About the Club
The Cheltenham Canoe Club is a collection of like minded kayakers, canoeists and friends of kayakers and canoeists who meet regularly to talk paddling, and more importantly to go paddling.
The club is run by a committee elected annually at the AGM (held every January) and consists of a Club Captain, Secretary, Treasurer plus up to six additional members. They provide a rough structure for the club to operate in, but it is generally up to the club members to get themselves booked onto trips, organise and run trips, and generally have a very fine time whilst doing so. We consider ourselves to be a very friendly set of people and welcome new paddlers, experienced paddlers and families.
The information on this website should be more or less, kind of up to date, so if anyone is interested in joining the club, either contact a member of the committee or simply come along to the Dowty Sports and Social Club where the club meets every Thursday evening from about 9.00pm.
Club History
Cheltenham Canoe Club started off in 1980 as the YMCA Canoe Club. Three years later, The Pitville Paddlers were formed consisting of 28 enthusiastic members. Over the next 25 years the club has grown to average around 120 members with the aim of providing an environment where canoeists and kayakers can practice the sport, and where beginners can learn the sport in the Cheltenham area.
Winter Paddling
During the winter, the boating season reaches its height as this is when the rivers around the UK start filling up with rain. The Club regularly paddles rivers in the South West and Wales and there is usually a river trip organised for most weekends from late September until early May. The club paddles all grades of river from flat water suitable for beginners, through to raging torrents only suitable for the expert and insane. There are also weekends away to such places as Dartmoor and Wales as well as the occasional opportunity to be more adventurous and go to the North East, Scotland, the Alps and other far flung places.
 Scotland |  Wales |  England |  C12 Trips |
 Severn Bore |
Summer Paddling
During the Summer while the rivers are low the Club indulges in its other great passion, surfing. Weekends away are arranged to many of the best surfing beaches in the South West and West Wales. Surfing whether it be in kayaks or surf-skis and boards is always fun and novices are always surprised at how quickly they can pick it up.
Trips abroad are also arranged to enjoy fine weather conditions and exciting white water in the Alps, Slovenia, Italy, etc..
 Slovenia 2005 |  France 2002 |  Maisemore Weir |  Woolacombe 2005 |
 Dragon Boating |
Pool Sessions and Thursday Evenings
From the end of May until early September the Club uses the outdoor Sandford Lido on the Keynsham Road behind Cheltenhan General Hospital. These sessions are on Thursday nights and are a great opportunity to receive coaching and practice skills, and are a fantastic way to spend a fine summers evening. Full details can be found here.
In the winter, the club runs indoor pool sessions. The pools that we use are generally much smaller than the lido, but are an excellent opportunity to practice useful white water skills like rolling. The location of these sessions can change depending on which pool we manage to book (they can be hard to come by), but the details will be found here once the summer pool sessions have ended.
Regardless of what is happening in the pool, the club meets on thursday night in the Dowty Sports and Social Club from around 9.00pm. This is a chance to catch up with what is going on within the club, and is where all the trips are organised.
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Beginners Courses and Coaching
The Club occasionally runs beginners courses, generally in in February and July. However, most coaching of beginners takes place on a more informal basis in the pool sessions and during river trips. The club has a number of experienced paddlers some formally qualified, others not, but all willing to help coach less experienced paddlers.
Club Policy on Equipment and Juniors
The Club owns a number of boats, both general purpose and specialist, plus all the ancillary equipment such as paddles, helmets, bouyancy aids and spraydecks. These are kept in the Club shed and are available for use on Club trips. There are obvious advantages of using personal equipment as opposed to borrowing club kit, and help and advice is always available when members wish to buy their own equipment. Club members can also usually get discounts at several of the local canoe shops.
The club is a family club and younger members are always welcome. However, for logistical reasons there are limits to the number of younger members that the club can take on. Club members under 12 will generally join as part of a family and must always be accompanied by a competent paddling parent/ guardian. Club members under 16s must always be accompanied on trips and at pool sessions by a parent or adult who must remain for the duration of the session.
The club's Child Protection Policy can be found here.
B.C.U. and Sports Council Affiliation
The Cheltenham Canoe Club is affiliated to the British Canoe Union and members are encouraged to work for the various BCU Star Tests and Instructor Awards. The Club is also affiliated to the local Sports Council.