling once again! On a drizzly November’s day, I had driven myself to Pembroke Dock to push my boundaries once again by not only being in a sea kayak for the first time ever but also using a Greenland stick paddle! Nervous was not the word! On my fingernail-biting journey to the put-in, I’d had a missed call from Cadi Lambert, the British Canoeing staff member overall responsible for all 10 of us #ShePaddles Ambassadors across England, Wales and Scotland. She’d left a rather cryptic voicemail which only added to the suspense. I got changed into my paddling gear as quick as I could so I could call her back before facing this long, slim kayak that I really didn’t fancy capsizing in and (dare I say it?) this plank of wood! I called Cadi back who informed me that I had been personally requested to speak live at the Kendal Mountain Festival at the Palm & Pyranha Paddlesports Session that was being broadcast live online this year due to our resident virus. ‘Oh wow’ I said (my usual response!). There was me expecting to be part of a video call, but no, they wanted me to go all the way to Kendal! This role has certainly taken me places. (As England was on lockdown, they said they would issue a letter permitting travel). The next thing I knew, a few days later, I was part of a video call with presenter Chris Brain, Eleanor McBay (nee Wong) one of my fellow #ShePaddles Ambassadors who plays canoe polo for Team GB, and Kendal Mountain Festival Producer Emily Davis. We discussed what we were all going to talk about; for Eleanor they wanted her to talk about her taking part and competing in canoe polo as a female athlete, and for me about what we’ve been doing in Wales in our first explosive year of the #ShePaddles programme and about me returning to paddlesport post-injury with a brain injury. A week later, I was packed and heading my way on the long road ahead from Cardigan to Kendal, just a mere 230 miles! It would have been rude not to have a paddle so I stopped off at Llangollen and grabbed a quick paddle on the canal followed by an overnight stop. The next day, I continued my epic journey from a non-lockdown Wales to a lockdown in England. Based nearby, and with paddling permitted under the regulations, I was able to head for another solo paddle, this time at the absolutely gorgeous Coniston Lake. Again, wow! With this being my first journey to the Lake District I couldn’t believe my eyes. So picturesque, like being in a painting. If there was any place to practice mindfulness, floating in the middle of that lake would be it! The festival had kindly provided accommodation for the night so I headed there for a quick refresh before heading to the Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, where the broadcast would be taking place. The five-minute journey from hotel to studio hardly allowed for the nerves to kick in. On arrival I see three of my absolute idols all in one

6 |

CEUFAD

place. Chris Brain, Cal Major and Sal Montgomery - oh wow! Being a little star struck kind of superseded the nervousness by that point! Seeing the stage for the first time was surreal after only having seen it on some previous broadcasts that week. Cameras, lights, screens and cables everywhere. After getting rigged up with microphones and a brief stage position rehearsal we all took to our seats in the empty theatre, ready for the live broadcast to start. Fortunately, we were the second to last to go on, so it was a good opportunity to see how the other guests both on stage and broadcasted via video link ‘performed’. That definitely eased the nerves! The time came for us to be called to the stage and it all happened rather quickly! Trying not to think about the live broadcast element was difficult as was not looking at any of the stage facing screens, cameras and crew! A few questions here and there from Chris Brain and Cal Major towards Eleanor and myself and then we were done. Wow, what an experience. The end of the live broadcast resulted in loud whoops, claps and cheers from all in the studio, followed by some great chats with everyone and a few photos too! Such a relief to get through it without stumbling over words or having a mind blank. A great experience and new contacts – a night to be remembered for sure. The whole crew and Emily the producer were really happy the way the 2-hour session went. We obviously made an impact as Emily has informed me that she’s now joined her local paddling club! Result! #ShePaddles reigns strong! The Greenland paddle at Pembroke Dock went fine by the way, a little tense and wobbly to start with but Coach Mer Taylor guided me through it all and I really enjoyed it! I may even try it again! Clare Rutter British Canoeing #ShePaddles Ambassador for Canoe Wales

FIND OUT MORE

The Kendal Mountain Festival: Palm & Pyranha Paddlesports Session and all the hundreds of offerings including films and literature reviews are available to be watched in their entirety until 31st December 2020 at www.kendalmountainfestival.com Tickets are available per showing or in multiple ticket packages. Canoe Wales members have a 20% discount off all tickets. Use the code: WELSHCANOE20

LESSONS FROM LOCKDOWN IDEAS ON HOW TO ATTRACT NEW CLUB MEMBERS Development Officer Rhys Green shares his thoughts on how clubs can use lessons from lockdown to attract new members in the months ahead. Since the end of the summer I have been working with Llandysul Paddlers and their Young Guns project. This project has used a lot of the learning from the coaching chats Canoe Wales provided during lockdown and has a real childfocused approach to learning. A lot of what Llandysul are doing can be easily replicated by other clubs. The sessions in Llandysul have typically been around 1-hour long, with participants arriving ready-changed to avoid any need for changing rooms. One of the key elements has been to not worry about the group sizes, of course we have a maximum of 8 participants to one coach, but there’s been no minimum. If one child arrives we want to make sure they have had the best session and that they want to come back for more paddling. Llandysul are fortunate to have a flat-water venue that is easily accessible for all. This makes getting on and off the water easy for everyone who turns up. To further assist with accessibility, sit on tops are available along with childsized paddles. Once we know we can get on or off the craft with no issues so many possibilities opened up. Along with the flat-water sessions, some limited moving-water has been available with correct social distancing. This gave a different perspective for those attending on what could be possible. I worked with Llandysul Paddlers to create a progression pathway. We looked at the Personal Performance Awards as a guide, changed some of the wording to make it easier for a non-paddler to understand and, to make things again more child-focused, we created 5 Waves. These Waves took us from the Discovery award through to the White Water Kayak award. This in effect created 5 steps to show how to progress to being a whitewater paddler or in the slalom team at Llandysul. For some the jump up through three steps could seem a too large goal; through adding the 2 additional Waves each step was shorter and more attainable. The focus of these sessions has been all about fun. We have had a warmup, where we are moving and engaging with one another. We are then in our craft, playing yet more games. The end of the session is typically a bit of free time. If someone would like or needs a couple of pointers they are given, but there’s been very little coached activity. The groups are all progressing and improving but this has all happened through play and exploration. This program is going from strength to strength due to the family atmosphere along with how the club is fully part of the community. The sessions are short and focused on fun. Every session is just as important if one person arrives or if it’s full. Those attending have an understandable and bite-sized progression pathway. Through having a completely child-centred approach this program is working well and Canoe Wales would like to help other similar programs. Please contact rhys.green@canoewales.com if you would like any assistance.

CEUFAD: PRINT OR DIGITAL? CHOOSE WHICH VERSION YOU’D PREFER After trialling digital-only issues and listening to your feedback we’ve decided to return to four print issues a year. The magazine will still be available as an e-zine, and if you’d prefer that you can opt out of receiving print copies through the membership portal (you’ll then be emailed a link to the digital magazine). To opt out of a postal copy: 1. Login to GoMembership. 2. Go to My Profile > Opt-ins. Tick “I DO NOT wish to receive Ceufad magazine by post”

WINTER 2020

NATIONAL LOTTERY FUNDED CLUBS IN THE SPOTLIGHT It has been a tough time for our sport and Canoe Wales has never been prouder of its clubs, coaches and volunteers. With the help of National Lottery funding, thousands of grassroots sports workers and volunteers from local clubs and organisations across the UK, have been be able Thanks to National Lottery players, £30 million to continue to help the nation remain active, happy and motivated during the Covid-19 is raised every week for good causes, many pandemic. of which are supporting the most vulnerable As part of the National Lottery Dedicated To…campaign, we are highlighting the work in our communities across the UK during the of Pontardawe Paddlers and Warren Huxford, and Maesteg Canoe Club in Bridgend. Coronavirus crisis.

PONTARDAWE PADDLERS Restrictions may have lifted in Wales this summer, but the swimming pool where the Paddlers ordinarily train remain closed. It forced the club to think differently. With news of the Sport Wales Be Active Wales Fund – supported by the National Lottery and put in place to ensure grassroots clubs remain at the heart of communities – the club decided to apply. It received funding for a tow bar – a simple piece of kit but it meant the club could now transport equipment to outdoor locations. It was gamechanger. The club was back – just not quite as the members knew it before: “Many of our members are teenagers and so many of them were really keen to remain paddling,” explains Warren, who is a coach and Club Secretary. “It is fantastic to have such enthusiasm but it needed to be managed carefully. We needed to understand and work to restrictions and cleaning protocols. Some of the parents were unsure about their children paddling outdoors but most were reassured by our careful risk assessments.” While Warren organises many club sessions, groups of members informally organise paddling meet ups – and, come rain or shine,

MAESTEG CANOE CLUB Recently handed a National Lottery grant, the club welcomes children and adults. In recent years, it has won a number of accolades including 2018 Canoe Wales Club of the Year. Its motto is family-run, family fun and it prides itself on being inclusive. Two years ago, it became the first water-based club in Wales and Bridgend to secure Disability Sport Wales’ Insport gold status – the highest standard a club can achieve in terms of creating and developing inclusivity. Like all clubs, it was forced to cancel sessions from 23 March onwards as the nationwide lockdown was announced. Keen to remind juniors that the club was still there, waiting for lockdown to finish, the club decided to send thought packages to its juniors. Club Chair Emily Evans – who is also an NHS Wales Ward Clerk – explains: “We wanted them to know that we were missing them and thinking of them so we sent them a little postbox gift of rainbow and emoji stickers, a glow stick and a balloon just as a little treat. “We also checked in on each other to make sure everyone was ok.” Once the swimming pool could reopen, the club met with the leisure providers to work out a new way of doing things. To ensure

8 |

CEUFAD

Warren turns up to those to supervise too, ensuring safety measures are in place. The club received more than £500 from the National Lottery Be Active Wales Fund: “If we didn’t have this funding, we wouldn’t be able to move boats around. So only the people with their own equipment would be able to take part in activities. A lot of our members are teenagers and they certainly don’t all have their own gear so it really has been vital to ensuring these young people can continue in the sport.”

both juniors and adults can continue to enjoy the sport they love, the coaches rolled up their sleeves and helped pool staff to sanitise the pool area and equipment. The club lost revenue in lockdown but National Lottery funding from the Sport Wales Be Active Wales Fund has helped the club to restart: “The National Lottery funding has made a huge difference. It feels like a security blanket has been thrown over the club. We know we’re ok now to carry on until March.” Spelling out the importance of the club, Emily adds: “We don’t just provide canoeing activity; it is a second home for our members. We are inclusive and we have members who are autistic. Their confidence has improved so much – one parent told us how much the club had changed the lives of the whole family. “We welcome members of all abilities, young and old and we see these strong friendships unfolding which is lovely to see. We have also had amputees at the club and someone who was visually impaired. Everyone is welcome!” With the help of National Lottery funding, thousands of grassroots sports workers and volunteers from local clubs and organisations across the UK, have been be able to continue to help the nation to remain active, happy and motivated during the Covid-19 pandemic.

CLYBIAU WEDI EI ARIANNU GAN GYLLID Y LOTERI GENEDLAETHOL YN CAEL SYLW Mae wedi bod yn gyfnod anodd i'n camp ni ac mae Canŵio Cymru yn falchach nag erioed o'i glybiau, ei hyfforddwyr a'i wirfoddolwyr. Gyda chymorth arian y Loteri Genedlaethol, mae miloedd o weithwyr chwaraeon ar lawr gwlad a gwirfoddolwyr mewn clybiau a sefydliadau lleol ledled y DU wedi Diolch i chwaraewyr y Loteri Genedlaethol, mae gallu parhau i helpu'r genedl i ddal ati i fod yn actif, yn hapus ac yn llawn cymhelliant £30 miliwn yn cael ei godi bob wythnos ar gyfer yn ystod pandemig Covid-19. achosion da. Mae llawer o’r arian yma’n cefnogi'r Fel rhan o ymgyrch Ymrwymiad i... y Loteri Genedlaethol, rydyn ni’n tynnu sylw at bobl fwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cymunedau ni waith Rhwyfwyr Pontardawe a Warren Huxford, a Chlwb Canŵio Maesteg ym Mhenledled y DU yn ystod argyfwng y Coronafeirws. y-bont ar Ogwr.

RHWYFWYR PONTARDAWE Efallai bod y cyfyngiadau wedi codi yng Nghymru yr haf yma, ond mae'r pwll nofio lle mae'r Rhwyfwyr yn hyfforddi fel arfer ar gau. Gorfododd hyn y clwb i feddwl yn wahanol. Gyda newyddion am Gronfa Cymru Actif Chwaraeon Cymru – sy’n cael ei chefnogi gan y Loteri Genedlaethol ac wedi’i rhoi ar waith i sicrhau bod clybiau ar lawr gwlad yn parhau i fod wrth galon cymunedau – penderfynodd y clwb wneud cais. Derbyniodd gyllid ar gyfer bar llusgo – darn syml o git ond roedd yn golygu bod posib i'r clwb gludo offer i leoliadau awyr agored bellach. Fe newidiodd hynny bethau. Roedd y clwb yn ôl – ond nid yn union fel roedd yr aelodau'n ei adnabod o'r blaen: "Mae llawer o'n haelodau ni yn eu harddegau ac roedd llawer ohonyn nhw’n awyddus iawn i barhau i rwyfo," esbonia Warren, sy'n hyfforddwr ac yn Ysgrifennydd y Clwb. "Mae'n wych gweld cymaint o frwdfrydedd

ond roedd angen ei reoli'n ofalus. Roedd angen i ni ddeall a gweithio gan gadw at gyfyngiadau a phrotocolau glanhau. Roedd rhai o'r rhieni'n ansicr am eu plant yn rhwyfo yn yr awyr agored ond fe wnaeth ein hasesiadau risg ni dawelu meddyliau’r rhan fwyaf ohonyn nhw." Er bod Warren yn trefnu llawer o sesiynau clwb, mae grwpiau o aelodau'n trefnu cyfarfodydd rhwyfo yn anffurfiol. Boed law neu hindda, mae Warren yn bresennol yn y rheiny hefyd i oruchwylio, gan sicrhau bod mesurau diogelwch ar waith. Cafodd y clwb fwy na £500 o Gronfa Cymru Actif y Loteri Genedlaethol: "Oni bai am yr arian yma, ’fydden ni ddim yn gallu symud cychod o gwmpas. Felly dim ond y bobl gydag offer eu hunain fyddai'n gallu cymryd rhan mewn gweithgareddau. Mae llawer o'n haelodau ni yn eu harddegau a does ganddyn nhw ddim offer eu hunain, felly mae wir wedi bod yn hanfodol sicrhau bod y bobl ifanc yma’n gallu dal ati yn y gamp.”

CHLWB CANŴIO MAESTEG Wedi cael grant y Loteri Genedlaethol yn ddiweddar, mae'r clwb yn croesawu plant ac oedolion. Yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf, mae wedi ennill nifer o wobrau, gan gynnwys gwobr Clwb Canŵio y Flwyddyn Cymru yn 2018. Ei arwyddair yw family-run, family fun ac mae'n ymfalchïo mewn bod yn gynhwysol. Dwy flynedd yn ôl, dyma'r clwb dwr cyntaf ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr ac yng Nghymru i sicrhau statws Insport aur Chwaraeon Anabledd Cymru – y safon uchaf y gall clwb ei chyflawni o ran creu a datblygu cynhwysiant. Fel pob clwb, fe'i gorfodwyd i ganslo sesiynau o 23 Mawrth ymlaen wrth i'r cyfyngiadau symud cenedlaethol gael eu cyhoeddi. Yn awyddus i atgoffa’r plant bod y clwb yno o hyd, yn aros i'r cyfyngiadau symud ddod i ben, penderfynodd y clwb anfon pecynnau meddylgar at y plant. Dyma Emily Evans – Cadeirydd y Clwb – sydd hefyd yn gweithio fel Clerc Ward i GIG Cymru, i esbonio: "Roedden ni eisiau iddyn nhw wybod ein bod ni'n eu colli nhw ac yn meddwl amdanyn nhw felly fe wnaethon ni anfon anrheg fach yn y post o sticeri enfys ac emoji, ffon yn goleuo a balŵn. "Fe wnaethon ni hefyd gysylltu â’n gilydd i wneud yn siŵr bod pawb yn iawn." Unwaith y gallai'r pwll nofio ailagor, cyfarfu'r clwb â'r darparwyr hamdden i benderfynu ar ffordd newydd o wneud pethau. Er mwyn sicrhau bod y plant a’r oedolion yn gallu parhau i fwynhau'r gamp maent mor hoff ohoni, mae'r hyfforddwyr yn torchi eu llewys ac yn helpu staff y pwll i ddiheintio ardal y pwll a’r offer. Collodd y clwb refeniw yn ystod y cyfyngiadau symud ond mae arian y Loteri Genedlaethol o Gronfa Cymru Actif Chwaraeon Cymru

wedi helpu'r clwb i ailddechrau: "Mae arian y Loteri Genedlaethol wedi gwneud byd o wahaniaeth. Mae'n teimlo fel bod blanced ddiogelwch wedi'i thaflu dros y clwb. Rydyn ni'n gwybod ein bod ni'n iawn nawr i ddal ati tan fis Mawrth." Gan esbonio pwysigrwydd y clwb, ychwanegodd Emily: "Nid dim ond gweithgarwch canŵio ydyn ni’n ei ddarparu; mae'n ail gartref i'n haelodau ni. Rydyn ni’n gynhwysol ac mae gennym ni aelodau sy'n awtistig. Mae eu hyder nhw wedi gwella cymaint – dywedodd un rhiant wrthym ni bod y clwb wedi newid bywyd y teulu cyfan. "Rydym yn croesawu pobl o bob gallu, hen ac ifanc ac rydyn ni'n gweld cyfeillgarwch cryf yn datblygu, sy'n hyfryd i'w weld. Rydyn ni hefyd wedi cael unigolion yn y clwb sydd wedi colli aelodau o’u cyrff ac aelod â cholled golwg. Mae croeso i bawb!” Gyda help arian y Loteri Genedlaethol, mae miloedd o weithwyr chwaraeon ar lawr gwlad a gwirfoddolwyr mewn clybiau a sefydliadau lleol ledled y DU wedi gallu dal ati i helpu'r genedl i gadw’n actif, yn hapus ac yn llawn cymhelliant yn ystod pandemig Covid-19.

WINTER 2020

#SHEPADDLESCYMRU EXPEDITION MONMOUTHSHIRE & BRECON CANAL As mentioned in the previous edition of Ceufad, #ShePaddlesCymru was due to hold a 4-day paddling expedition on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. The plan was to paddle from Brecon to Govilon and return, and camp (or B&B’s!) at various spots along the way. The expedition was intended to be the ‘grand finale’, in celebration of our massively successful #ShePaddlesCymru ‘On Tour 2020’, which took canoe, kayak and SUP taster sessions over six dates and at venues across Wales this summer. The expedition promised to be a great adventure and a huge personal challenge in many respects for those who wished to undertake it. Alas, Covid-19 once again reared its ugly head in the form of ever-increasing local lockdowns. The decision was made to reduce the expedition to a one-day paddle expedition on a section of the originally planned route. And so, on Saturday 10th October, six participants – Jacqueline Rhodes, Hayley Lagerweij, Jo Morgan-Walters, Janice Evans, Marie Jones and Ann Stephens, plus two #SPC volunteers – Michelle Lee and our wonderful, ever-present photographer Mark Evans, and four instructors/coaches; Lydia Wilford, Fran Bateman, Mer Taylor and myself, met on a beautifully mild and ever so slightly drizzly day in Brecon Canal Basin, with the plan to paddle to Pencelli and return, a distance of around 9 miles or 14.5 kilometres. The smiles, the laughs and the fun began almost immediately on arrival! The pumping of SUPs, the lugging of kit and craft to the towpath and the unrelenting gaze of a beady-eyed swan all simply added to the excitement of the great adventure ahead. As has been a running theme throughout this year - the ladies, of varying ages and paddle abilities and mostly unknown to each other, chatted like old friends and worked together effectively and efficiently at each given hurdle. Displaying the exact success yet unmeasurable power of the notion of #ShePaddles! Such a sight to witness and be a part of that for me alone, provides for such an intrinsic and overwhelming degree of pride and happiness! Canoes, kayaks and SUPs were used, each as unique and as varied as their owners! The ladies paddled seemingly effortlessly along the route, (dodging the occasional falling acorn) with many passers-by, including dog walkers, runners, cyclists and canal boaters, stopping to smile, wave and chat while out on their own canal adventures. The first hurdle came at Brynich Lock with a portage to the other side. Again done so effortlessly with a teamwork display akin to bees in a hive! The journey continued onwards through the picturesque Powys countryside with stunning autumnal leaves occasionally falling and drifting into the water and swept along in the mini whirlpools left by our paddle strokes. Following another portage, a delicious lunch of various cuisines was taken alfresco at the Royal Oak, Pencelli before the return journey commenced. Fed and watered, weary but strong and determined ladies battled on, still laughing and joking, exchanging life stories and experiences, sharing paddle techniques and locations and plans for the coming winter and years ahead. The one-day expedition had been completed, and, as always, was totally about the journey and not the destination. This was the culmination and truly the ‘grand finale’ of a magnificent first, explosive year of #ShePaddlesCymru. Yet another incredible

10 |

CEUFAD

example of extraordinary women drawn together by the love of paddling. The nurturing and supportive nature of an all-female – female-led gathering and the promise of inevitable firm networks and friendships for life. #ShePaddles really has to be experienced to be believed and understood – but strictly ladies only! Of the expedition, participant Ann Stephens said “My first very enjoyable #ShePaddles experience. Very well organised and as a novice I felt I was in good hands. The ratio of experienced paddlers to novice was really good and in the all-day journey I was never left on my own and had so much support and instruction which really helped my confidence. A wonderful, safe and fun way to gain experience, looking forward to more. Great day out too!” Participant Janet Evans said “Thoroughly enjoyed meeting up with like-minded women. As a newbie the smiles, warmth and enthusiasm of everyone made me feel most welcome and included. The canal journey was beautiful and lunch at the pub was so deserved and very delicious. It was a long paddle and I needed the camaraderie to finish the last mile. Some ladies shared trays of homemade puds and biscuits when it was all over, reinforcement for doing another paddle indeed. Loved it, thank you”. Participant Marie Jones, our dedicated #SPC groupie who joined us at every single event said “The Brecon expedition was amazing. It, like all the other tour dates brought the continued benefits of comradeship with the lovely paddling group, I’ve made such lovely friends. I enjoyed the lunch too. The tour helped me solidify a personal growth goal, this means one thing, I want more!!!” #ShePaddlesCymru volunteer Michelle Lee said “I loved the October Brecon Paddle. It was so fantastic meeting up with people throughout the tour (#ShePaddlesCymru On Tour 2020). Autumn colours made it even more spectacular. I really enjoyed the teamwork, everyone helping each other with the portage points. Highlight was the pub lunch such a treat! Fabulous memories”. Coach Mer Taylor said “Disappointing not to be able to do the 4 days planned but even so a big step for some of our beginners to paddle this distance. It was a real highlight within a very sombre year and I was delighted to take part. At the end, I felt like we’d ticked a big box but with a whole lot more to look forward to. This was just the start”. Clare Rutter British Canoeing #ShePaddles Ambassador for Canoe Wales

MORE INFO join the Facebook group ShePaddles Cymru or

contact: Clare Rutter: shepaddlesambassador@canoewales.com or Gayle Penn: gaylepenn@canoewales.com

RAFT GUIDE TRAINING

national white water centre

The National White Water Centre offer a range of British Canoeing, IRF and Rescue 3 courses. New dates are regularly added and private courses can be arranged at any time. UP AND COMING COURSES IRF Safety Kayak Instructor workshop 16th - 20th Jan 2021. For instructors looking to deliver IRF safety kayaking training and assessments. There is also the opportunity for IRF instructor and trip leader development and assessments on this course. Please get in contact with what you require. IRF & BC Raft Guide Training combined with Rescue 3 WRT pro 3rd - 7th March 2021. The ideal first step for aspiring raft guides, combining a foundation in raft guiding with a world recognised rescue qualification for raft guides. You will have the opportunity to be awarded a WRT pro and IRF Level 2 guide (provisional) accreditation on completion of this course. This course is the perfect starting point for anyone wishing to become a raft guide whether in the IRF or BC scheme. IRF and BC raft guide and trip leader assessments can be arranged on request. Rescue 3 WRT pro and advanced courses - 2021 dates to be confirmed. BC WWSR courses - 2021 dated to be confirmed. For our full range of courses and latest dates please visit: https://www.nationalwhitewatercentre.co.uk/courses COOLPICS PHOTOGRAPHY

CANOE WALES

AWARDS

The Canoe Wales Awards recognise the tremendous dedication and commitment of our members and those who support them. This year there were six 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 been an exceptionally challenging year and the paddlesport community has risen to the challenge. It’s incredible to have so many dedicated volunteers, athletes, paddlers, coaches and clubs contributing to paddlesport in Wales.

ALAN BAKER VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR Clare Rutter “Clare Rutter has become the #ShePaddles Ambassador for Canoe Wales and taken the bull by the horns! She has taken the project from nothing to being oversold on events and one of the most successful projects this year. She shows amazing leadership [and is a] great inspiration to all who want to and may think of becoming a paddler... When on sessions she's so enthusiastic and keen which then leads others to feel the same... On top of volunteering for the Canoe Wales post she has been a community volunteer during Covid. She also plays a very active role in the local community and scouting organisation... Every group she takes out on the water she treats with passion and they come off the water wanting to buy their own kit and equipment. She then gives all the information to get them in to paddle sports for the future." This award is dedicated to Alan Baker; a true champion of paddlesport. Keen to share his love of canoeing with others Alan set up Croesyceiliog Canoe Club, having no idea that it would grow into the successful and highly regarded canoe club that it is today. He was Vice President and Chairman of Canoe Wales board of directors, and Vice President and representative for Canoe Wales on the board of directors of British Canoeing. In recognition of his services to canoeing he was awarded the first honorary medal by Canoe Wales. This award is in recognition of Alan’s longstanding commitment to promoting paddlesport and his love of canoeing.

CLARE RUTTER

YOUNG VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR Anya Wharton “North Wales Slalom has a high number of Welsh-speaking female paddlers - this has been achieved largely due to Anya’s involvement in the coaching of the young girls at grassroots level on the Llanberis slalom programme... Anya has taken on the role as a junior coach in a very mature way. She has the ability and confidence to plan sessions, open up the storage container, distribute kit appropriately, coach a structured and appropriate session for her group and give supportive feedback. All this is achieved no matter what the weather and time of year... Despite the lockdowns and Covid restrictions, she has continued to volunteer her time to the beginner girls open days, Outdoor Partnership open days, sessions for local Primary and Secondary schools, #ShePaddles open days and is an active member of Slalom Inspires... She reliably volunteers weekly in the beginner’s group in Llanberis and acts as a mentor and inspirational role model to the younger paddlers.”

12 |

CEUFAD

ANYA WHARTON

KIM JONES

PADDLER OF THE YEAR Bethan Littlewood "Beth led the GB Senior Ladies to Gold Medal position at last years (2019) European Canoe Polo Championships in Coimbra, Portugal, by scoring the Golden Goal in extra time for GB, beating the German Senior Ladies. This was a huge success for GB Ladies Canoe Polo, and for Beth as the goal scorer of that final penalty shot! Beth has been training so hard for many, many years for this achievement, so it is great she has managed to win a Gold for Great Britain, and herself. Well done Beth!"

COACH OF THE YEAR

BETHAN LITTLEWOOD

Geoff Forster "For the past few years Geoff has given up 2 evenings every week and some Sunday mornings to coach a small group of slalom paddlers in Llandysul. He is a true font of knowledge across the board and after 9 years of paddling slalom myself he is Still able to teach me something new regularly. Last year he had a knee replacement and even a spell of rehab couldn’t keep him away, he hobbled up and down the track with a stick! He constantly goes above and beyond, a phone call to see how a training camp has gone or just checking in to make sure we're working hard and haven’t lost any motivation during lockdown. I cannot speak highly enough of Geoff as a coach, his military background commands respect and gets the best out of everyone he coaches." GEOFF FORSTER

CLUB OF THE YEAR Clwb Canwio Amlwch "Founded in 2009 Amlwch Canoe Club has grown in stature and membership... As the Club has grown we offer a range of paddling experiences and cater for all ages and abilities... Over the past few years we have made close links with two disabled groups and pre Lockdown offered canoeing to them both in a local pool and in the warmer weather a local bay... We have grown from 10 or 12 paddlers to just under 30... The Chair (Phil Edwards) has initiated a robust No Bullying and Respect policy [which] applies to every single member irrelevant of age, race, religion etc. Again pre Lockdown we have made strong contact with Llanberis Canoe Canoe Club (Clwb Antur Dyfryn Peris) and have paddled with them on a regular basis... Amlwch CC offer sea kayaking, river kayaking, open boating, Sit On's, SUP's... Our oldest member is 74, our youngest is 9... Last year we were involved with cleaning Amlwch Harbour... ACC is a member of Canoe Wales, The Outdoor Partnership, InSport, Blind Sport and we have links to other organisations."

CLWB CANWIO AMLWCH

LOCKDOWN CHAMPION Nick Cunliffe and Matt Giblin "Nick and Matt were stellar during lockdown. Like all professional coaches I think it became rapidly obvious that working in a traditional sense wasn’t feasible (of course we weren’t allowed to kayak for such a long time). With grace and good humour, first Nick, and then Matt, turned their hands to entertaining, informing and educating the sea kayak community in Wales and around the world. This started with the Kayak Essentials Cabin Fever Workouts... rapidly followed by more educational offerings – podcasts and videos. All these were offered freely to the sea kayaking community and I think helped a lot of us keep learning with a sense of purpose during the long weeks of Welsh lockdown."

NICK CUNLIFFE

MATT GIBLIN

WINTER 2020

| 13

PA D D L E S P O R T STO R I E S

Slalom Coach JONATHAN DAVIES I work for Canoe Wales on the Slalom Performance Pathway and my role covers two main areas. I work with slalom paddlers from across Wales in the Welsh Slalom Development Squad and I work as a Talent Pathway Officer in North Wales giving young paddlers the opportunity to try slalom and then support them along a clear pathway from grassroots level through into the Welsh Development Squad. It has been brought to my attention more times than I can remember how many children’s lives have been impacted positively by having this opportunity; gaining self-confidence, discipline, focus, self-esteem, the list goes on. This has been seen not just by parents but also recognised by teachers and other professionals working with young people. I am aware that this effect largely goes unnoticed in our sport and likewise, it is not just happening in slalom but right across our sport from sea kayaking, open boating and recreational paddling. In fact, this is happening in all our disciplines and is not seen or celebrated in the way it should be. So, in response to this, there is going to be a page in every issue in Ceufad dedicated to this and as paddlers, both young and old, no matter what you paddle and how often you do so, we want you to send in your personal stories as to how our sport has changed your life. Tell us your story. To kick this off, there are two stories in this issue. My story, of how canoeing changed my life and Barra’s story of how rafting affected his life. Although I have been working for Canoe Wales on a full-time basis for the past five years, my involvement with the squad goes back to 1979 when at the age of 18 I was selected for the first ever Welsh slalom team. I remained a member of the squad through to 1984 and represented Wales in several Internationals at home and abroad, including the Commonwealth Games in Australia in 1982. I am incredibly passionate about my work with Canoe Wales and this stems from the fact that being involved in the Welsh team as a paddler totally changed my life. I went through school with undiagnosed dyslexia, struggling to read and write and constantly being told that I was lazy and not trying meant that I came out of school with very little self-confidence and I saw myself as a failure. This changed when shortly after leaving school I started canoeing and I realised that this was something that I was very good at. I went for Welsh selection and ultimately was selected for the first ever Welsh (slalom) team. From this point on the sport changed my life. I became more confident, eventually serving an apprenticeship in Engineering gaining distinctions and credits. None of this would have been achieved had it not been for my involvement in canoe slalom. This forms the basis of my passion for the sport and my desire to give as many young people as possible, from all walks of life, the opportunity to get involved.

14 |

CEUFAD

My involvement with the squad continued and developed when a number of years later I introduced my daughter, Emily, to slalom. I started off coaching her on the canal in Chester with just two gates hanging off a small bridge over the canal and over time more paddlers joined us. Emily went on to be part of the Welsh Academy Group coached by Richard Lee and I became involved as a parent and with the coaching of Welsh paddlers working alongside Richard. This allowed me to see, as a parent, just how powerful an effect this sport can have. As a coach I now see this day in, day out and that is why I believe our stories should be shared and celebrated. So, come on, let’s hear your stories: jonathan.davies@canoewales.com

PA D D L E S P O R T STO R I E S

Raft Guide BARRA LIDDY Bara Liddy is a BC Level 1 Raft Guide and IRF Level 3 Trip Leader. He trained and qualified at the National Whitewater Centre in Bala, which is where he works in the summer holidays. Here's how he landed the 'perfect job'.

ABOUT ME I started kayaking with my Dad when I was 11 years old. It was when I started kayaking on the Tryweryn that I first came across whitewater rafting. I instantly noticed how much fun the clients and the guide were having! The first question I asked my Dad was, “So raft guides get paid to do laps of the Tryweryn?!” At the age of 17 I attended the raft guide training course in September 2017, and I was instantly hooked! Driving a big inflatable bus down the Tryweryn was a great new perspective and challenge to the river, as well as being a heck of a lot of fun! BECOMING A RAFT GUIDE On the three-day British Canoeing (BC) Level 1 raft guide course, hosted at the National Whitewater Centre (NWWC), we learned the basics of manoeuvring a raft, ropework needed to unpin a raft, swimming techniques, and throwbag rescues. The whole three days were very enjoyable and expertly instructed. The next step to becoming a raft guide was to practise and gain experience rafting down the river. This took the form of several very loose trips down the Tryweryn with varying amounts of other trainees in the raft providing crew power and friendly support. This way of learning is a great way to focus on getting the raft down the river, without hitting every rock, and without having to worry about upsetting any paying customers! Once I was able to keep the raft under control I moved onto ‘sit-ons’. These are when you, as the trainee guide, are ‘sitting-on’ a commercial session run by another qualified guide. As my skills and experience progressed, I took more and more responsibility on these sessions, still always under supervision by the qualified guide. The guides I sat on with were all really supportive and always could give useful and helpful tips and tricks to improve my rafting. All the previous steps eventually enabled my rafting ability to be good enough to go for the assessment. This assessment entailed the Tryweryn Operations Manager observing me run a commercial rafting session, conducting a ropework test, swimming test and throwbag rescues. Thankfully all the hard work and mentoring from the other guides aided me to pass the test! After passing the test, all I needed to do was complete a first aid course and the Rescue 3 WRT-PRO course. O N C E YO U ’ R E Q UA L I F I E D The main rafting season at the NWWC is usually from May until the end of October. The season properly kicks off during June and stays busy through to the start of September. This lines up perfectly with

COOLPICS PHOTOGRAPHY

the school holidays and it means, if you’re a student like me, you can work all summer! For both school and university summer holidays I have worked at the NWWC. Historically the NWWC only ran British Canoeing (BC) river rafting course and assessments. Since November 2020 they have also started running International Rafting Federation (IRF) courses and workshops in parallel with the BC pathway. This gives you the option to choose either pathway depending on what goals you have. I recently qualified as an IRF Level 3 Trip leader and am very excited to start leading more four or five boat rafting trips on a variety of grade 3 rivers. As a trip leader, I also look forward to mentoring and coaching trainee raft guides coming through the ranks at NWWC.

H AV E YO U G O T W H AT I T TA K E S ? If you’re a whitewater kayaker, you almost certainly do! There are so many transferable skills that translate into rafting so well. The ability to read and work with whitewater is certainly very helpful. But being a whitewater kayaker is not necessary. In fact, there are no prerequisites, except being 16 or over, to becoming a raft guide! So many raft guides that have worked for years have had little or no kayaking experience. If you’re keen to learn and enjoy being on the water, becoming a raft guide is a perfect job! W H Y S H O U L D YO U D O I T ? It’s a perfect way to spend the summer; every day on the river, staying active, meeting amazing people, all whilst getting paid! The best thing about it for me is how much fun you can have with the clients and all the other raft guides. H O W TO B E C O M E A R A F T G U I D E » Book onto course via website: www.nationalwhitewatercentre.co.uk or call 01678 521083 » Attend BC OR IRF training course » Complete training sit-ons with qualified guides » Pass raft guide assessment » Gain first aid & safety and rescue qualifications

WINTER 2020

| 15

Q&A

Clwb Canwio Amlwch

Club of the Year 2020

Formed in 2009 Amlwch Canoe Club has gone from strength to strength, growing from 12 to 40 members, achieving the InSport Silver award and providing the opportunity for everyone to join their sessions and give paddlesport a go. It’s no surprise that they were named the Canoe Wales Club of the Year 2020. They have a strong community focus, both within their local area and within the paddlesport community, and in 2012 they were awarded the Magnox Community Club of the Year. With members ranging from 9 to 70 yrs old, a membership waiting list, and links with other canoe clubs and disabled groups, the Club prides themselves on being inclusive and making paddlesport available to all. Ceufad caught up with Phil Edwards (Chair of Amlwch CC) to find out how the club has made such an impact and achieved so much in eleven years.

“BY 2011 WE HAD TWO L3’S, ONE L2, AND TWO L1’S, SO LOAD SHARING BECAME EASIER. WITH AN EXPANDING SKILL BASE WE COULD VENTURE ON LONGER SEA TRIPS AND ON MORE TECHNICAL RIVERS.”

16 |

CEUFAD

You’re a relatively new club; how did it all begin? It all started in autumn 2009 when the newly established Outdoor Partnership (OP) were tasked with setting up ‘outdoor’ clubs in Wales. With the aid of Mentor Mon (a charitable organisation), Simon Jones, who was Anglesey’s OP rep, began the task of forming Amlwch CC. I received a phone call from Simon asking whether, as a Level 3 Coach, I could ‘go along to the new club’ and ‘just help out’. I needn’t get involved with the committee but would just be there to help. Those were famous last words! Arriving at Amlwch Leisure Centre I could hear the whoops of delight emanating from the pool. At one end Eila Wilkinson was working with 5 would-be new coaches, hoping to become L1’s. At the other end Simon was entertaining a large group of juniors. And that was the beginning. As 2010 dawned, again through Simon and the OP, the club’s infrastructure started forming; we had 2 shipping containers to store the trailer with 2 open boats, and a handful of GP kayaks and equipment. From spring 2010 onwards we were more or less solo; having to get new paddlers to competent levels. By now I was ‘on the committee’. I had helped form and run a club when I worked over the border in Cheshire until I retired and came back to Wales.

Does being a ‘new’ club present any unique challenges and opportunities? As a new club we were desperately lacking both competent paddlers and coaches. There was only myself and my wife Jane who had any coaching qualifications. Our main task was to get those Eila had been working with through the system to become L2’s. The main set back was the old UKCC system because it didn’t work for our would-be coaches. The Task Book that was part of UKCC felt onerous and time consuming, and had areas open to differing interpretation by different people. By 2011 we had two L3’s, one L2, and two L1’s, so load sharing became easier. With an expanding skill base we could venture on longer sea trips and on more technical rivers. You have strong links with the Outdoor Partnership – what advice and support have they provided? Without their support and help Amlwch CC would have struggled to have survived. Their Mentoring Programme and financial help subsiding members on courses has made the club as strong as it is. In 2012 we were awarded the Magnox Community Club of the Year, and a number of members were nominated and received Club Volunteer of the Month through the Outdoor Partnership. We

applied for a SportsWales grant and were able to expand our fleet of boats and equipment to include another open boat and a number of sea kayaks, plus the added safety equipment we need for safe sea paddling. As a firm believer in ‘giving back’, our club were also supporting the Outdoor Partnership. We attended their Open Days at Plas y Brenin; providing introductory sessions to kayaking and open boating. We provided safety and logistical support at the School Competitions the OP were running. Part of their philosophy is to get people working in the outdoors, which we supported. By now our reputation was building and students from Bangor Uni were asking by if they could come and gain coaching experience within our club, which we are happy to accommodate. Two of our younger members did go on to work for kayaking firms. This was as a direct result of their membership in Amlwch CC and the support they received from the OP. You have a strong focus on inclusion; working with two disabled groups, initiating a Respect and No Bullying policy and achieving the Insport Silver Award. What’s the drive behind this? As we have matured, and again with help from the Outdoor Partnership, we have formed strong links with two disabled groups. By now Ceri Jones had taken over as our OP rep, so with liaison through Ceri, and InSport (an organisation for Inclusion of

people with disabilities) we embarked on paddling initially in Holyhead Pool. It was so successful we had to create two new committee posts; Volunteer Co-ordinators. They liaise and do the work of bringing the sessions and volunteers together. This year circumstances being what they are we have been unable to run any sessions, which is not only a disappointment for the groups but for club members, who enjoy the relationship we have built with the groups and carers. Let’s hope the virus disappears soon! The Respect and No Bullying policy; my background as ex Armed Forces, ex Fire Service, and as an Adult Helper in the Scouts means I have seen the consequences of bullying. Using the various policies that exist out there we have adopted a No Bullying Policy, which all members have to look for. We also insist every member signs an Equity Policy document. It’s nothing to do with thespians but to respect every person irrelevant of ethnicity, religion etc. What advice would you give to other clubs working towards inclusion? I strongly recommend forging links with your local groups. We work closely with InSport, the Outdoor Partnership, and our local authority. We currently we hold the InSport Silver award and Sasha, our InSport rep, has informed us we have everything in place for Gold award.

“ AS A FIRM BELIEVER IN ‘GIVING BACK’, OUR CLUB WERE ALSO SUPPORTING THE OUTDOOR PARTNERSHIP. WE ATTENDED THEIR OPEN DAYS AT PLAS Y BRENIN; PROVIDING INTRODUCTORY SESSIONS TO KAYAKING AND OPEN BOATING.”

WINTER 2020

| 17

“WE WERE ‘OVER THE MOON’ AT BEING INFORMED WE HAD WON. MY EMAIL INBOX WENT INTO OVERDRIVE AND THE NUMBER OF FACEBOOK ‘LIKES’ AND MESSAGES OF CONGRATULATIONS WERE OVERWHELMING.”

18 |

CEUFAD

You’ve formed links with Llanberis CC (Clwb Antur Dyfryn Peris) – how did this come about and what are the benefits? One of our members runs the adult canoeing section at Llanberis. They paddle on Llyn Padarn which is a relatively short hop for us so it was an easy link to forge. They have been to Anglesey and we have paddled with them on the sea. In 2019 I arranged for two Amlwch CC members to undertake Paddlesport Leader Awards and it made sense to include Llanberis, so a number of their members also gained the award. The benefits are immense; it’s nice to paddle with new groups, we can share information, new techniques or ideas that someone has gleaned from attending courses etc. How has the pandemic affected the Club and your members? It has affected us in how we have operated. We followed the advice and did not resume paddling until late July. We have been well supported and our membership are aware of the situation. And we’ve also had to adapt some of our techniques - deep water rescues being one. Through a Zoom meeting with Canoe Wales and other clubs the consensus was that the risk of drowning or hypothermia was a bigger risk than the virus. However, we advise paddlers to minimise looking at each other during the rescue to reduce any spray from mouth or nose. We also try to get people within their ‘bubble’ to Buddy Up. Canoe Wales have been incredibly helpful throughout; their advice and updates have been timely and easy to understand and follow.

Since becoming Chair in 2010 we have always had Open Meetings but we have had to adapt. Zoom has enabled us to continue to have Committee Meetings. However, face-to-face meetings seem prompt more dialogue and I don’t think Zoom inspires the same amount. But we have had to adapt like many clubs. How did it feel being named CW Club of the Year? We applied last year and were runners up. This was the inspiration to try again in 2020. So we were ‘over the moon’ at being informed we had won. My email inbox went into overdrive and the number of Facebook ‘likes’ and messages of congratulations were overwhelming. We strive to be Club of the Year (in our own minds!) every year, through our commitment to paddling. Our ‘waiting list’ of new members proves we are doing something right. Once Covid has decided it has had enough we will be inviting those people along to our club. Apart from most recent award … what are the club’s standout moments? Our awards to date include; Magnox Community Club 2012, InSport Club of the Year 2015, Claire Branston and I received Anglesey Volunteer of the Year 2016, Outdoor Partnership Club of the Year 2017, InSport Silver Award 2018, Canoe Wales Club of the Year 2020, and a number of members have received Volunteer of the Month through the Outdoor Partnership. I think one of the main successes of the Club is the fact that though we do take paddling seriously

(after all it is a watersport and the inherent risks that go with it), we maintain a sense of fun; on most of my Tour Sheets I include a list of ‘items of kit to bring’, with the last item being a Sense of Humour. Any stand out comedy moments (you don’t have to mention any names!)? This reminds me of one our very first river trips. My briefing emphasised the dangers from trees and that you must keep away from them. As expected we did have someone who swam a number of times and he tried grabbing every tree on his downward journey. The next time we paddled he was presented with the ‘I Spy Book of Trees’, which he has nearly completed!

What are the plans for the future (when restrictions are lifted)? As we have grown, and with a waiting list of new members, we desperately need to increase our Leaders and Coaches. The pressure from the more experienced paddlers to do more challenging paddles, and those aspiring to these harder paddles, is increasing. Through support, both financial and practical through mentoring, we will look to the Outdoor Partnership for their continued help. As a once critic of how Canoe Wales was lagging behind the other regions if it hadn’t been for Val Ephraim in the office and her tireless advice and support I doubt we would be where we are today. Canoe Wales has made rapid advancements in their support, the website has caught up and is now in the 21st Century, we have regular contact with Jonathan Davies for competition, advice from Rhys Green, Jen Rigby, and not to forget Val and the rest of the CW staff.

FIND OUT MORE

Amlwch CC offers a range of paddling from sea kayaks, GP kayaks, open boats, sit-on-tops and SUPs. From spring until autumn they usually meet on Tuesday evenings (weather permitting) and on most weekends. They run regular pool sessions as well as coastal, river and lake trips. New members are always welcome! Facebook: Amlwch-Canoe-Club

“ CANOE WALES HAS MADE RAPID ADVANCEMENTS IN THEIR SUPPORT ... WE HAVE REGULAR CONTACT WITH JONATHAN DAVIES FOR COMPETITION, ADVICE FROM RHYS GREEN, JEN RIGBY, AND NOT TO FORGET VAL AND THE REST OF THE CW STAFF.”

WINTER 2020

| 19

20 JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

SAT

SUN

JUNE

FBOR ASK ASK

MON

TUES

WED

THURS

ASK

FRI

SAT

SUN

MON

TUES

WED

THURS

FRI

SAT

SUN

MON

TUES

WED

THURS

FRI

SAT

SUN

MON

TUES

WED

THURS

FRI

SAT

SUN

MON

TUES

WED

THURS

FRI

SAT

SUN

MCT

2021 EVENTS AGM ASK FBOR LRF MRR MCT TT LOCATION: CARDIFF INTERNATIONAL WHITE WATER PHOTO: JUSTIN BUNN

CANOE WALES AGM ANGLESEY SEA SYMPOSIUM FISHGUARD BAY OCEAN RACE LLANDYSUL RIVER FESTIVAL MONMOUTH RAFT RACE MONMOUTH CANAL TRIATHLON TEIFI TOUR

THE DATES SHOWN ARE PROVISIONAL PLEASE CHECK WITH THE EVENT ORGANISERS

021 JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER SAT

SUN

MON

TUES

WED

THURS

LRF

FRI

LRF

SAT

LRF

SUN

MON

TUES

WED

THURS

FRI

SAT

SUN

MON

TUES

WED

THURS

FRI

SAT

SUN

MON

TUES

WED

THURS

FRI

SAT

SUN

MON

TUES

WED

THURS

FRI

SAT

SUN

LOCATION: RHOSCOLYN BEACON PHOTO: PETE CATTERALL

MRR

AGM

LOCATION: LLYN PADARN, LLANBERIS PHOTO: #SHEPADDLESCYMRU

ODYSSEY OUT WEST A post-pandemic-lockdown-escape to the Scottish wilderness ARTICLE: PETE FIRTH

Crossing Loch nam Breac

22 |

CEUFAD

n early 2020, before Covid-19 had really hit the headlines, my good friend and colleague Dave Janes Jnr and his wife Lizzie announced that they were expecting their first child. I can understand that while obviously excited about the news it was clear there was some trepidation about the future. Dave is known to disappear off to far-flung locations, both in search of personal adventures and while coaching and guiding others, on a fairly regular basis. This news had the potential to change his priorities; his passion for expeditions and big trips abroad would have to take a back seat. Dave's thoughts soon turned to ‘one last big trip’. Discussions began about potential destinations, with Canada high on the list. However, in March a global pandemic was declared and thoughts of far-flung locations seemed unfeasible. I’d all but given up on the idea for 2020, however, Dave’s thoughts had turned closer to home, believing that Scotland had the potential to rival the great Canadian canoe trips. “You just have to be a little bit creative…” In June I received a text message out of the blue, it was an invite to join Dave and Ollie Sandeman (another good friend and colleague) on a canoe trip in Scotland as soon as restrictions were lifted and travel was possible. When planning expeditions getting the right team is essential to the success of the trip; I knew straightaway that we would make a good team. Each bringing our own unique skillsets and experience, and in this case all being good friends and accomplished canoeists would provide a good dynamic and great foundation for a successful trip. A ‘Zoom’ video chat was arranged and Dave presented us with ‘The Plan’… at this point a rough line on a digital map. It seemed like a logical route; a round trip starting and finishing in Fort William, and encompassing a number of classic Scottish canoe trip locations. Approximately 200km round and taking full advantage of the canoes unique properties for expeditioning. This trip would entail paddling across large expanses of open inland water, whitewater rivers, coastal water and sea crossings, as well as upstream travel and portages in both highland and lowland terrain. Sounds great. It may not work out quite as we planned, but maybe seeing if it does would be the best adventure ever! From the beginning we knew the crux would be ‘The Monster Portage’ from the end of Loch Nevis to Loch Quoich, although I don’t think any of us appreciated just how big a challenge it was going to be both physically and mentally. After a little more planning, all that was left to do was pack some kit and hit the road…

DAY 1 We all congregated in Nottingham, loaded up Dave’s van with boats, kit and enough food for ten days and headed north. We drove through the night arriving in Fort William early the next morning, none of us having had much if any sleep. In hindsight probably not the best start to an expedition of this nature. The weather forecast wasn’t exactly favourable, with rain and considerable westerly winds for the next couple of days. So a decision was made to go with the wind rather than fight against it at the start of our adventure. Being a round trip this wasn’t difficult to achieve by simply changing our start point to Mallaig. So we continued north soon arriving in the small town on the west coast. We were all eager to get started, none more than Dave who had booked a flight to Norway in 12 days time, to squeeze in a kayaking trip before the arrival of his son. Leaving us with no real contingency time and a definite deadline for the trip. Our route would see us sail the entire length of Loch Nevis on that first day, with hardly a paddle stroke between us. We covered approximately 23km; the furthest I’ve ever sailed in one go, and a great start to the expedition. After a night in the Sourlies Bothy we would head up the River Carnach to Loch nam Breac and ultimately then over to Loch Quoich. Poling Tracking and portaging as necessary. After thoroughly studying the maps in the bothy, it was soon apparent that the 8km ‘monster portage’ was more likely about 12km and just over 460m of ascent straight from sea level (what’s that saying about fail to prepare, prepare to fail?). It was also clear to me at least, that it was going to take longer than we had been previously thought. Dave was still optimistic that the portage would be done in a day and we’d be on the headwaters of the Garry that evening! Not forgetting we had planned to do this on day 7 of our expedition with light bags, having eaten the majority of our food, now we were to face it on day 2 with 9 days worth of food. A daunting prospect, but that was the challenge we had set ourselves and none of us are the type to back down from a challenge. We made our way up the River Carnach, using a range of traditional upstream skills, predominantly poling and the occasional tracking mission. Aiming to use the river as much as possible in a vain attempt to reduce the portage to the absolute minimum. It certainly wasn’t a speed ascent but we enjoyed the process and the challenge, relishing in the opportunity to use these skills in context and over a notable distance. Skills that are all too often only employed during courses and assessments or ignored and considered unnecessary.

WINTER 2020

| 23

A steep section of the portage

Dave ‘anything goes’ through the gorge

Morning at camp – Loch nam Breac

Ollie on the portage

AS WE PREPARED TO LEAVE CAMP A COUPLE OF HIKERS WANDERED PAST. THEY WEREN’T EXPECTING TO SEE ANYONE ON THEIR ROUTE, LET ALONE A GROUP OF CANOEISTS! THEY QUESTIONED OUR SANITY, WISHED US LUCK AND CONTINUED ON THEIR WAY. 24 |

CEUFAD

By midday we had reached a significant rapid and there was no way we would be able to pole or track up a drop of that size. So after consulting the maps and looking at the topography we decided this was the time to leave the river and continue on foot. The portage had begun…. As is a fairly standard portaging tactic, we would walk with our bags first before returning to collect the boats. This would allow us to scout the route twice before attempting to carry the canoes over the rough and awkward terrain. There were ‘paths’ marked on the map, but on the ground there was little more than the occasional footprint in the bog. We followed deer trails and sheep trods as we ascended the valley, making slow methodical progress but it was clear that we were never going to complete this leg in one day! In the end we spent the best part of 3 long arduous days on this leg of the journey. We camped in a small patch of woodland which was roughly the halfway point between leaving Loch Nevis and getting to Loch Quoich, but depressingly only about 90m above sea level. There was some relatively flat ground but we were camping in a less than ideal bog, a trend that would recur during the expedition. We were not alone, joined by the notorious swarms of Scottish midges. It felt as though they were happy to see the end of lockdown and with it the return of their favourite food source.

As we prepared to leave camp a couple of hikers wandered past. They weren’t expecting to see anyone on their route, let alone a group of canoeists! They questioned our sanity, wished us luck and continued on their way. After another relentless day of hard work we eventually reached Loch nam Breac. Loch nam Breac was an oasis, a beautiful mountain loch with epic scenery. We paddled peacefully across the Loch, Dave famously announcing, “Paddling is what I came to Scotland to do” on realisation that it was the first ‘real’ paddling we’d actually done, before making camp on the sandy beach at the end of the loch. Exhausted, aching, and in pain from the relentless nature of the trip so far, but ecstatic that the worst of it was behind us. A short portage to Loch Quoich in the morning was all that was left, before it would be downhill all the way to the sea. Well not quite, but more on that later… DAY 4 On the morning of day 4 we were re-motivated to continue on (not that we had much choice at this point). A short portage of about 1.5km and a height gain of a mere 65m lay ahead before we would be back afloat and paddling again. This was once again a challenging leg in awkward terrain and it took every ounce of energy we had to get to Lochan na Cruadhach, a very short

Sailing on Loch Nevis paddle, before another portage over the dam and down to the shore of Loch Quoich. Happy with our achievement so far, but all too aware that we still had a long way to go and that we were well behind schedule. We contemplated camping there and having a lazy afternoon, but the wind was blowing in the right direction and we’d be foolish not to make the most of it. So we packed up and once again set sail across the loch, with our sights firmly set on a potential campsite in a patch of woodland on the banks of the Upper Garry River. This was fast becoming a sailing and portaging tour of Scotland, as we had now managed to sail some 15km across the whole of Loch Quoich. A swift portage around the dam at the end of the loch and we were on the banks of the Garry. Unfortunately there wasn’t anywhere near enough water to paddle down the river, so lining and snubbing was the call of the afternoon. Having greatly underestimated the complexity of this 2km section of river it took a lot longer than expected and we didn’t arrive at ‘camp’ until well after sunset. Having camped in the forest, we awoke the next day to pouring rain and swarms of midges under our tarps. Nevertheless the river was up and it was a real treat, tight technical and rocky to begin with before becoming a rollercoaster of exciting continuous read and run paddling in high volume, big and bouncy grade 3-4. We noted that we were fortunate to have the

right team and lucky with the rain overnight as this could have been a nightmare with less water and impossible without the skills and confidence of the group. A brilliant day and just what we all needed! Although the day wasn’t over just yet… The Upper Garry eventually flows into Loch Garry, and this was a real shock to the system; finding ourselves on a busy loch with boats, fish farms, houses and people, after being so remote and isolated for the previous 4 days. It was flat calm and not a breath of wind so our luck would appear to have run out and we actually had to paddle the 10km or so down the loch to the dam. Another short portage would see us at camp, the access point for the classic dam-released section of the Garry and, by more luck than judgement, it was due to release the next day. Kayakers, canoeists and commercial rafts descended on the car park. It was clearly going to be a busy day on the river as the hoards arrived ready to get their whitewater fix. We chatted with many of the ‘locals’ who were interested to hear where we had come from and where we were heading; it being fairly obvious that we weren’t there for just the day. They seemed perplexed when we would respond with Mallaig. For some it may have just been our inability to pronounce it correctly, but there were many that just couldn’t comprehend our journey. Secretly we quite enjoyed their confusion and disbelief.

THIS WAS FAST BECOMING A SAILING AND PORTAGING TOUR OF SCOTLAND, AS WE HAD NOW MANAGED TO SAIL SOME 15KM ACROSS THE WHOLE OF LOCH QUOICH.

WINTER 2020

| 25

ONCE AGAIN WE RAFTED UP IN A BOX TOW AND WE SET OFF INTO THE DARKNESS. OUR AIM WAS TO REACH THE FAR END OF LOCH EIL THAT NIGHT. A BOLD PLAN THAT WOULD MAKE THIS THE LONGEST DAY YET AND SEE US COVER NEARLY QUARTER OF OUR TOTAL DISTANCE IN A SINGLE DAY!

26 |

CEUFAD

The boys on Loch Eil

Paddling into darkness

Enjoying the Garry

Fishing for supper

The classic section of the Garry was great fun and we enjoyed bouncing down the rapids, although somewhat more cautiously than we would have if we weren’t paddling fully loaded expedition boats. The Garry was the gift that just kept giving, back-to-back grade 3+ rapids all the way down the ‘normal’ section to White Bridge and then, somewhat to our surprise, the rapids continued at the grade all the way down to the confluence with the Caledonia Canal at Loch Oich. It was a particularly nice and sunny afternoon and, although we’d only travelled about 7km, we weren’t keen to continue into a headwind. So we decided to take a break on the shore of Loch Oich, and dry out some kit and refuel over a ‘long lunch’, in the hope that the wind would drop in the evening and we could continue. The wind did drop and we headed off into the sunset. We soon found ourselves in the canalised section for an entertaining paddle in total darkness, eventually making it to Laggan Locks at 1.30am. Having stopped to portage round the lock we decided that we would shelter in the closed cafe overnight. This was the first of many long days to come. DAY 7 On the morning of day 7 we launched onto Loch Lochy and began making our way against the headwind up the lake. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but secretly I was wishing that we had continued in the dark the night before while conditions were calmer.

Progress was slow and the knowledge that we were now well behind schedule and with a worsening forecast didn’t help. We resorted to rafting the 3 canoes together in a box tow configuration in order to combine our efforts and work as a team to battle into the wind. On arrival at the swing bridge and locks at the far end of Lochy, it was evident that we were all knackered and, although the portage to the River Lochy was short and on good ground by comparison to what we were used to, it felt a lot harder than it should and morale was low. Discussions turned to our progress and whether we were going to be able to complete the trip in time. Dave had a plane to catch and a heavily pregnant wife at home; if there was a possibility we might not complete the round trip then why not stop early? We’d still had a great adventure, completed circuit or not. On the other hand Ollie and I had no immediate need to get home and were committed to completing the challenge we’d set out to achieve. The atmosphere in the team was intense as we agreed to push on to Fort William and make a decision from there. The River Lochy was a bit of a slog if I’m honest. There was just enough water to paddle the grade 1 and some grade 2 rapids but we all had our heads down and were fighting the stiff headwind to reach Fort William, conflicted and unsure as to the fate of our expedition. Dave needed to be home in 3 days time. We were 7 days into our trip and had no contingency time. The forecast was still against us with headwinds predicted for Loch Eil and Loch Shiel, and we were

uncertain how big a portage would be required between the two great lochs. There was still approximately 90km left, just less than half our total distance if we were to reach the end in Mallaig. After much discussion we came to a decision to carry on, and we had a plan. The basic premise was to take advantage of the calm conditions at night to cross the large open water sections ahead, and tackle the more committing and complicated legs on rivers and out at sea during the day. We had done the math and although it was going to involve some big long days we were confident we could do it. Once again we rafted up in a box tow and we set off into the darkness. Our aim was to reach the far end of Loch Eil that night. A bold plan that would make this the longest day yet and see us cover nearly quarter of our total distance in a single day! We set off with the tide in the pouring rain at 10:30pm, anxious to get through the Narrows before the tide turned. Fortunately this all went to plan, and we continued to slog our way up the lake tired, cold, wet and somewhat delirious. We were treated to an amazing display of bioluminescence (a natural phenomena due to a chemical process that can cause sea water to glow and glitter like the stars in the sky). Try as we might we failed to get it to show up in any photographs, but it was some of the brightest bioluminescence any of us had ever seen! Eventually we arrived at our intended camp, exhausted disorientated and in need of sleep as the sun began to rise. Once again in a bog, but at 4am it was not the time to be fussy! The following dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission was to paddle up the Dubh Lighe, portage across to the River Callop, paddle this down to Loch Shiel and then cross the Loch. This link between the lochs was probably the biggest unknown of the trip, and although weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d cursed the rain the night before, that turned out to be our saviour as both rivers had a good flow in them. Again our upstream skills were put to the test with a range of tactics being deployed by each of us to make our way up the tree strewn Dubh Lighe. A fairly hideous portage followed, across marshland and de-forested ground, that would lead us to the River Callop. This was potentially the last portage of the trip and completing it raised all our spirits, safe in the knowledge we were one step closer to completing the journey. We fought our way through the trees down to Loch Shiel. Once on the loch we stopped for a break and to cook some dinner, hoping the considerable head wind to die down. Once again we paddled through the night. Totally exhausted and battered by the heavy squalls of rain blowing through, with our eyes and

Ollie between the Dubh Lighe and the Callop

Dropping into the Garry Heading into the Dubh Lighe

WINTER 2020

| 27

Ollie crossing the Sound of Arisaig

Camp at Baramore Bay

Dave crossing the Sound of Arisaig The route

28 |

CEUFAD

minds playing tricks on us in the shadows and the darkness. Arriving at the end of the loch at first light and into camp at 5am. After only a few hours sleep we got up and headed down the River Shiel towards the sea. At this point our intention was to head out of the South Channel, past Eilean Shona and north towards Mallaig. However, with wind against tide, there was little chance we would make it out, so we resorted to portaging the short distance between Eilean Shona and Shona Beag into the North Channel. In the lee of the island we made our way to Baramore Bay, on the north of Eilean Shona, and decided to camp there for the night. The forecast for the following day was force 3 southerly winds, which was perfect for us to sail all the way back to Mallaig. Ollie once again provided us with a fire and we relaxed and cooked up our remaining food, drank a few drams of whiskey and reminisced about the trip so far. DAY 10 The last day was finally here and the end was in sight. It was dry and there was a southerly breeze. We felt like we’d won the lottery as we gently sailed out past small islands into the Sound of Arisaig. To be honest we could have paddled faster than we were sailing but we were all taking full advantage of the gift that nature had given us. Much to our disappointment the wind died down and dark clouds rolled in and we were forced once again to get our heads down and paddle. We had 26km left including a fairly bold 6km open sea crossing as there was no time to skirt round the coastline. The crossing went well with great views out to the isles of Rum, Eigg, Muck and Skye but the conditions were deteriorating and it ended up being a slog of a paddle. However, we were all spurred on in the knowledge that we were going to complete our round trip. Mallaig to Mallaig we’d done it! It certainly wasn’t the relaxing holiday I was expecting when we first talked about going on a canoe trip, however, we’d had one hell of an adventure. We’d set out to complete a 200km round trip over 10 days that, as far as we were aware, hadn’t been completed before in a single journey. Although we were well aware that it was quite likely too obvious a route not to have been done before. And that most, if not all, of the component parts would have been done by many before us. But this wasn’t about being first, this was about doing a big challenging canoe trip that would require every skill and tactic we had, in the most advanced conditions available, and ultimately testing ourselves to see what’s really possible. It really wasn’t supposed to be a test of endurance and insomnia, a simple calculation would

Pete in Baramore Bay, looking out over Arisaig suggest that canoeing 20km a day was easily possible over 10 days. But the reality is that portaging, travelling upstream, and indeed paddling whitewater, is far slower than just paddling. At the end of it all, we had a great time. Definitely a type-2-fun kind of trip. We created a whole load of memories, and a realisation that if you really want to achieve something, with enough effort anything is possible! WOULD YOU DO IT AGAIN? Well I think it’s safe to say none of us would rush to do it again, and if we did, we’d definitely do a number of things differently. We’d pack lighter and would have more time. 15 days would allow you time to enjoy it rather than just racing to the end. That’s my big regret; we paddled the vast majority of it at night and during the day we were rushing the whole time. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE OTHERS? Be critical of your equipment and take only what you need. Some things are essential but leave the luxuries at home. Give yourselves plenty of time. This is an exceptional route; ensure you have the time to make the most of it. Choose your team wisely, you’ll all need to support and motivate each other at different times, and a broad skillset is a must if you’re going to be successful.

A bottle for the journey

THE ROUTE Day 1 Mallaig to the end of Loch Nevis (23km) Day 2 up the River Carnach and halfway to Loch Quoich (6km) Day 3 over high ground to Loch nam Breac (4.5km) Day 4 Loch nam Breac to the Upper Garry via loch Quoich (21km) Day 5 Upper Garry to the Loch Garry Dam (22km) Day 6 The Garry to Laggan Locks via Loch Oich (13km) Day 7 Laggan Locks to the western end of Loch Eil via Loch Lochy and River Lochy (49km) Day 8 Loch Eil to the southern end of Loch Shiel via the Dubh Lighe and Callop rivers (41km) Day 9 River Shiel to Baramore Bay (7km) Day 10 Baramore Bay across the Sound of Arisaig and back to Mallaig (26km)

ABOUT

Pete Firth runs Multi-Tool.Media, a film production company based in North Wales. They provide a complete video production service, with camera operators who specialise in adventure film. www.multi-tool.media Ollie Sandeman runs Sandeman Canoe Company in Hereford, offering canoe and kayak coaching, wilderness experiences and British Canoeing courses. www.sandemancanoecompany.co.uk Dave Janes is a freelance paddlesport coach and guide.

Keep your eyes out for the film soon…

WINTER 2020

| 29

In this new Ceufad series Canoe Wales’ coaches and guides give you the insider info on their local coastal and inland waters. They pick sheltered/flatwater and moderate/moving water trips, and 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 Welshpool-based Richard Rendall gives you the low-down on his favourite lake, canal and river trips in the beautiful upper Severn Valley. And Llangollen-based Andy Turton shares his favourite canal and river trips in the stunning Dee Valley. If you’re a Canoe Wales’ coach or guide and would like to share your favourite coastal or inland trips drop us a line at ceufad@canoewales.com

DESTINATION WALES

CLASS/GRADE The following suggested trips have been defined as follows: Flatwater water with no flow e.g. canals and lakes. Moving water - class 2; rivers that can have waves and small stoppers which should be easy to navigate.

TOP TIPS TO HELP YOU 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

THE SECRET SEVERN The upper Severn Valley and its tributaries are an excellent place to paddle at the heart of Mid Wales in Montgomeryshire, Powys. It offers both flat and moving water, which is suitable for all types of craft, including kayaks, canoes and paddleboards. The waters are ideal for beginners through to experienced whitewater paddlers. For example, beginners can hire and launch craft at Lake Vyrnwy, flatwater paddlers can also explore Llyn Clywedog or the Montgomeryshire Canal. Touring paddlers can do a trip down the River Severn from Newtown to Welshpool and river runners can enjoy the thrills of the Afon Clywedog, (from below the mighty Clywedog Dam at Bryntail Mine, down to the lovely market town of Llanidloes). It is a wonderful area stretching from the source of the River Severn (Afon Hafren) on Plynlimon, down through Hafren

RICHARD RENDALL is a Level 3 Inland Kayak Coach,

Canoe Leader, Chairperson of Welshpool Canoe Club and a member of the Canoe Wales Waterways & Environment Committee. He is also a member of Clywedog Sailing Club and a spokesperson for Canoe Newtown and Paddle Montgomeryshire, (who are a collective group of people who are interested in promoting paddlesport and outdoor recreation along the upper Severn Valley in Powys). He works part-time for Keys Group

30 |

CEUFAD

Forest, (the Afon Clywedog, a major tributary joins up with the Severn at Llanidloes). The river then runs down through the villages and towns of Llandinam (skirts Caersws), and on to Newtown. The Montgomeryshire Canal is fed by the River Severn below Newtown at Penarth Weir. The river then carries on to Abermule, past Berriew and finally around Welshpool, where it then flows to Pool Quay, (a historical port which marks the navigable upper limit of the Severn). The river then meanders down and is joined by the Afon Vyrnwy, (another fantastic whitewater touring river), before it crosses the border into England near Montford Bridge, meandering around Shrewsbury and through the gorge at Iron Bridge near Telford. For more information: Paddle Montgomeryshire https://www.facebook.com/montypaddlers/

as an Assistant Activities Manager, (training and supervising instructors who provide activities for looked-after children in their Intervention & Activity Service). He also works as a Freelance Outdoor Instructor for Red Ridge Outdoor Centres: http://www.redridgecentre.co.uk/ and Brenin Adventures: https://www.breninadventures.co.uk in Mid-Wales. Contact: 07443 495775 / 01686 610 197 richardrendall@btinternet.com

Llyn Clywedog Staylittle

FLATWATER

Llyn Clywedog Start/finish: Midpoint #1: Midpoint #2: Midpoint #3: Distance:

Llawryglyn

Clywedog Sailing Club – SN 901 877 the ‘point’– SN 916 882 the dam – SN 910 871 osprey feeding area – SN 893 888 #1 - 3km/2 miles (roundtrip) #2 - 6km/4 miles (roundtrip) #3 - 3km/2 miles (roundtrip)

DESCRIPTION Access to the lake is through Clywedog Sailing Club only. Arrangements can be made to pay an access fee/day membership, this was £5 per craft, (pre Covid-19), although at this time the reservoir is closed for sailing and other lake users paddle at their own risk. You can launch from either a floating jetty, (if it is free of sailing boats), or one of two concrete slipways. Once on the water you can head to a sheltered creek or head out east to Bwlch y Gle Dam and the 'point' which is a promontory on a corner of the reservoir, where you can stop, rest and have a picnic with amazing views of the valley, hills and reservoir. You can continue and paddle further towards the main dam and circumnavigate this area before heading back to the club house, (beware this is quite often against the prevailing winds which pick up strongly at this part of the reservoir). An alternative trip is to head north past the trout fish farm and fishing club, to the osprey feeding area of the lake. There has been a successful breeding pair at the north end of the reservoir, for a number of years and if you are lucky, you can see their amazing dives catching fish for their brood. USEFUL INFORMATION Clywedog Sailing Club: https://clywedogsailing.org.uk/ Club House: 01686 412631, (weekends during club opening hours only). ACCESSIBILITY Clywedog Sailing club has accessible toilets, ramps and a slipway.

518

3 1 Clywedog Sailing Club 2

B4 518 Llanidloes

Heading up to the fish farm/osprey feeding grounds LOCAL ACCOMMODATION Hafren Forest Bunkhouse - https://hafrenforestbunkhouse.com/ The Lodge Staylittle - https://www.thelodgestaylittle.co.uk/ Photos: Darren Hackshall & Tom Deakin, Clywedog Sailing Club.

WINTER 2020

| 31

Preparing to set off along the canal

A summer paddle along the Monty Canal Welshpool

B4 38

River Sev ern

A458

Can al

Cilcewydd

om er y shi re Mo

ntg

B4385

A483

A458

The Horseshoes Inn

0 A4

Garthmyl

Montgomeryshire Canal SOUTH TRIP: THE HORSESHOES INN TO GARTHMYL Start/finish: The Horseshoes Inn, Welshpool - SY21 8AW / SJ 199 022 Turnpoint: Garthmyl Distance: 6.5km/4 miles (round trip) NORTH TRIP: THE HORSESHOES INN TO WELSHPOOL CANAL WHARF Start/finish: The Horseshoes Inn, Welshpool - SY21 8AW / SJ 199 022 Turnpoint: Welshpool Canal Wharf – SY21 7AL / SJ 227 075 Distance: 13km/8 miles (round trip) DESCRIPTION This is a great spot for a social paddle, where you can combine a mini trip, south along the canal to Garthmyl and back, with a drink or lunch at the Horseshoes Inn. Welshpool Canoe Club has their annual Pub Paddle and Sunday lunch here. The options are, you can either join in with the paddle or walk along the tow path, (it’s great for the whole family as it is accessible for all to join in, whether you paddle or not). Alternatively, you can do a trip north along the Montgomeryshire Canal towards Belan Locks to Welshpool Basin, where there is a concrete slipway and large car park close to the centre of town, toilets and the Tourist Information Centre. Paddlers will need to portage around the locks along the journey, (our club was lucky on one occasion when the lock keeper opened the gates for our canal litter pick, see photo). Along the way you will pass through the grounds and estate

32 |

CEUFAD

Negotiating the wildlife along the canal near Welshpool of Powys Castle, (a National Trust property and deer park). Part of the Monty Canal is isolated from the rest of the canal network, as it was blocked off when new-fangled roads were built! As a result, there are sections of the canal between Berriew and Newtown that are crystal clear and support a great deal of wildlife. The canal was constructed to transport limestone from Llanymynech Quarry, to fertilize the sheep grasslands and to export wool and other goods from Newtown to the Midlands and beyond. There are plans to connect the Montgomeryshire Canal to the Shropshire Union Canal, so in future it may be possible to paddle all the way from Newtown to Llangollen or any other part of the canal network. USEFUL INFORMATION The Horseshoes Inn - https://thehorseshoesberriew.com / 01686 640198 Welshpool Canoe Club - http://www.welshpoolcanoeclub.com/ ACCESSIBILITY The Horseshoes Inn – parking near canal with towpath access to water. There are locks on both the south trip to Garthmyl and the north trip to Welshpool Canal Wharf. Welshpool Canal Wharf has parking close to the wharf with concrete access and accessible toilets in the nearby Tourist Information Centre.

Photos: Welshpool Canoe Club Members

A4 83

Tregynon

B43

Caerhowel

B43

Bettws Cedewain

8 36 B4

ve r

Se ve rn

Aberbechan

A4 83

Abermule

Newtown A48

Access points above the rapids at Dolerw Park, Newtown

MOVING WATER – CLASS 2

River Severn (Afon Hafren) Start: Finish #1: Finish #2: Distance:

Newtown - SO 101 916 Abermule - SO 162 948 Caerhowel - SO 207 982 #1 - 8km/5 miles #2 - 13km/8 miles

DESCRIPTION Newtown is a great place to start a journey down the River Severn or just park and play at the rapids at Dolerw Park. There are four new access points here, that have been constructed and funded by Open Newtown/NRW. See access points info on Paddlepoints website: https://gopaddling.info/paddlepoints/ (search for ‘Dolerw Park, Newtown, Powys’). The river is looked after by a number of organizations such as, the River Severn Custodians, Open Newtown and is also promoted by Canoe Newtown via a Facebook page (see below for details). The river flows through Newtown past the rugby club, golf course and water treatment works/nature reserve. It has a number of lovely class one/two rapids before it slows down as the water is held back by a large weir. At this point there is a portage around Penarth Weir, (this is a very dangerous weir when the river is in spate). You can stop here for a break and enjoy watching the various wildlife at the bird hide at Pwll Penarth Nature Reserve. Herons, kingfishers and goosanders can be seen along the Newtown river section along with otters and mink. If you are paddling in October you can see salmon jumping on their way to the spawning grounds further upstream along the upper reaches of the Severn Valley. If you are at the front of the group, you may be lucky enough to follow a kingfisher as it darts along from bank to bank as you paddle downstream. The river then passes under a bridge at Aberbechan rapids, before eventually meandering under the main road. Here you can see sand martins nesting in the exposed banks of the eroded fields where the outside bend of the river has cut away at the farmland. You then drop down to some small rapids and a large swirling pool and eddy where there is a large gravel bank, which is an ideal spot to rest and picnic or egress. You can exit the river here and haul your boats up to the canal for the final 500m section to the car park/layby. You can finish your trip at the village of Abermule where there is a village shop and a pub, or you can continue to Caerhowel, (an historic site called Ford of Rhydwhyman). The ford had been used since the Iron Age and during the Middle Ages it was the main crossing point

From the footbridge over the Severn at Dolerw Park at low water between England and Mid-Wales. It is also the place where a treaty was signed between the English and Welsh where Henry III conceded the title to Llewelyn as Prince of Wales. Be careful as you exit the river here, the egress is hard to spot on the right hand outside bend, just after some small rapids. The bank and small car park, (room for 3 or 4 cars only), can be very muddy and slippery. USEFUL INFO River Severn Custodians - http://www.riverseverncustodians.co.uk/ Open Newtown, where the river smiles - https://opennewtown.org.uk/ Canoe Newtown - https://www.facebook.com/Drenewydd/ Pwll Penarth Nature Reserve https://www.montwt.co.uk/nature-reserves/pwll-penarth ACCESSIBILITY In Newtown there is paved access to the access points in town, with steps down to the river. Egress at Abermule and Caerhowel is uneven/slippery and some distance from parking. Photos: Welshpool Canoe Club Members

WINTER 2020

| 33

DEE VALLEY 365 2 A54

Horseshoe Falls

Glyndyfrdwy

Ruabon 3

A53

Llan

Llangollen

9 53

golle

Trevor

n Ca

nal

A539

Overton Bridge A 528

A48

Riv er D

Acrefair

A528

Llangollen and the spectacular Dee Valley offer more paddlesport opportunities year-round than most other inland venues in the UK. It is easy to access, with better weather than most of North Wales due to its geographical location. This picturesque valley is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), is steeped in history and is often overlooked for its adventure playground opportunities for biking, climbing, fell running and hillwalking to name a few. Thriving with adventure tourism, with paddlesports being at the heart of the present-day industry.

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

Erbistock

Tŷ Mawr A5

ANDY TURTON has been paddling for 36 years:

B4500

I have been lucky to paddle in many countries exploring and working. My heart and soul revolves around paddling, the outdoors and the environment. I gain just as much fulfilment from pushing my grade as I do running starter sessions and love running professional courses helping mould the next generations of our sport. Practical real-life worldly experiences help our provision, that more importantly are run in a fun and friendly way. Originally a whitewater kayak specialist I have branched out and am now just as much at home on a SUP and in a canoe. Qualified for 25 years, I have been based in North Wales for the last 22 years. My first business was running kayaking holidays to Austria and further afield. This progressed to being based in Llangollen; we are celebrating 10 years of Ty Nant Outdoors this year. We use highly qualified and experienced staff, and are lucky to have many of the top well-known providers working for us. We run the range of British Canoeing Awards along with professional guided coaching in canoe, kayak and SUP. www.tynantoutdoors.com Thankful for our supporters: Peak UK, Hou Canoes, Mc Conks Paddleboards, VE Paddles, System X Europe, Astral Footwear, Keen footwear and Patagonia

B5 A5

Pontfadog

Pentre

70 B50

Glyn Ceriog

Froncysyllte

Chirk Aqueduct

Chirk

FLATWATER 1

Llangollen Canal

The industrial revolution left us a gem of enjoyment for the present day. One of the cleanest canals in the country, running clear every morning. Llangollen canal was built to transport lime, slate, coal and steel, and is now said to be the most popular section of the canal networks in the UK for tourism. It was built to link the Llangollen and Denbighshire industry to the Shropshire, Cheshire and UK canal systems. It travels from Llangollen to Chirk and then onto Ellesmere, joining the Shropshire Union Canal after passing Whitchurch. The entire canal is navigable by canoe, kayak or paddleboard. The most popular paddling sections of Thomas Telford and William Jessops’s World Heritage marvel of engineering contour the north side (river left) of the Dee Valley, from its source at Horseshoe Falls on the River Dee. Passing Llangollen town before crossing the valley at Trevor over the spectacular Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, 38.4 m above the river. From there it continues to contour the south side of the valley, passing under the A5 at the Whitehouse Tunnel (175m) and crossing into the Ceiriog Valley through the Chirk Tunnel (421m) before crossing the Ceiriog River over the second spectacular Chirk Aqueduct (20m high). This whole section and beyond has no locks and if paddled in this suggested direction goes with the slight flow of the canal. You need bright torches for the tunnels and paddleboarding is not permitted on the main Pontcysyllte Aqueduct for obvious reasons. Enjoy, familiarise yourselves with the waterways best practices and I will see you on the water. KEY SECTIONS There are many access and egress options – these are some of the more popular ones. All these sections can be linked together on a day tour depending on your preferred distance, and return journeys are always possible.

View from the aqueduct, looking down on the River Dee

34 |

CEUFAD

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

Next to the factories near Chirk

ANDY TURTON

Chirk Tunnel

Chirk Aqueduct

ANDY TURTON

LLANGOLLEN CANAL GORGE Start: Horseshoe Falls - SJ 19654 43263 Finish: The Sun Trevor - LL20 8EG / SJ 24157 42386 Distance: 6 km/4 miles I like to call this section the Llangollen Canal Gorge as the canal has been dug out of the steep rock sides of the valley. Park at Horseshoe Falls car park and walk your boats down the hill and over a small bridge, to the purpose-built access point on the canal. A great paddle to Llangollen, initially on a narrow section of the canal with no powered canal boat traffic. Do watch out for the horse-drawn boats; they do not stop. Once you get to Llangollen motorised canal boats are frequent in warmer weather. There is a mini aqueduct on this section that has great views of the river and valley. Food and refreshments can be purchased close to the start at the Chain Bridge Hotel. Stop in Llangollen for lots of options and at the Sun Trevor itself at the finish. Do ask permission to park at the Sun Trevor, they are happy for you to do so if you are spending money there.

Dee Valley and into the Shropshire plains. Starting with views of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct back up the valley, the canal soon becomes slightly less modernised with more original features of how the banks of the canal were built. Paddling through the two tunnels is a unique experience, they are straight so you can see if boats are in them. Paddling past a large chipboard factory you’re reminded of the industrial history of the canals. This is followed by a Cadbury’s factory where the aroma of chocolate sometimes fills the air. Although the factories are noisy and a change to the normal tranquillity of the canal, this section has a beautiful large treelined stretch leading to the Chirk Tunnel and Aqueduct. There are opportunities to eat and refresh at Fron Basin, in Chirk town and at the endpoint in The Poachers.

THE PONTY AQUEDUCT CANOE TOUR Start: The Sun Trevor - LL20 8EG / SJ 24157 42386 Finish: Froncysyllte Basin - SJ 27035 41346 Distance: 3.5km/2 miles My classic paddle for work which I never get bored of. With views over the valley and up to Castell Dinas Bran, a 12th century ruin, and the sheer joy of paddling over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Some great options for food at the Pontcysyllte Chapel Tearoom and the Telford Inn at Trevor Basin.

ACCESSIBILITY Parking with easier access to the canal (there are no paddlesports hoists available on Llangollen Canal): Llangollen Pavilion (for Llangollen to The Sun Trevor section) LL20 8SW / SJ 21047 42624 Trevor Basin (next to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct) - LL20 7TP / SJ 27103 42176 The Poachers (for Chirk Aqueduct) - LL14 5DG / SJ 29836 36836

THE TUNNEL AND CHIRK AQUEDUCT TOUR Start: Froncysyllte Basin - SJ 27035 41346 Finish: The Poachers - LL14 5DG / SJ 29836 36836 Distance: 6.5km/4 miles This less paddled section takes you on a journey out of the glaciated

USEFUL INFORMATION The Sun Trevor – https://www.suntrevor.co.uk/ The Poachers - https://www.poacherspocketpub.co.uk/

ACCESSIBLE TOILETS NEAR THE CANAL Llangollen Wharf - LL20 8TA / SJ 21503 42257 The Sun Trevor (across a road) - LL20 8EG / SJ 24168 42387 Trevor Basin (next to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct) – LL20 7TP / SJ 27103 42176 The Poachers - LL14 5DG / SJ 29836 36836

WINTER 2020

| 35

Under the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

ANDY TURTON

MOVING WATER – CLASS 2 (3+) 2

River Dee

Class 2 dream cruise (with some added extras if you want them) When asked to pick a great class 2 section to write this article about, it was hard to choose which one. The Dee has so much of this, so I am linking them together with an option to use a section of canal to avoid the popular Horseshoe Falls to Llangollen section, which has harder whitewater on it. All of these sections can be paddled most of the year and in most levels. They remain at the grade even as the river rises from medium to high levels, however, the flatwater sections in between rapids become fewer and wave trains can get large in flood flows. In lower water levels some parts may be rather scrapey. I won’t go into the relationships with other river users at different levels; I am suggesting sections with public footpath or permitted access points. GLYNDYFRDWY TO HORSESHOE FALLS Start: Coed y Glyn Cabins, Glyndyfrdwy – LL21 9BP / SJ 15301 42973 Finish: Horseshoe Falls - SJ 19573 43368 Distance: 9km/5.5 miles A great meandering section of the river passing through woodland and farmland with a sense of remoteness away from the main roads. Access for the section is permitted for a fee at Coed y Glyn Cabins in the village of Glyndyfrdwy. Find the owner and pay £3 per person in cash. There is plenty of parking and friendly faces. After a short warm-up on an easy strait, the nature and feel of this section are felt in the first rapid after a left-hand bend. The many rapids are entertaining and of varied lengths, mostly with good line-of-sight opportunities and the section is seldom completely flat. There are a couple of rapids with less easy line-of-

36 |

CEUFAD

The Dee above Horseshoe Falls

ANDY TURTON

sight opportunities, that in most levels may need some mid-flow adjustment due to some pin potential rocks. They are found on some S bends after the village of Rhewl. After this section the river eases up and you know you are close to the end as you pass Llantysilio Hall on the river left bank and the river starts backing up due to Horseshoe Falls. Get out river left above the falls. HORSESHOE FALLS TO LLANGOLLEN (CLASS 3+) OR CANAL PORTAGE The brief for this article requested class 2 sections and although the section below Horseshoe Falls is 95% class 2 it is widely known and does have the hardest whitewater of the Dee, especially two rapids that could be described as class 3+ and in higher levels even more. Horseshoe Falls marks the start of the World Heritage site, created to feed the canal. This section is described in the first part of this article. The canal can be used to paddle down the valley and walk your boats back to the river in Llangollen. Get out next to Llangollen Wharf (LL20 8TA / SJ 21512 42260) where the horse-drawn canal boats run from above Llangollen, and get back on the river next to The Ponsonby Arms car park (LL20 8RY / SJ 22013 42067).

Erbistock weir

WARRICK REDWAY

Below Llangollen

NIAL STONE

WARRICK REDWAY

Ty Mawr to Erbistock (A483 bridge)

Horshoe Falls: canal egress point

LLANGOLLEN TO TŶ MAWR / ERBISTOCK / OVERTON Start: The Ponsonby Arms car park, Llangollen - LL20 8RY / SJ 22013 42067 Finish #1: Tŷ Mawr Country Park – LL14 3PE / SJ 28466 41179 Finish #2: The Boat Inn, Erbistock – LL13 0DL / SJ 35458 41271 Finish #3: Cross Foxes, Overton - LL13 0DR / SJ 35410 42727 Distance: #1 - 9km/5.5 miles #2 - 21km/13 miles #3 – 24.5km/15 miles This section starts at the car park next to The Ponsonby Arms, on river left below Llangollen Town Bridge. This section is very similar in style to the Glyndyfrdwy section with many straight running rapids with good line-of-sight. The hardest rapid on the section, Trevor Rapids, can be inspected from the small road bridge just upstream of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. There is no permitted bank access here these days, however, the rapid is a historic section for paddlesports having held the first-ever canoe slalom in the UK in 1939. After the war, it was regularly used for slalom ranking events in what was a very popular division 3 site in 1960 and into the 1980s. Thanks to Dave Manby for the intel. Next is the joy of paddling under the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct on a fun wave train of a rapid. From here the river changes in nature to a more braided section with several routes around islands on bends with tricky line-of-sight challenges. This section can easily

ANDY TURTON

get clogged with fallen trees. The first egress point comes river left just before the railway viaduct at Tŷ Mawr Country Park, where a bit of walking with boats may be needed depending on which car park is open. After Tŷ Mawr there are fewer islands to navigate around, however, the grade of the river mostly stays the same. This section is possibly my favourite autumnal paddle in the area. Surrounded in trees, away from roads, with many fun but easy rapids as the river meanders towards England. Often the Dee is the border itself. Best run in a medium flow. In high flow it can have some boily challenges. Just before The Boat Inn in Erbistock, there is a weir that can easily be portaged on river left and is dangerous at certain flows. If you choose to continue to the Cross Foxes the river left get out at the bridge there is more tricky and beware of a large weir at Erbistock Mill. Occasionally there is a runnable line on far-right, however, it mostly has to be portaged with a tricky get out just above it on river right. USEFUL INFORMATION Coed y Glyn Cabins - https://www.coedyglyn-logcabins.co.uk/ Tŷ Mawr Country Park - http://old.wrexham.gov.uk/english/leisure_ tourism/TyMawrCountryPark.htm The Boat Inn - https://theboataterbistock.co.uk/ The Cross Foxes - https://www.brunningandprice.co.uk/crossfoxes/

WINTER 2020

| 37

PADDLER PROFILE

KIM JONES

Catrin Schröder WELSH SL ALOM CATRIN IS 17, LIVES IN LAMPETER, STARTED KAYAKING IN 2014 AND IS CURRENTLY RANKED 30TH IN PREMIER K1 Hometown: Lampeter

Favourite European site: Augsburg because

Nationality: Welsh

it has a fast, exciting course and a side

School: Ysgol Bro Pedr

channel that’s fun to swim down.

Club: Llandysul Paddlers Favourite food: Pasta Favourite music: My favourite genre is pop. Bastille & Avicii are some of my favourites.

Number hours training per week: I try to fit in as many as I can around schoolwork and spending time with my friends. Standout moment: Achieving 3rd place J16

Where did you start: Llandysul Paddlers

K1W in the 2019 ECA Junior Slalom Cup

First slalom: Llandysul River Festival 2014

was a memorable moment and a great

Why slalom: Since starting canoeing, I’ve had

finish to the trip abroad.

many great experiences and met some

Favourite pastime other than kayaking: I enjoy

amazing people. I love the fast nature of

spending time with my friends as well as

slalom. It’s always exciting as it’s never the

running, going to the gym and coaching

same from river to river, session to session or even run to run. Favourite UK site: Lee Valley is my favourite UK site. It has a great course with plenty of stoppers to surf, which is a must!

38 |

CEUFAD

other paddlers. Most influenced by: My family and friends.

“IF YOU CAN TAKE IT, YOU CAN MAKE IT” FAVOURITE SPORTING QUOTE

PADDLER PROFILE

Lili Bryant WELSH SL ALOM LILI IS 18, LIVES IN LLANDYSUL, STARTED KAYAKING WHEN SHE WAS 2 AND IS CURRENTLY RANKED 10TH IN PREMIER K1 Hometown: Llandysul Nationality: Welsh

Favourite UK site: Tryweryn in Wales, Tully in Scotland and Lee Valley in England.

School: Ysgol Bro Teifi

Favourite European site: Augsburg, Germany.

Club: Llandysul Paddlers

Number hours training per week: 10-12

Favourite food: Sushi

Standout moment: I was lucky enough to

Favourite music: All types.

represent Team GB at the youth Olympic

Where did you start? With my dad in C2 age 2.

games qualification event in Barcelona

Why canoeing? My mum and dad run the

and won a gold medal. This was an amaz-

canoe centre in Llandysul so I have been

ing event to be part of. I was also part of

around paddling all my life and love being

bronze medal winning team in Bratislava

in the outdoors.

at the European championships.

First slalom: Bala mill slalom in C2 and Llandysul River Festival in K1.

FAVOURITE SPORTING QUOTE

What do you miss about home? Friends and my bed.

Why slalom? I love to travel and meet new peo-

Favourite pastime other than kayaking:

ple so kayaking is a great way to do this.

Socialising and skiing when I can.

We have a great club in Llandysul and I get

“A TROPHY CARRIES DUST. MEMORIES LAST FOREVER” – MARY LOU RETTON

Most influenced by: My brother Sam 

to train and travel with some close friends.

PROFILES: JONATHAN DAVIES, TALENT PATHWAY OFFICER

WINTER 2020

| 39

PARTING SHOT Llangollen Canal, near Chirk Full article on page 34 Photo: Andy Turton